When the Los Angeles Biltmore opened in 1923, it was the largest hotel west of Chicago and helped establish downtown Los Angeles as an entertainment hub in the 1920s and ‘30s. The Biltmore’s ornate exterior—with gold details, fountains, and marble columns—concealed a semi-secret speakeasy for much of Prohibition. In addition to being the site of several notable film shoots, the hotel hosted the ceremony eight times from 1932 to 1942.

"I recently filmed my new music video for "Found My Friends" at this historic hotel. Aside from being a gorgeous location for filming or going out for easy cocktails, this landmark also played a big role in the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights. In 1971, a psychiatry conference held here supported electro-shock therapy as the official "cure" for homosexuality. Pro-LGBTQ+ activists crashed the conference and initiated a debate. This led to declassification of homosexuality as a disorder."

You may recognize the Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles hotel from one of the numerous blockbuster movies and TV shows filmed here. The glitz of Old Hollywood comes to life with marble columns, painted ceilings and sparkling chandeliers, making the lobby alone worthy of a sightseeing stop. Guests can relax in the sauna, steam room and indoor pool, or enjoy afternoon tea at Rendezvous Court, an interior space with high wood-beam ceilings, marble fountains and a baroque double staircase.

Head toward Pershing Square to find the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, a popular hangout for queer patrons in the early 20th century. The hotel hosted a psychiatrist conference in the 1970s which argued in favor of electroshock therapy as a "cure" for homosexuality. The Gay Liberation Front disrupted the gathering, forcing a dialogue between mental health professionals and the gay community. Their debate led to removing the classification of "homosexuality" as a mental health disorder 2 years later.