F I R S TP R E V863NEXTLAST

Mini Series, St Francis Hotel, Day 3 of 3
Before we leave the St. Francis let's take a quick look at some of the famous and infamous people and events that inhabited its halls. Most notorious was Hollywood's first great scandal, the 1921 death of Virginia Rappe at a party thrown by Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle. Although cleared three times by juries Arbuckle's career was ruined by the event. Three decades later Al Jolson would pass away in his suite after a seafood dinner and a game of cards. In 1975 then-president Gerald Ford narrowly missed his end when he exited the hotel and was shot at by Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme one of Charlie Manson's followers.

The endless list of the famous people who have stayed in the St. Francis is too long to list. It includes ten presidents, dozens of foreign heads of state, and nearly every major film and stage actor since 1904. Other notables range from Wyatt Earp to Helen Keller, Salvador Dali to Douglas MacArthur. One guest was John Barrymore who was staying at the hotel when the Great Earthquake of 1906 struck. Furious, the great actor went downstairs to complain about being thrown from his bed. Rather than finding a sympathetic ear Barrymore was forced by soldiers into helping remove the rubble.

For those of you interested in visiting the St. Francis here is a FogBay tip: the hotels exterior glass elevators offer an incredible view of the city. My suggestion would be to ride the number four elevator up to the 32nd floor for a view you'll never forget. At night during Christmas time, when Union Square is lit up, it's magical.
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