History of The Algonquin Hotel
The Algonquin, built in 1902 in one of New York's most fashionalbe neighborhoods, is the oldest operating hotel in NYC . From the very first, hotel manager, Frank Case, who went on to own the Algonquin, visualized it as the center of New York City’s literary and theatrical life. Case died in 1978 but he lived to see his vision come true many times over.
In 1919, a gaggle of young authors, among them “Vanity Fair” writers Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, and Robert E. Sherwood, made the hotel their daily lunch spot. Soon, their circle grew and their lunches became the setting for literary debates. Case gave them their own table, and yes, it was round, and the Algonquin Round Table was born. The group, which grew to include George S. Kaufman, Heywood Broun and Edna Ferber referred to themselves as The Vicious Circle. They influenced such up and coming writers as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald and were responsible for the founding of “The New Yorker Magazine,” which was first published in 1925.
But the Round Table wasn’t The Algonquin’s only literary connection. Here are a few of the others:
- William Faulkner, wrote his acceptance speech for the 1950 Noble Prize there.
- Noble Laureate, Sinclair Lewis once offered to buy the hotel when it fell on hard times.
- The Algonquin was among the first hotels to allow single women guests and they have included, Gertrude Stein and Maya Angelou.
- In 1996 it was designated a literary landmark.
History of Hotel Chelsea
The Hotel Chelsea was built in 1884 as a private apartment cooperative and became a boutique hotel in 1905. It was the tallest building in New York until 1899. The Chelsea has a less venerable, more bohemian history than the Algonquin. Over the years the hotel has become known as the birthplace of creative modern art as well as the home of bad behavior. Some highlights of the hotel’s history include:
- In 1953, Dylan Thomas died of alcohol poisoning at The Chelsea.
- Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey while living at The Chelsea.
- Bob Dylan wrote songs there.
- Author Willaim F. Burroughs, and playwrite Arthur Miller, among many other literary noteables, stayed there.
- Poets Allen Ginsberg and Gregory Corso has spirited philosophical discussions there.
- Sid Vicious, of The Sex PIstols, allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen to death at The Chelsea.
- Eugene O'Neil lived at The Chelsea for a time.
Both The Algonquin, or the Gonk, as Mrs. Parket referred to it, and The Chelsea boast legendary literary pasts. One has to wonder what other shining young authors they will encourage in the future.
