| The pools at Hollywood hotels were more thanjust places to swim and relax. They became focal points for social gatheringsand casual busine meetings, places to see and to be seen. Visiting dignitariesand actors who did not make their homes in Hollywood often rented hotelbungalows for extended stays. The "swimming plunge" at the AmbassadorHotel was considered the most beautiful pool in the West in its day.That's MARY PICKFORD standing on the right, behind a row of bathingbeauties. The Ambassador also housed the famous Coconut Grove nightcluband was near many swank restaurants and night spots. | (Center) In the heyday of Hollywood, it was common forstudios to sign up hundreds of attractive girls to long- term, low-payingcontracts. Promoted as future stars, these so-called "starlets,"like the Columbia beauties pictured here, rarely made it to the top. (Left) Bathing beauties, like these girls at the La Jolla Swim &Tennis Club, were also hopeful that they might be discovered by thestudios' roving talent scouts. |
