The Beverly Hills Hotel celebrated a big birthday this weekend. The famous hotel on Sunset Boulevard turned 100 this year and several celebrities came out to celebrate.
The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in May 1912, but those in Hollywood celebrated this past weekend. The hotel holds a lot of memories for many celebrities who have stayed there and who even got their start there, so many came out to celebrate a century of the hotel's existence.
The anniversary celebration started on Friday with a poolside party of 200 guests. Legendary comedy actor Carl Reiner introduced actor Bill Cosby who shared stories of his Beverly Hills memories before conducting an 8-piece jazz band, The Hollywood Reporter said.
On Saturday, singer Mary J. Blige performed a five-song set in the Crystal Ballroom, the first of three ballrooms at the hotel. Before singing, Blige told the guests of how she met her husband at the hotel, saying "I fell in love with the man I married here," quoted The Hollywood Reporter.
Saturday's event was hosted by actor and producer Warren Beatty and filmmaker Brett Ratner. Ratner spoke of his memory of taking a photo with Bob Evans, Warren Beatty, and Michael Jackson during his six month stay at one of the hotel's bungalows.
Money raised during the celebratory events supports the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Friday's event supports The American Comedy Fund, a new project that helps comics in need. The Motion Picture & Television Fund has a close connection with the Beverly Hills Hotel as the foundation is 90 years old and hosts an annual Oscar party there.
One of the party-goers was Robert S. Anderson, grandson of Margaret Anderson who founded the hotel. Robert Anderson published a book about the historic hotel, "The Beverly Hills Hotel -- The First 100 Years." The book features archives, photographs, and stories from the hotel's history.
Famous musician Prince also made an appearance at Saturday's event, but he was discreet about it. He snuck in through the kitchen during Blige's last song.
The Hollywood Reporter also listed other celebrity guests including Doug Herzog, Irwin Winkler, Tom Arnold, Byron Allen, Frances Fisher, Hawk Koch, Joe Torre, Barbara Davis (who once owned the hotel with her late husband, Marvin), Arthur Cohn, Donald Faison, Donna Mills, Zach Braff, Kevin McCormick, Scott Berg, the MPTF's Ken Scherer and Bob Beitcher.
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