When the Hotel Martha Washington opened its respectable doors in Murray Hill in February 1903, it was the first women-only hotel in the city. And management took the women-only part seriously.
Not only were men prohibited in rooms, few could work there. Though the elevator operators, head waiter, and bell boys were male, the rest of the staff was female.
The place was a big hit. The wave of professional women moving to the city at the time—nurses, stenographers, teachers, doctors—thronged the waiting list for a $1.50 to $5 per day room.
Over the decades, as other women-only hotels opened, it remained a safe place for fresh-off-the-bus models, actresses, and students. 1920s actress Louise Brooks stayed there (she was asked to leave, according to this account). The hotel even scored a mention in Valley of the Dolls.
By the 1980s, the MR had become an SRO, home to long-term elderly tenants, shorter-term drug dealers, and, in 1998, men, according to the Village Voice.
On its 100th anniversary, this dowager of a hotel was rebranded Hotel Thirty Thirty and more recently Lola. I love the way copywriters put a 21st century spin on its single-gender past.
Tags: Hotel Lola, Hotel Martha Washington, hotels for women in New York City, Louise Brooks, New York in 1903, old hotels in NYC, SROs in New York, Valley of the Dolls, vintage New York postcards, Women-Only Hotels NYC
March 29, 2012 at 4:19 am |
When my sister-in-law first moved to Chicago many years ago, she lived in a similar women-only residence. It was a wonderful way for her to ease into big city living. I just discovered your blog through East Village Idiot, by the way. I will be back.
March 29, 2012 at 4:35 am |
East Village Idiot—-I am a fan!
March 29, 2012 at 5:07 am |
I used to work a block away from there back in the Eighties, and always wondered if it might have been the inspiration for the “Susan B. Anthony Hotel for Women” depicted in Bosom Buddies. It’s within the realm of possibility, at least.
March 29, 2012 at 5:09 am |
I used to work a block away from there in the Eighties, and always wondered if it might have been the inspiration for the “Susan B. Anthony Hotel for Women” depicted in the tv show Bosom Buddies. It’s within the realm of possibility, at least.
March 29, 2012 at 12:02 pm |
When they talk about Women only hotels the east side hotel should also be included. I used to see it while driving down the drive eveyday. but for the life of me can’t recall the street? I think it was in the 80′s (not sure)
April 2, 2012 at 9:31 pm |
The Barbizon Hotel for Women, maybe? At 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue?
April 3, 2012 at 11:16 am
No……Know about the Barbizon. This was right off the “Drive” I think it was on the high 70′s on the drive. But thanks.
March 29, 2012 at 3:46 pm |
When I first moved to New York in 1980 to go Pratt/Phoenix (the Manhattan branch of Pratt Institute at 30th and Lexington) one of the older female teachers lived at the Martha Washington and had for many years. And if I remember correctly, wasn’t there also a George Washington that for for men only?
March 30, 2012 at 12:37 am |
Hey Ricky~ I also went to New York Phoenix. We should communicate maybe we had the same teachers? Dod you remember the teacher with one arm. (Mr. Shadler) he was a character. He told me that he lost his arm while driving through a toll booth. Was fantastic drawing clowns. He also drew the design that was used on Grayhound buses. I’m at Courtship1@aol.com if you care to tell lies to one another (lol
March 29, 2012 at 3:52 pm |
Interesting, I didn’t know the George Washington was men-only. It’s on Lexington just before Gramercy Park. I think it fell to the same SRO fate as the Martha Washington but then was purchased by SVA and is now used as a dorm.