Statler Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Statler Hotel company was one of the United States' early chains of hotels catering to traveling businessmen and tourists. It was founded by Ellsworth Milton (E. M.) Statler
in Buffalo, New York
.
. Statler envisioned and built a hotel on the Exposition grounds and called it "Statler's Hotel." It was a temporary wooden structure intended to last the duration of the Exposition. With 2084 rooms, it could accommodate 5000 guests. Although the Exposition was deemed an overall failure due to a number of factors (including bad weather and the assassination of President William McKinley), Statler made a small profit—one of the few vendors to actually do so.
His next venture was the Inside Inn, built for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition
in St. Louis, Missouri
. Another temporary wooden structure, it was the world's largest hotel with 2257 rooms. A grand success, the hotel made Statler a net profit of $361,000 and laid the groundwork for his first permanent hotel. The hotel was then sold for scrap and dismantled. The Inside Inn was near the edge of Forest Park
in St. Louis, where Highway 64/40 now traverses the location.
and built in Buffalo, New York
and offered 300 rooms and bathrooms (it was later expanded to 450 rooms and baths). The hotel was successful and led to a chain of hotels in other cities. Statler's intent was not to compete with the luxury hotels, but rather to provide, clean, comfortable and moderately priced rooms for the average traveler. Statler was the first major hotel chain to have a bathroom in every room. His innovative Statler Plumbing Shaft is still used in modern construction. From providing paper and pens for correspondence (prominently bearing the Statler name) to a light in the closet, Statler brought the average traveler a level of luxury that was otherwise unaffordable.
Rooms were originally available at what seemed a very cheap price, leading many other hoteliers to predict the failure of the Buffalo hotel. The opening night price was as low as $1.50 for a guest room, leading to the slogan "A Room and a Bath for a Dollar and a Half." The hotel had a $500,000 line of credit available, but successfully maintained positive cash flow and Statler never used the line of credit.
Each of the subsequent Statler Hotels built upon this formula for success. Reflecting the era's enthusiasm for scientific management
, Statler took pride in how he applied standardization to questions of room design. His hotels had a minimum of wasted space, particularly on the guestroom floors, and he strove to have room layouts that would maximize efficiency and profitability.
After Statler's death in 1928, the company built hotels in Washington, D.C.
, Los Angeles, California
, Hartford, Connecticut
. and Dallas, Texas
. Each was more innovative than the last, and was a testimony to the founder of the company. Many of these hotels were designed by the architectural firm of George Post & Sons, the successor firm of George B. Post
.
The Hotels Statler Company, Inc., was sold to Conrad Hilton
's (Hilton Hotels
) in 1954 for $111,000,000 in what was then the world's largest real estate transaction.
Ellsworth Milton Statler
Ellsworth Milton Statler was an American hotel businessman born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.-Biography:...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Early ventures
In 1901, Buffalo was the host city for the Pan-American ExpositionPan-American Exposition
The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is present day Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Ave. to Elmwood Ave and northward to Great Arrow...
. Statler envisioned and built a hotel on the Exposition grounds and called it "Statler's Hotel." It was a temporary wooden structure intended to last the duration of the Exposition. With 2084 rooms, it could accommodate 5000 guests. Although the Exposition was deemed an overall failure due to a number of factors (including bad weather and the assassination of President William McKinley), Statler made a small profit—one of the few vendors to actually do so.
His next venture was the Inside Inn, built for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Another temporary wooden structure, it was the world's largest hotel with 2257 rooms. A grand success, the hotel made Statler a net profit of $361,000 and laid the groundwork for his first permanent hotel. The hotel was then sold for scrap and dismantled. The Inside Inn was near the edge of Forest Park
Forest Park (St. Louis)
Forest Park is a public park located in western part of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a prominent civic center and covers . The park, which opened in 1876 more than a decade after its proposal, has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and...
in St. Louis, where Highway 64/40 now traverses the location.
Company history
The first Statler hotel was designed by August Esenwein and James A. Johnson (architect)James A. Johnson (architect)
James Addison Johnson was a Buffalo, New York architect known for his design of various architectural landmarks and his use of decorative work that many consider a foreshadowing of art deco design....
and built in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and offered 300 rooms and bathrooms (it was later expanded to 450 rooms and baths). The hotel was successful and led to a chain of hotels in other cities. Statler's intent was not to compete with the luxury hotels, but rather to provide, clean, comfortable and moderately priced rooms for the average traveler. Statler was the first major hotel chain to have a bathroom in every room. His innovative Statler Plumbing Shaft is still used in modern construction. From providing paper and pens for correspondence (prominently bearing the Statler name) to a light in the closet, Statler brought the average traveler a level of luxury that was otherwise unaffordable.
Rooms were originally available at what seemed a very cheap price, leading many other hoteliers to predict the failure of the Buffalo hotel. The opening night price was as low as $1.50 for a guest room, leading to the slogan "A Room and a Bath for a Dollar and a Half." The hotel had a $500,000 line of credit available, but successfully maintained positive cash flow and Statler never used the line of credit.
Each of the subsequent Statler Hotels built upon this formula for success. Reflecting the era's enthusiasm for scientific management
Scientific management
Scientific management, also called Taylorism, was a theory of management that analyzed and synthesized workflows. Its main objective was improving economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. It was one of the earliest attempts to apply science to the engineering of processes and to management...
, Statler took pride in how he applied standardization to questions of room design. His hotels had a minimum of wasted space, particularly on the guestroom floors, and he strove to have room layouts that would maximize efficiency and profitability.
After Statler's death in 1928, the company built hotels in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. and Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Each was more innovative than the last, and was a testimony to the founder of the company. Many of these hotels were designed by the architectural firm of George Post & Sons, the successor firm of George B. Post
George B. Post
George Browne Post was an American architect trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition.-Biography:Post was a student of Richard Morris Hunt , but unlike many architects of his generation, he had previously received a degree in civil engineering...
.
The Hotels Statler Company, Inc., was sold to Conrad Hilton
Conrad Hilton
Conrad Nicholson Hilton was an American businessman and investor. He is well known for being the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain.-Early life:Hilton was born in San Antonio, New Mexico...
's (Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
) in 1954 for $111,000,000 in what was then the world's largest real estate transaction.
List of hotels
| City | Built | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the... |
1907 | The original Hotel Statler, at Swan and Washington Streets in Buffalo, was opened in 1907. Although Statler continued to operate it, it was renamed Hotel Buffalo in 1923 upon completion of the new Hotel Statler at Niagara Square. It was sold in the 1930s by the Statler Hotels Company. It closed in 1967 and was finally demolished in 1968. The site remained vacant until Coca-Cola Field was built there in 1988. | |
| Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border... |
1912 | The Statler in Cleveland was initially converted into an office building in 1980 as the Statler Office Building. In 2001 the building was converted into a 295-unit apartment building, known as The Statler Arms. | |
| Detroit | 1915 | Detroit Statler Hotel Detroit Statler Hotel The Detroit Statler Hotel , a.k.a. the Detroit Hilton Hotel, was located at 1539 Washington Boulevard across from Grand Circus Park between the David Whitney Building and Hotel Tuller in the Foxtown neighborhood of downtown Detroit, Michigan... |
Hilton terminated its management of the Detroit Statler Hilton in 1974. It briefly became the Detroit Heritage Hotel, before closing soon after. Demolition of the 1000-room Detroit Statler Hotel Detroit Statler Hotel The Detroit Statler Hotel , a.k.a. the Detroit Hilton Hotel, was located at 1539 Washington Boulevard across from Grand Circus Park between the David Whitney Building and Hotel Tuller in the Foxtown neighborhood of downtown Detroit, Michigan... in Detroit began in August 2005 and was completed before the Detroit-hosted Super Bowl in 2006. |
| Saint Louis St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St... |
1917 | Hotel Statler (St. Louis, Missouri) Hotel Statler (St. Louis, Missouri) The Renaissance Grand Hotel is a remodelled and expanded hotel located on the Washington Avenue Loft District in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It is 256 feet 23 floors tall. It was designed by George C. Post and was built in 1917 as part of the Statler Hotels. It was the first air-conditioned hotel... |
The St. Louis Statler was sold by Hilton in 1968 and renamed The Gateway Hotel. It was closed in 1987, and it underwent a mysterious and oft-litigated arson fire the following year. It was expanded, renovated and reopened in 2004 as the St. Louis Renaissance Grand Hotel, operated by the Marriott Corporation. |
| New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... |
1919 | Hotel Pennsylvania Hotel Pennsylvania The Hotel Pennsylvania is a hotel located at 401 7th Avenue in Manhattan, across the street from Pennsylvania Station and Madison Square Garden in New York City.- History :... |
The Hotel Pennsylvania, across the street from Penn Station Pennsylvania Station (New York City) Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also... , was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... in 1919 and managed by Ellsworth Statler's company. The hotel has had the distinction of having the oldest continuous phone number in New York still in use today. The number, Pennsylvania 6-5000 PEnnsylvania 6-5000 PEnnsylvania 6-5000 is claimed by its owner, the Hotel Pennsylvania, to be the oldest continuing phone number in New York City. The telephone number is based on the old telephone exchange name system. The first two letters "PE" in PE6-5000 stand for the rotary dial numbers 7 and 3, making the... , is the inspiration for the Glenn Miller Glenn Miller Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"... song of the same name. Many big band names played in the hotel's Cafe Rouge including the Dorsey Brothers, Count Basie Count Basie William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years... , Duke Ellington Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions... , and the Glenn Miller Orchestra Glenn Miller Orchestra The Glenn Miller Orchestra was originally formed in 1938 by Glenn Miller. It was arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, while three other saxophones played the harmony... . The hotel was acquired by the Hotels Statler Company in 1948 and renamed the New York Statler Hotel, operated as The Statler Hilton, then as the New York Penta, until it reverted to the Hotel Pennsylvania. The hotel is currently owned by Vornado Realty Trust Vornado Realty Trust Vornado Realty Trust is a New York based real estate investment trust. It is the inheritor of real estate formerly controlled by companies including Two Guys and Alexander's.- History :... , which announced plans to demolish it in 2007 and replace it with a towering office building. Final approval by the city was granted in 2010, but as of 2011 the hotel remains open for business. |
| Buffalo Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the... |
1923 | Statler Towers | The second Buffalo Statler was gradually converted to offices starting in 1948 (when WBEN-TV WIVB-TV WIVB-TV, virtual channel 4, is the CBS-affiliated television station for Western New York that is licensed to Buffalo. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter on Center Street in Colden. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to CW... began using the building as their first studios) because it had more hotel rooms than the city could support. In 1984 the last hotel rooms were closed and the building was renamed Statler Towers, although three of its public rooms are open to the public for catered events and banquets. After a failed renovation attempt into a combination of hotel and condos in the late 2000s, the building went into bankruptcy, and the vacant building was auctioned in August 2010. On March 15, 2011, the property was acquired by developer Mark D. Croce, who is currently refurbishing the building. |
| Boston Boston Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had... |
1927 | The Boston Statler is still a hotel, now called the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers For the Park Plaza Hotel, Leeds, UK see Park Plaza Hotel LeedsThe Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is a former Statler Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts built in 1927 by hotelier E.M. Statler. A prototype of the grand American hotel, it was called a "city within a city"... , owned and operated by Starwood Hotels as an independent property. |
|
| Washington | 1943 | The only hotel bought by and still operated by Hilton Hotels Hilton Hotels Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast... is the Washington, D.C. Statler, now called The Capital Hilton Capital Hilton Capital Hilton is a hotel building located in Washington, D.C, the capital of the United States. The building began construction in 1940 and was completed in 1943 as the Statler Hotel Washington. Upon its completion, the building rose , comprising 13 floors. The architect of the early modern style... . |
|
| Los Angeles Los Ángeles Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... |
1952 | The Los Angeles Statler operated for many years as the Statler Hilton, then the Omni Los Angeles and is now known as The Wilshire Grand Hotel. | |
| Hartford Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making... |
1954 | The Hartford Statler was closed and demolished in 1990. | |
| Dallas | 1956 | Dallas Statler Hilton Dallas Statler Hilton The former Dallas Statler Hilton is an iconic building of mid-twentieth century design located at 1914 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas, Texas . It is located on the edge of the Farmers Market District and adjacent to Main Street Garden Park. The hotel was praised as the first modern American... |
The Dallas Statler Hilton Dallas Statler Hilton The former Dallas Statler Hilton is an iconic building of mid-twentieth century design located at 1914 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas, Texas . It is located on the edge of the Farmers Market District and adjacent to Main Street Garden Park. The hotel was praised as the first modern American... was closed in 2001, having operated in its last years as the Dallas Grand Hotel. It is currently vacant. In May 2008, The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the building on their list of America's Most Endangered Places America's Most Endangered Places Each year since 1987, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has released a list of places they consider the most endangered in America. The number of sites included on the list has varied, with the most recent lists settling on 11... . |
| Ithaca Ithaca, New York The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area... |
1986 | The Statler Hotel On Cornell University's Campus was built in 1986, long after Ellsworth M Statler had passed. Provisions from Statler's will allowed this unique hotel to be operated by The Cornell School of Hotel Administration. |
Related hotels
- The William Penn HotelWilliam Penn HotelThe Omni William Penn Hotel is located at 530 William Penn Place on Mellon Square in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A variety of luminaries have stayed at the hotel, including John F. Kennedy. The hotel staff innovated Lawrence Welk's now famous bubble machine, and it was the site of Bob...
in Pittsburgh, built in 1916 , was only managed by Statler and never owned by the company.