Taylor Swift Sweeps into the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the Golden Globe Awards. Photo courtesy of the Beverly Hilton
Taylor Swift, the world’s most compelling pop star, had flash bulb bursts bouncing off her sparkling emerald green dress during her nothing-less-than-royal, last-minute arrival to the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Her Majesty of music stood for press photos and then queen-beelined, surrounded by security, into the Hilton’s International Ballroom, where that evening’s crown jewels were the Golden Globes that would be awarded in a live show on CBS TV.
Among the already-seated luminaries of the Hollywood realm, who had processed up the Beverly Hilton’s long and winding red carpet into the hotel ballroom, were Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., Emma Stone, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, and other glitterati. Jo Koy, the comedian serving as emcee, described one attendee as the “all powerful, beloved by the people she rules over, regal queen,” but then joked, “Oprah, it is not you.” Imelda Staunton, nominated for playing Queen Elizabeth in “The Crown,” could not be in attendance, but Dominic West, who played Prince Charles was; as was Helen Mirren, who played the Monarch in “The Queen.”
I felt a certain reverence watching directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese parade up the red carpet, but these days Christopher Nolan is the nouveau auteur, and he won the Golden Globe that night for his film “Oppenheimer,” which also yielded trophies for stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.
“Hollywood is back!” Koy proclaimed from the Beverly Hilton stage upon which the Golden Globes have been presented since 1961. The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom event space and its’ stage is time-honored, but also high-tech, featuring $5-million worth of audio equipment and sophisticated lighting controls. The room, which also hosts the annual Oscar Nominee Luncheon, looked simply sumptuous on worldwide television, as did the red carpet, fountain, framing archways and hedges created to facilitate the grand entrance of the stars.
The Beverly Hilton presented an exclusive package opportunity for guests to be a part of Golden Globes weekend though a buzzing weekend stay on-property, lunch and an up-close celebrity experience along the red carpet television production. Hotel attendees called out to the stars who often responded with smiles, waves and even poses for their cameras. Jack Black especially played to the crowd with wild, hilarious gyrations. It all felt very intimate – and the hotel did a magnificent job of managing the scene as some hotel guests even lined the entrance to the ballroom for one “last look” – directors say during film production rehearsals. They cast their gazes of the likes of Natalie Portman, Nicholas Cage, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Gosling, Kieran Culkin, Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa as they made their way in.
To be in the spirit, I wore a tuxedo, but others at the gathering were casually comfortable, which is the Beverly Hilton’s vibe every day. The Golden Globes event, though fashionable and glamorous, has a reputation for being the “let it all hang out” awards show in terms of fun and frivolity…which went on well into the night. The Beverly Hilton’s glamorous swimming pool is the largest in Beverly Hills and, along with its adjacent Circa 55 Restaurant, served at the venue for the Golden Globes After Party. You can plan your own party wedding, or corporate event – up to 1,400 people, in the same spaces: the hotel’s indoor-outdoor venues, manicured gardens, roof terraces and penthouse suites with their help of Hilton’s elite planning staff.
You can see stars, literally, and the Hollywood Sign, from Sant’olina, the Beverly Hilton’s rooftop bar and restaurant. The Beverly Hilton, walking distance to the shops of Rodeo Drive, embraces its celebrity heritage with classic showbiz photos of its past glam guests and glitterati.
Contact Michael Patrick Shiels at MShiels@aol.com His new book: Travel Tattler – Not So Torrid Tales, may be purchased via Amazon.com
