Yet Another Retirement Home Chic Room

Mark Twain Hotel
Elmira, NY
1950's?

It's Monday, so it's time for a post about another depressing hotel room. Look at these institutional green walls -- who thought they would be a good idea? And these cheap-looking blue bedspreads add all the cheerful atmosphere of a retirement home. That little sad-looking vase of white flowers on one of the night stands doesn't help, either.

Aside: I wonder if that black Bakelite phone on the other night stand would fetch a nice price on eBay?
 

Yet Another Ugly Bedspread Post

Kenlake State Resort Park
Hardin, KY
1970's?

My friends, it's time for another ugly bedspread posting, so gaze upon the sheer ugliness of this room. Enlarge the photo if you must, to appreciate just how ugly it is. And let us not speak of the matching drapes....

Field of Red Dreams

Holiday Inn
French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
1970's?

Feast your eyes on all this red -- clearly, the designer loved himself/herself some red. And look at that flowered bedspread, surely a contender for the world's ugliest bedspread. Also, observe how the television is affixed to the floor by a pipe, presumably to prevent drunk guests from wandering outside with it.

By the way, 1970's called and wanted that fern plant (lurking above the television) back.
 

A Tacky Room in Wyoming

Chieftain Motel
Douglas, Wyoming
1950's?

Just when you think you are safe, I am baaaack after a long absence with more ugly motel room postcards to sear your eyes with.

What do we have here? A room with twin beds positioned perpendicular to each other.  Apparently, the motel owners didn't care much for hanky wanky. On the back, it says that you can control your own heat. It seems that the motel owners couldn't think of anything good to say about the room.  Anyway, it looks like you can control heat simply by pulling these red blankets over the ugly dark-green plaid bedspreads. Oh, and check out the ugly curtains. Apparently, another attempt at deferring sex.

May I draw your attention to this curious concoction to the left, just behind the bed and in front of the door?

 What do you suppose that is? A torture device? A rack for a two-headed person to hang his hats?

A Cave Fit for Pink Panther

Madonna Inn
San Luis Obispo, CA
1970's?
Room 189 ("Hideaway")

Here is yet another room at Madonna Inn, with rock-lined walls and....a hot pink carpet. According to the description on the postcard's back, this room has a rock shower. Fortunately, it appears as if this room hasn't changed much since then. The only major difference I can see is that the carpet has been changed to a burgundy one. Fortunately, they kept these chandelier lamps by the bed.

Sanitized for Your Sleeping Pleasure

The Pines
South Fallsburg, NY
1960's? 

These pink bedspreads are rather curious. If you look closely, you'll see that they are constructed in a way that they fit the beds smugly like boxes. And they even have special spaces to put over pillows (look how the side seams curve where the pillows are.) It's as if these are bed shields or something, so beds can be kept sanitized for your sleeping pleasure.

Where's the View?

Miami Lakes Inn and Country Club
Miami Lakes, FL
1970's?

 We normally associate harvest gold, along with avocado green, with 1970's, but judging from many postcards I have of the period, it seems that red was a very popular color, at least for hotels and motels. In addition to the ubiquitous reds, there is a lot of browns here in this room which firmly establishes this as a room of the 1970's. Also, observe the bedspread -- it is cleverly designed to hide spill stains from messy dinners. By the way, this is definitely not a room will a view -- all you see is a few palm trees and what appears to be a telephone pole directly in front of the window.

Think Red

Madonna Inn
San Luis Obispo, CA
1970's?
Room 121 ("San Francisco")

It's Saturday, which means it's Madonna Inn Day, and I got a couple to post today. The first up is room 121, otherwise known as the San Francisco room. As you can see, this room -- which seems to be actually two bedrooms -- is very red. (Note: the lighting in the photo makes the carpet looks kind of pink, but the description on the back insists it's red.) Please draw your eyes to that rather ornate mirror with four electric candles branching off it. This is a room that the late Liberace could love. He probably would insist that these "old lady" floral bedspreads be changed, though.


Check out here for a more recent photo of the suite. Obviously, the room has been redecorated, but I am pleased to see that they didn't try to tone it down. In fact, if anything, the rooms seem to be a bit wilder, especially with these white ornate bed frames. They should have kept the Liberace mirror, though.

Room 216 ("Matterhorn")

Except for bits of grooviness --the Sixties-que wallpaper and the hanging cracked-glass lamp above the bed -- this is a rather tame room by Madonna Inn's standards. By the way, that is a really odd angle to take a photo of this room. One cannot help but wonder what they are trying to hide in the other part of the room. Check out this updated photo of the room. As you can see, the room has been modernized, though the dark wood headboard appears to be the same. Sadly, the walls are a boring solid white.

Hotel Commode

Hotel Commodore
New York City, NY
1970's?

What is it with 1970's and red carpets and wild bedspreads? However, that rusty orange wall could be considered on-trend today.

By the way, that man looks stupendously bored while the woman holds up a dress, perhaps trying to justify a $500 (in today's dollars) purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue.
  

Hypnotic Bedspreads

Little America
Flagstaff, AZ
1970's?

Check out these bedspreads -- surely, the hypnotic pattern on them will help lull you to sleep. Also, check out the matching bed skirts -- what attention to detail. Also, I have to ask -- what is it with red carpets back in 1970's? To help conceal spill spots of cherry-flavored Kool-Aid and cheap wine?

Bordello Chic

1200 Beacon Street Motor Hotel
1200 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
Approximately 1970's

Apparently, the motel owners couldn't think of a good name for this motel, so they just went with the street address for the name. Anyhow, check out this room. I have two words to describe it: bordello chic. Check out these damask-like bedspreads -- and matching curtains. Who does matching curtains anymore these days? And ah, yes, look at that red carpet. It matches the red walls. Matchy-match.