Loew’s Don Cesar

The Don Cesar was built in the Jazz Age of the 1920’s.  The Jazz Age -a time when jazz music and dance became popular, ended with the Great Depression.  Designed by Harry DuPont and developed by Thomas Rowe, “The Don” as it is called by many, opened its doors in 1928 as the playground for the rich and famous.  The architectural design is a blend of Moorish and Mediterranean styles.  Also known as “The Pink Lady”, the hotel quickly became popular as as visited by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Al Capone, Lou Gehrig, and Franklin Roosevelt.  When Thomas Rowe died suddenly, the Pink Lady fell into disrepair until it was purchased by the U. S. Army for $450,000 to be used as a hospital. during WWII.  By 1945 it had been converted into a Veteran’s Administration Regional office. The hotel became vacant in 1969 when the V.A. offices were closed with plans to raze the building.  The local residents vehemently opposed this idea and found developers who renovated and reopened the hotel in 1973.  

View from the Verandah on the 6th floor.

 I was somewhat fascinated by these light fixtures–

joy