Eldergays, tell me about Arthur Hailey's Hotel starring Anne Baxter!

The opening titles of the pilot with Bette Davis 'as Mrs. Trent'.

So much majesty at the St. Gregory! Even if you were just a lowly bellboy, like Joseph Spound, your life was filled with glamour and drama!

It had DL fav Erin Moran in it!

Love Boat on land basically. Of course it had better guest stars. Liz Taylor did the first episode. Would've loved to have seen Bette Davis do the whole series if her health would've held up. Anne Baxter did a nice job though. Love the All About Eve parallel.

[quote] Even if you were just a lowly bellboy, like Joseph Spound

It was Michael Spound, not Joseph.

They need to do a mashup of this and American Horror Story: Hotel.

Completely lame Love Boat knock off.

I had forgotten about it until seeing this thread

Opening titles was the best part of it.

WOW, shows had looooooooong opening titles back then.

Is that the St. Francis?

I, too, preferred this over The Love Boat; it only occasionally featured a comedy storyline; usually it was pretty serious, and towards the end -- I believe following Anne Baxter's death -- it turned into a semi-soap opera, with various individuals vying to take control of the hotel.

One of my favorite episodes featured hottie Doug Barr from The Fall Guy as a gay man trying to retain custody of his daughter (Missy Francis) following the death of his ex-wife; the ex-wife's parents (Lloyd Bochner, Marion Ross) are suing him to get custody themselves. Michael Sabatino of Days of Our Lives' fame played Doug's boyfriend.

Here's the opening titles for an episode with guest stars Karen Grassle (Little House), Martin Hewitt (Endless Love), Janet Wyatt and a very young Tori Spelling.

Never watched regularly, Shea Farrell was so handsome the first couple years of this. Saw him a few years after it ended on MURDER, SHE WROTE (I know, what does this post say about my viewing habits?) and he'd gotten fat!

James Brolin and Connie Sellecca were gorgeous together. Him with his sexy beard and her with her long, flowing dark hair.

The sets were impressive as were the guest stars.

A shame they stopped releasing the rest of the seasons on DVD.

Shea Farrell was the blond pretty boy of the cast. I had a huge crush on him back then. Alas, those days are long gone.

'I hope you'll have a comfortable...and a profitable stay with us'

Here's doomed hottie Jon-Erik Hexum guest -starring!

Timothy Patrick Murphy! He was so adorable. So sad.

Who in the world is Philip Coccioletti? I thought I was pretty up on 80s hotties, but I've never heard of him.

Tori Spelling was unfortunate looking as a child. How did she ever land a spot on TV? Did she know someone?

I remember I was so excited for this show. Alas, it never lived up to the hype and quickly fell off my list of shows to watch. It was sort of a Love Boat except for more serious societal issues instead of comedy. And it didn't do it very well. I did lust after James Brolin, though. Love a guy who can rock a beard like that!

It sucks.

Philip Coccioletti?

Why, he's my new jerk off hotel set fantasy,that's who, R15

Didn't Maxwell Caulfield appear in it with his (in real life) ancient wife?

[quote] Didn't Maxwell Caulfield appear in it with his (in real life) ancient wife?

She's not that ancient..only 18 years older than Max

[quote]It was Michael Spound, not Joseph.

Hmm... All these years, I've been calling him Joe and he's never said a word!

r17 Well it lasted five seasons so it didn't do too badly.

That opening always seemed more '70s to me than '80s.

It was always fun to see the stars of different eras and mediums mixing and mingling. I remember an episode with Susan George and Sarah Jessica Parker!

Read all about it, OP.

Oh, that's nice R25. Bette looks just wonderful in her burgundy gown.

All 5 seasons are being released on DVD on the 20th of this month in a complete collection. Retail price is $250, tho!!!

OMG people are going to accuse me of being a Hotel 'shill', lol. That box set WILL be mine!

The movie was much better.

Thanks, r27. Looking forward to it.

I agree,R29 anything is better with Rod Taylor in it.

Damn, you bitches sure know how to take me back. Hadn't thought about this show in YEARS.

Robert Reed in his only gay role - on Hotel!

See it right here on DL!:

I remember when TV shows stopped doing intros like the ones and thought it was a loss, but now they seem so embarrassing.

The Hotel intro has a quaint, and glamorous charm. I particularly enjoy James / Peter strolling purposefully through the lobby. I like to imagine him on the way to the elevator, en route to my penthouse suite.

The lobby of the Hotel was the BIGGEST set in TV history at that time.

[quote] The lobby of the Hotel was the BIGGEST set in TV history at that time.

Not anymore.

Susan George -- there's a name I haven't heard in too long! I didn't know she did any television in the US!

'In the fabled heart of San Francisco, the exquisite St. Gregory Hotel is the city's premiere destination. As the guests check in, their lives, loves, secrets and revelations--as well as the professional & personal affairs of the accommodating staff -- play out. '

Stewart Granger guest starred, according to imdv

It gave me bedbugs.

Such a dreadful 80s show. Totally forgettable.

Ed Begley jr called Heidi Bohay "hi hee hoe hay" on some game show they were doing. She was noticeably upset.

I went to college with Michael Spound--shallow frat boy type, even if kinda pretty.

I remember channel-surfing once and landing on one of those "Celebrity Practical Jokes" shows co-hosted by Ed McMahon and Dick Clark. Heidi Bohay and Michael Spound were visiting an underprivileged youth home, and bringing the kids a boom box as a gift. They were stopped by Security, who found a huge butcher knife hidden inside the boom box (placed by the show of course.). As they were being grilled by Security, Heidi Bohay was near tears, and Michael Spound appeared mortified -- all to the accompaniment of a chortling Ed McMahon!

Tippi at R31, I agree that I'd be better with Rod Taylor in me.

Well, young, alive Rod Taylor that is. Not dead, decomposing Rod.

When I was a young boy and saw The Glass Bottomed Boat I decided I was going to spend the rest of my life with Rod Taylor or someone exactly like him.

It didn't happen. I thought that most men looked that way but they don't.

The box set is out now ($99 on Amazon). Second season has Liz Tayor in full camp-mode (and near wardrobe malfunction).

This also has the episode featuring Robert Reed as a closet case married to Deidre Hall and River Phoenix as their son.

So far at season three, and already they have had three major gay storylines - and all positive towards the gay characters.

The TV series was boring, The 1967 movie it was based on is much better.

This reran on SoapNet, but I never bothered to watch it. Any good?

I was more into Knots, Dynasty, The Colbys, and Dallas reruns.