The Hotel Alexandria, opened on February 12, 1906 as an 8-story luxury hotel in downtown Los Angeles. It was sold in 1919 to the builders of the nearby Ambassador Hotel. The hotel was the most luxurious in Los Angeles for a number of years until the construction of the Biltmore Hotel three blocks west in 1923. The Ambassador Hotels System sold the hotel in 1927, and it was sold again in 1930, before going bankrupt and closing in 1932. The hotel's gold leaf ceilings, furniture, chandeliers and other fittings were sold in 1934 to pay off debts. The hotel was sold multiple times over the years until it was eventually converted to an apartment building in 2005. The hotel played host to countless film shoots including Se7en, where it served as the residence of the killer, John Doe, for a lengthy chase sequence through much of the hotel. Its ornate public rooms, marble staircases and decaying grandeur have made it a favorite of movies, music videos, television commercials and fashion shoots.

Courtesy Private Collection.