Iconic Morrison Hotel, Famous From The Doors Album, Damaged in Fire
The Morrison Hotel, immortalized in The Doors’ 1970 album of the same name, suffered significant damage in a fire that ripped through downtown Los Angeles on Thursday.
Vacant for over a decade, the four-story building engulfed in flames for nearly two hours before over 100 firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A Photographic Icon
The Morrison Hotel’s distinctive facade graced the cover of The Doors’ fifth studio album. Celebrated music photographer Henry Diltz captured the iconic image in 1969. Diltz later recalled the story behind the shot, revealing a touch of crafty ingenuity:
“A hotel clerk told the band they weren’t allowed to take photos inside, but when the clerk stepped away, the group ran into the lobby and Diltz quickly got the photo looking through the window, with legendary frontman Jim Morrison in the middle.”
Diltz continued, “It was a great old wooden building with many small rooms upstairs where transients and drinkers could sleep it off on a cot for $2.50 a night! I think the beautiful front window with “Morrison Hotel” in red letters was the best part of it! So did The Doors!”
The Emotional Impact of the Album
The “Morrison Hotel” album was seen as a powerful return to The Doors’ roots, following Jim Morrison‘s publicized Miami arrest for indecent exposure and profanity on stage. Morrison and The Doors followed this album with one final release, “L.A. Woman,” before tragedy struck in 1971. Morrison was found dead in a Paris bathtub on July 3rd, 1971.
Firefighting Efforts and Building Status
First responders arrived at the fire to find heavy flames consuming the building’s top floor. Miraculously, several people inside the building managed to escape without injuries. Firefighters rescued three individuals from the third floor.
The building’s roof collapsed during the fire, leaving its structural integrity severely compromised according to the LAFD. Interestingly, the Morrison Hotel had been used in recent years as a training site for firefighters.
The history and iconic status of the Morrison Hotel will remain forever linked to The Doors, a testament to the enduring power of music and its ability to capture a moment in time.
Do you have any memories of The Doors or the Morrison Hotel?
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