'Life at the Marmont': 6 stories of Hollywood stars at the famous hotel

The Chateau Marmont in Hollywood has played host to everyone from Grace Kelly to Johnny Depp. Here are a few of the stories from the hotel's former owner, Raymond Sarlot, and writer Fred E. Basten.

6. Spooky elevator ride

Sherry Hackett stayed in the Marmont with her husband Buddy and remembered being startled one night when she went to the elevator. "I remembered that I had forgotten something in our suite, so I left Buddy at the car and went back upstairs," she said. "I was on my way to rejoin him, waiting for the elevator, when the doors slid open. Who was standing there alone inside – staring at me – but Boris Karloff! There I was, a young bride, and all I could think of was that ghoul I had seen in the movies. I got so scared I started shaking. He didn't calm me down any when he said, in that soft, sinister voice of his, 'Won't you come in?' I did, but I couldn't stop trembling.... I ran to [Buddy] and cried, 'I don't want to stay in this place anymore. They've got monsters living here!'"

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