HOTEL

Show Type: Drama

First Telecast: September 21, 1983

Last Telecast: August 6, 1988

Theme Music: "Hotel," by Henry Mancini

Broadcast History:

September 1983 – May 1984, Wednesday 10:00-11:00 on ABC

June 1984 – July 1984, Tuesday 9:00-10:00 on ABC

August 1984 – March 1987, Wednesday 10:00-11:00 on ABC

May 1987 – September 1987, Wednesday 10:00-11:00 on ABC

September 1987 – January 1988, Saturday 10:00-11:00 on ABC

March 1988 – May 1988, Thursday 9:00-10:00 on ABC

June 1988 – August 1988, Saturday 10:00-11:00 on ABC

Cast

Peter McDermott..... James Brolin

Christine Francis..... Connie Sellecca

Laura Trent (Premiere Episode Only)..... Bette Davis

Mark Danning (1983-1986)..... Shea Farrell

Billy Griffin..... Nathan Cook

Dave Kendall (1983-1987)..... Michael Spound

Megan Kendall (1983-1987)..... Heidi Bohay

Julie Gillette..... Shari Belafonte-Harper

Victoria Cabot (1983-1986)..... Anne Baxter

Kei (1984-1988)..... Michael Yama

Harry, the Bartender (1984-1988)..... Harry George Phillips

Charles Cabot (1986)..... Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Jessica Cabot (1986)..... Dina Merrill

Jake Cabot (1986)..... Ralph Bellamy

Elizabeth Bradshaw Cabot (1986)..... Michelle Phillips

Cheryl Dolan (1987-1988)..... Valerie Landsburg

Ryan Thomas (1987-1988)..... Susan Walters

Eric Lloyd (1987-1988)..... Ty Miller

SYNOPSIS

San Francisco's St. Gregory Hotel was an elegant hostelry indeed. Its marble columns that rose up over a cavernous lobby and elegant restaurants; above lay plush suites serviced by an attentive staff. This was the setting for romance, drama and occasional comedy in the weekly series Hotel.

Produced by the same people responsible for Love Boat, Hotel bore a slight resemblance to that seagoing series. There were different guests each week, usually in gentle stories of the heart, almost all with happy endings. Sometimes the drama was a little heavier, as when a prostitute was brought into the hotel and then gang-raped by some students; or lighter, as when the kindly old gentleman died in the dining room but was left propped up until after lunch so as not to disturb the other patrons.

The staff included Victoria Cabot, a wealthy aristocrat who oversaw the operations on behalf of her sister-in-law, Laura Trent; Peter McDermott, the suave, bearded general manager; Christine, his beautiful assistant and later lover; Mark, the handsome and likable public-relations director; and Billy Griffin, an ex-con who had gone straight and now served as the hotel's security director. Julie was in charge of the information center, while cheerful newlyweds Dave and Megan were a bellhop and desk clerk, respectively, who left the series when, after a long struggle, he graduated from law school.

Among the familiar faces appearing were Morgan Fairchild, Shirley Jones, Pernell Roberts, Arte Johnson, Liberace, Donald O'Connor, McLean Stevenson, Stewart Granger, Connie Stevens, Peter Marshall, and Lynn Redgrave. Prior to the series debut, there was much publicity about the signing of Bette Davis for the recurring role of Laura Trent; however, due to illness, she was only seen on the premiere and then departed on an "extended trip" leaving Victoria in charge.

When Grande Dame Victoria died in the middle of the 1985-1986 season (actress Anne Baxter died suddenly of a brain aneurysm while walking in New York City), it was revealed that she left her half interest in the St. Gregory to her loyal assistant Peter. He made his loyal assistant – and growing love interest – Christine, the new general manager, while eager Megan became the new assistant manager. All this happiness was temporarily interrupted by a battle for control of the hotel waged by members of the Cabot family who owned the other half – Charles, Jessica, and Jake – but in the end, Peter managed to buy them out.

This series was based, more or less, on Arthur Haley's best-selling novel of sex and scandal, and was also known as Arthur Haley's "Hotel." The real hotel that served as its model was the regal Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco, whose imposing facade was seen in exterior shots and whose giant lobby was re-created on a Hollywood soundstage.

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