When I managed the hotel it was owned by Handlery Hotels in San Francisco. I think they a number of hotels and I often thought of the one I operated as being at the bottom of the pile. The Alameda was the first hotel I managed after getting out of the Cornell Hotel School. I was married and lived with my wife and daughter in an apartment in the Hotel.
The operation was really run on the "Cheap". We often didn't have enough sheets to make all the beds. Our largest form of business was housing the crews of the independent airlines (Magic Carpet) who were flying the troops back from Korea. I remember hearing a flight was coming in and that I had to drive to San Francisco were Hanlery had its laundry and pick up linen. Then when I got back to the hotel my wife and I would start making beds in preparation for the air crews.
We had a bellman that I caught mixing drinks in his locker and then deliving them when needed for room-service (he got liquor from the on premise liquor store). I was there before any swiming pool.
The manager ahead of me was caught with dynamite in his desk and I think accused of stealing things. Well, I had to make daily deposit runs to the Bank and because of this past history I never got a smile when I entered the bank.
I remember dealing with a guest complaint arising from the guest upstairs emptying her cat's litter box out the window and the litter hitting the little roof below and coming in that guest's window.
It was company policy to never let a prospective guest fail to check in because of rates. If they started to walk out after hearing the rate, we offerred a lower rate and continued that way until the guest signed in.
In those days Catholics ate fish on Friday night. Well, all my catholic apartment guests ate fish and the garbage wasn't removed until Monday....my, my it stunk in that hotel.

User Responses
From: oncelivedthere72	Date: 09/15/2008
My husband and I lived in the hotel in the early 70's and I think it is awful that it is not taken better care of. What a landmark for the area!!!!! I have very fond memories of the hotel and the different people who lived there. I hope someone in the area wakes up and saves this wonderful hotel before it is no longer there. I would if I had the money, surely I am not the only one that has these feelings with all the many people who have stayed there over the years????? dcovey@esu15.org dcovey@nebnet.net
From: DRC6	Date: 05/03/2009
Thank you for your thoughts. I too, would like to save this building.

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