The historically significant Morrison Hotel, immortalized by The Doors in their eponymous 1970 album, suffered extensive damage following a fire that broke out in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday.
This four-story edifice, which has stood vacant for over a decade, was engulfed in flames for nearly two hours before more than 100 firefighters successfully extinguished the inferno, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Featured prominently on the cover of The Doors’ fifth studio album, the iconic image was captured in 1969 by prominent music photographer Henry Diltz, who recounted that some cunning maneuvering was required to obtain the shot.
Although a hotel clerk informed the band that photography was prohibited indoors, the moment he stepped away, the group seized the opportunity to dash into the lobby, where Diltz deftly snapped a photograph looking through the window, capturing the legendary frontman, Jim Morrison, in the center of the frame.
“It was a charming old wooden structure with numerous modest rooms upstairs, where drifters and patrons could find a cot for just $2.50 a night!” Diltz recounted to The Associated Press on Friday. “The grand front window, emblazoned with ‘Morrison Hotel’ in striking red letters, was undoubtedly the building’s finest feature. The Doors certainly concurred!”
This album marked a pivotal return to The Doors’ musical roots, particularly following Morrison’s controversial arrest during a Miami concert, which culminated in a conviction for indecent exposure and profanity.
In a tragic turn of events, Morrison and The Doors would release one final album, “L.A. Woman,” prior to his untimely death in a Paris bathtub on July 3, 1971.
Upon their arrival, firefighters confronted intense flames emanating from the building’s upper level. Several individuals inside managed to escape unharmed, including three who were rescued from the third floor. However, the roof ultimately collapsed, raising concerns regarding the structure’s integrity, according to the department. In recent years, the building had served as a training facility for firefighters.
Vocabulary List:
- Edifice /ˈɛdɪˌfɪs/ (noun): A large and imposing building.
- Engulfed /ɪnˈɡʌlft/ (verb): To surround or cover completely.
- Cunning /ˈkʌnɪŋ/ (adjective): Having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion.
- Emblazoned /ɪmˈbleɪ.zənd/ (verb): To display prominently or vividly.
- Integrity /ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/ (noun): The state of being whole and undivided.
- Pivotal /ˈpɪvətl/ (adjective): Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.
How much do you know?
What iconic album immortalized the Morrison Hotel?
Who captured the iconic image featured on the cover of The Doors’ fifth studio album?
Which city did the fire break out in that caused extensive damage to the Morrison Hotel?
What caused the concern regarding the Morrison Hotel’s structure integrity during the fire?
What was the room rate for a cot at the Morrison Hotel according to Henry Diltz?
What event led to Morrison’s controversial arrest in Miami?
The Morrison Hotel had been vacant for only a year before the fire broke out.
The photograph on the cover of The Doors’ fifth studio album was taken without permission.
Morrison was still alive when The Doors released the album "L.A. Woman."
The fire at the Morrison Hotel started on a Friday.
The Morrison Hotel served as a firefighter training facility in its later years.
The band members of The Doors successfully evaded the hotel clerk to take the photograph.
The Morrison Hotel had been vacant for over a before the fire occurred.
Fill in the blank: The Doors seized the opportunity to dash into the lobby when the hotel clerk stepped away to .
Morrison faced a for indecent exposure and profanity following his arrest in Miami.
The of the building raised concerns about its integrity during the fire.
The capture of the iconic image on the album cover required some by the photographer.
