by Marlane Forsberg
Altadena Historical Society
Altadena Historical Society
This is an advertisement for the Marcell Inn in Altadena during Prohibition (1919 through 1933). The most well-known public watering hole in Altadena, it was an elegant restaurant, ballroom, and sometime speakeasy on north Lincoln Avenue at Palm Street. The picture and additional information on Prohibition in Altadena are found on pages 114 and 115 of the Altadena Historical Society's book: Altadena: Between Wilderness and City by Michele Zack (2004).The Inn became infamous on June 8, 1934, when, after a night of partying in the Inn, 19-year old actress and former Ziegfield Follies member, Dorothy Dell, died in a spectacular car accident on Lincoln Avenue in Altadena.
In 1937 the building became the administrative headquarters for The Marcell Academy, which was later renamed The Mount Lowe Military Academy.
The Altadena Historical Society does not have any photographs or other memorabilia of the Marcell Inn in our collection. If you know where we can find some, please let us know. Additionally, if you have any information or pictures about Prohibition in Altadena, please share it with the Altadena Historical Society.
UPDATE: check out this piece on the Marcell Inn at the Avenue to the Sky blog.
