Statler Hilton, Hartford 1960s

The Statler Hotels group was formed in 1925 by the visionary businessman E M Statler to cater to an American population that had become more mobile thanks to the automobile. He was the first to introduce hotel rooms with private baths and he also invented the ‘do not disturb’ sign and complimentary newspaper delivery. The business grew to a chain of hotels across the US and went into partnership with Hilton Hotels. This menu is from the Statler Hilton in Hartford, Connecticut, which opened in 1954 and was demolished in 1990. Built at a cost of $7m – a generous amount in that era – the hotel had the biggest ballroom in Connecticut, capable of holding 1200 people. Its Terrace Room, where an orchestra performed every night, became the area’s hottest nightclub. Politicians of all stripes regularly held seminars and conventions at the hotel and stars like Frank Sinatra and Sammy David Jr performed there. From its inception in the 1920s, the Statler Hotels group had its own graphic design department and many of the menus that were created have survived – thanks to people recognizing the great artwork and preserving them in scrapbooks. This stylish menu – a good example of mid-century design – is from the 1960s when cocktails cost 80c and a bottle of champagne cost $8 to $12. Gallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing. Each order includes a print of the interior menu. All printed in USA.