The Wyndham, located on 58th Street in Manhattan, directly behind The Plaza, was a small hotel (200 rooms) in which we lived for a short while after returning to the States from London and before moving to the Howard Johnson’s in Danbury. I know, I know… from La Mamounia in Marrakech to The Ritz in Paris to the London Hilton to the Howard Johnson’s?! The mind reels.
Anyway, while the Howard Johnson’s distilled, for me, the hotel experience to its essence, the Wyndham was probably the perfect example of the median hotel experience.
It was practical: maid service, clean, good linens, plenty of towels, and room service with acceptable food. In addition many of the rooms also had kitchenettes for those on an extended stay.
It was convenient: on 58th street directly behind The Plaza between 5th and 6th Avenues, it was half a block from Bergdorf’s and the Paris movie theater and around the corner from Carnegie Hall and the Russian Tea Room.
It was cheap compared to its neighbors.
And it was also glamourous: not a flashy kind of glamour but and old fashioned, “people in the know,” un-wasteful kind of glamour. It was known as the actor’s hotel and many famous ones who had the money to stay elsewhere stayed there because the owners, John and Susan Mados (who also lived there) made it feel like home. Hume Cronin, Jessica Tandy, Stacy Keach, Anthony Quinn, John Cassavetes, and Lawrence Olivier all called it home for the duration of a play on Broadway or a movie shoot or longer. It was like a small European hotel in the heart of New York. Sadly, it closed in 2005.
I worked around the corner in the ’80s, and it was a great place for lunch or their generous cocktails after work. Never knew who you’d see in the dining room! Fond memories.
We live in Cambs, UK and stayed at this hotel in 2000! We LOVED it. I was so sad to find it missing from all my searches, as I recommended it to many friends. I remember the colourful, welcoming and smartly furnished reception area and the old style gated lift manned by a very smart operator! It was the perfect location.
We loved it! We’d eat in a restaurant across the street, trying to stay up late and get on “New York Time”. Happy memories – and thanks for writing,
Cheers, Wendy
Carried Ms. Rowland’s bags 💼 to the Wyndham lobby. She was in town with John promoting ‘Gloria’. I understand now why it was referred to as, ‘the actors hotel 🏨’ . I’ll always remember that place, that block, lived near there myself at the ‘Radio City Apartments’ on W.49th st. right across the street was World 🌎 Cinema 🎦 playing, “Inside Seka’
Good times then,… hunh ?
RIP Gena Rowlands. Thank you for sharing that memory. They were good times…
I too saw Ms. Rowlands there, on this occasion in 1990 at the bar at Jonathan’s which was attached to the hotel. Quite an impressive lady.
One of our greatest actresses. Thanks for sharing and commenting!
Truly an amazing talent. RIP lovely lady.
Had the pleasure of meeting Roy Scheider in the elevator one morning. Always stayed at the Wyndham when in New York on business or pleasure. Miss it dearly.
Roy Scheider – that’s quite a celebrity sighting! Thanks for posting.
Me alojé en el hotel en el año 96. La ubicación era inmejorable y nuestra habitación grande y confortable. Me enamoré del ascensor antiguo y de la atmósfera que se respiraba nada más entrabas en recepción. Lo recordaré siempre con mucho cariño.