El Cortez Hotel 1977 and 1978

In June 1978 Carol Kendrick reported on the imminent sale of the hotel. It had graced the San Diego skyline for 50 years. At 310 feet, it was the tallest building when it opened in 1927. The red neon sign was added in 1937 (seen lit up in our 1977 clip). In the 1950s the world’s first outside glass elevator was installed. Generations of San Diegans took the trip up to The Sky Room and The Starlight Lounge to dine and gaze out at magnificent views of the harbor and the ever-growing skyline.
Evangelist Morris Cerullo purchased the hotel in 1978 and converted it into a school of evangelism. In early 1981, he put the hotel back on the market for $20.8 million. The building was resold again several times to various owners in the 1980s and 1990s. Today it is a luxury condo building.

Видео El Cortez Hotel 1977 and 1978 канала CBS 8 San Diego