SPoT Life X Zaturdays: Road Trip to Damn Am LA
Posted
on
on Saturday, May 09, 2015
by Paul
The Hotel Cecil’s Gruesome Past aka Our Damn Am LA Trip
THERE IS NO ROOFTOP BAR at the Stay on Main hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The receptionist checking us in made that clear, or at least made it clear that there was something very strange about Milligan asking about it. She seemed surprised, embarrassed, amused? We’d find out why later, and none of us liked the answer. Well that’s not exactly true, I liked the answer but that just proves there’s something a little bit wrong with me.
DON’T stay at Stay on Main if you’re sure you want to survive the night. That’s Schaefer looking relaxed in front of the house of horrors.
Oh oh oh! Didn’t Daewon do that one thing there? And didn’t J-lee do that other thing?
Atiba, Koston, and Shoulder Hands.
This is Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker. Cecil local, always down for a good time. Shake Junt!
Old Googs spilled the beans right away. He informed us that Richard Ramirez, one of the most notorious serial killers of all time lived at the hotel in the 1980s, Serial Killing’s Heyday. Richard was known as the Night Stalker when he was on the loose. After going out on a spree, he’d throw his blood soaked clothes into the dumpsters behind the Cecil and call it a night. A Night Stalker wannabe Jack Unterweger also lived at the hotel. He murdered three prostitutes, strangling them with their own bra straps. Additionally, the suicide rate at the Cecil has historically been off the charts. One time a deranged patron jumped off the roof, landed on a passerby down below and they both sailed off to the great hereafter. It’s no wonder the victims of these horrors have been roaming the halls ever since, causing all sorts of problems for guests and staff alike. Whatever you do, don’t ride the elevators alone, speaking of which… the clincher for Milligan was the story from only two short years ago when 21 year old Canadian student Elisa Lam mysteriously disappeared while staying the hotel. After an investigation, all the authorities could uncover was surveillance footage of her acting strangely in the elevator. After exiting the elevator she was never seen again. Well not alive at least. It was only after guests complained that the hotel’s water had an “odd color and disgusting taste” that someone finally thought to take a look in a water tank on the Cecil’s roof, where they discovered her decomposing body. Gross! Press reports claimed the roof was only accessible via a locked door and fire escape, but on our last night I personally climbed out onto the fire escape from the 15th floor and took the ladder straight up to the roof with no obstructions, before quickly turning around and climbing straight back down in a panic. So much for press reports. 
They definitely don’t want you on the roof, especially if you’re going to end up dead in one of their water tanks.
Brian Schaefer
This was our wannabe SPoT Life co-host Junior who showed up everywhere. He’s bros with errbody in LA. Look for him in Frank’s edit on RIDE. Diamond Park.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Eric McKenney
Eric McKenney with the bsts at Diamond. He should be pro or something.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Brian Schaefer
We showed up at Supreme on the day they released their White Castle co-lab and there was line out the door. Thankfully Schaefer is connected and got us in VIP style.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Alejandro Burnell
Alejandro fit right in down there.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
The Supreme Bowl is almost as cool from the bottom as it is the top.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Paul Zitzer
Schaefer said I had to put myself in the article, I’m usually too modest for that. But here I am tearing the bowl a new one. Pretty sure I did like 10 NBDs and blew away everyone there. Just kidding. I sucked.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Alejandro Burnell
Just because I can’t shoot a good photo doesn’t mean Alejandro didn’t shred the life out of the thing.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Matt Milligan
In LA this is just another thing. Milligan threads the needle wall jam style.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
“Is that what I think it is?” Yes, Hollywood High drive by.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Jim Greco
We found Greco at Baker. “Back’s jacked.”
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Jeff Lenoce
Lenoce gave us a tour. He’s a slow blinker.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Jeff Lenoce
Jeff, Cube, Mills, Snoop.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Antwuan Dixon
Yes! Twuan was there skating. Frank got it all on film. Check SPoT Life for moves.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Shane Heyl
Baker boys!
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Brian Schaefer
Schaefer found the perfect backdrop for his banana photo.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Meanwhile, back at the Cecil.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Frank Branca
Frank and Eric stayed in the room next door to Satan.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Matt Milligan
Milligan really did NOT like this photo I shot of the ghost outside of his window.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Paul Zitzer
And yes, we were staying on the 14th floor.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Matt Milligan
Mills, taunting the ghost of Elisa Lam.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Chris Pastras
We did a Damn Am with these dudes. Pastras, Clint, DJ Blairly Legal.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Chany Jeanquenin
We got Chany to Judge too. FS ollie game strong.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Dashawn Jordan
Papa, Dashawn, Ivan. These dudes handled it!
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
The alley where Richard stashed his bloody clothes. Until next time LA, until next time.
Date:
May 09, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer