YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
The Chi Chi, 1936-1969
courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society
Celebs would go to hear Lena Horne or Sammy Davis Jr. belt out ballads at the Chi Chi
(1936-1969), or have drinks at The Doll
House (1930-1966), where the barstools
were equipped with seat belts. In those days
the “season” traditionally kicked off in late
October with a party at the Racquet Club,
with impromptu soirees at which Frank
Sinatra, “Honorary Mayor” Bob Hope, and
Bing Crosby performed for their peers in
i Menu the club’s bar.
The Chi Ch l Society
rica
lm Springs
courtesy Pa
Mayor Frank Bogert
courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society
Cary Grant and Betsy Drake in 1972
courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society
Histo
One of Palm Springs’ most colorful characters was
Frank Bogert, a cowboy and city mayor to whom many
gave credit for glamorizing Palm Springs in the 1930s
by photographing visiting celebrities and sending
the photos, along with interesting copy, to California
newspapers. Raised on a Colorado cattle ranch, he came
out to Wrightwood to work at a stable. When the owner
died and left him 60 horses in 1927, Bogert came to
Palm Springs and offered trail rides for $1. Mayor of
the City for four terms from 1958 to 1966 and 1982
to 1988, he saw periods of rapid growth. He supported
the development of hundreds of homes by the Alexander
Construction Co., thereby doubling the population and
making the city an outpost for modernist architecture. In
1963, he invited Albert Frey to design an eye-popping
modernist gas station at the entrance to town – a design
that Bogert later regretted, but design connoisseurs love
to this day. He died at the age of 99 in 2009.
Smoke Tree Ranch, a historic community of homes and
guest cottages on 375 acres of desert, has been a retreat for
some of the world’s foremost families. Growth was gradual
and has been controlled since 1936, when Fred and Maziebelle Markham bought what was then a shaky investment and transformed it into their dream come true. In
its early days the Ranch had barbed wire fences around it,
the roads were dirt, and they hosted professional rodeos.
In 1945 the Markhams sold the entire Ranch operation
to the Colony as a group. Colonists retained individual
ownership of their homes and home sites. Walt Disney’s
1937 Albert Frey designed ranch house there is now up
for sale. It has a 2 bedroom main house and a 2 bedroom
“bunk house” which was
added in the mid 1960’s
and also was designed by
Albert Frey. Smoke Tree
Stables still offers guided
rides to the public by the
hour or day.
Chi Chi Starlight Room
courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society
modernist architechture
photo: Jim Haefner, haefnerphoto.com
modernist gas station
designed by Albert Frey
& Robson Chambers
courtesy Palm Springs
Bureau of Tourism
Walt and Lillian Disney at Smoke Tree Ranch
courtesy Palm Springs Historical Society
1936 also marked the establishment
of the Palm Springs Chamber of
Commerce. Continuously supporting
businesses for seventy-seven years,
it’s the most established, longest
running Chamber in the area.
9