Closed since 2005, The Fairmont Hotel (originally known as The Grunewald and then as The Roosevelt) has reopened under new ownership, and is once again known as The Roosevelt. Along with its reopening comes the return of The Blue Room.
The Blue Room opened on New Year’s Eve 1935, and has provided both locals and visitors with memories that have lasted lifetimes. An elegant supper club, The Blue Room put on elaborate floor shows and hosted a myriad of legendary, world-class musicians and performers: Big Band performers Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller; jazz artists Lena Horne and Sarah Vaughan; chanteuses Marlene Dietrich and Bette Midler; comediennes Carol Channing and Lily Tomlin; crooners Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett; and countless others. Sonny and Cher even debuted the act that later became The Sonny and Cher Show at The Blue Room.
The Blue Room was remodeled a few times – even briefly in 1939 becoming the Hawaiian Blue Room, with Polynesian décor and a mock thunderstorm – but always maintained its sense of romance and wonder. Birthdays, anniversaries, engagements and other important life moments were celebrated there. Those that couldn’t be there in person could tune in to WWL for live broadcasts of the Big Band sounds.
The Blue Room closed as a supper club in 1989, but still served Sunday brunches and was available for private functions up until Hurricane Katrina closed it in 2005.
After four years and an extensive renovation, The Blue Room is back and will be serving Sunday brunches, providing live musical entertainment and hosting private events… and creating many more memories for yet another generation of New Orleanians.
