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History
Antonio Monteleone was an industrious nobleman who was operating a very successful shoe factory in Sicily when he heard great things about America. The call of adventure motivated him to pack the tools of his trade and head for “the land of opportunity.” Antonio arrived in New Orleans circa 1880 and opened a cobbler shop on Royal Street, the busy thoroughfare of commerce and banking in America’s most European city.
At the time Royal Street was indeed the grand street of the “Vieux Carre”, as the French Colonial’s sometimes called the new town. The Hotel Monteleone has history of all sorts behind it. Being one of the premiere hotels in downtown New Orleans the Monteleone caters to the world during the famous Mardi Gras Festival.
In 1886, Mr. Monteleone bought a 64-room hotel on the corner of Royal and Iberville streets in New Orleans’ world famous French Quarter. The setting was ripe for Antonio to spread his entrepreneurial wings when the nearby Commercial Hotel became available for purchase. That was only the beginning of an amazing historical landmark that is one of the last great family owned and operated hotels in the city. Since 1886, four generations of Monteleones have dedicated themselves to making their hotel what it was and still is- a sparkling jewel in the heart of the French Quarter.
There have been five major additions to the Hotel Monteleone. The first was in 1903 when 30 rooms were added. The next addition occurred in 1908, during a time of financial panic in the United States; when 300 more rooms were added. 1908 was also the year that the name of the hotel was changed from the Commercial Hotel to Hotel Monteleone. In 1913, Antonio Monteleone passed away and was succeeded by his son Frank who added 200 more rooms in 1928, a year before another horrible crash in the U.S. economy. The Hotel Monteleone was one of America’s few family- owned hotels to weather the depression, and remained unchanged until 1954. That year the fourth addition required the razing of the original building and the foundation was laid for a completely new building that would include guest facilities, ballrooms, dining rooms and cocktail lounges. In 1964, under the direction of Bill Monteleone, who took over after his father passed in 1958, more floors, guestrooms, and a Sky Terrace with swimming pools and cocktail lounges were added.
FILM
“Double Jeopardy” – Starring Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. Filmed in Lobby, front of hotel and the Carousel Bar transformed into the Armani Shop.
September 2004
“Glory Road” – a Jerry Bruckheimer production. Starring Josh Lucas, Derek Luke and Jon Voight. Filmed in Lobby and also built set in storage area. Hotel featured as fancy hotel lobby in a different city. Conference space was set aside for extras. This was the same crew that worked on the production of “Double Jeopardy” in 1998.
September 2005
“The Last Time” – Starring Brendan Fraser and Michael Keaton. Filmed in Lobby, Carousel Bar, Hunt Room Grill, Bagatelle and Engineer.
February 2005
“Retirement” – Starring Peter Faulk. Filmed in Hotel’s fine dining restaurant Hunt Room Grill. Restaurant is stand in for any Steak House. Hotel provided all steaks; salad and other food prep as well and table settings etc. Rooms provided for talent during filming.
March 2008
“12 Rounds” – Starring John Cena. Filmed in Vieux Carre Suite (1480), 14th floor hallway, roof by the Marquis, boiler room, garage freight elevator, Lobby and front of hotel. Employee’s cafeteria & Exchange Alley was used for film crew lunch breaks.
TV
Travel Channel – “Best Places to Pop the Question”
February 2003
Travel Channel – “COPS – Mardi Gras”
August 2003
Syndicated – “Southern Living Presents” – Hotel was used as backdrop for intro and closing segments of 6 episodes. Provided accommodations for show host and crew.
November 2003
Travel Channel – “Get Packing” – Hotel was featured destination for winners of dating game show. Accommodations were provided for cast and crew.
December 2003
ESPN – “Super Retrievers” – Hotel not featured. Hotel provided accommodations to cast & crew of hunting show.
Food Network – “Food Nation with Bobby Flay” – Carousel Piano Bar and Lounge featured in segment about most unique bars in New Orleans.
March 2004
NBC’s – “The Apprentice”- Hotel not featured, accommodations provided to Mark Burnett productions to conduct candidate interviews.
April 2004
E! Entertainment – “Dr. 90210″ – Hotel featured, Dr Rey and family stayed in hotel and were filmed here as footage for show.
July 2004
Food Network – “Best of” – Follow Productions – Hotel Chef featured in segment about best Gumbo in New Orleans. Accommodations provided for 5 cast and crew doing feature on New Orleans.
August 2004
Style Network – “Love’s a Trip” – Accommodations for contestants and crew, Hotel received full credit as accommodations of choice in New Orleans.
September 2004
Travel Channel – “Weird Travels -Spirits of the South” – Hotel featured as a haunted destination. Investigation and interviews conducted with regard to the entities that inhabit the Monteleone.
HDTV Production Company – Featured Hotel Halloween party “Ghoulish Gala 2004″ as feature in documentary on Halloween in New Orleans.
NBC – “Today Show” – Haunted New Orleans.
January 2005
Weather Channel – “Weather Channel Road Crew” – hotel provides accommodations for 3 crew members scouting location for Road Crew Segments.
February 2005
Travel Channel – “Taste of America – with Marc De Carlo” – Hotel featured in segment with chef detailing the preparation of Gumbo. Provided accommodations for cast and crew.
HDTV Production Company – Featured hotel in documentary about Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Hotel provided accommodations for crew.
March 2005
CBS – “Morning Show” – Filmed one of our doormen saying “Welcome to the Hotel Monteleone. I always start my day with the CBS Morning Show”.
October 2007
NBC – “Today Show” – The feature was “Most Famous Haunted Hotels”. The story of Josephine and Jacques Begere and their son Maurice was mentioned.
February 2008
PBS – The Carousel Bar was the setting for a PBS documentary featuring an interview with local music critic Keith Spera about New Orleans’ very own Fats Domino.
March 2008
A&E – “Criss Angel Mindfreak” – Filmed in the Eudora Welty Suite, lobby and the rooftop by the Marquis. Hotel provided accommodations for Criss Angel and crew.
BRAVO – “Make Me A Super Model” – Filmed in the lobby and the FJ Monteleone Suite. Hotel provided accommodations for cast and crew.
CNN – “Larry King Live” – Interviewed John Cena, WWE wrestler, playing the role of Det. Danny Baxtor in the movie “12 Rounds”. Interview took place in our Carousel Bar.
