The film was shot in a real location, the town of Görlitz, Germany, but a department store was used for the hotel interior.
The hotel kicked off a boom in theaters, offices, and restaurants around the intersection of Fourth St and Broadway, which became known as the city's Magic Corner.
Its glittering, high-society reputation drew several celebrities and politicians to make their permanent homes there, including Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and presidents Herbert Hoover and Dwight D.