5. A Survivor of the Titanic, Famous Writers, Actresses and Models Lived There
Throughout its more than 90 years in operation, the Barbizon has welcomed an eclectic mix of guests and has served as a launchpad for some of the most famous women of the 20th-century. Grace Kelly, Sylvia Plath, Joan Didion, Rita Hayworth, Liza Minelli, and fashion designer Betsey Johnson are just a few of the recognizable names who spent time at the Barbizon. Sylvia Plath threw her clothes off the roof, Judy Garland pestered hotel staff with constant calls to check up on Liza, and Rita Hayowrth did a photoshoot in the Barbizon’s gym.
One of the hotel’s earliest celebrity residents was “The Unsinkable” Molly Brown, a survivor of the Titanic. Brown was already older than most of the young flappers who were making their way to the newly opened hotel, but she loved her tiny room and the amenity spaces. She was often found belting out songs in the recital room. Brown died in her room at the Barbizon in 1932.
