Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn will never be the same now that its namesake has died. Despite Garland’s Dec. 5 death at age 82 from complications related to cancer, the hotel will continue to honor the actress’ memory and won’t shift direction, according to General Manager Bert Seneca. “The family has run it since 1972 and has no intention of changing anything,” Seneca told the Business Journal. During the past year, the hotel underwent a leadership transition, with James Crank assuming the role of general managing partner. Crank is the son of Garland and late land developer Fillmore Crank. The husband and wife team opened the hotel near Universal Studios 36 years ago in North Hollywood. Fillmore Crank died in 1999. In widowhood, Garland an actress who appeared in a variety of cult films, including “Swamp Women” and “Not of This Earth,” and hit television shows such as “My Three Sons,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” and “7th Heaven”,continued her work as both an actress and hotelier. In addition to James Crank, Garland is survived by daughters Carrington Goodman and Cathleen Smith; son, Fillmore Crank Jr.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Before her death, Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn also planned to do extensive renovations to the property. First up is the hotel’s pool, where work is slated to begin in early January. However, Seneca said, “That [date] may change from week to week. We’re working on permitting from the City of Los Angeles.” In addition to the hotel pool, the hotel lobby, guest room corridors and banquet facilities will also be revamped. The Holiday Inn has also selected the Beverly Garland to be the site of a re-launch because of the high scores customers have given it on quality assurance questionnaires. As part of the re-launch, which will begin at the end of March, the Beverly Garland will receive new flat panel televisions, a new logo and more prominent signage. But is the new signage indicative of a name change for the hotel? Not so, Seneca stressed. “Beverly Garland’s name will always be on the building,” he said. “For the hotel at the moment, business proceeds as usual, but it will never be as normal without Miss Garland as part of the team.”
