Famous Women Who Visited Hot Springs

As documented in The Vapors by David Hill, Hot Springs was a vibrant entertainment destination that attracted some of the most recognizable female performers of the 20th century.

• Gay Orlova-  A 1930’s singer and dancer associated with mobster Charles “Lucky” Luciano during his 1936 stay in Hot Springs. 
• The Andrews Sisters-  One of the most popular vocal groups of the 1940’s, known for close harmonies and wartime hits.
• Marie McDonald- An American actress and singer who rose to fame in the 1940's and 1950's for her film, music, and nightclub performances, Marie McDonald was known for her striking presence and Hollywood career.
• Mamie Van Doren- A film actress and sex symbol of the 1950’s. She was one of the “Three M’s” along with Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield.
• Sophie Tucker- Known as the “Last of the Red Hot Mamas,” Tucker was a major vaudeville and recording star.
• Mary Ford- A celebrated vocalist and guitarist best known for her groundbreaking recordings with then husband, Les Paul.  Her smooth vocals and innovative use of multi-track recording helped shape modern pop music. 
• Patti Page- One of the best-selling female vocalists of the 1950’s. She sold over 100 million records during her career. 
• The McGuire Sisters-  A successful harmony trio of the 1950’s. They recorded more than 60 singles, earned six gold records, performed for five American Presidents and Queen Elizabeth II, and were inducted into the National Broadcasting Hall of Fame and Vocal Group Hall of Fame. 
• Mitzi Gaynor-  A film and stage star known for musical roles and dancing. She starred in “South Pacific” and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. 

Source: Hill, David. The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America’s Forgotten Capital of Vice. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2020. 

These accounts are long-standing community stories. While often repeated in local memory, they are not documented in historical records and should be understood as such rather than verified fact.

• Marilyn Monroe - Marilyn Monroe, the iconic Hollywood actress and enduring cultural figure, is said to have stayed at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. Local lore also claims she visited the Best Court cottages, staying in Room 11 with American baseball legend “Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio. 
• Mae West - Mae West, the legendary actress and performer, is said to have appeared at the Ohio Club during the 1930's. She was once linked to Owney Madden, the former New York mobster she dated in the 1920's, who later moved to Hot Springs in the 1930's.
• Josephine Baker – An internationally renowned entertainer and civil rights activist, Josephine Baker was one of the most influential performers of the 20th century.
• Jean Harlow – A major Hollywood star of the 1930’s, Jean Harlow became an enduring symbol of early film glamour.
• Lana Turner – A leading actress of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Lana Turner was known for both her film career and cultural impact.
• Sammy Smith – A country music singer best known for his emotional ballads, Sammy Smith achieved national recognition in the early 1970’s.
• Barbara Eden – A television and film actress best remembered for her starring role in I Dream of Jeannie, Barbara Eden became a pop culture icon of the 1960’s.

Image Credit: Today in History: Marilyn Monroe, The Gaston Gazette (January 14, 2014), photograph accompanying the historical feature on Monroe.