Larry Johnson was told during his initial job interview that his position wouldn’t be “permanent.” That was over 40 years ago, and Larry remains as much a foundational part of the historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel as its grand lobby staircase and famous grotto ballroom, the Rathskeller. Starting as a doorman in the early 1980s, Larry is now the hotel’s historian and an integral part of the hotel’s legacy. His role calls him to recount grand stories such as the connection between the hotel and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of its publishing this spring.
Tell us about the connection between The Great Gatsby and the Seelbach.
I love telling people how Fitzgerald was stationed at Camp Taylor (7.5 miles away from Louisville), and how he would make his way into what’s now the Rathskeller and the old Seelbach bar — that was called The Stables at the time. Fitzgerald portrayed his main characters in The Great Gatsby, Tom and Daisy, as having their wedding reception in our grand ballroom.
What was the city like a century ago?
During the roaring ’20s, Louisville had the best poker room and the best billiards hall in the Midwest at the Seelbach. It was a great stopover during that time due to its central location. More than likely, more famous (and infamous) personalities than George Reuss, Dutch Schultz, Al Capone, and F. Scott Fitzgerald stopped by.
What other fun facts from history should we know?
We’ve had eight different presidents spend the night at the hotel. We’ve had movies shot in and around the hotel, one of the most popular being the 1978 Bill Murray film Stripes. Those are some of my favorites.
What are your hobbies?
I love to play golf, and I bowled for 50 years.
You have a collection of…
Baseball caps. I’ve got hats from all over the world. I started collecting them around 40 years ago.
One thing people don’t know about you:
I was raised on the corner of Woodruff and Seelbach Avenues.
Your biggest accomplishment?
In 1988 I was named National Bellman of the Year, and 30 years later I was named the National Historian for Historic Hotels. And, of course, my wife, my daughter, and my grandkids are my biggest accomplishments.
Something you can’t quite get the knack of?
Before working at the Seelbach, I had a couple of jobs (working at a car manufacturer and printer) that weren’t the best fit.
What’s the biggest lesson you learned from your parents?
To be kind to everybody. My mom and dad never met somebody they didn’t like, and the old adage holds true for them: They never met a stranger.
Your inspiration comes from…
My sister. Both my parents worked, and I stayed with her. She would take care of me when I was little. When I became a young teenager, she taught me how to dance and how to bowl.
By Tonilyn Hornung | Photo by Randy Daniels
P.S. You may also be interested in Treasure Hunting With Her GPS.
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