Hammett news page A short biography The Continental Op Blood Money Red Harvest The Dain Curse The Maltese Falcon: The novel The movie The 75th anniversary The Glass Key The Thin Man Woman in the Dark The short story collections The novels in one volume Books about Hammett Chronology of Hammett's fiction Hammett's army days "Dashiell Hammett Place" Hammett's Post Street apartment: A photo tour (2005) Declared a landmark (2005) The Flood Building The Hammett Suite at Hotel Union Square Links to other Hammett sites Contact Mike mikehumbert.com homepage This site is dedicated to all the people like Don Herron, Bill Arney, Richard Layman, William F. Nolan, Josephine Hammett Marshall, Julie M. Rivett, Steven Marcus, Joe Gores and others who have kept 1920s San Francisco in the here and now. Special thanks to Vince Emery for his many helpful contributions to this website. Entire website copyright 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006 by Mike Humbert.

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THE  DASHIELL  HAMMETT  SUITE AT  HOTEL  UNION  SQUARE

Hotel Union Square, back when it was called the Golden West.  In the foreground are the Flood Building, and the Powell Street cable car turntable.

Near the corner of Powell and Ellis Streets are three of the most important Hammett sites in downtown San Francisco.  One is the Flood Building, the massive structure where Hammett worked as a Pinkerton Detective.  Another is John’s Grill, a favorite of both the fictional Sam Spade and the real-life Hammett.  The third is Hotel Union Square. In mid-1921, Dashiell Hammett had just arrived in San Francisco.  His health had improved (somewhat) after a punishing battle with Spanish influenza that had developed into TB.  He had contacted the local branch of the Pinkertons, and was again working.  Overall, things were looking up. Then Hammett’s fate took a sudden left turn.  He learned that Josephine Dolan, the pretty nurse he had met in Washington state during his recovery, was six months pregnant.  Hammett quickly proposed marriage, and arranged for Jose to come to San Francisco. In that day and age, it wouldn’t have been proper for the bride-to-be to stay in Hammett’s rented room, so he made a reservation for Jose to stay across the street at Hotel Golden West. 85 years later, Hotel Union Square (as it is now called) is still in business, and justifiably proud of their Hammett connection.  In December 2005, artist/designer Lisa Compagno was hired to transform the art deco hotel's room 505 in the Dashiell Hammett Suite. I dropped in the photograph to project in progress. Almost immediately after the room is completed, a film crew representing Warner Brothers will be conducting interviews in the Dashiell Hammett that will be used in a documentary on an upcoming DVD (more details on this as they become available).  Among those to be interviewed will be Jo Hammett Marshall (DH’s daughter), Julie Rivett (granddaughter) and Hammett biographer Richard Layman.

The main entrance to Hotel Union Square, as it appears today.

Lisa Compagno, ably assisted by her husband Peter Colpitts.

In the suite's entryway, Lisa mounted two stainless steel eyes as a reference to Hammett's story "The Girl with the Silver Eyes."

Also near the door: a vintage suitcase filled with Hammett's books.  On the wall above is a reproduction of Black Mask magazine, in which Hammett published many stories.

The art deco twin beds, each with its own Hammett portrait.

The vintage-style radio.

Hotel staff member Marcilio Delinas installs the period-appropriate windowshades.

"The Shadow of the Thin Man."

Two Maltese Falcons:  one book, one statuette.  Also a rare photo of J. Edgar Hoover in drag.

Two chairs in front of the windows facing Powell Street.

Window stenciling adds to the atmosphere.

The Ellis Street side of the room.  From these windows, one can see both the Flood Building and John's Grill.

On the desk:  a portrait of Hammett's wife and daughters.

Lisa Compagno assembled this huge collage of Hammet-related images.

Even the bathroom gets the Hammett touch...

...right down to the hand towels!

"...the stuff that dreams are made of."