Commissioned by President Epitácio Pessoa from businessman Octávio Guinle for the Centenary of Independence, the Copacabana Palace Hotel was only completed 11 months after the anniversary, on August 14, 1923. The design is by French architect Joseph Gire, and much of the material was imported, including the cement, brought from Germany. It was a landmark in architecture and forever changed the orientation of buildings facing the beach, which until then had their backs to the sea.
Copacabana Palace in 1923. Source: Archtrends
Image description: The image is an old black-and-white photograph of a large building called "Copacabana Palace." The palace occupies the entire width of the image, with a classic, symmetrical façade. On the left side, we see the beginning of the building, while on the right, the structure extends toward the horizon. At the top, there is a sign that reads "Copacabana Palace." In the foreground, we see some lanterns and vintage cars parked.The Guinles already owned the luxurious Palace Hotel in downtown Rio and the Hotel Esplanada, in São Paulo. Octávio lived in one of the two presidential suites and managed the hotel closely, carrying out two daily inspections to ensure quality, taking care of every detail. He ran it tirelessly until his death, in 1964, when his wife, D. Mariazinha, took over command. With the capital's move to Brasília and competition from new hotels, the Copa fell into crisis and the heirs began looking for alternatives. In 1973, they put forward a proposal to tear down the complex to build three buildings. In 1980, another attempt, this time with a project by architect Paulo Casé, fortunately both unsuccessful. In 1989, the building was declared a national heritage site by the Patrimônio Histórico Nacional.
The Copacabana Palace pool was inaugurated in 1934. Source: Rio&Cultura website
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a hotel called "Copacabana Palace". The image shows a beach crowded with people relaxing and bathing. In front of the hotel, there is a large pool with several people swimming and having fun. On the left, there is a row of cars parked parallel to the beach. The hotel has a facade with balconies and light-colored roof tiles. At the top of the image, we see the horizon line where the sea meets the sky.Its restaurant, Bife de Ouro, made history — many meetings and political deals took place there. It was on the Copa's verandas and halls that the Miss Brasil pageants and the 1st Miss Universe (1930) took place. The Golden Room, opened in 1938, saw performances by great names such as Ella Fitzgerald and Edith Piaf. The Teatro Copacabana opened in 1949 with 500 seats and served as a stage for Cacilda Becker, Eva Wilma, Walmor Chagas, and other important artists. Its Carnival balls were world-famous and attracted many celebrities. The casino, banned just a few months after the hotel opened, resumed operating between 1933 and 1946. Benjamin Vargas, brother of Getúlio Vargas, was one of its most frequent and troublesome patrons, complete with the right to carry and "show off" weapons. In 1989, the hotel was acquired by James Sherwood, was renovated, and continues to reign majestically on Copacabana beach.
Carnival ball at the Golden Room, 1954. Source: copacabana.com website
Image description: This is a color photograph of a social event in a hall decorated with red and black balloons. On the left side, we see panels with illustrations of dancers. In the center, groups of people are talking and having fun. On the right, dancers dressed in colorful costumes are performing. The background features decorative arches with blue curtains. Everyone present is wearing formal clothing, predominantly in shades of white and black.
