On today’s episode of the King’s Guide, we’re continuing our series with Jess Walter on his historical novel, “The Cold Millions”. This is Part 5 in the series, which you can watch on our YouTube channel here: The Cold Millions Playlist

Let's talk a little about the Longbotham Building!

The Longbotham was being built at roughly the same time that Spokane's free speech protests raged just a few blocks away, in 1909. Also known as a flophouse, this building provided low cost lodging to working class people in Spokane.

Initially, this building housed the Imperial Hotel, but soon after it was built, it became the Frederick Hotel. Flophouses could be fairly rough places to live. Reports of theft and fights were common. Also, it seems in order to run a flophouse back in the day, you might have to prove your physical prowess.

One report detailed the story of how Fred Kaiser, one of the early owners and managers of the Imperial Hotel, was challenged to engage in combat in order to prove that he could retain his business license. Fred Kaiser was 72 years of age at the time. Today, the Longbotham features the popular nightclub ZOLA, where people can get a drink and a bite to eat and listen to the best bands in town.

The Longbotham was one of Jess Walter’s original inspirations for the writing of The Cold Millions. Find his book at Auntie’s Bookstore in downtown Spokane!

Catch this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TDIDg17HHwA