Carl B. Montgomery

Carl B. Montgomery is best known for his many years of service as the manager and lease holder of Greenwhich Village's Hotel Marlton. He was a prisoner of war while serving the United States Army in WWII. He was captured by the Nazis and sent to a POW camp. When the allied forces defeated the Nazis and freed Montgomery, he was a mere 102 lbs and near starvation. When he returned to the United States he settled in New York City. His time fighting in Europe gave him a lust for life that he made obvious to anyone who knew him. He moved into the Hotel Marlton at 5.W 8th St in "The Village" in 1969 but worked there from 1954-1983. The hotel was a popular weekly/monthly residence for Bohemian actors, musicians, artists and poets while conducting their business in New York. Jack Kerouac resided at the hotel when "On The Road" was published. Montgomery's friendly,helpful and loyal attitude made him popular with such notables as Lenny Bruce, Valerie Solanas (the radical feminist best known for her attempted murder of Andy Warhol) and film actor Mickey Rourke. He took Rourke to his first Broadway play and Rourke credits Montgomery with introducing the then youth to acting. In 2003 Montgomery shared the impact made by the comedian with then Actors Studio Drama School student, Matt Amar. The two became close friends and Amar wrote a play about Bruce and Montgomery. The play has been turned into a documentary titled "Looking For Lenny" and is scheduled for release in 2009 which features Montgomery. Montgomery was featured in the documentary and he was a key figure and inspiration in the production. He resides on the same floor in the hotel today with his wife Ellen. He had three children, Christine, Blanche and Carl Jr. Carl Jr. Passed in 1984. Blanche lives in the hotel today and Christine lives on Long Island with her family.