After 68 is a feature length documentary film that examines historic preservation through the lens of the 15-year struggle to save the historic hotel from demolition. This film will recount the monumental history of the Ambassador and investigate the importance of historic preservation within contemporary urban landscapes.

Once a shining star among the glowing city lights of Los Angeles, the Ambassador Hotel was a treasured landmark and an iconic symbol for both the city and the nation. The Ambassador’s story is a portrait of American history that was defined by the most critical eras of the 20th Century. While many remember the Ambassador Hotel for the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968, the Ambassador’s role in history was much more pervasive. Considered at one time to be “The most famous hotel in the world”, the Ambassador is unmatched for its impact on local and national history.

The Ambassador’s story marks the irrecoverable loss of an important piece of human and social history, and as filmmakers we want to educate the public about the value of protecting our past, and thereby ensure that the other Ambassadors of the world may be saved. In cities across the globe, aging structures and historic buildings meet their end as wrecking balls tear them down, erasing the rich stories that reside behind their walls. This cycle is a familiar one in contemporary urban life, and the struggle to preserve the stories of the past through architecture is an enduring one. In a constantly evolving urban landscape; urban renewal and historic preservation both share an important stake in defining civic identity.

After 68 will uncover the rich history of the hotel and demonstrate that the hotel was more than just a Hollywood hangout for the rich and famous. It was a touchstone for our nation that played a pivotal role in the development of arts, culture, politics, and architecture in our country.