Hot L Baltimore

Wilson's play opened off-Broadway in February 1973. The play was set in the lobby of the Hotel Baltimore, the run-down dwelling of the play's characters. (The play's title was from the hotel's sign which had a burnt out "E" that nobody replaced.) The hotel had been condemned and the residents wondered where they would go.

The play was a success and ran for 1,166 shows. It won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for the Best American Play of 1972–73, the John Gassner Playwriting award, an Obie Award for best Off-Broadway play, and an Outer Critics Award.

In 1975, television producer Norman Lear developed the play into a half hour sit-com series for ABC. The series had several controversial elements including two main characters who were prostitutes (one of whom was also an illegal alien) and two male characters who were one of the first gay couples on an American televison series.

ABC supported the show and gave it a full publicity campaign. But the show failed to win an audience and was cancelled after a thirteen episode run.

In 1976, a second version of the series was made for French television with the title Hôtel Baltimore. This series also lasted for only a single season.

Cast (American televison series)