In the late 19th century the Englishman and entrepreneur Fred Harvey helped define Southwest hospitality. He hired young refined women to work as waitresses. His Harvey House chain of restaurants and hotels were located along railways from Kansas to California. Known as The Harvey Girls their legacy became synonymous with the lore and lure of the west. MGM studios made the movie The Harvey Girls in 1946 staring Judy Garland and Angela Lansbury. The film forever solidified the fame of legions of young women that helped tame the image of the “Wild West.”
Double the Hospitality
Beverly Ireland and her identical twin sister Bernette Jarvis worked as Harvey Girls at La Fonda in 1955. The twins were hired at La Fonda because of their previous experience waitressing at the Jolly Green Giant factory restaurant in Minnesota. As Harvey Girls the two young sisters got to know all of the politicians, writers, artists ate there and movie stars who were guests at La Fonda.