The Beverly Hilton hotel has a scandalous past

PRESIDENTIAL affairs, pop star deaths and prostitution stings ... the hotel where the Golden Globes are held has a very colourful history.

Democratic presidential hopeful former Sen. John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth in 2008. His wife has since passed away.

THE truth about the Golden Globes venue is far more interesting than many of the films and TV shows that will win awards on the big night.

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Presidential affairs, celebrity deaths and prostitutes all feature in the shady past of the Beverly Hilton, the place where the Globes have been held since 1961.

Here are some of the biggest scandals that have taken place at the legendary hotel over the years, as compiled by The Hollywood Reporter.

Marilyn Monroe with President John F. Kennedy, centre, and Robert Kennedy, left, at a Democratic fundraiser on May 19, 1962.

JFK hooked up with Marilyn Monroe and others: The promiscuous President reportedly used the hotel as a home away from the White House when he was in Los Angeles. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the hotel was where JFK and Marilyn Monroe had some romantic liaisons, but she wasn't the only one. In her 1978 memoir, Judith Exner wrote that she was taken to actor Peter Lawsford's room where the President tried to convince her to take part in a threesome with another woman. "He assured me that the girl was safe and would never talk about it to a single soul," said Exner. Unfortunately for JFK, she turned him down.

Prostitutes were regulars: In 1987 TV host Merv Griffin bought the Beverly Hilton for $100 million but he was shocked to learn that prostitutes regularly hung out inside the venue. According to his friend Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, Griffin banned the woman from returning, "But within six months, the hotel's profits went down 50 per cent," said Von Anhalt. "So Merv told the hookers to come back."

Former Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss sobs on the witness stand in court.

The Heidi Fleiss sting: Fleiss, aka the 'Hollywood Madam', had a list of clients that reportedly included actors, musicians, politicians and sporting personalities. In 1993, Police officers arranged a sting operation to put an end to her prostitution business. Posing as Japanese businessmen, Police officers arranged with Fleiss to hire four prostitutes to entertain them in their suite at the Beverly Hilton. According to TruTV, more than 20 agents stormed into the room once the girls were filmed in the hotel room agreeing to have sex with the undercover officers. Fleiss wasn't at the hotel at the time but she was arrested the following day.

Democratic presidential hopeful former Sen. John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth in 2008. His wife has since passed away.

Presidential nominee busted with mistress: John Edwards was a potential Presidential nominee in 2008, but his dreams were dashed when he was busted visiting his mistress, and their love child, at the Beverly Hilton. Reporters from the Enquirer snapped pictures of the politician entering and leaving the hotel room. When he saw the members of the press, Edwards ran into one of the hotel bathrooms and hid from the photographers. But he was dragged out by hotel security. He later owned up to the affair and admitted that he fathered his mistress's child.

A coroner's van carrying the body of Whitney Houston leaves the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California.

Whitney Houston's death: In February 2012, the singer was found dead in her bathtub in room 434 at the Beverly Hilton. According to the coroner's report, Houston drowned in the bathtub and was found to have cocaine in her system. Out of respect, the room has remained empty ever since.