The Oval Room has gone through several changes throughout the history of the hotel. Originally called the Palm Court and later the Colonial Room, it sampled many unique styles, including different murals. The ceiling was “originally painted dark blue with a gilded compass, constellations, and zodiacal signs” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 8). Then around the 1995 renovations, the room changed to another look where the oval ceiling had a mural depicting a blue sky and clouds. During this time, there were four murals on large panels that featured “historic Virginians of different periods,” called The Virginia Reel, The Quadrille, The Wala, and The Minuet (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 7). These murals were created by artists A. Karoly and L.P. Szanto with Irving and Co. Other small murals were also featured in the room dating back to 1938. However, in the more recent 2020 renovation, the oval room’s ceiling was reverted to its original mural of the night sky, with the walls decorated with a more modern look. It is said that the stars within the night sky are "a constellation of stars dated November 1st, 1852, being the date of the first train entering Roanoke" (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 17).

Background:
“The expansion of Hotel Roanoke during the late nineteenth century reflected the economic success of the Norfolk & Western railroad and the boom town prosperity of the city that headquartered that major steel rail era line” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 14). Both the Northeast Wing and West Wing were developed from this initiative, in the midst of the great depression. The West Wing, replacing “the 1890/1898 west or main wing,” was built by 1938 whereas the Northeast Wing was in 1931, which replaced the “the 1882 frame annex” that was there since 1916 (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 15). In contrast to the Northeast Wing, which was described as representing “architectural continuity, civic pride, and interest in automobile tourism,” the West Wing was promoted as an “architecturally significant modern version of an old English inn” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 16). George B. Post & Sons was the firm in charge of the 1938 renovations design of the West Wing, and selected the “‘Georgian design’ of the Main Dining room, now the Regency Dining Room; the Palm Court, now the Oval Room: and the Grand Ballroom” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 17). They also included the new Peacock Alley and the Lobby within the hotel’s new wing. The firm chose “consultants of national stature to furnish and decorate the interior public spaces of the hotel: furnishings by Marshal Field and Company of Chicago; decorating of special rooms by Rambusch Decorating Company of New York City” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 17). They also selected artist Hugo Ohlms to paint the nine murals in the Lobby. Certain parts of the West Wing have been renovated since then, but most of its architectural integrity.

About the artist:
Andrew Karoly (1893-1978), was born in Veranno, Hungary. After World War I, he traveled throughout Europe “producing etchings and paintings of architectural views of city landmarks” (“Andrew Karoly.” Fine Prints). Karoly came to New York City around 1920. There he worked with the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) who commissioned him to do public murals in collaboration with another Hungarian-born artist, Louis Szanto. Both Karoly and Szanto have made collaborative “murals for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago and for Bellevue Hospital in New York” (“Andrew Karoly.” Andrew Karoly | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture). Many of Andrew Karoly’s paintings and etchings can be found in many American collections today.

A Hungarian-born painter and etcher of figure studies, landscape, and marine views, Louis Szántó (1889-1965), often referred to as L.P., was born in Hungary in 1889. He studied art in Vienna and Budapest before World War I. After the war, Louis Szántó became known internationally for both his paintings and etchings. He traveled “throughout the Baltic States, Italy, France and Holland and exhibited his art in many major centers, including New York and Chicago” (“Louis Szántó.” Louis Szántó | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture). Szántó moved to the United States during the beginning of the Great Depression where he was commissioned by the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). During this period, he created various pieces from the American viewpoint and worked in collaboration with artist, Andrew Karoly (“Louis Szántó.” Louis Szántó | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture). His pieces can also be seen in many American collections.

Sourced from:
“Andrew Karoly.” Fine Prints, Van Abbe, Albee, Arms, Benson, Ruth Chaney, Morgan Dennis, Philip Kappel, www.eteichertfineprints.com/searchartist.php?inartist=Andrew+Karoly. Fine Prints: Andrew Karoly

“Andrew Karoly.” Andrew Karoly | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture, WOLFS | Fine paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, wolfsgallery.com/artists/andrew-b.-karoly#:~:text=Hungarian%2DAmerican%2C%201893%E2%80%931978,%2C%20Germany%20and%20particularly%2C%20France.
WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture: Andrew Karoly

“Louis Szántó.” Louis Szántó | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture, WOLFS | Fine paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, wolfsgallery.com/artists/louis-lajos-szanto. WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture: Louis Szántó

"National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke," United States Department of the Interior National Park Service, 8 Nov. 1995, www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/128-0025_Hotel_Roanoke_1996_Final_Nomination.pdf. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke

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