Oct. 26, 2002 - A light rain didn't dampen the sunny spirits of the 40th anniversary celebration of Motel 6 held Friday morning at the chain's original location in Santa Barbara. 

Nearly 100 people attended the event at the Motel 6 at 443 Corona del Mar near East Beach, the spot that made lodging history in June 1962 as the nation's first budget motel chain. The charge was only $6 per night per room, thus boasting the name Motel 6. 

Accor, the third largest hotel chain in the world with more than 3,600 hotels in 90 countries, purchased the Motel 6 chain in 1990. 

Those giving speeches at the festivities included Georges LeMener, president and chief executive officer of Dallas-based Accor Lodging North America. Motel 6's popular spokesman Tom Bodett also spoke. 

Mr. Bodett became the voice of the chain in 1986 and created Motel 6's enduring advertising slogan, "We'll leave the light on for you." 

The Motel 6 concept of offering clean and comfortable rooms -- minus the luxuries and accompanying higher prices -- was the brainchild of Santa Barbara residents Paul A. Greene, a building contractor, and William W. Becker, a painting contractor. 

Mr. Greene and Mr. Becker invested $800,000 to build two motels in Santa Barbara, one at East Beach with 54 rooms, and the second, with 62 rooms, at 3505 State St. 

A News-Press article published July 13, 1962 announced the opening of Motel 6 and quoted Mr. Greene describing the company's vision: 

"We are designing these units as modest sized, in good locations, with one or two double beds in each, and a private bath, including stall shower, a clothes rack instead of a closet and little furniture," Mr. Greene said in the article. 

"We feel that this is the type of simple accommodation needed by travelers with families, since a party of four can rent a room for $6. It may cause a revolution in the business in the West, but we feel it has a great future," he added. 

He turned out to be right. By 1964 there were 10 Motel 6 locations, and the economy motel segment was spreading across the nation. Other companies including Holiday Inn and Travelodge also were starting their own versions of the budget motel. 

At the time, many in the tourism industry had their doubts about budget lodgings. A Wall Street Journal article published in 1964 quoted Stephen Brener, a New York hotel and motel consultant, saying that the industry had a dim future. 

"I think they're going to be a major flop," Mr. Brener said. "The cheap room appeal is like telling people they're second-class citizens." 

Those comments didn't faze Motel 6 co-founder Mr. Becker, who responded to the article by saying "There's no reason why we can't span the U.S." 

By 1967 Motel 6 had 30 locations, and had begun charging $8 a night for two double beds in a room. That same year, the chain debuted in its most glamorous location at the time -- Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, where room prices were as high as $12. 

Today, Motel 6 has 800 locations in the United States and Canada. 

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(c) 2002, Santa Barbara News-Press, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. SIX, SXC, CD,