usoftie: Yes, the Bonaventure was known as a Marriott in True Lies.

letiole: The technical term for the kind of rotating elevator you saw in Frankfurt is "paternoster." Those were quite popular in Germany at one time.

Applefan: A better example of John Portman's work is the Renaissance Center in Detroit, the big brother to the Westin Bonaventure. The tallest tower, the Marriott hotel, is 73 stories tall, has an express glass elevator to the top outside, and 1800 fpm interior elevators. The four main office towers all have exterior glass elevators.

Perhaps the best elevator building that ever existed is the (now demolished) Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas. Wonderful glass elevator outside, plus an enormous express elevator with all of the effects: clicks and motor sounds [the elevator equivalent of revving your car engine], dramatic acceleration and deceleration, and, while waiting outside for the elevator to arrive, a breeze blowing at you through the closed doors as the elevator approached the landing to whet your appetite for the ride experience to come. The James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever featured Sean Connery riding on top of the Landmark glass elevator.

elektrik: The tune that I associate with elevators is Ramsey Lewis' Sun Goddess. I once made a Super 8 movie on the Landmark elevators synchronized to this song. Think about the opening bars of Sun Goddess the next time you are on a fast elevator that is accelerating...somehow it fits.

BTW, I expected 2-3 responses to my query...this is awesome! Thanks for all of the tips...keep 'em coming.