<P> Accounts vary as to when and where Berlin wrote the song . One story is that he wrote it in 1940 , in warm La Quinta , California , while staying at the La Quinta Hotel , a frequent Hollywood retreat also favored by writer - director - producer Frank Capra , although the Arizona Biltmore also claims the song was written there . He often stayed up all night writing -- he told his secretary , `` Grab your pen and take down this song . I just wrote the best song I 've ever written -- heck , I just wrote the best song that anybody 's ever written ! '' </P>
<P> Accounts vary as to when and where Berlin wrote the song . One story is that he wrote it in 1940 , in warm La Quinta , California , while staying at the La Quinta Hotel , a frequent Hollywood retreat also favored by writer - director - producer Frank Capra , although the Arizona Biltmore also claims the song was written there . He often stayed up all night writing -- he told his secretary , `` Grab your pen and take down this song . I just wrote the best song I 've ever written -- heck , I just wrote the best song that anybody 's ever written ! '' </P>
where was irving berlin when he wrote white christmas
where was irving berlin when he wrote white christmas
La Quinta , California Arizona Biltmore
La Quinta , California Arizona Biltmore