Hollywood January 30, 2008

Hollywood Boulevard
A district of Los Angeles situated west northwest of downtown. It's a working area - not glamerous, certainly seedy and rundown, but still - it's Hollywood. Thought I'd take the chance to see it while I was in town.

Shopping
Shoes
Ever wonder where you might find a pair of these?

Eating
Pig 'n Whistle 6714 Hollywood Blvd
Had a pretty good lunch here.
A feeling of classic Hollywood with a vaulted ceiling, detailed mahogany woodwork and cozy booths. It is a Hollywood landmark that hosted both the first Oscar after-party and Judy Garland's 15th birthday. http://www.pignwhistle.com/
Also visit http://www.you-are-here.com/hollywood/pig.html

Entertainment
Grauman's Egyptian Theater - 6713 Hollywood Blvd
Next door to the Pig 'n Whistle. Major renovations going on to bring it back to its full glory.

In 1920, Charles E. Toberman convinced Sid Grauman, who had built several downtown L.A. movie palaces, to build the Egyptian, the Chinese Theater, the El Capitan, and the Roosevelt Hotel. These were all built in 1926 and are still standing. http://www.egyptiantheatre.com/egyptian/egypt.htm http://www.you-are-here.com/hollywood/egyptian.html

Grauman's Chinese Theater - 6925 Hollywood Blvd

I couldn't get very close because they had the area roped and were preparing for an opening later that afternoon. It was interesting to see how they pointed the cameras and lights to make the scene look glamerous - but it was really pretty rundown and tattered.

The grand opening of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on May 18, 1927, was the most spectacular theatre opening in motion picture history. Thousands of people lined Hollywood Boulevard and a riot broke out as fans tried to catch a glimpse of the movie stars and other celebrities as they arrived for the opening. http://www.manntheatres.com/chinese/ http://www.you-are-here.com/hollywood/chinese.html

Guiness World Record Museum - 6780 Hollywood Blvd
Hey - It's a World Records Museum. What would we do without them? Need more info? http://www.guinnessattractions.com/ Another look at the building: http://www.you-are-here.com/hollywood/guinness.html

Kodak Theater - 6801 Hollywood Blvd
You can see by the sign that I was there right before Super Tuesday.

Designed with the Academy Awards broadcast in mind, Kodak Theatre has hosted the annual ceremony since 2001. Kodak Theatre is proud to be home to the highest honor in filmmaking through the year 2021. http://www.kodaktheatre.com/academy_awards.htm Also http://www.you-are-here.com/hollywood/kodak.html

Pacific Theater - 6433 Hollywood Blvd

The Warner Bros. Hollywood Theatre opened April 26, 1928, with Conrad Nagle and Dolores Costello in "Glorious Betsy". The theatre was built within an office building and the auditorium is located on a diagonal axis facing north-east at the rear There was a second entrance to the west of the theatre on Wilcox Street. http://cinematreasures.org/theater/18/

...and... it's haunted by Sam Warner's ghost! http://www.prairieghosts.com/hollywood12.html

Sleeping
Hotel & Hostel (H&H) 7038-1/2 Hollywood Blvd
...

a comment from hostels.com
"H&H in Hollywood is GHETTO Submitted By: powers tilden @ 18:30 17th Aug 07
The H&H hostel(and hotel) on Hollywood Blvd is ghetto as Compton! The manager is a real gorilla .... who has the class of a jail warden. .."

Roosevelt Hotel - 7000 Hollywood Blvd
Named after Theodore Roosevelt and financed by a group including Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, Mary Pickford, and Louis B. Mayer, it opened on May 15, 1927, cost $2.5 million to complete, and is a twelve-story building that holds 302 rooms and suites. The banquet and presentation of the 1st Academy Awards in 1929 was held here. (Wikipedia)

http://www.you-are-here.com/hollywood/roosevelt.html
Hillview Apartments - 6531 Hollywood Blvd
In 1917, Jesse Lasky, founder of Paramount Pictures and Sam Goldwyn of MGM built Hollywood Boulevard’s first artist’s ‘high-rise’. Exclusively for actors, the Hillview quickly became Hollywood’s hottest address. The vast basement housed a rehearsal space until Rudolf Valentino reputedly converted it to a rip-roaring, star-studded speakeasy. Charlie Chaplin was once a proprietor of the Hillview. http://hillviewhollywood.com/index.htm

Hollywood Blvd & Vine St - Los Angeles, CA 90028