OT: Well, I'm off to Hollywood, CA!

[Bartman]

Okay, I'm outta here for a few - I leave tonight for LA and Hollywood until Monday the 21st! Going to the Egyptian Theater for a cartoon fest this Friday night, then plan on spending the rest of my time out there sightseeing and the like...

The best part? At least it won't be cold there!

See ya!

[Larry T]

Hey Barty, hope you have a good trip!

Bring me back a slab of sidewalk from in front of Graumann's as a souvenir ;) .

[GeorgeC]

Just try not to get mugged in Hollywood!

Besides the Chinese Theater, that town is pretty much a dive...!

It was a big disappointment to me when I went along on a family trip there in the late-1980s...

Heck, they don't even really make movies in Hollywood anymore.

Everything produced in "Hollywood" is really made around L.A. itself, Burbank, Studio City, or Culver City. There's only like 1 or 2 studios actually still within the bounds of Hollywood.

[frogboxer]

Enjoy your stay out here in L.A., Bart!

Hey, if you do go to Burbank this weekend maybe we'll run into each other! (Yeah, I know, probably not - but stranger things have happened.)

[frogboxer]

P.S. Is that the Genndy Tartakovsky event you're going to?

[J. B. Warner]

Have fun!

I've been to Hollywood before - my mom still owned her toy store at the time, and she had to go there in 1998 for a yo-yo gig. In fact, I specifically remember that it was the week "Lethal Weapon 4" premiered at Mann's Chinese Theater. I had to watch the festivities from across the street, but I think I saw the top of Danny Glover's head.

Still, my biggest thrill was meeting an employee outside the Klasky-Csupo animation studio - he claimed that they were cooking up a big surprise for "The Rugrats Movie" (which was to be released that November), but I never figured out what it was.

[Dave Bennett]

The best part? At least it won't be cold there!



It's now the Saturday morning of your visit . . and it's 58 degrees and raining!!

Sorry, 'bout that!

[Ray Pointer]

[QUOTE=GeorgeC]Just try not to get mugged in Hollywood!

Besides the Chinese Theater, that town is pretty much a dive...!

It was a big disappointment to me when I went along on a family trip there in the late-1980s...


Sadly, George you are reporting on the scene from 20 years ago. Get mugged? Ridiculous! That could happen only if one goes down streets that clearly are not safe, which is hardly the case now. So if one is expecting to be mugged for some sadistic satisfaction, one can experience that if they are looking for it. But this is not necessarily the place to find it. There are too many people going up and down Hollywood Blvd. for that to happen. Although Hollywood still has a long way to go to become the glamorous location it is thougth to be, it is actually better than it was.

With the addition of the new Kodak Pavillian and Academy Theater on the corner of Hollywood and Highland, Hollywood has improved. Besides the Chinese Theater, the El Capitan across the street, which is the premier Disney theater is another good attraction. Also The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is a landmark, as this was the site of the first Academy Awards. There is also a small Movie musuem on the mezzanine that displays photos of the development of the area, with a few momentos such as an old Simplex SIlent Era projector and a Technicolor camera on display there.

The Demille Barn, formerly at the corner of Selma and Vine Streets is now the Hollywood Heritage Museum. This was the barn rented by Demille when he arrived in Los Angeles to film THE SQUAW MAN, which was the beginning of Paramount Studios in Hollywood. What is most interesing is the recreation of Demille's office from the teens. The rest of the displays are rather sparce and not always in the best condition, but are there just the same. The Demille Barn is now located on Highland across from The Hollywood Bowl.

The Pantages Theater is a thrill to see, as its lobby is reminiscent of Radio City Music Hall on a smaller scale. The orginal plan was to make this a west coast version of Rockefeller Center. But when the depression hit, the project was never finished. One of the contruction engineers was names William Hanna. Suddenly thrown out of a job, he went up the street to the Schesinger's Animation Studio, and took a job as a cel washer. I wonder what became of him?:bosko:

As the saying goes, "believe half of what you read, and none of what you hear." With this in mind, give consideration to reports on Hollywood from someone who does not live in the area, is not current with the situation, and also seems to consistently report on things in the negative.:tweety:

[rodney]

We were in Hollywood for a week in September, and while it wasn't as ritzy looking as I expected, I always felt safe on the main streets.

[frogboxer]

We were in Hollywood for a week in September, and while it wasn't as ritzy looking as I expected, I always felt safe on the main streets.I've never felt like I was in any danger being down in Hollywood either. Some parts of it are skanky, but I wouldn't describe them as being unsafe.

[absolutpaul]

I spent a great month-long vacation in Hollywood a few years ago. I met (or saw) many stars and saw the Chuck Jones Tribute at UCLA, saw some Our Gang shorts at the Silent Movie Theatre and had a great time. Everyone I met was very nice and helpful to me! I have to say though, that Hollywood/Vine is much like downtown Yonge St. in Toronto - mostly cheap souvineer stores, bums and various other hustlers - and tourists, of course! Naturally, it was all fun to see, but it wasclearly not the "classiest" section of Hollywood. I've been planning to go back since, but reason after reason prevent me the time to go. I will soon, though.

[GeorgeC]

[QUOTE=absolutpaul]....it wasclearly not the "classiest" section of Hollywood.[QUOTE]


That's putting it mildly! :tweety: