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Few locations in the world
have the instant International recognition and exposure that Hollywood
has. Hollywood is only a name that most movie goers associate
with the Film and TV industry. However, most people have no idea
that its only a cog in the wheel of the vast movie making
business which is centered in Southern California. In fact, many
of the major studios are not located in Hollywood but
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rather in other cities in the LA area. A bulk of the "digital Hollywood"
in fact is not even in the LA area, but rather up in the San Francisco
Bay area.
Most people around the world have no
idea of Hollywood's exact location or what really is there. This section
highlights some of the more famous Hollywood attractions and puts some
individual sights to the "Hollywood name". The LA Metro makes
several stops at Hollywood. Visit our
LA
Metro section for more information.
Also for very informative personnel and an excellent selection of
visitor guides we highly recommend visiting the Hollywood Visitor's Center at the entrance to
the Kodak Center on the ground floor. They will be happy to assist you with your travel,
hotel, restaurant etc, questions and often can provide discounts &
coupons for local area attractions. All attractions listed below are in
alphabetical order.
The Capital Records building
is a very famous building and is
located just up from Hollywood Blvd at 1750 Vine Street. This building
looks like a bunch of records stacked on top of each other (or for a
modern analogy, DVD's). Visit Hollywood & Vine for more information:
www.hollywoodandvine.com This building is an office building and is
closed to the public. The design of the building is so unique its worth
a photo. If you see this building at night, the tower on top flashes
red. Its flashing "Hollywood" in Morse Code!
The Ford Amphitheatre
is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd East next to the 101 Freeway north of
the "tourist" part of Hollywood. They have a plethora of performances
and events for all types of tastes. There is an indoor and outdoor
stage, each of which can be rented for screenings. Call ahead to order a
"box dinner" and pick it up when you arrive before your show. The LA
Film festival also screens shows here outdoors in the summer.
www.fordtheatres.org --> See our
Venues section for more info
| The Greek Theatre
is located along North Vermont Ave off of Los
Feliz Blvd. This, along with Griffith Observatory was built in 1929
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from money left by the founder of Griffith
Park,
Griffith J. Griffith. The location
is in a canyon and was chosen as the outdoor acoustics are very
good.
Griffith was a character
who during a vacation to Santa Monica shot and severely wounded his wife, and as a result spent time in
San Quentin. He also had a generous side as he donated 4000 acres to the City of Los Angeles for
Griffith Park. The Greek Theatre is a beautiful intimate outdoor small
theatre set against the hills - many famous performers have sung here.
For
more info visit:
www.greektheatrela.com |
Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park is located just north of the 101
right next to Hollywood. It sits on the sides of Mt. Hollywood and you
follow a winding road up the to top. This is a popular Los Angeles
landmark which first opened to the public in 1935 - its white exterior with blue dome can be seen from afar on
clear days. The land for this site was donated by a man so nice they
named him twice; Griffith J. Griffith also left the money for the Greek
Theatre and Griffith Observatory to be built. This Observatory recently underwent extensive interior
renovation and reopened to the public in November of 2006. For a while,
demand was such that you could not drive a private vehicle up to the
observatory and reserve shuttles or walking were the only ways to visit.
However, demand has eased and cars are once again allowed to drive all the way to the
observatory.
Our favorite entrance is via North
Vermont Street off of the large Los Feliz Blvd. There are many parking spots
near the famous Greek Theatre but to hike from this area to the top
would take about 35-45 minutes all uphill. There is a parking lot right
next to the observatory which may be closed off sporadically on busy
days such as weekends. If its closed off, there is parking down further
on the main roads. The general public can enter the Observatory and view all of its exhibits without
having reservations or paying any fees. There are good views of the Los
Angeles Basin on clear days, and the Hollywood Hills (including the
Hollywood Sign) from the side of North Vermont and
East Observatory Roads. See our photos below for what is possible to see
on a clear day!! On a clear day you can stand on the outside promenade
on the second floor and pick out many landmarks all across the valley -
all the way down to the tall buildings of Long Beach way in the
distance.
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Tickets to the Planetarium are purchased on a
first come first served basis. There is a free 24 minute film
that shows several times a day in the Leonard Nimoy Theatre and
covers information about the history and the recent renovation.
Public telescopes are available for free in the evenings (7pm to
10pm). Be sure to pick up a free brochure on the 1st level -
this explains basic history, hours, and includes a detailed map
of the property. A Cafe and gift shop are located on site. |
There are three main levels of the observatory - the
lower level contains several excellent constellation exhibits. The mid
level also has exhibits and information about the observatory. The top
floor is an excellent location to look out over the entire Los Angeles
basin area and there is also a high powered telescope room. Visit
www.griffithobs.org for information about Griffith Observatory or
www.laparks.org/grifmet/gp for more information about the park
itself. There is also a sporadically updated blog about the park here:
http://lagriffithpark.blogspot.com
The famous
"Hollywood" sign
in the hills has been seen in many
movies and can been seen from many areas along Hollywood Blvd. There is
no direct access to this sign - and if you try to drive up into the
hills to get close, you will invariably see road signs that say "no
access to Hollywood sign". In fact it is illegal to hike or get anywhere
close to the sign itself. It is protected by metal fences and security
cameras. However, there are a few streets that will provide you with
excellent views of the sign. We recommend the following two areas for
photographing the Hollywood sign:
(1) You will have to look this name up on a map
(http://maps.google.com), but the end of Rockcliff Drive has some of the
best views. You can actually drive on Vine Street off of Hollywood but
you will have to wind around many streets before you get to Rockcliff.
The neighborhoods here are nice with many fancy homes. Consider instead
driving North on North Gower (which runs into Hollywood), then turn
right for a block or two on Scenic drive and make an immediate left on
North Beachwood Drive and keep driving North until you cannot drive
north anymore. Several areas including the end of Rockcliff provide good
views of the Hollywood sign. The areas are in residential neighborhoods
and the roads are extremely narrow. Often cars will be parked on both
sides of the narrow streets and there is only space for one car to pass
even though you can drive both directions on the roads. Be conscious of not driving too fast. I am sure
the residents see enough of the tourists driving their neighborhoods in
search of Hollywood sign views. Too bad land is so valuable - there
really should be a parking lot or section of land set aside for
photography of this sign.
Here are the Google Earth coordinates of where Dave photographed the
Hollywood sign:
34° 7'44.58"N and
118°19'11.85"W
(2) A wonderful place for hiking with absolutely awesome views of
the Hollywood sign is located just above Lake Hollywood (also called
Hollywood Reservoir). This is an area that takes a little work to get
to, but is rarely frequented by tourists. When we have been here
we've found TV camera's filming TV commercials along one of the
hiking/biking trails - only in Hollywood, right?! To get here, 1. take
North Gower North from Hollywood Blvd - before you drive under the 101,
be sure you are in the middle lane of Gower as that is the *only* lane
that continues straight. and drive for about a mile up
into the hills. 2. Veer left onto Winans Drive and keep driving for a
short distance to the left until Winans makes a very sharp right - make
that right turn and stay on Winans. 3. Make a soft right hand turn onto Creston Drive and
follow that until you hit Durand Drive. 4. Turn right onto Durand drive
and you will very soon see a small parking area (accommodates maybe 4-5
cars) and a hiking trail leading off. If there is no parking here, you
can probably find parking along Durand Drive. Great trails for both
biking and hiking are located just above Lake Hollywood. Follow the
trail down several hundred feet to a lookout over Lake Hollywood - then
hang a right and hike in about 1/3 of a mile. There is a small hill upon
which you have great views of the Hollywood Sign.
The definitive website for this famous landmark is:
www.hollywoodsign.org
The
Hollywood Farmers Market
is held on Saturday mornings along
Vine Street near the corner of Hollywood Blvd, just down from the
Capital Records building. Great spot to pick up local farm fresh produce
and fruit. Excellent selection as there are over 90 vendors. A small
amount of free parking spots are available at the Doolittle Theatre at
1623 N. Vine Street. More information here:
www.farmernet.com/events/one-cfm?venue_id=587
The
Hollywood Walk of Fame
is a free attraction and lines both sides of
Hollywood Blvd east and west of the Kodak Theatre as well as on parts of
Vine Street. These are gold metal stars embedded in pinkish looking
marble which is then embedded in the concrete sidewalk. Each star
contains the famous person's name and their accomplishment. Not all
stars are for movie actors. See if you can find Steven Spielberg's star.
Dave has taken his photo next to this one. Steven's Mom Leah runs her
own restaurant not too far from Hollywood. Information from Dave about
her restaurant here. Good photo ops
next to your favorite actor or actress' star! See if you can spot the
Fredericks of Hollywood star. Hint, its front of the original Fredericks
of Hollywood store in a corner location!
Continuing east from the Kodak Theatre you will bump into the
Erotic
museum
which opened in 2003. This museum is similar to the one in
the Moulin Rouge district in Paris. It contains exhibits and artwork
exploring human sexuality. A museum store is located in the front. More
information:
www.theeroticmuseum.com
Continuing east from the Erotic Museum eventually you will see the
historic
Pantages Theatre
which was built in 1929 and was home to
the Oscar awards for 10 years. More information here:
www.seeing-stars.com/OnStage/Pantages.shtml
The Kodak Theatre
located almost next door to Graumann's Theatre
is home to the Academy Awards as well as many other star studded events.
This is a relatively new theatre having opened in 2001. Over 94 million
dollars was put into the construction of this - its unbelievable inside
- this is one of the highlights of Hollywood and we highly recommend
taking a tour. Be sure to stop at the Hollywood Visitor's center (ground
floor of the Kodak center on Hollywood Blvd) to pick up a coupon for
several dollars off admission to the Kodak Theatre.
During the Oscar Awards a huge red carpet is rolled up and down
Hollywood Blvd outside of the theatre and it goes to the main entrance.
Public admission to the Academy Awards is by a lottery only and there is
a very careful background check - and you have to go through heavy
security the night of the actual awards. Preparation and rehearsals for
the Academy Awards takes at least 3.5 weeks before the actual "big
night".
Your tour will take you inside the VIP room which is contained on one
the side of the main lobby. The architect used "soft glass" so that when
you walk on the outside of this room the windows instantaneously turns
fuzzy and you cannot make out the features of those inside. However at
certain angles you can see who is inside; this was done so those outside
of the VIP room have at least a glimpse of who is inside there, but at
the same time gives the celebs their privacy. Be sure to check out a
real Oscar award on display in the VIP room. During the Academy Awards
there is no VIP room and this room is not closed off from the main
lobby.
Unlike other theatres the Kodak was specifically designed to be a studio
as well as a theatre all rolled into one building. This is very unique
as in LA you have specific studios or you have specific live theatres,
not both. The stage is enormous (one of the largest in the world) and
you will have a chance to walk across it during your tour. The main room
is high-class - with balconied sections and plush carpet and seats. You
will have a chance to sit in the front row during your tour and there
may be large photos in the seats indicating where celebs sat down during
the latest Oscar Awards.
The tours last 30 minutes. No recording equipment
including any type of camera is allowed (must be turned off as well as
cell phones). We snuck in one photo of the main lobby which appears here
but for other photos you have to visit their website. Perhaps next time
we will take a hidden camera - its not like this theatre is ever
photographed. The easiest parking is at the garage at
Hollywood and Highland. Advance reservations are highly recommended
especially for weekends and summertime. Visit:
www.kodaktheatre.com/theatre_tours.htm for more information
about tours and this theatre.
The Kodak Theatre is part of the huge
Hollywood & Highland Shopping
Complex. Website:
www.hollywoodandhighland.com
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The center of "tourist" Hollywood is near Mann's Graumann Theatre
& the fairly new, already very famous, Kodak Theatre. You can
start your walking tours here - parking is available in a garage
almost directly behind this theatre. Be sure to purchase
something as when you show your receipt to the parking attendant
you will receive discounted fare. Tours
of theatres may not count towards discounted fares. Since you are in the
heart of the film industry, to cover your parking cost, consider buying
a cheap movie at the Virgin Megastore located next door to Graumann's
Theatre in the Hollywood & Highland shopping complex.
The front of Graumann Theatre has the handprints and words from the most
famous of actors and actresses over the years. Squares of
concrete are reserved for individual actors. Modern actors and
actresses continue to put their hand prints and write small
notes into the concrete squares here. |
Its always a big hoopla and red carpet event when
an actor/actress puts their handprint in the concrete here. You can
return a few years between visits and you will see new handprints. This
is an excellent place to take photos and is always highly crowded,
especially in the summer months. This theatre is probably the most
popular movie theatre for new movie premiers and is highly sought after
by studios. There are several "movie characters" hanging around, who are
in costume here - be careful for the one that looks like Freddy Kruger
leaning against the wall without arms showing and no eyes. He looks like
a sculpture. However when you walk in front of him he will jump out and
wave his plastic knife excitedly - most tourists are completely shocked
when this "statue" comes to life in front of them! Highly recommend
putting yourself in viewing distance of this character and watch the
tourists reactions. These characters will ask for tips if you take a
photo with them. $1 per photo is probably fine. They do real well I
imagine based upon all the tourists who take their photos with them. Chewebacca is another popular costumed character here.
Tours of this famed theatre are well worth the money and are given seven
days a week. You can buy your tickets at the ticket booths to the left
and right of the main entrance. The tour lasts about 30-40 minutes and
takes you inside the front of the theatre as well as the main
auditorium. A tux clad tour guide will provide many details about the
theatre's history. If a movie is playing you will be taken inside for a
few minutes, but photos are not allowed of course until after the show
is over (you can come back later). One of the highlights of this tour is
the VIP room - where parties for movie premiers are held and famous
Hollywood celebs do hang out here on occasion. For more information call: (323) 463-9576
Additional Information
For more information about Hollywood visit
www.seeing-stars.com Although
this is ad driven & may have pop ups, it is by far the best resource for
anything related to Hollywood and Beverly Hills - including much
information about specific actors and actresses. For information about
18 historic blocks along the entertainment part of Hollywood Blvd visit:
www.hollywoodentertainmentdistrict.com
Interested in seeing where some of the stars are buried? Visit the
Hollywood Forever Cemetery:
www.hollywoodforever.com
The Hollywood Reporter:
www.hollywoodreporter.com
Also visit our section regarding Studio Tours
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