America From Apple Pie to Ziegfeld Follies Book 2 Places

"H: Hollywood Hollywood. (p. 43-44)

The place aspiring actors go to be discovered and the place they hope to stay once they are famous celebrities. With all of the glitz, the glitter and the stars in Hollywood, is it any wonder the city was eventually dubbed ""Tinseltown""? Located in the northwestern part of Los Angeles, California, Hollywood has been slowly losing its alluring appearance. What was once a district filled with movie stars and glamor has been replaced with run-down shops and lonely vagrants wandering the streets. Long gone are the days of big film studios, starlets living in the center of town and movie premiers in the major theaters.

Today the only major studio in Hollywood is Paramount and although some celebrities may live in the Hollywood Hills, you will not find any residing in the center of town. So, how come so many tourists make a point of visiting Hollywood when they are in Los Angeles? It is because they want to come to the place where it happened, the place where so many motion pictures were made. They have come to get a feel for Hollywood’s glamorous past and to discover for themselves the town that is a legend. Hollywood really began to flourish after 1911, the year its first film studio was established.

Around that time a major chunk of the film industry moved to the west coast from the east coast. Movie studios took advantage of inexpensive land to set up shop in Hollywood. And movie producers loved the warm climate, which enabled movies to be filmed outside year round. With the building of the film studios came men and women wishing to become famous. Movie-making was the main industry in Hollywood. Such famous big-screen stars as Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe worked and lived there. Along with many other celebrities, these women helped create ""Tinseltown."" These days it is rare for visitors to see the ""rich and famous"" on Hollywood’s streets, however, there are many other attractions for people to see. Every tour of Hollywood should begin with viewing the famous ""Hollywood"" sign, which is visible for many miles.

The sign is located on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills. The Hills line the northern border of the town. In 1923, the 50-foot tall letters were erected, originally spelling out ""Hollywoodland"" as a promotional idea for a real estate development. The ""land"" was taken out in 1949. No one should visit Hollywood without walking along Hollywood Boulevard. The corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street was once considered the heart of the city. That corner was always crowded with movie stars and agents, unlike today when the crowding is mostly caused by tourists. While walking along Hollywood Boulevard, people will come across the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

This is where bronze stars are set into the sidewalk paying tribute to famous entertainment industry personalities. The first eight stars were unveiled in 1960. Since then more than 2,300 others have been added. Today some of the streets and buildings in Hollywood are being remodeled as the city makes an effort to bring the legendary town back to its original state. Whatever the success of the renewal projects, Hollywood will always attract visitors in search of the meaning behind the name of ""Tinseltown."""