Hollywood Los Angeles – The City of the Stars

One mention of the word Hollywood and you immediately think of stars or celebrities. Because of Hollywood’s cultural identity as a movie studio and movie star hub, the term Hollywood has become a metonym for the United States cinema.

Hollywood is a district of Los Angeles, California, just west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Most people refer to Hollywood Los Angeles as “Tinseltown” because of all the glitz and the glamour of the movie industry. Even though some of the major studios have moved out of Hollywood Los Angeles and transferred to neighboring cities like Burbank and Los Angeles Westside, it is still a popular tourist spot.

What Hollywood Has to Offer

Hollywood Los Angeles has plenty of places and destinations that you can visit. Many historic Hollywood theaters are still used as venues and concert stages to premiere major theatrical releases and host the Academy Awards. You can find the Hollywood Walk of Fame and look for the stars of your favorite movie stars. The Walk of Fame was first created in 1958, and the first star was placed in 1960 as a tribute to artists working in the entertainment industry. An honorary receives a star based on career and lifetime achievements in motion pictures, live theater, radio, television, and or music as well as their charitable and civic contributions. Another popular landmark in Hollywood Los Angeles is the Kodak Theater, which opened in 2001. This is where the historic Hollywood Hotel once stood and is the new home to the Oscars.

If you want to check out a major movie studio facility, then the only one you can find in the area is that of Paramount Pictures. It is the only studio physically located within Hollywood. Other studios include Jim Henson Studios (famous for the Sesame Street and the Muppets), Sunset Gower Studios, and Raleigh Studios.

The Hollywood Revival

After years of serious decline, Hollywood was at the brink of extinction, when most of its landmarks were threatened with demolition. Today, Hollywood is undergoing rapid revitalization with the goal of urban density in mind. Plenty of developments are being done; several are centered in the Hollywood Boulevard itself. Particularly the Hollywood and Highland Complex, which has the same site as the Kodak Theatre, has been a major catalyst in the redevelopment of the area. There are also numerous fashionable bars, clubs, and retail businesses opening their doors in the area, giving it the chance to be one of the hottest nightspots in Los Angeles. If you are looking to stay permanently, there are also plenty of old buildings that are converted to lofts and condominiums and a W Hotel is also nearby.

Special Events and Places

Other places and landmarks you can visit in Hollywood Los Angeles include the Hollywood Bowl, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, The Ripley’s Believe it Or Not! Odditorium, and the Crossroads of the World. As for events, you have the Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade and the CINECON Classic Film Festival and Exposition that offers classic film memorabilia, expert presentations, author signing, and movie screenings with celebrity guests.