When most people in the world say or think of the word “Hollywood,” the word they are using does not so much signify a place on a map defined dryly as a district within the city of Los Angeles so much as a cultural singularity, a center of gravity that draws the world’s attention because of what people think it means just as much as what it actually produces, and what actually goes on there. It does not matter that a great deal of the media considered “produced by Hollywood” does not actually “come from Hollywood.” Those two phrases mean two different things. Somewhere in the early twentieth century, the name expanded beyond the place that bears it so that now Hollywood is thought of not so much as a place as the collective cultural effect of the entertainment industry.
Hollywood, the real placeLocated about six miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California. Incorporated as a municipality in 1903, Hollywood became part of the city of Los Angeles in 1910. The core area of Hollywood is a flat to gently sloping area lying between La Brea Boulevard and Serrano Avenue, Franklin Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. However, Hollywood’s boundaries are not fixed, as it is not a formally recognized jurisdiction. While there is no consensus on the boundaries of Hollywood or what is Hollywood-related or Hollywood-adjacent, Hollywood is generally considered to cover a much larger region than the core area referenced above, incorporating such neighborhoods as Little Armenia, East Hollywood, and the residential Spaulding Square, which features many historic homes.
Business and JobsHollywood holds a unique place in the economy of the Los Angeles area. Hollywood has seen significant development and economic growth in recent years, triggered in part by the Hollywood Redevelopment Project implemented by the City of Los Angeles. The Leisure and Hospitality sector, which is driven by the tourism industry, accounts for the largest share of employment of any industry in Hollywood. Restaurants and hotels abound. Writers and performers account for a significant portion of the workforce. Film production and other forms of media account for over 10% of the workforce. Hollywood is also home to several hospitals. Medical professionals comprise about 10% of Hollywood’s workforce. Hollywood is home to entertainment industry related conventions, festivals, and trade shows.
The Hollywood Entertainment District Business Improvement District is a non-profit corporation. The purpose of the District is to promote community revitalization and attract patronage to the area by taking measures to enhance public safety, security, and streetscapes, including cleaning services. The District generates revenue from assessments to property owners within the district.
The resurgence has brought significant development to the area, particularly along the corridor serviced by the Metro B (Red) Line subway. Three B Line stations are strung along Hollywood Boulevard: Hollywood/Highland, Hollywood/Vine, and Hollywood/Western. Tucked throughout Hollywood are several small to medium-sized playhouses.
Paramount StudiosParamount Pictures’ Hollywood project is a long-term, 25-year plan to modernize its storied Hollywood lot. The 65-acre site includes several large stages, as well as a New York street backlot. Sunset Studios has three studio lots in Hollywood, including the home of the first Warner Brothers studio, now called the Sunset Bronson Studios.
Hollywood Vinyl DistrictFramed by Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Gower Street, and Schrader Boulevard, the Hollywood Vinyl District has become a magnet for hotels, restaurants, and nightlife.
Points of InterestHollywood has an abundance of points of interest, just a few of which are mentioned below.
El Capitan Theatre, dating to 1926, is a playhouse that was converted into a movie palace and later underwent a museum quality restoration to recapture its original appearance.
The Hollywood Museum identifies as the official museum of Hollywood and boosts a collection of over 10,000 items related to show business. The museum is housed in the Max Factor Building, an example of Art Deco style architecture dating to the 1920s. The building underwent a 9-year restoration.
The TCL (Grauman’s) Chinese Theatre opened originally in 1927 and is one of the most famous movie theatres ever built. The theatre remains a sought-after location for studio premiers.
The Dolby Theatre is a performance auditorium that is part of the Hollywood and Highland shopping and entertainment complex the Hollywood Ovation, which has over 640,000 square feet of space. The Dolby Theatre offers sophisticated sound and projection systems, and many spectacular architectural features. The expansive dimensions of the main stage (120 feet wide and 75 feet deep) is just one of many attributes that have made the Dolby Theatre a favorite for awards and television events.
The Hollywood Pantages Theatre is a leading venue for live theatre. Like Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood Pantages Theatre, which dates to 1930, has been fully restored.
The Hollywood Roosevelt is a historic 12-story hotel featuring Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture. Home to the first Academy Awards ceremony (the award recipients having been announced beforehand), the Hollywood Roosevelt opened in 1927 and is said to be the oldest continually operating hotel in the city of Los Angeles.
The Capitol Records Building was designed to resemble a stack of records and was the world’s first circular office building at the time of its completion in 1956.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce dates to 1921 and was the originator of the Internationally recognized Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Walk of Fame features over 2,500 brass and terrazzo five-pointed stars embedded in the sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, The stars honor the accomplishments of those who have excelled in the entertainment industry. The Walk of Fame draws people from all over the world and helps propel Hollywood’s economy.
Other points of interest include Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium and the Hollywood Wax Museum.
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