There are some fun facts about Hollywood that you should know and that are part of the history and world fame of this district located in the city of Los Angeles, on the west coast of the United States, a place considered as the mecca of cinema par excellence and the home of many stars that have given life to countless stories on the big screen. So, if you are planning to visit or just want to know a little more about this place, then we will describe some of them:
Its name has an Asian background: The history of the name of Hollywood is curious and original. It is said that the founder of this city and more than 100 municipalities in the United States, the real estate agent H. J. Whitley, said in his personal diary that this term came to his mind when, in 1886, he was enjoying his honeymoon, and saw an Asian citizen carrying a wheelbarrow with wooden logs, and when he asked him what the name of his occupation was, he replied: “hauling wood”; that is, “transporting wood”, which sounded like Whitley to him, like “Hollywood”.
It was not part of Los Angeles until 1910: It all started with a land that Whitley bought, which grew step by step; and by 1900, there was already a post office, two markets, a hotel and a newspaper. But the inhabitants required the service of drinking water and sewerage, so in 1910 they voted in favor of joining Los Angeles.
Cinemas were banned before it joined Los Angeles: Ironically at the beginning of Hollywood, cinemas were banned, as alcohol consumption in bars or hotels was.
The film industry moved to California after an argument: All film producers operated in New York and New Jersey at the end of the 19th century, but the “patent war” happened because it was considered that exaggerated tax rates were paid, which resulted in their transfer to Hollywood, where also the day was longer and electricity was saved. Already in 1911 the first recording studio was installed.
The Hollywood sign was born as an advertisement: This famous sign located on the hill known as Mount Lee was devised by a Los Angeles Times newspaper publicist in 1923 as part of the promotion of a real estate called Hollywoodland, so he got to collect $ 250,000 to make the letters 15.2 meters high and 9.5 meters wide that connected to electric towers so that they were illuminated by parts, first “Holly”, second “Wood”, then “Land”, and finally the whole word “Hollywoodland” lit up. Subsequently, the termination “land” was removed.
But the sign that currently exists was installed in 1979 thanks to the founder of Playboy magazine, who was responsible for raising funds to restructure the cartel, improving the design in which the new letters were 13, 7 meters high and 12 meters wide. The 9 removed letters were auctioned for $ 28,000 each. It should be noted that after that, it has been illuminated only when in 1984 the Olympic Games in Los Angeles were held.
The sign was the scene of a tragedy: In 1932 the theater actress Peg Entwistle moved from New York to Los Angeles in order to try her luck with the cinema, and she got a role in a mystery movie; however, her contract was not renewed, so full of frustration, she decided to go up to the letter H of the Hollywood sign, and threw herself into the void, so the reason for her suicide was classified as “professional failure”. Without a doubt, one of the saddest and most unfortunate fun facts about Hollywood.
The first film made in Hollywood: It was a short romantic drama based on the Mexican era, and that lasted only 17 minutes, which was entitled “In old California“ where four actors acted, and was directed by DW Griffith.
The most watched sign: These famous letters were the subject of many events and inappropriate acts, so Los Angeles City Council made the decision to prohibit access to the public, and since 2000 it is fenced and monitored with microphones, cameras and motion sensors permanently.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame: At the beginning of this walk, it was thought to place next to the name of the honored artist, a cartoon of his image; but this project was discarded because it was considered very difficult. This walk was designed in 1958 to represent the glamor of Hollywood and in its space the names of about 2400 celebrities are, being currently one of the most visited and photographed places by tourists visiting this city.
Nevertheless, The Walk of Fame officially opened in 1960 with the star of American actress Joanne Woodward, and since 1968, it was established as a rule that to have a star on The Walk of Fame, the celebrity must be willing to attend the inauguration.
ALFA