Two ways to see Hollywood

Most people who come the Hollywood Blvd. at Highland come to see this.I’ve done this myself, I’ve been here with the grandkids taking pictures with this exact Minnie Mouse.

Last weekend I came here for a friend’s wedding shower. Of course my interest was different, it was to get a closer look at the buildings.The famous El Capitan theater.  Thank you Disney for refurbishing this wonderful theater, most people go for the movies and live shows. Me, I’m interested right now in the exterior.  Built for live theater by  Stiles O. Clements  in 1926. At the time, the main theater district was still downtown on Broadway. This was the largest legitimate theater in Hollywood – everything else was most probably burlesque.  In 1941 it was converted to a movie theater.  The interior is incredible as well, but I didn’t go inside.   One thing to notice is that the fire escape is built into the building, except for the final balcony with a drop down ladder to the street.The exterior is covered in wonderful spanish inspired cast concrete.  This is the same period when glazed terra-cotta tiles and decorations become a popular way of cladding a building. You can get a better view of the wonderful balcony at the end of the fire escape.Next door and predating the theater by 5 years in the Masonic Temple. The heading reads FREEMASONRY BUILDS IT’S TEMPLES AMONG THE NATIONS AND IN THE HEARTS OF MEN

Many Hollywood stars and moguls were Freemasons. Aside from their meeting hall they also had clubs and a ballroom. Apparently there was a tunnel connecting this building to Grauman’s Chinese Theater across the street. It was used to smuggle alcohol during prohibition. these days the subway runs under the street and the tunnel is no longer accessible. It is now owned by Disney and as you can see, Jimmy Kimmel broadcasts his show from him. It was up into the large open Mall, Hollywood and Highland. Here you can see people viewing the Hollywood sign from the center of this great arch.    The interesting design is a recreation of the set for DW Griffith’s movie – Intolerance.  This set remained in the Hollywood hills for 4 years after filming – only to be dismantled in 1919.

This is the Babylonian section. Clearly Griffith didn’t know much about Babylon, these winged figures are Assyrian, an even older culture. To see some original Assyrian Panels, with this exact figure – go over to LACMA.Elephants were also a big part of the set, not sure if they are any more accurate than the winged deities. Yes, I went up to that balcony and took the same picture that millions of others do. Sorry it’s somewhat blurry. I didn’t bring my good camera.  Of course as someone who loves walking the old neighborhoods of LA I can tell you there are much better vista points for this iconic sign.

I always tell people, no matter where they are walking, no matter what city. Look up, stop for a moment and really take at the buildings around you, you will be surprised by what you see.