Some Points of Interest
that you’ll see along The L.A. Loop^™ scenic drive

1. Which celebrity was originally named Eugene Orowitz? a) Michael Landon b) Elton John c) Jerry Lewis d) John Wayne ... and the answer please

2. Which studio has a tour? a) Warner Brothers b) Paramount c) Universal d) NBC ... and the answer please

3. The first Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in a) 1918 b) 1923 c) 1929 ... and the answer please

4. In what year did Katherine Hepburn win an Oscar for Best Actress? a) 1933 for Morning Glory b) 1967 for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner c) 1968 for A Lion in Winter d) 1981 for On Golden Pond ... and the answer please

5. Which is illegal while driving in LA? a) U-turns at intersections b) right on red c) applying make-up while driving on the freeway ... and the answer please

6. How large is LA? a) 40 square miles b) 85 square miles c) 110 square miles d) 460 square miles ... and the answer please

7. True or False. Temperatures never vary by more than 10^o F between day and night ... and the answer please

8. True or False. "June Gloom" refers to the fact that most divorces in LA occur during the month of June ... and the answer please

9. True or False. "Meter Maids" in LA are the most zealous in the world ... and the answer please

10. Match the celebrity with the job they had before becoming a full-time actor. Who ... Whoopi Goldberg, Pierce Brosnan, Demi Moore, Sean Connery, or Harrison Ford ... was a ... lifeguard, carpenter, debt collector, brick layer, or circus fire eater ... and the answers please

BEVERLY HILLS

The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows sit on 12 acres and have been a landmark since 1912. The Polo Lounge here was so named by Hollywood celebrities who would stop in for refreshments after playing polo. Irving Berlin reportedly wrote the song "White Christmas" while sitting at the hotel pool.

Holmby Park's lawn bowling club invites inquiries regarding free instructions.

The Museum of Television and Radio showcases its collection of 75,000 TV and radio programs. "www.mtr.org"

The plush Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel has been used in many movies including "Pretty Woman" starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

Rodeo Drive is the famous street where for some people money is no object while shopping at its expensive designer stores. There is a small building that was designed in 1953 by Frank Lloyd Wright at 332 Rodeo Drive. In the 1910's the median strip on Rodeo Drive running from the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Bl. to a station on Santa Monica Bl. was a trolley line

Sculptures are a popular lawn decoration in Beverly Hills

Many Stars' Homes and former homes are in Beverly Hills and Bel Air. Over 100 are shown on the map. Some of those on the tour include George Burns & Gracie Allen, Herb Alpert, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, Shirley Temple Black, Pat Boone, Buddy Hackett, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Peter Falk, Rosemary Clooney, Ira Gershwin, Rod Stewart, Gregory Peck, Walt Disney, Barbara Streisand, Burt Reynolds, Elvis Presley, Englebert Humperdink, Jane Mansfield, Rudy Vallee, Aaron Spelling, and Bing Crosby.

Witch's Landing is a house that was originally built for and used in a movie. It was moved here later and is now lived in by a private resident. Don't you wonder how she celebrates Halloween?

CENTURY CITY

Century City was at one time the studio backlot of 20th Century Fox but the value of real estate led to its development. You'll find high-rise office buildings, hotels, the Century City Shopping Mall, and wide streets with beautiful fountains.

Fox Plaza, on Avenue of the Stars, was the building used in the first Die Hard starring Bruce Willis.

The prestigious(?) LA Country Club once denied Esther Williams (Olympian and actress) access to a function because she was wearing pants instead of a dress.

Rancho Park has the busiest public golf course in the city. Arnold Palmer once shot a 12 on the 18th hole here.

DOWNTOWN

The Central Library, which was built in 1925, is the third largest library in the United States. "www.lapl.org"

City Hall will look familiar to fans of the TV series "Superman". Clark Kent came to work here. It was also headquarters in the TV show "Dragnet".

The US Bank Tower is LA's tallest building at 73 stories.

The LA Times newspaper offers a free tour that includes the pressroom which is nearly the length of two football fields. "www.latimes.com"

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has a postwar collection. "www.moca-la.org"

The Music Center's seven acres contains three performance buildings and the "Peace On Earth" sculpture which is surrounded by computerized dancing fountains. The Academy Awards have also been held here.

The Disney Concert Hall is adjacent to the Music Center and was designed by Frank Gehry. It is the winter home of the LA Philharmonic.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Park marks the birthplace of LA. In the plaza is a plaque listing the names and ethnical backgrounds of the original eleven families who came here in 1781 from Mexico to establish a settlement. Historic buildings and Olvera Street are located adjacent to the plaza. The street is now a small crowded walkway lined with festive Mexican shops.

Union Station, LA's train and bus station, was built in 1939. The building's classic interior architecture (which includes 50 ft. cathedral ceilings) is popular with film companies. Scenes from "The Way We Were", starring Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand, were filmed here.

EXPOSITION & ECHO PARKS

University of Southern California alumni include Neil Armstrong, Ron Howard, OJ Simpson, and John Wayne. "www.usc.edu"

Exposition Park includes; the Natural History Museum (it has a great gold exhibit) "www.nhm.org"; the Aerospace Museum; the IMAX Theater (there's no such thing as a bad seat here); the Museum of Science and Industry; a 16,000 bush Rose Garden; the Afro-American Museum; the Coliseum (home of the '32 and '84 Olympics); the Olympic Swimming Stadium; and the Sports Arena.

The Shrine Auditorium was built in 1926 for unamplified performances and seats 6300. It has hosted the Academy Awards.

The St. Vincent de Paul Church characterizes the Spanish Baroque style of design.

Echo Park features three 100 foot fountains. The picturesque setting plays host to many film crews.

GRIFFITH PARK

In 1896 a Welsh newspaperman, Griffith J. Griffith, donated land to the city that later became (no surprises here) Griffith Park. There are 4,400 acres in the park.

LA Live Steamers is a club of large scale model train aficionados.

Travel Town is a free outdoor transportation museum. Large scale model train rides are available here. "www.ci.la.ca.us/dept/RAP/grifmet/tt/"

The beautiful and fascinating LA Zoo is home to "a cast of thousands" from all five continents. "www.lazoo.org"

The Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum presents the history of America's westward movement and features changing displays. Be sure to stop at the gift shop. It is very impressive. Gene Autry was a radio, film and TV singing cowboy in the 30's-50's. He also popularized the Christmas song "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". "http://zeus.questorsys.com/autry-museum/"

The Merry-Go-Round is over 50 years old and it still delights the young of heart.

Large scale model railroad and pony rides can be enjoyed in Griffith Park.

The Greek Theatre is an outdoor amphitheater. Top entertainers perform here in the summertime.

Built in 1935 the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium offers great views (heavenly and earthly) of the LA area. Free exhibits and telescope viewing are available. "www.griffithobs.org/"

Fern Dell Park has a winding picturesque pathway along a small stream. Picnic areas are also nearby.

HOLLYWOOD

The American Film Institute (AFI) was established in 1967 by the National Endowment for the Arts as an independent, nonprofit film school. It's one of the nation's finest. "www.afionline.org"

The Capitol Records Tower was built to resemble a stack of records. Maybe now it looks more like a stack of CD’s?

Desilu Studios, where Lucy and Desi filmed "I Love Lucy", is now called Raleigh Studios.

The El Capitan movie theatre is a beautifully renovated theatre that shows Disney movies. They often give brief stage shows in addition to the movie.

The LA Film Office offers a daily list of what is being filmed "on location" around LA.

Frederick's of Hollywood is synonymous with lingerie.

Graumann's Chinese Movie Theatre is world famous for its hand and footprints of the stars. Also, reps from various live audience TV shows are usually here giving away free tickets. Characters dressed as characters are abundant here as well. They want you to pay them to have their picture taken with you.

Guinness World of Records Museum ... the mostest of the bestest(?).

Huck Hound and his cartoon friends were created by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Hollywood Wax Museum offers stars in wax.

The Hollywood Bowl outdoor amphitheater, summer home of the LA Philharmonic, is host to a wide variety of music. No matter what the style of music, it is traditional to picnic while at the Bowl. You can even buy your picnic-in-a-box right here.

The Hollywood Bowl overlook gives you a good view of the Hollywood Bowl, the Capitol Records Tower, and the Hollywood sign. Built in 1923 the sign advertised a real estate development. Each letter is 50 ft. high and 30 ft. wide.

The Hollywood Entertainment Museum features sets from "Cheers" and "Star Trek".

The Hollywood Studio Museum is given credit as being the first film studio in Hollywood. Cecil B. DeMille used it when filming "The Squaw Man" in 1913. This state monument was moved here from its original Hollywood location.

The Kodak Theatre hosts the Academy Awards and in 2010 will be hosting the Cirque du Soleil for a multi-year run.

The best prestidigitators from around the world perform at the Magic Castle, which is unfortunately a private club.

Melrose Ave. (between La Brea and Fairfax) has a reputation for being trendy and funky. It is jam-packed full of unique shops.

The Pantages Theatre was built in 1930 and is still going strong. Early Oscar shows were held here.

Paramount Studios, with its familiar water tower, stands guardian over Hollywood. It's the one and only of the old giants actually in Hollywood proper.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not Odditorium, the name says it all.

Many homes (Stilt Houses) on LA's hillside areas are precariously(?) built on stilts.

The Improv showcases top stand-up comedians.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame enshrines "stars in stars" on the sidewalks of Hollywood.

MID WILSHIRE

The George C. Page Museum displays Ice Age fossils excavated from the sticky quicksand-like pools of the adjacent La Brea Tar Pits. Over 650 fossilized species have been found here. "www.tarpits.org"

The LA County Museum of Art has a varied international collection of art that ranges from the ancient to the contemporary. It has changing exhibits and a permanent collection that includes works by Degas, Monet, and Gauguin. "www.lacma.org"

The Petersen Automotive Museum is "where your imagination drives you from memory lane to the fast lane and destinations beyond". "www.petersen.org"

SANTA MONICA & MALIBU

The 3rd St. Promenade is a popular shopping and strolling area with street performers.

Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach are 10.4 miles north of Santa Monica. Will Rogers Beach, where TV's "Baywatch" often films, is 2 miles north . (The taping season for most TV shows is Spring through Fall.) Also, the original Getty Museum is 3.9 miles north.

Palisades Park overlooks Santa Monica Beach and the Pacific Ocean. This has been a setting for many scenes in films and TV.

The Santa Monica Amusement Pier was built in 1909. The carousel here was used in "The Sting", which starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

SUNSET STRIP

There is a clause that goes with any sale of the building on Sunset Blvd previously owned by Jay Ward Productions - The statue of Rocky and Bullwinkle must be preserved.

At nighttime along the Sunset Strip you may see people sporting fashions of leather, lingerie, or various bright hair colors. That's because, among others, the Whiskey and the Roxy are popular Rock-n-Roll clubs in this area.

The small upscale gathering and shopping area between 8500-8700 Sunset Bl. is known as the Sunset Plaza. There are shops, restaurants, and offices here.

People don't mind you laughing at them here! It's The Comedy Store on Sunset Bl.

UNIVERSAL CITY & BURBANK

Disney Studios put the Seven Dwarfs to work as columns holding up their building.

The Equestrian Center offers many facilities and is large enough to board 700 horses. Horses can be rented for guided (summer barbecue rides, winter breakfast rides) or unguided riding on the 54 miles of trails in Griffith Park.

NBC television is home to the Proud-as-a-Peacock people. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tapes here too.

If you watch reruns of "The Little Rascals" you'll notice when they go camping they say they're going to Toluca Lake. Celebrities have set up permanent camp here as well.

The Universal Studios Tour gives the public a look at movie magic. "www.universalstudios.com"

Warner Brothers Studios is a busy LA studio. Show “posters” are painted on the sides of the buildings.

VENICE & MARINA DEL REY

Is that a cross-dressed clown on the building at the corner of Main & Rose? The artwork is "Ballerina Clown".

The Binocular Building used to belong to the Chiat/Day ad agency. They created the "Energizer Bunny".

Fisherman's Village has a modest shopping and dining area. Marina boating excursions are also available. Parking is free if you get your parking stub stamped at one of the shops or restaurants.

Loyola Marymount University is atop the hill coming out of Marina del Rey. Grads include the producers of "The X-Files" and Bob Denver who played Gilligan on "Gilligan's Island". "www.lmu.edu"

Marina del Rey is the world's largest man-made pleasure boat harbor.

Venice Beach is home of the also infamous "muscle beach", roller skating, sidewalk vendors, performers, and weirdos the likes of which you can only find in LA.

As you drive over the Venice Canals you'll notice that you can't see what the heck is in front of you. Not to worry, it's a one way street.

WESTWOOD

The Armand Hammer Museum of Art displays works by Daumier, Rembrandt, and Rubens.

The Getty Center includes its renowned museum; and research & educational facilities. Its collection includes Greek and Roman antiquities; and works by Monet, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Gogh. The 110 acre center opened in December of 1997 at a cost of $1 billion. J. Paul Getty was an oil baron. "www.gii.getty.edu"

University of California Los Angeles alumni include Jackie Robinson, Carol Burnett, Jimmy Connors, and John Williams. "www.ucla.edu"

The V.A. Cemetery was established in 1889 . Graves include veterans from the Civil War. The last Civil War veteran to be placed here died in 1952 at the age of 108.

There is a height restriction on buildings in Westwood to help preserve its village character. The high number of first run movie theaters and restaurants makes Westwood a popular evening destination.

1. a) Michael Landon was Eugene Orowitz b) Elton John was Reginald Dwight c) Jerry Lewis was Joseph Levitch d) John Wayne was Marion Morrison ... back to quiz

2. All have tours ... back to quiz

3. c) 1929 ... back to quiz

4. She won oscars for all four! ... back to quiz

5. All are legal, c) is just dangerous and dumb ... back to quiz

6. d) 460 square miles ... back to quiz

7. False! A temperature drop of 30^o is not uncommon so bring a sweater! Also, it’s much warmer inland than it is along the coast ... back to quiz

8. False. The morning skies in June are usually overcast, thus June Gloom ... back to quiz

9. True!!!!!!!!! Put money in the parking meter ... back to quiz

10. Whoopi Goldberg was a brick layer, Pierce Brosnan was a circus fire eater, Demi Moore was a debt collector, Sean Connery was a lifeguard, and Harrison Ford was a carpenter ... back to quiz

ORDERING INFORMATION    HOME PAGE