Some
Points of Interest
that you’ll see along The L.A. Loop™ scenic drive
but first ... a Quiz!
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 10o 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
City Hall .. Wayne Statue .. Witch’s Landing .. Lifesize Statues ..
Mailbox
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 MichaelJackson (house where he died), 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
Morman Church
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
Molecule Man ... Downtown LA ... Music Center ... Olvera St ...
Triforium
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
Coliseum .. Echo Park .. St. Vincent’s
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
Horseback riding .. Griffith Observatory .. Travel Town .. Autry Museum
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.traveltown.org"
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". "www.theautry.org"
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
Paula Abdul Star .. Red Skelton Prints .. Arnold S.’s Prints .. Capitol
Records
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.
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.
Guitar Center's Rock Walk "www.rockwalk.com/" has rock stars' handprints on their sidewalk. The Sunset Grill is next door.
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
La Brea Tar Pits Exhibit
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
Filming a video .. Beach Kite .. Santa Monica Pier .. Malibu Surfing ..
Topiary Fountain
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
Rocky & Bullwinkle .. The Comedy Store
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
Universal Studios .. Disney Studios
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
Venice building
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.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.
QUIZ ANSWERS
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 30o 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
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