Introduction
The captivating realm of Hollywood has always fascinated me, as it merges reality and fantasy to create a world filled with beauty, glamour, and art. It is a place where any aspiration can come true. When thinking of Hollywood, iconic locations like Sunset Strip, Hollywood Boulevard, Cahuenga Boulevard, and La Brea Avenue immediately come to mind – these sites are adorned with nightclubs, majestic theaters, awe-inspiring special effects, and extraordinary individuals who reign as the biggest stars in the film industry. Often described as a “state of mind,” Hollywood is an integral part of Los Angeles, California in the United States. Almost a century ago, it was within this very place that the American Dream surpassed all expectations and gave birth to an entirely new universe – the realm of cinema.
Movies are produced in various places, both nearby and far away. However, no location or entity possesses the ability to spark our imagination and elicit our dreams and concerns quite like the extraordinary term “Hollywood.” In reality, Hollywood is an ordinary town that encounters challenges such as crime, poverty, and a negative image. The true essence of Hollywood lies within the passion and thoughts of film enthusiasts. Presently, Hollywood represents the epitome of the entertainment industry and serves as the primary hub for all forms of media creation including films, online content, and television.
The history of Hollywood’s movie industry is presented, following its evolution from the first human evidence in this area (the Gabrielino Indians) in 1800 to the emergence of the first movie companies in Hollywood, and up to the present-day stars.
The Beginning of Hollywood
In the past, Hollywood was not known for its celebrities but for its natural beauty. It used to be a peaceful area with farms and adobes, where the starry night skies could be admired. Interestingly, before Hollywood became a hub of the entertainment industry, it had a history of pioneers and even stray camels. The Gabrielino Indians were the first people known to have inhabited the area known as ‘Hollywood.’
In 1769, a Spanish priest wrote in his diary about Indian villages in the canyons, where brush huts were scattered. The establishment of the first Spanish pueblo, Los Angeles, resulted in the disappearance of the native Gabrielinos without much evidence remaining. The term “Cahuenga”, which means “little hills” in their language, is one of the few reminders of their original presence. Mexico held control over California until the Mexican War of 1947. Following the war, Mexican landowners were replaced by farmers from the East, who also became the new owners of Rancho La Brea (now known as Hollywood). By 1853, there was an adobe hut on the site that eventually became Hollywood.
By 1870, a thriving agricultural community had emerged in the area. The community cultivated various crops such as grain and subtropical fruits like bananas and pineapples. Before the mid-1800s, California was under Mexican control and possessed abundant resources. However, after the United States won the Mexican War of 1847, complicated laws led to original Mexican landowners losing their extensive estates to farmers from the Eastern part of the country. Consequently, traditional adobes were replaced by wooden houses with porches and windmills. In Hollywood, one family eventually became owners of Rancho La Brea and established a tar refinery.
The workers at the tar beds discovered the remains of ancient saber-toothed cats, woolly mammoths, and dinosaurs. The fossil beds, known as the La Brea Tar Pits, were eventually given to Los Angeles County by the family. In the 19th century, Hollywood resembled a wild frontier town with pioneers, cowboys, bandits, and characters straight out of central casting. Among these settlers was a flamboyant individual named “Greek George”, who arrived in the Cahuenga Valley with imported camels from Turkey. During the Mexican War, George released the camels into the area.
< p > It is fitting that frontier Hollywood would bring to mind surreal images such as the sight of hundreds of camels freely roaming the Hollywood Hills until 1900. < /p >
The name… ”Hollywood”!
The name “Hollywood” comes from a ranch located in the Cahuenga Valley, which was once a desolate area. It was the site where a respectable couple, Harvey Henderson Wilcox and his wife Daeida, decided to establish a community that shared their conservative values. Harvey, who became wealthy in real estate despite being paralyzed from typhoid fever, hailed from Kansas and moved to Los Angeles with his wife in 1883.
In 1886, Wilcox purchased 160 acres (0.6 km?) of land in the countryside to the west of the city at the foothills, in the Cahuenga Valley at the present-day Hollywood Blvd. and Cahuenga Ave. He believed it would be an ideal location for a community that would reflect his conservative beliefs, so he built his house right in the middle of a fig orchard. It is incorrect to say that the name Hollywood originated from imported English holly plants growing in the area. The true origin of the name comes from Daeida Wilcox (1861–1914), who named it after her train journey back to her old home in the east. Mrs.
Wilcox met a woman who described her summer home in Ohio, which had been named after a settlement of Dutch immigrants from Zwolle known as “Hollywood”. Daeida was so thrilled with the name that she decided to “borrow” it for her ranch in the Cahuenga Valley. Upon returning home, she convinced her husband to name their property Hollywood as well. This simple exchange ultimately gave birth to one of the most renowned towns in the world. Not long after, Harvey Wilcox created a grid map for the town and officially registered it with the county recorder’s office on February 1, 1887, marking the first official use of the name Hollywood.
With the guidance of his wife, he established Prospect Avenue (later known as Hollywood Boulevard) as the main street. He planted pepper trees along with other wide dirt avenues and began selling lots. Daeida raised funds to construct two churches, a school, and a library. They brought in English holly to honor the name Hollywood, but unfortunately, those bushes did not survive. By 1900, Hollywood had developed a post office, newspaper, hotel, two markets, and a population of 500 individuals. Situated seven miles (11 km) to the east through citrus groves was Los Angeles, which boasted a population of 100,000 residents at the time.
At the start of the century, residents in Cahuenga Valley had three main concerns: poor street maintenance despite high taxes, insufficient school facilities, and growing support for prohibition. Although there was a streetcar line on Prospect Avenue, it only offered limited service and took two hours to travel. Consequently, in August 1903, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors received a petition requesting Hollywood to become an independent city.
On November 14, 1903, the election for cityhood occurred and lasted until 5:00 PM. The total count of ballots revealed that incorporation had the support of eighty-eight votes, while seventy-seven votes were against it. Consequently, Hollywood achieved its status as a city of the sixth class. Its geographic limits spanned from Normandie in the east to Fairfax in the west, and from the top of the Santa Monica Mountains in the north to DeLongpre and Fountain avenues in the south. The initial laws implemented by Hollywood’s newly established government provide valuable insights into the culture during those early days.
In the past, certain rules and regulations were put in place in Hollywood. Liquor was only allowed with a medical prescription, bicycles and velocipedes were not allowed on sidewalks, and driving herds of horses, cattle, and mules through Hollywood streets in groups of more than 200 was forbidden. Additionally, herds of over 2000 hogs or sheep needed to be supervised by a competent person to be permitted. It is hard to believe that Hollywood, which would later become a vibrant and glamorous city, had such strict regulations. However, in 1904, a new trolley car track named “the Hollywood boulevard” was opened on Prospect Avenue, significantly reducing travel time between Los Angeles and Hollywood.
City hood for Hollywood lasted only six years, as the population grew too fast for the existing water and municipal facilities. Annexation to the City of Los Angeles was seen as a solution to ensure adequate water, sewage, and municipal services for the growing community. In 1910, the election for annexation was overwhelmingly victorious. Consequently, Hollywood became a part of Los Angeles. Real estate developers enticed Easterners to Hollywood with promises of sunshine, wide boulevards, and grand homes. Elaborate rail lines crisscrossed the Cahuenga Valley, leading to the emergence of hotels, schools, churches, and extravagant residences.
The Films of Edwin S. Porter – the “Father of the Story Film”
Edwin S. Porter, an inventor and former projectionist, was using film cameras to record news events while also improving the Beadnell projector in 1898. During this time, “moving pictures” were becoming longer, adopting more fluid narrative structures, and undergoing their first editing processes.
Porter, a resident Kinetoscope operator and director at Edison Company Studios in the early 1900s, worked in various film genres. During his time at Edison’s, he conducted experiments with longer films, and he directed The Life of an American Fireman (1903), which is considered the first American documentary or realistic narrative film. This six-minute film combined re-enacted scenes and actual documentary footage, skillfully edited to show the intense inter-cutting between the burning house’s exterior and interior.
Edison found Porter’s editing techniques uncomfortable, especially his use of close-ups to create an entertaining narrative. However, Porter managed to combine film editing and storytelling to create a groundbreaking and influential film that showcased the potential of fictional stories on film. This film was called The Great Train Robbery (1903), a one-reel, 14-scene, approximately 10-minute long production based on a real-life train heist and loosely adapted from a popular stage play. Although not particularly artistic by today’s standards, this visual film achieved numerous milestones during its time.
In an effective and scary full-screen closeup, a bandit shoots his gun directly into the audience. The film contains exterior scenes, horseback chases, actors approaching and moving away from the camera, a camera pan featuring the escaping bandits, and a camera mounted on a moving train. Additionally, Porter pioneered the technique of film editing, which is crucial to the development of cinematic art. Initially, most films were simply short recordings of stage performances or live events.
The Hollywood Sign
In 1923, The Hollywoodland Real Estate Group launched a bold and enduring promotion, resulting in the birth of a Sign. The Hollywood Sign, located in Los Angeles, California, is a renowned landmark that displays the name of the area in towering white letters that reach a height of 50 feet (15.2 meters). Originally designed as an advertisement, the sign gained more recognition once its initial objective was accomplished. Unfortunately, it has often been subjected to pranks and vandalism, necessitating occasional restoration efforts throughout the years.
The Hollywood sign is now a registered trademark and requires permission from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which also oversees the Walk of Fame. It was originally proposed by someone to Harry Chandler, owner of the Los Angeles Times, as a way to promote their land syndicate. Woodruff and Shoults, real estate developers, named their development “Hollywoodland” and marketed it as an affordable and beautiful location on the Hollywood hills. They hired the Crescent Sign Company to install thirteen letters on the hillside, all facing south.
Thomas Fisk Goff (1890-1984), the owner of the sign company, was the designer of the sign. The sign consisted of letters that were 30 feet (9 m) wide and 50 feet (15 m) high and was adorned with approximately 4000 light bulbs. Its official dedication took place on July 13, 1923. Originally, it was not meant to be a permanent fixture, with some sources estimating its expected lifespan to be around a year and a half. However, the Sign has surpassed expectations and has endured for over eight decades, still standing strong. In its early days, The Hollywood Sign represented the dreams and aspirations of young actors worldwide.
In September 1932, the actress Peg Entwistle tragically ended her own life by jumping from the letter “H”. She perceived this Hollywood sign as a representation of the industry that had turned its back on her. Peg was a young woman with hopes and aspirations of creating a remarkable career, yearning for fame, fortune, and all the allure that came with it.
She did some auditions, but spent most of the brutally hot summer of ’32 just hanging around her uncle’s house, waiting for a phone call that never came. The magical world of movies did not embrace this graduate of the world-famous Thater Guild. As a sign of revolt Peg climbed 50 feet up a workman’s ladder to the top of the “H” and plunged five stories into the dark night below. According to the summer 2006 edition of “The Beachwood Voice,” during the early 1940s, Albert Kothe (the sign’s official caretaker) caused an accident that destroyed the letter “H”, as seen in many historical pictures.
Kothe drove his car up Mount Lee while drunk and lost control, causing the vehicle to stumble off the cliff behind the “H”. Although Kothe was unharmed, both the 1928 Ford Model A and the “H” were destroyed. In 1949, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce offered to remove the last four letters of the sign and repair the rest. However, the city mandated that any future lighting would be funded by the Chamber, so they decided not to replace the light bulbs. This restoration effort in 1949 breathed new life into the sign, but being exposed to the Hollywood Hills’ open air caused the wooden and sheet metal sign to deteriorate over time. Eventually, the first “O” splintered and broke off, resembling a lowercase “u”. Additionally, the third “O” completely fell down, leaving the sign severely dilapidated and reading as “HuLLYWO D”.
Back in 1978, the objective of the Chamber was to replace the severely deteriorated sign with a more enduring structure. The replacement letters were sponsored by nine donors who contributed $27,700 each. Made of Australian steel, these new letters were designed to last for many years. The height of each letter was 45 feet (13. m), and their width varied from 31 to 39 feet (9. 3 to 11. 8 m).
The Hollywood sign was unveiled on November 14, 1978, during Hollywood’s 75th anniversary celebration. The event was watched by 60 million people on live television. In November 2005, Bay Cal Commercial Painting began refurbishing the sign, stripping the letters down to their metal base and repainting them white. In the same year, the original 1923 sign was listed for sale on eBay by Dan Bliss, a producer/entrepreneur. It was eventually sold to artist Bill Mack.
The Growing Film Industry
Businessmen quickly developed an interest in the growing movie industry. Many of the most significant players in the film business began their careers as owners, investors, exhibitors, or distributors in nickelodeons. These individuals include Adolph Zukor, Marcus Loew, Jesse Lasky, Sam Goldwyn (initially known as Goldfish), the Warner brothers, Carl Laemmle, William Fox, and Louis B. Mayer. They recognized that additional profits could be generated by implementing new distribution systems and by attracting middle-class individuals, women, and children to watch films.
Originally, films, along with the projection machinery and equipment necessary for screening them, were sold rather than rented to cinema owners. However, with the growth in film production, William Fox became one of the early pioneers by establishing a distribution company in 1904. This company acted as a regional rental exchange, purchasing short films and renting them to exhibitors at discounted rates. Around the same time, the Warner brothers (Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack) ventured into the cinema industry. They opened their first theater called Cascade in New Castle, Pennsylvania in 1903. Subsequently, in 1904, they laid the foundation of the Duquesne Amusement & Supply Company in Pittsburgh which would eventually evolve into Warner Bros. Pictures. The primary purpose of this establishment was to handle the distribution of films.
The new Hollywood
By 1913, Hollywood underwent a rapid transformation that can accurately be described as overnight. The film industry took over the agricultural and frontier scenes. Interestingly, movie studios even shared barns in Hollywood with amused animals. This unconventional shift rocked Hollywood to its core. The population surged, and actual banks and businesses were booked on weekends to simulate robberies for films. Car accidents were so prevalent that the streets were cordoned off. In fact, movie studios worked out of barns and conveniently cast horses and cows in numerous western films.
The needs of the thriving new industry brought about significant changes in the community, resulting in a clash between older and newer residents. In order to accommodate the large number of workers required for movie-making, acres of agricultural land south of what is now Hollywood Boulevard were divided and developed into residential areas. As a result of competition between three real estate interests, high-rise commercial buildings started to emerge along Hollywood Boulevard, with concentrations of development at Highland, Cahuenga, and Vine. Over time, the majority of homes along the Boulevard were replaced by commercial buildings, connecting the three corners.
As the film industry grew, various establishments such as banks, restaurants, clubs, and movie palaces emerged in Hollywood. The town underwent significant transformations to accommodate the increasing population and thriving industry. Tall hotels and apartments became a prominent part of the Hollywood skyline. The architectural style of these buildings mirrored the town’s lavishness, with the ornamental Spanish Colonial Revival style showcasing Hollywood’s self-aware extravagance, while the newer Art Deco and Moderne styles reflected the community’s desire for glamour and sophistication.
Hollywood was known for having the most impressive “movie palaces” in the United States. Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, which opened in 1922 on Hollywood Boulevard, embraced the fascination with all things Egyptian that had arisen after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. With its mixture of sphinxes, temples, columns, and murals, Grauman’s was a sight to behold. Not long after, Grauman surpassed himself with the unveiling of the Chinese Theatre. This new theater featured imported pagodas and genuine Chinese artifacts that astounded the public and ensured Grauman’s place in Hollywood history.
The Beginning of the Academy Awards
The non-profit organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), was founded in 1927 with Douglas Fairbanks as president to acknowledge and reward excellence within the film industry. AMPAS created the Academy Awards in the late 1920s and revealed them for the first time in February 1929. The awards were then distributed in mid-May of 1929 for movies released between August 1927 and late July 1928. During the inaugural year of the Academy Awards presentations, separate accolades (not yet known as Oscars) were bestowed upon the Best Production (now referred to as Best Picture).
There were two winners for the “Best Picture” category at the Academy Awards in 1927. William A. Wellman’s film Wings (1927) won the award for Best Production, while Sunrise (1927) won for Best Unique and Artistic Picture, a category that was later discontinued. Wings (1927), which was released at the end of a series of WWI films, featured thrilling aerial combat scenes and starred Clara Bow and a young actor named Gary Cooper. These movies are notable for being the only silent films to have ever won the Academy Award for ‘Best Picture’. The Jazz Singer (1927), although it was not eligible for the Best Picture award, received a special recognition for its groundbreaking impact on the industry.
The Golden Age of Hollywood
The 1930s decade, along with most of the 1940s, is widely known as “The Golden Age of Hollywood” (even though most films during this time were black-and-white). This was also the era when sound and color became prevalent in movies, leading to the rise of “talkies.” Additionally, various film genres experienced significant growth and development during this period, including gangster films, musicals, newspaper-reporting films, historical biopics, social-realism films, screwball comedies, westerns, and horror. The 1930s marked the end of the silent film era, resulting in some silent film stars like Vilmy Banky, John Gilbert, and Norma Talmadge not successfully transitioning to sound.
By 1933, the economic impact of the Depression was evident through a significant decline in movie theatre attendance. Studios recruited skilled actors, directors, and technicians from Europe. Renowned writers, including F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), Dorothy Parker (1893–1967), and William Faulkner (1897–1962), relocated to Hollywood to pursue opportunities in the film industry. The city became a hub for celebrities who sought recognition, resulting in their personal lives becoming public property and a prevailing belief that anything could be purchased.
As crime-writer Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) famously stated, in L. A., being noticeable required driving a flesh-pink Mercedes-Benz with a sun porch on the roof and three attractive girls sunbathing. Demonstrating their relentless promotional zeal, Hollywood’s radio pioneers launched the first three stations, KNX, KHJ, and KFI, in 1932. Despite not being the broadcasting capital, Hollywood played a significant role in the rise of a new ‘sound’ as radio programming evolved from its primitive crystal set beginnings by 1930.
The founder of KNX was able to broadcast a murder trial, despite his reporters being ejected from the courtroom. The Coconut Grove, a popular spot for celebrities on Wilshire Boulevard, was among the pioneers on the West Coast in transmitting live orchestral performances through radio.
Hollywood During the War Years
Despite a challenging start due to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent loss of foreign markets, the American film industry recovered and saw its most successful period from 1943 to 1946. This was a significant milestone as it occurred more than a decade after the introduction of sound film production, overcoming the technical difficulties faced in the early 1930s era.
Advancements in film technology, such as sound recording, lighting, special effects, cinematography, and use of color, resulted in more watchable and “modern” films. After the war, Hollywood experienced its most profitable year in the 1940s, with record-high numbers of theater audiences.
During the early to mid-1940s, as the world was heading towards rearmament and warfare, the movie industry responded to the national war effort by creating films that became favorites during wartime. Stars and employees of the film industry enlisted or reported for duty as part of this response. The Office of War Information (OWI), established in 1942 by the US government, played a crucial role as a propaganda agency during World War II. It collaborated with the film industry to document and capture the nation’s activities during the war through recordings and photographs.
Tinseltown played a crucial role in the defense mobilization effort, serving as combatants, propagandists, documentary and newsreel makers, short film-makers, educators, fundraisers for relief funds or war bonds, entertainers, and morale-boosters. Films presented a more realistic tone rather than providing escapism, similar to the films made during the 1930s Depression era. In the 1930s Hollywood, actors earned a meager $15 per day, enduring harsh working conditions. Despite this, in 1933 amid the bleakest days of the Depression, actors were compelled to accept a 50% reduction in pay due to declining box office profits.
It was then that a small group of actors decided to organize and formed a self-governing guild known today as Screen Actors Guild. Seeking recognition, the guild obtained its first union-shop contract in 1937. The contract comprised significant provisions such as wage increases, pension and health plans, residuals, regulation of talent agents, and safety standards on the set. However, everything changed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, as the entertainment industry shifted to full-time war production and studio trucks were used to transport troops instead of movie sets.
Stars such as Clarck Gable, Jimmy Steewart, and Victor Mature swiftly joined the military, while the restrictions and shortages caused by the war significantly altered the filmmaking process. Every aspect of Hollywood film production was affected by World War II. Shooting in distant or exotic places was no longer possible. From Seattle to San Diego, filming at sea was forbidden. The government confiscated the country’s rolling stock, forcing the cancellation of train scenes. Nighttime filming was discontinued due to air raid blackouts. The scarcity of materials led to the abandonment of extravagant sets.
During World War II, studios had to make do with limited resources. They counted every nail and used sets that could be quickly transformed from a post office to an airport. Hairpins, a precious resource, were hoarded at each studio, with only two pounds allowed per month. The war also had a profound impact on the types of films being made. There were no more lavish historical epics or expensive car chases or crashes. Instead, space psychodramas and the era of Film Noir took over, replacing the grand and costly extravaganzas of the past. The downsizing of the movie industry led to a rise in music’s popularity, becoming the nation’s craze. Hollywood now had the power to shape the world through radio and the record industry like never before.
In 1940, Glenn Wallichs capitalized on the upcoming trend by establishing Wallichs’ Music, a record store that gained immense popularity among students from Hollywood and Fairfax high schools. It surpassed all other stores west of Chicago, Illinois in terms of record sales. Motivated by the success of his store, Wallich partnered with Johnny Mercer in 1942 to create Capitol Records. Through innovative marketing strategies and album design, Capitol Records emerged as one of the leading companies in the industry. The war brought Hollywood together, blurring the line between celebrities and ordinary individuals.
The city’s population grew due to the return of soldiers, and Hollywood united to provide them with food, shelter, and entertainment. In support of the war effort, Hollywood’s most famous individuals offered their time and services. Downtown Hollywood became predominantly occupied by returning soldiers, outnumbering civilians by ten to one. They resorted to sleeping in parks and theater lobbies until the Hollywood Guild and Canteen, run by “Mom” Lehr, started offering them accommodation and three meals per day. On an average weekday, around 800 soldiers stayed with Mom, while on weekends the number increased to 1,200. Additionally, the Hollywood Canteen hosted around 2,000 servicemen each night, offering them free food, drinks, and performances by top Big Bands.
All 6000 radio and screen entertainers volunteered. Marlene Dietrich performed various tasks, such as cutting takes, washing dishes, and singing. Betty Grable, Olivia de Havilland, and Greer Garson served as hostesses. The busyboys Fred MacMurray, Basil Rarhbone, John Loder, and John Garfield were also involved. Each month, 100,000 soldiers consumed 4,000 loaves of bread, 1,500 pounds of coffee, and 150,000 pieces of cake. By 1916, Hollywood had become a destination for aspiring movie stars from around the world. The Hollywood Studio Club offered a safe haven for these aspiring starlets for many years.
Stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Eden, Donna Reed, and Kim Novak passed through the doors of this place on their way to stardom. In just a decade, the film industry transformed this city into a new “gold rush” town. Aspiring stars and studios faced failure while a new generation of superstars and powerful studios emerged. The city saw the rise of movie locations, glamorous addresses, notorious clubs, and high-rise skylines that forever changed its landscape. During World War I, the nation experienced a shift in power in the film industry, with American moviemaking becoming the leader after derailing European cinema.
Hollywood showcased famous figures such as Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin and, above all else, the star system defined the American film industry. Undoubtedly, renowned studios like MGM, Warners, and Fox were responsible for spreading the allure of the film industry. However, even then and now, people typically based their movie choices on the names displayed on the theater sign. Following World War I, Hollywood’s population skyrocketed from 5,000 in 1910 to 36,000 by 1920. The rumors of stars earning $3,000 per week enticed average individuals, who were earning a mere $15 elsewhere.
Due to the gold rush-like fervor surrounding Hollywood, the Chamber of Commerce took the initiative to place newspaper advertisements with a warning message: “Attempting to break into the film industry in Hollywood may result in disappointment. Out of the staggering 100,000 individuals who embarked on their journey to fame through the silver screen, a mere five were able to achieve success at the pinnacle!” In a fierce competition for survival, numerous small studios emerged only to crumble shortly thereafter. These studios, commonly found near Sunset and Gower, earned the moniker “Poverty Row” due to their alarmingly high failure rate.
The corner where hundreds of “movie cowboys” and extras would gather eagerly for a casting call became known as “Gower Gulch”. This nickname still remains in use by the people of Los Angeles today. By 1920, 40 million Americans were attending the cinema each week, while 20 significant Hollywood studios were continuously producing films to meet their insatiable demand. Actors resided in extravagant homes situated in Hollywood, and later in Beverly Hills. Passersby would feel exhilarated simply by driving past these luxurious residences, hoping with all their might to catch a glimpse of famous stars like Theda Bara or Tom Mix.
The stars threw fabulous parties that were to die for. Harvey Wilcox’s vision of a pleasant, moderate village in the fig grove transformed into a remarkable imitation of Gomorrah. The stars dressed in clothes that were even more fashionable than the height of fashion. Various magazines and books were dedicated to them, filled with photographs that people would cut out and passionately kiss. They were truly regarded as the aristocracy of America. Prestigious locations such as the Garden Court or The Chateau Elysee acquired an added allure because famous stars like Gable and Lombard resided there. The most notorious address in this scandalous town was 8150 Sunset, famously known as the Garden of Allah.
Opening night in 1921 marked the beginning of a lavish 18-hour party, complete with troubadours serenading from the pool’s center. This extravagant celebration continued for 32 years and witnessed a plethora of scandalous events, including robberies, murders, orgies, divorces, fights, suicides, and intoxicated festivities. Notable figures such as John O’hara, Tallulah Bankhead, and Clara Bow called this place their home. During this
