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Hollywood Then and Now®: The Ultimate Visual Guide to a Century of Cinema and California History
Moorish and Spanish revival architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright homes still stand alongside modern structures such as Frank Gehry's breathtaking Disney Concert Hall. A fascinating comparison of the orange groves and bean fields of yesterday with the slick urban existence that is Hollywood today, including Graumann's Chinese Theatre and the Cocoanut Grove nightclub. Sites include Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood and Vine, Immaculate Heart High School, Beachwood Village, Hollywoodland, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood High School, Gower Street, Lasky Studios, Fox Studios, Chaplin Field, MGM Studios, RKO Radio Pictures, Paramount, Hollywood Forever Cemetry, Chateau Marmont, Whitley Heights, Roosevelt Hotel, and the Garden of Allah.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published December 9, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 18, 2019
Coffee table books that look back on previous eras always intrigue me, especially if they are filled with photographs galore. This book looks at Old Hollywood versus New Hollywood, circa 2003. So even now the "new" section is already old, although everything is still recognizable.
Needless to say, Old Hollywood wins every round of comparison. White-washed Spanish-style apartments with red tile roofs and hidden courtyards filled with palm trees and blue mosaic ponds were replaced with cruddy commercial buildings or parking lots. Mostly parking lots. Almost every other page showed an original landmark that became... a parking lot. There was a song from Joni Mitchell, called "Big Yellow Taxi", with lyrics:
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
She wrote that about the Garden Of Allah apartment building. Built in 1921 by silent film star Alla Nazimova, the complex was a set of tiled, white-washed villas which surrounded an enormous swimming pool.
It was sold to a savings & loan in 1950. They promptly demolished it and built...a parking lot...that is now a strip mall.
I enjoyed this book because it is very simple. Each highlighted original has a photograph or drawing with an accompanying photo of what it looks like now (well, in 2003). The new photos are usually also taken from the same angle, so everything is crystal clear. The chapters are broken up into separate residential and commercial sections, which is also very helpful. Nicely done.
Just imagine streets full of red tram cars and people walking and the smell of orange blossoms wafting from innumerable citrus trees. Mostly gone.
Book Season = Summer (lamentations)
Needless to say, Old Hollywood wins every round of comparison. White-washed Spanish-style apartments with red tile roofs and hidden courtyards filled with palm trees and blue mosaic ponds were replaced with cruddy commercial buildings or parking lots. Mostly parking lots. Almost every other page showed an original landmark that became... a parking lot. There was a song from Joni Mitchell, called "Big Yellow Taxi", with lyrics:
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
She wrote that about the Garden Of Allah apartment building. Built in 1921 by silent film star Alla Nazimova, the complex was a set of tiled, white-washed villas which surrounded an enormous swimming pool.
It was sold to a savings & loan in 1950. They promptly demolished it and built...a parking lot...that is now a strip mall.
I enjoyed this book because it is very simple. Each highlighted original has a photograph or drawing with an accompanying photo of what it looks like now (well, in 2003). The new photos are usually also taken from the same angle, so everything is crystal clear. The chapters are broken up into separate residential and commercial sections, which is also very helpful. Nicely done.
Just imagine streets full of red tram cars and people walking and the smell of orange blossoms wafting from innumerable citrus trees. Mostly gone.
Book Season = Summer (lamentations)
August 28, 2018
“...at a cost of $21,000, the sign was made of white-painted sheet metal studded with 4,000 twenty-watt lightbulbs, with letters fifty feet high and almost thirty feet wide. The Hollywoodland sign was visible from over 25 miles away. The original caretaker, Albert Kothe, lived in a small house behind the letter L and had the job of changing any bulbs that burned out. Through the 1930s and 1940s the sign’s future seemed bleak. Disillusioned British-born actress Millicent ‘Peg’ Entwistle jumped 50 feet to her death from atop the sign in 1932. By 1939 maintenance had ceased and all 4,000 bulbs had been stolen. In 1944 the bankrupt developer donated the sign to the city, which planned to tear it down. In 1949 the Hollywood chamber of commerce decided to restore the ‘Hollywood’, abandoning the ‘land.’ But it wasn’t until 1974, when the sign was given landmark status…”
June 20, 2014
Celebration of Hollywood; A pictorial history from 1889 to 2003
This is a fascinating book that runs through the history of Hollywood from 1889 to 2003 in beautiful images that must be treasured by readers interested in the history of Hollywood. The photographs are spectacular and images are very clear. Comparisons of early pictures with the photograph(s) of the same place taken in 2002-03 are a fine way of articulating the effect of the passage of time and the rich of history of Tinseltown. It is a dream factory as columnist Walter Winchell said that Hollywood is a town that has to be seen to be disbelieved.
In 1886, much of Hollywood was covered with orange groves, fig and apricot trees. By the end 1900 the population was 700 but it was rapidly growing due to businesses and industries moving into the area. The first Hollywood studio was founded in 1911 by D. W. Griffith, but movie making had already started in 1907. In 1910, the Prospect Avenue was renamed as Hollywood Blvd.
There are many interesting pictures and photographs worth mentioning that includes a first tract map of Hollywood in 1887; The 1895 Hollywood panorama overlooking north from the hilltop property. The current view of the same place is filled with buildings and parking lots; the 1892 picture of Cahuenga Pass, and the same place is made of Hollywood Freeway; the unchanged view of Chateau Marmont at the heart of Sunset Strip, sitting for the past 80 years; 100 years of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood that has been in service for almost 100 years; the areas of Prospect Avenue and Wilcox, then (1900) and now; The Pictures of Immaculate High School in 1903 and now; the dedication ceremony of Hollywood sign in 1923; Griffith Observatory in 1934 and now; Hollywood High School in1922 and now; the 1916 photo of Christie film company and the photo of CBS affiliate at the same place now; Fox studio's then and now; Clune Studios in 1915 and the same place is occupied by Raleigh studios now; La Brea Avenue in 1921; 1931 picture of Charlie Chaplin with Albert Einstein; 1926 picture Hollywood Forever Cemetery, then and now, etc. The list goes on and you will be amazed at the quality of these photographs. This book is very strongly recommended for all movie fans and the readers of the history of California. This is also an excellent visitor's guide to Hollywood!
This is a fascinating book that runs through the history of Hollywood from 1889 to 2003 in beautiful images that must be treasured by readers interested in the history of Hollywood. The photographs are spectacular and images are very clear. Comparisons of early pictures with the photograph(s) of the same place taken in 2002-03 are a fine way of articulating the effect of the passage of time and the rich of history of Tinseltown. It is a dream factory as columnist Walter Winchell said that Hollywood is a town that has to be seen to be disbelieved.
In 1886, much of Hollywood was covered with orange groves, fig and apricot trees. By the end 1900 the population was 700 but it was rapidly growing due to businesses and industries moving into the area. The first Hollywood studio was founded in 1911 by D. W. Griffith, but movie making had already started in 1907. In 1910, the Prospect Avenue was renamed as Hollywood Blvd.
There are many interesting pictures and photographs worth mentioning that includes a first tract map of Hollywood in 1887; The 1895 Hollywood panorama overlooking north from the hilltop property. The current view of the same place is filled with buildings and parking lots; the 1892 picture of Cahuenga Pass, and the same place is made of Hollywood Freeway; the unchanged view of Chateau Marmont at the heart of Sunset Strip, sitting for the past 80 years; 100 years of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood that has been in service for almost 100 years; the areas of Prospect Avenue and Wilcox, then (1900) and now; The Pictures of Immaculate High School in 1903 and now; the dedication ceremony of Hollywood sign in 1923; Griffith Observatory in 1934 and now; Hollywood High School in1922 and now; the 1916 photo of Christie film company and the photo of CBS affiliate at the same place now; Fox studio's then and now; Clune Studios in 1915 and the same place is occupied by Raleigh studios now; La Brea Avenue in 1921; 1931 picture of Charlie Chaplin with Albert Einstein; 1926 picture Hollywood Forever Cemetery, then and now, etc. The list goes on and you will be amazed at the quality of these photographs. This book is very strongly recommended for all movie fans and the readers of the history of California. This is also an excellent visitor's guide to Hollywood!
June 20, 2014
Celebration of Hollywood; A pictorial history from 1889 to 2003
This is a fascinating book that runs through the history of Hollywood from 1889 to 2003 in beautiful images that must be treasured by readers interested in the history of Hollywood. The photographs are spectacular and images are very clear. Comparisons of early pictures with the photograph(s) of the same place taken in 2002-03 are a fine way of articulating the effect of the passage of time and the rich of history of Tinseltown. It is a dream factory as columnist Walter Winchell said that Hollywood is a town that has to be seen to be disbelieved.
In 1886, much of Hollywood was covered with orange groves, fig and apricot trees. By the end 1900 the population was 700 but it was rapidly growing due to businesses and industries moving into the area. The first Hollywood studio was founded in 1911 by D. W. Griffith, but movie making had already started in 1907. In 1910, the Prospect Avenue was renamed as Hollywood Blvd.
There are many interesting pictures and photographs worth mentioning that includes a first tract map of Hollywood in 1887; The 1895 Hollywood panorama overlooking north from the hilltop property. The current view of the same place is filled with buildings and parking lots; the 1892 picture of Cahuenga Pass, and the same place is made of Hollywood Freeway; the unchanged view of Chateau Marmont at the heart of Sunset Strip, sitting for the past 80 years; 100 years of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood that has been in service for almost 100 years; the areas of Prospect Avenue and Wilcox, then (1900) and now; The Pictures of Immaculate High School in 1903 and now; the dedication ceremony of Hollywood sign in 1923; Griffith Observatory in 1934 and now; Hollywood High School in1922 and now; the 1916 photo of Christie film company and the photo of CBS affiliate at the same place now; Fox studio's then and now; Clune Studios in 1915 and the same place is occupied by Raleigh studios now; La Brea Avenue in 1921; 1931 picture of Charlie Chaplin with Albert Einstein; 1926 picture Hollywood Forever Cemetery, then and now, etc. The list goes on and you will be amazed at the quality of these photographs. This book is very strongly recommended for all movie fans and the readers of the history of California. This is also an excellent visitor's guide to Hollywood!
This is a fascinating book that runs through the history of Hollywood from 1889 to 2003 in beautiful images that must be treasured by readers interested in the history of Hollywood. The photographs are spectacular and images are very clear. Comparisons of early pictures with the photograph(s) of the same place taken in 2002-03 are a fine way of articulating the effect of the passage of time and the rich of history of Tinseltown. It is a dream factory as columnist Walter Winchell said that Hollywood is a town that has to be seen to be disbelieved.
In 1886, much of Hollywood was covered with orange groves, fig and apricot trees. By the end 1900 the population was 700 but it was rapidly growing due to businesses and industries moving into the area. The first Hollywood studio was founded in 1911 by D. W. Griffith, but movie making had already started in 1907. In 1910, the Prospect Avenue was renamed as Hollywood Blvd.
There are many interesting pictures and photographs worth mentioning that includes a first tract map of Hollywood in 1887; The 1895 Hollywood panorama overlooking north from the hilltop property. The current view of the same place is filled with buildings and parking lots; the 1892 picture of Cahuenga Pass, and the same place is made of Hollywood Freeway; the unchanged view of Chateau Marmont at the heart of Sunset Strip, sitting for the past 80 years; 100 years of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood that has been in service for almost 100 years; the areas of Prospect Avenue and Wilcox, then (1900) and now; The Pictures of Immaculate High School in 1903 and now; the dedication ceremony of Hollywood sign in 1923; Griffith Observatory in 1934 and now; Hollywood High School in1922 and now; the 1916 photo of Christie film company and the photo of CBS affiliate at the same place now; Fox studio's then and now; Clune Studios in 1915 and the same place is occupied by Raleigh studios now; La Brea Avenue in 1921; 1931 picture of Charlie Chaplin with Albert Einstein; 1926 picture Hollywood Forever Cemetery, then and now, etc. The list goes on and you will be amazed at the quality of these photographs. This book is very strongly recommended for all movie fans and the readers of the history of California. This is also an excellent visitor's guide to Hollywood!
May 28, 2013
This is a coffee table sized book of a couple hundred places that are or were relevant to the Hollywood scene. The names are so famous that nearly everyone would recognize them- Ciro's, Schwab's Drugstore, Chateau Marmont, The Knickerbocker, The Roosevelt, Musso & Frank's, The Brown Derby...
Photos from their height of popularity, often with the biggest stars of the era in the setting prove that places like The Hollywood Canteen really was a hoppin' place. Modern photos show that it, like so many iconic Hollywood landmarks, is now a parking lot.
Yes, there's a reason why Joni Mitchell wrote the words, " They paved paradise and put up a parking lot." Specifically, she wrote them about The Garden of Allah, a beautiful block of villas on Sunset Blvd. built by silent screen actress Allah Nazimova. It was a place in the heart of the city where the stars could party together around the pool and gardens and it was home to Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and many others. Then a bank bought it, tore it down and built themselves a parking lot.
Being from Orange County I spent so much of my life all over L.A., especially my teens and 20s, so lots of these places bring up nostalgia, but I learned a lot from this book too. I had once known enough L.A. history to give a friend a walking tour, but I didn't know that the Virgin Megastore on Sunset where I've shopped for Redd Kross cds was built on the site of Schwab's or that The Comedy Store that I've driven past how many hundreds of times is that Ciro's building. This is a great but somewhat depressing book for natives, and a perfect book for fans of Hollywood glamour.
Photos from their height of popularity, often with the biggest stars of the era in the setting prove that places like The Hollywood Canteen really was a hoppin' place. Modern photos show that it, like so many iconic Hollywood landmarks, is now a parking lot.
Yes, there's a reason why Joni Mitchell wrote the words, " They paved paradise and put up a parking lot." Specifically, she wrote them about The Garden of Allah, a beautiful block of villas on Sunset Blvd. built by silent screen actress Allah Nazimova. It was a place in the heart of the city where the stars could party together around the pool and gardens and it was home to Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and many others. Then a bank bought it, tore it down and built themselves a parking lot.
Being from Orange County I spent so much of my life all over L.A., especially my teens and 20s, so lots of these places bring up nostalgia, but I learned a lot from this book too. I had once known enough L.A. history to give a friend a walking tour, but I didn't know that the Virgin Megastore on Sunset where I've shopped for Redd Kross cds was built on the site of Schwab's or that The Comedy Store that I've driven past how many hundreds of times is that Ciro's building. This is a great but somewhat depressing book for natives, and a perfect book for fans of Hollywood glamour.
February 21, 2015
Learned a lot. Places I used to and still go to today, I had no idea what was there before. Airplane strips, football stadiums, oil fields were places I never knew existed. It's pretty amazing to realize past glories were under my feet. It's also disappointing to. Guess its a cycle and this book made appreciate what I have now. Stories were very informative.
May 22, 2016
Good photos that showed the changes over time. Text was brief, but enjoyable. Made me want to visit some of the places discussed.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews