Early Hollywood

Images of America: California

by Marc Wanamaker, Robert W. Nudelman

The image of Hollywood often translates as some otherworldly dreamscape filled with fantastic lives and fantasy fulfillment. The real deal was carved from the Southern California desert as an outpost northwest of Los Angeles. The movie industry arrived when tumbleweeds were not simply props and actual horsepower pulled the loads. Everyday workers, civic management, and Main Street conventionalities nurtured Hollywood's growth, as did a balmy climate that facilitated outdoor photography and shooting schedules for filmmakers. Splendid vintage photographs from the renowned collections of the Hollywood Heritage Museum and Bison Archives illustrate Hollywood's businesses, homes, and residents during the silent-film era and immediately after, as the Great Depression led up to World War II. These images celebrate Hollywood before and after its annexation into the city of Los Angeles in 1910 and its subsequent ascension as the world's greatest filmmaking center.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2007

Reviews

[Wendy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and thoroughly researched

A great and essential addition to any home or research space dedicated to the development and culture of Early Hollywood, from its rural beginnings in the first decade of the 1900s up to the 1940s. Terrific photographs and text easily accessible to the public.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

TCM says that ‘once upon a time there was a magical kingdom’ in one of its ads for watching old movies. This is a look at how that kingdom came to be. If you love old movies, this is your book. Great pictures, fun facts.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hollywood History

Like the title says Hollywood History. To me and this is just my opinion is that it bring up a small section on Hollywood was brought to life.

[Susan Liston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very VERY old pictures here, my favorite was the Horse and Mule Market on Sunset Blvd...

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those interested in Hollywood's very beginning, this is a great one. Incredible photos and details of Hollywood from the Post-Rancho period to the 1950's. My only disappointment was there are no interior shots and very little detail on Hollywood's first hotel, the "Hotel Hollywood", located on Hollywood Blvd where the Kodak Theater is now. It's a wonderful choice for the cover of the book, I am glad they saw that.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up here that I picked up this book. This is the story of Early Hollywood when it was vacant property. Then the movies studios set and made huge backlots where they could make movies. Location movies had not started yet. When my father was a teenager he took the street car to the studios where he was an extra and a stand in. He learned to sing, dance and ride horse. This is a fascinating book.