Hollywood Views of the Past and Present

by Marc Wanamaker, George Ross Jezek (Photographer)

Hollywood--symbol of glamour and dreams, nostalgia and glitz, is captured in this beautiful photo essay of its physical past and present. Facing pages of gorgeous contemporary color photos and black and white historical photos of the same site are accompanied by illuminating historical background text. This book is for all those who have lived in, visited or just dreamed about visiting Hollywood.

Genres: Photography, History

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Creolecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of comparison photos of Hollywood then and now. It was interesting seeing buildings that still exist but with new expansions, or empty lots that have been built into thriving communities. It is also a fascinating and sometimes sad glimpse into what we have lost and become. For example, what was once a standard gas station has become a Starbucks. I think I may have found a discrepancy: page 104 has a picture of the RKO studios building dated 1938 with film posters adorning the building. However, one of the posters is of the film I Married a Communist, which was actually filmed and released in 1949.

[Annette Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love "Then and Now" books, and you're in love with the idea of Hollywood - or even if you lament what must have been paradise at the turn of the last century in Southern California - this book is for you.

Its size does NOT belie the gorgeous,huge photographs inside. The book is 9.5" x 12" and the photos inside are nearly that large. Side by side, the before and after photos are clear, and astonishing in their detail. I sometimes spent 10 or 15 minutes just comparing the then and now of a particular image, wondering just what it must have been like to see Hollywood when it still smelled of orange blossoms.

The captions are informative, but could use a little copy editing.

The book left me wanting even more. That, or a time machine...