HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Welcome to Sallywood? Iconic LA landmark gets facelift

 (AFP)

Los Angeles Times

February 11, 2010

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — One of the world’s most recognizable landmarks — the giant Hollywood sign in Los Angeles — was undergoing a facelift Thursday as activists ramped up a campaign to preserve the iconic symbol.

An environmental group bidding to raise around 12.5 million dollars to purchase a 138-acre (55-hectare) parcel of rugged land surrounding the sign had begun draping bright red letters over the popular tourist attraction.

The Trust for Public Land will shroud each of the sign’s 45-foot (13-meter) high letters in blankets so that the slogan “SAVE THE PEAK” becomes visible for miles around the sprawling Californian city.

By 5:30pm Thursday, the first two letters of the sign had been covered, leaving the landmark to read “SALLYWOOD.”

Activists will remove the slogan next Tuesday, Trust for Public Land spokesman Tim Ahern said. “Everybody in the city will be able to see the message ‘Save the Peak,’” Ahern told AFP.

The Hollywood sign, which was initially created as an advert for a real estate development in 1923, is owned by the city of Los Angeles.

However the mountainous land surrounding the famous white letters is owned by a Chicago-based consortium who have acquired rights to build four luxury mansions along the ridgeline.

Activists protested the plans, saying the sign would be blighted if the properties were built, and sought to buy the land from the consortium, which agreed to sell it for 12.5 million dollars if the money was paid by April 14.

“So far we’ve raised about seven million dollars. We’re hoping that what we are doing this week will help us raise the other 5.5 million,” Ahern said.

One of the City of Angels’ most beloved attractions, the Hollywood sign had fallen into disrepair until it was restored in the 1970s after a campaign which saw nine donors pay 27,777 dollars to “adopt” one letter each.

Although members of the public are forbidden from accessing the area around the landmark — a sophisticated alarm system including motion sensors has been set up to deter trespassers — the sign has a grisly history.

In 1932 British actress Peg Entwistle infamously committed suicide by throwing herself off the top of the letter H.

Click here to read article at the Los Angeles Times

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Is Hollywood big enough for two wax museums?

Some locals and observers worry that business will melt away for the aging Hollywood Wax Museum with the opening of a Madame Tussauds. But representatives of both play down any rivalry.

By Hugo Martin

Los Angeles Times

July 22, 2009

 A wax war is heating up on Hollywood Boulevard.

For 44 years, the Hollywood Wax Museum has been Tinseltown’s only wax attraction featuring celebrities, a monopoly that has kept it open through wars, recessions and riots.

But that all is changing with the opening of Madame Tussauds, Hollywood Boulevard’s newest multimillion-dollar attraction, next to the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

The 40,000-square-foot building officially opens to the public Aug. 1, but visitors can get early admission starting today. Inside, they’ll see 115 wax figures, including representations of President Obama, Samuel L. Jackson and Marilyn Monroe.

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Laserium finds a vintage Hollywood home

 (Ken Hively, Los Angeles Times)

The rocking light show is revived at the Vine Theatre after its long Griffith Observatory run ended in 2002.

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By Chris Willman

Los Angeles Times

June 25, 2009

Marla Maples has what appears to be an extremely bright green mole on her cheek. Actually it’s just a benign laser beam, straying onto her features as she stands inside the lobby of Hollywood’s venerable Vine Theatre. Technicians are hurriedly turning the 1937 movie house into the new permanent home of Laserium, which is returning to Los Angeles beginning Friday after seven years of being officially unplugged.

Maples was never among the hundreds of thousands of people who took the laser light show in during its 1973 to 2002 run at the Griffith Observatory’s planetarium. She’s stopped by the Vine to discuss a program she’s spearheading that will kick one-fourth of group-ticket sales back to charities. But she’s well aware of Laserium’s former reputation as L.A.’s most infamous stoner rite of passage. “I promise there’ll be no smoking going on,” she laughs.

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Sunset Boulevard gets a face-lift

By Allan R. Ellenberger

April 18, 2009

FINALLY! The well-travelled strip of Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard — between La Brea and Highland — is getting a much needed repaving. For as many years as I can remember, this section of the boulevard, in the heart of Hollywood, has been a disaster.

For some reason, travelling on this two-city-blocks of roadway was like maneuvering through land-mines. Years of patching created un-even bumps and the pot holes were large enough to swallow a Volkswagen.

For those not familiar with this area, the one landmark here is Hollywood High School (above) at the corner of Sunset and Highland.

Even though I live one block from this section, I’ve always tried to avoid it — now I can drive freely though the traffic jams just like other Angelenos. However, be warned that Susent Boulevard will be closed between these two intersections most of the weekend. So, as Bette Davis always advised, “Take Fountain!”

Sunrise over Hollywood

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Supporters band together to save Hollywood convent famous for pumpkin bread

Sister Mary Raymond, left, monastery prioress, laughs with Sister Mary Raphael as they join visitors. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) April 3, 2009

Monastery of the Angels has seen declines in its donations, gift shop revenue and investment income. A five-member panel of finance experts is helping it create a rescue plan.

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By Bob Pool

Los Angeles Times

April 9, 2009

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They’re being forced to live on crumbs, so nuns at a Hollywood convent famous for its pumpkin bread are warning that they may have to slice up the place for development.

The threat of a shutdown of the 75-year-old Monastery of the Angels below the Hollywood sign has prompted neighbors and supporters to mount a campaign to save the four-acre religious retreat.    (Click on ‘Continue Reading’ for more)

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Hollywood Wax Museum to auction 200 celebs

Bring Marilyn Monroe home, help preserve historic Walk of Fame

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LOS ANGELES – Want to permanently share your home with James Dean, Marilyn Monroe or all four Beatles?

The Hollywood Wax Museum is offering wax representations of these and nearly 200 other celebrities at the first auction in its 44-year history, set for May 1.

Fans can bid on political figures, such as George Washington and Bill Clinton, and athletes like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Musicians such as Cher, Stevie Wonder and the Fab Four will be available, along with TV and film stars including Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Will Smith and Charlie Chaplin.

The auction will be administered by Profiles in History and a portion of the profits will support efforts to preserve Hollywood’s historic Walk of Fame.

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Hollywood’s First Ghost Building? Madrone Developer Files for Bankruptcy

By Dakota

Curbed LA

February 19, 2009

This one was coming: Southern California homebuilder John Laing, which has been pretty mum amid plenty of damning reports, has filed for Chapter 11. Bloomberg News reports that WL Homes LLC, which owns John Laing Homes, filed Chapter 11 documents today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. Via the newswire: “Irvine, California-based WL Homes, which also does business as John Laing Homes, traces its history to 1848, when its predecessor was a homebuilder in the U.K. WL Homes was formed in 1998 when John Laing merged with Watt Homes, according to court documents.” According to the filings, the company blamed the collapse of the real estate market and listed assets of more than $1 billion and debt of $500 million-$1 billion. Last month, the company stopped work on the Hollywood Madrone, that 180-unit condominium development at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea Ave.  

The company is behind the Element (pictured) and Indigo in the Marina Del Rey arts district, both of which are completed. According to John Laing’s web site, there are three units left in Indigo. Element also has sold some units, but it’s not clear to us how many have moved.

Additionally, the company is behind Icon project in Playa Vista. Stopping by Icon last weekend, we were told by a sales rep that only four units are left for sale in the development. The sale agent doesn’t keep regular hours and is available by appointment only.

Additionally, Emaar Properties owns Beverly West, that under-construction luxury condominium rising on Wilshire Blvd. Last month, real estate agent Brian Adler, who is representing the project, told us that Emaar Properties directly controls that project, rather than John Laing. It’s not immediately clear what’s going on with that project.

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Costumed characters on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame allege attacks by music vendors, seek officials’ help

A series of assaults near Grauman’s Chinese Theatre has led to a plea for a city licensing system that costumed actors who pose for photos hope will protect them.

By Bob Pool

Los Angeles Times

February 11, 2009

Holy Hollywood ending, Batman! Maybe this is a job for Superman!

That’s what Robin was probably thinking after the superhero sidekick was attacked and pummeled as he strolled in his mask, cape and tights among tourists on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

A series of assaults near Grauman’s Chinese Theatre has led to a plea for a city licensing system that costumed characters who pose for visitors’ photos hope will protect them.    (Click on ‘Continue Reading’ for more)

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HOLLYWOOD NEWS

Injured Hollywood hawk takes wing after recovery

ON CUE: Kristin Joseph releases the hawk at Hollywood Forever cemetery.

(Luis Sinco, Los Angeles Times)

The bird, found last month exhausted and with a broken leg, was nursed back to health at a Calabasas center. Workers there decided to return the red-tail to familiar surroundings.

By Bob Pool

Los Angeles Times

January 25, 2009

He’s one traffic accident victim that from now on will be watching for oncoming cars like a hawk.

That’s because the Hollywood resident that returned home Saturday after being hospitalized more than a month with injuries from a presumed car collision is a hawk.

Wildlife experts from a Calabasas animal rehabilitation center returned a red-tailed hawk that had been injured in November to the busy urban neighborhood it calls home.    (Click on ‘Continue Reading’ for more)

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