Day of the Dead at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Here is my awful video review of the AMAZING Day of the Dead holiday event at the Hollywood forever cemetery

WATCH!

Movies That Live Near Me

These are some of the movies that are near me. Some of them are on Netflix, some of them aren't. Right now these movies are classics because there aren't a lot of films I can remember that are centered around where I live. A lot of this knowledge was derived from the blog dearoldhollywood.

1. Rebel Without a Cause

This homosexual double entendre film is about a ruffian who is just trying to find a way to belong. It stars the famous James Dean who, in his iconic blue jeans and read leather jacket, falls in love with Natalie Wood and becomes the iconic image of teenage angst. 

A lot of the scenes in Rebel Without a Cause were shot in my neighborhood. To let you know what my neighborhood is, I live on the corner between Hollywood and Los Feliz. Rebel Without a Cause used a lot of that Old Hollywood looks to construct the juxtaposition between adult and teenage, or Old Hollywood and new. For example, the house where James Dean's family lived in was shot in 7529 Franklin Ave.

             

Also, a lot of the movie is shot at The Griffith Observatory. The famous fighting scene as well as the climatic end were shot at the famous building.

             

2. Double Indemnity

I really should have put this movie as the number one. It really is one of my favorites and every scene seems to have been shot in my back yard. From Barbra Stanwick's house to the Hollywood Bowl, there were a lot of places shot in the Hollywood/ Los Feliz region.

One of the major changes in the protagonist's character is when he began taking the little girl Lola to Hollywood Bowl. Here, they would sneak up through the back and watch the performances.

                                                                             

Babra Stanwick's character's home is on 6301 Quebec Drive. Nestled right into the Hollywood Hills, this is where the devious plan ignites. 

Last Fred MacMurray's Apartment can be found on 1825 N. Kingsley Drive. For some weird reason I like finding famous apartments more than famous buildings because I find it more plausible for someone to be connected to an apartment than a mansion. If you want to see it go 1825 N. Kingsley Drive.

3. Nightmare on Elm Street

Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror story where you feel like you are never safe. Throwing the covers over your head and closing your eyes is the worst thing you could do in this tale. 

Some of the scenes were shot near me. For example, the scenes at school were shot at John Marshall High.

                                                                             

Also Nancy Thompson's home was at 1428 N. Genesee Avenue.

         

         

This isn't close to me at all but I thought I should give it special mention. The scene on the bridge is at the venice canal.

           

4. True Romance 

True Romance is one of those movies that seem quite cheesy but it is really good. Two of the most iconic scenes were shot at the Safari Inn and the Vista Theater. 

The Safari Inn is at Burbank, Ca. 

And the Vista Theater is at the corners of Hillhurst and Hollywood and Vermont.

                                                                             

5. Witness To Murder

This other Barbra Stanwick film. The premise is that she witnesses a murder and no one believes her. It is an ok film but overall it has some great locations that are close to me.

Stanwick's character's home is at 939 S. Serrano Ave. Which is right in the center of Koreatown. 

The murderer's house (George Sander's character's house) is across the street at 3400 San Marino Street.

So check these movies out, and then come see my neighborhood.

Flash back Friday #11

It's been a while... 

#11 The Villa Carlotta

I've always had a special place in my heart for the Villa Carlotta. My mom's name was Charlotte, and as a pet name my dad used to call her as "Carlotta". So since I was a child I always thought that it was her building. 

For me, that building always stood out. Even during the 90s when the building looked like a crack den, it was something that always caught my gaze. While people have come and go, and moons waxed and waned, time flew by. However despite all that, this building has always remained its image of "Old Hollywood".

Built in 1926, the building was owned by Eleanor Ince who was the wife of Thomas Ince who mysteriously died on a yacht owned by William Randolph Hearst. Rumor has that in a deal with Eleanor Ince, Hearst paid for the building as well as the Scientology center owned by her across the street in order to apologize for shooting and killing her husband on that yacht. 

Various forms of celebrities have moved into the place. However there isn't much information about them living here. The building has remained far from the history books other than the notorious rumor with Eleanor Ince.

Another rumor is that the Villa Carlotta and the Scientology Center have a underground passageway where people used to use to smuggle booze during prohibition. If you ask anyone there, supposedly they cannot deny that it exists. I haven't done it, so that is why I'm calling it a rumor.

Like most famous old buildings, the Villa Carlotta has gone through some rough patches. The penthouse supposedly began rotting, and many other tenants had to do a renewal to make their apartments functional. However this building is quite strong, and is still contained its beautiful image. 

Through some research I found a Facebook page asking to save the Villa Carlotta. Like many apartment buildings in Los Angeles, the Villa Carlotta has been bought by a company focusing on apartment owning. The belief with the owners of the Villa Carlotta is that there is a threat that the building might be torn down. I haven't researched if the building is a historical monument yet, to deny this theory, but you can read more by clicking here.

I WANT THESE SO BADLY

There is a website called http://thehollywoodcollection.stores.yahoo.net/index.html. It offers recreations of famous celebrity jewelry. They range from $60-$100 something. 

I just wish a kind benefactor would send it to me. 

They have some really great stars jewelry, For example they have Jean Harlow's.

Bettie Davis

And Gene Tierney

So if you have an extra spare dime and decide to buy yourself some lovely jewelry, don't forget about me and buy something for me too!

Flashback Friday # 10

I thought it would be fun to write about the best part of Hollywood...

#10 The Hollywood Sign

Hollywood has always been known as the "city of broken dreams", but it was given the name "Hollywood" by real estate developer H. J. Whitely in 1886. In 1923 the sign was put up; but initially, it read, "Hollywoodland".

The letters of the sign were 50ft high, and after the first initial film set in Hollywood in 1904, it became the staple landmark of the town.

In September 16th, 1932 struggling actress Peg Entwistle leapt to her death. The letter she chose to descend from? the H. 

In 1949 "land" from "Hollywoodland" was taken off, and the sign was completely rebuilt to be 45 ft high. However despite the rebuilding in 1949, it became very depilated in the 1970s. The third "O" fell down the hill, and arsonists lit the "L" on fire. In 1978, Hugh Hefner held a gala to restore the sign which several contributors, including Alice Cooper, spent $28,000 each to restore the sign.

Originally the sign was intended to last a year, however because of its memorable image, it became a historical landmark in 1973. 

Although fictional, the sign has been destroyed in several movies. 

The Hollywood sign might be a image of deceit and misery however it is an icon of hopes and dreams as well. By getting to Hollywood and seeing the sign, you become everything you hope to be. Hollywood is the yin and yang of hope. It is the two sided coin where you can either succeed, or you can fail miserably.

The sign represents all of that. It is the basis and image of our home. It is the one major part of Los Angeles that I will keep in my heart.