THE STORY BEHIND THE SIGN

There is so much action at the Universal City Walk that few people notice the round sign you see in the picture ….

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRLS…….???    OK, so here is the explanation. The sign is an updated replica of an original sign that was in front of a legendary theatre in Hollywood, and was put on the City Walk by the Museum of Neon Art. Briefly, here is the story behind the sign.    

The Earl Carroll Theatre, owned precisely by New York theatre empresario Earl Carroll,  was located at 6230 Sunset Blvd. just off Vine St.,and opened its doors on December 26, 1938.




 It was a glamorous 
1,000-seat supper 
club-theater, and was famous for its musical comedy shows with…..you guessed it…..beautiful girls.  One of them, Beryl Wallace, was the owner’s girlfriend. As a “sign of love”, and to promote her….he put up the neon sign. It soon became famous.  Next to the sign, a famous “Wall of Fame”, but that is another story.... In 1948, when things were looking good, disaster struck. Earl Carroll and his famous girlfriend died when the aircraft they were travelling in hit some wires  in Pennsylvania. The theater was sold soon later, and during the 50s was known as the Moulin Rouge.  The neon sign, and Wall of Fame survived, but their luck ran out some time during the 60s as the place became a rock club….and then another rock club. 

Today the theatre still exists  ..as you can see in the picture below… the sign?  Just the replica on Citywalk.   So much for old Hollywood.