THE RUDOLPH VALENTINO MONUMENTS: DE LONGPRE PARK

Hollywood's De Longpre Park, a little park just one block south of Sunset Bl, is named after  Paul De Longpre, a paiter who came to California at the turn of the century and became famous paiting flowers. He created a gigantic park full of flowers in the area, which was one of Hollywood's first tourist attractions. For an idea of how that park looked, see the following link.

The park's claim to fame is that it houses one of the most famous public sculptures in Los Angeles, "Aspiration".  a tribute to Rudolph Valentino that was unveiled on May 6, 1930, the 35th anniversary of Valentino's birth.  It is one of the very few public monuments to an film actor in Los Angeles.

The story behind the sculpture as follows. The early death of Valentino in 1926 became the first movie-related media sensation in America. Valentino was a sex symbol, and many women went crazy for him.  Thousands of people tried to witness  the funeral mass in New York, and there was a public debate as to where he would be buried. Although Valentino died an American citizen, Italy wanted the body flown back to his hometown. At that precise moment, Los Angeles' movie community stepped in, arguing that most of Valentino's friends were in California. the place he had made his home.  A petition that he should be buried in Hollywood was signed by people like Charles Chaplin....and they persuaded Valentino's brother to make the decision to have the body flown back to Los Angeles.

Valentino was so popular those days, that there was talk of a gigantic mausoleum to house his remains.  "Aspiration" was created in that context.  That is why it is a statue that seems more at home at a cemetery than a park.  At the same time, from the beginning there were discussions of making an Italian park in Hollywood, which would include some type of statue of Valentino.

By 1930 some of the excitement had died down, and reality set in. Something had to be done to appease Valentino's many fans, but the City did not support a new public space. So De Longpre Park was chosen for a film actor's first public monument in Hollywood. 

 Sometime in the 30s, the monument was placed in the middle of a fountain, but probably the maintenance cost was high, so the fountain was filled up as shown. 

 

 

Many years later, in 1978, some money for another monument was left in the will of a Valentino fan. So a bust was made by sculptor Richard Ellis, this time in the likeness of the actor and placed in a white concrete pedestal.

 

 

  

THE BRONSON CAVES IN GRIFFITH PARK

Few people know that there are caves in Griffith Park....man made caves, artificial, but hey! This is LA!  They have always been popular with filmmakers and appear in countless films.

The Bronson Caves are the result of construction companies taking stone from that area of the park to use in the construction of the surrounding streets and houses. There is also a version that the railway company also used some of the stone.

This happened between 1903 and the late 1920s ,and then, having run out of stone, the whole area was abandoned....as a quarry.

Since it is a very accesible place, filmakers started using it as a location for Westerns and science fiction movies that needed a cave in the middle of the wilderness.

Since the "caves" are really a short tunnel, only some angles are tipically used in the scenes. Probably the most famous use of the caves is in the Batman TV series.

How to get there? 

 

 From Franklin Avenue, one can go north on Canyon Drive until the end of the drive. Soon after entering the park,  you can leave your car in the parking lot on the right. (see photo)

 

 

 

You walk round the metallic bridge, and take the dirt path to the caves. No signs but you can't get lost.  It is a very short walk.

 

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER: THE WEST IS THE BEST

Gene Autry.  The name sounds familiar but hardly anyone today can give details of the man's life....except that he played a singing cowboy. The man is linked to the West and....guess what? That is the theme of this museum.....the American West. It used to be called the Western Heritage Museum.  It is sort of refreshing that in Los Angeles, a place where Fiction is King.(Hollywood, Disneyland)    ....you have this place.  Real guns.....real costumes.....indian art. 

What about Gene Autry the actor? The guy who used to collect Hollywood?  There is a gallery which is informative, but not much. Not even Hollywood's West is very well represented here. In other words, not the place for the movie buff. 

There are other places in the United States that have a Western theme but none like this so.... if visitors to Los Angeles have seen most of the sights.....go to this place. And buy something in the expensive gift shop.  (Real is not cheap!)

Official Website for more info:

http://theautry.org/

 

DISNEYLAND PARK VERSUS THE MAGIC KINGDOM.....A COMPARISON

Disneyland Park is the name of the original park built under Walt Disney's instructions in 1955. It is in Anaheim, near Los Angeles.  During the last years of his life Walt Disney spent a lot of time there, promoting "upcoming" attractions like the Haunted House and Pirates of the Caribbean. So today, despite all the changes,  this particular park is linked to memories of Walt. 

The Magic Kingdom is an almost exact copy of Disneyland, inaugurated in Orlando, Florida in 1971. By then, Walt was gone.  From the visitor's point of view, it gives you an almost identical experience as the Los Angeles park.....unless you are a Disney historian or can "appreciate" the differences.  This is what this article is all about. 

If you look at the maps, the two parks are very similar. The Magic Kingdom is slightly larger, so a visit can be a slightly less crowded affair.

One of the most obvious differences, the castle in The Magic Kingdom is much much nicer.....but remember, the "castles" in these parks are just for the photo ops, they have little to do with what the park really offers. 

Disneyland's castle may be less impressive, but it compensates with other features which are unique. The Matterhorn is only in Disneyland. So is the New Orleans Quarter, and Toon Town.  

OK. Now the main thing.....the rides and attractions.  The main differences?  Both parks have key attractions such as The Haunted House, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain.  The building of the Haunted House in Disneyland is much nicer, but the ride is the same. 

There are some important differences in the less known rides.....For example The Flying Carpets and the Snow White ride are only in Orlando, Roger Rabbit's Ride is in Disneyland.  The Tiki rooms are different.....but in the end the two parks play to a draw. 

So here is the big one. Disneyland has two very good attractions that are missing in Orlando. The Submarine Voyage....and the Indiana Jones Ride.  The last one is particularly good.     

So if you don't care for history, or the fact the Disneyland has a little more style......When in Disneyland remember the uniqueness of those rides. 

SUBMARINE VOYAGE...only at Disneyland

     

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.  

THE HOLLYWOOD TOWER: WORTH A VISIT?

You probably saw it from the 101 Freeway.  You may have heard about it as the inspiration of the Disney ride. The Hollywood Tower.....

Is it a historic building?  Yes. It was built in 1929, and is in the National Register. But not because it has a particularly interesting past. The truth: No major actor or really famous person from the Golden Era has lived there. Any ghost lives there?  Any murder?   None that we know of......  

The Hollywood Tower today is a fancy apartment building. A very nice place to live in, with good views from the upper floors, but is not supposed to be a tourist attraction.

Did it inspire the Disney ride?  Probably.  Hollywood does not have another similar tower that could have been the source of inspiration. Then there is the issue of the sign. The Disney one is very similar to the real tower's.   Please note: The architecture however is totally different, although the Orlando park's  tower has pointed spirals that are somewhat similar to the ones in the Hollywood building. Note that this was the original ride.....  

Want to take a picture of the front?   Not very easy. Go up Vine from Hollywood Boulevard, then turn right two blocks before reaching the freeway. Try to find a view from there. 

The actual address: 6138 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028   From the official entrance you will get a picture similar to the one below.     

LIVE IN LOS ANGELES WITHOUT DRIVING.....MUCH

New apartment building in Hollywood. 

When people come to L.A., they are thinking of the beach, Hollywood, the shows......Los Angeles is a great place, but it has a catch.....you need to drive to get around.

Granted, most people know this. L.A without a car is a logistical nightmare. What they don't know is how worse it has gotten the last years. Places where there was plenty of 2-hour free parking, like Glendale, now are a crowded disaster during the weekends.  The main boulevards of most residential areas, relatively easy to navigate before, now seem like the streets of New York. The bottom line: the only easy drives in L.A today are on Sunday mornings, and far away from the malls.

So? It finally gets to you. You have to drive.....and driving in L.A. today is not fun. Even the parking lots are chaotic.  And this has quietly changed the thinking of a lot of people. The news is that slowly but surely, an "urban" L.A. is coming to existence. Yes! It is possible to live in L.A without driving....much. 

Option A: Hollywood, the West Side, Santa Monica etc

One option is to study things carefully before chosing a place to live. Most people want to be within walking distance of a supermarket, a pharmacy, a convenience store, the post office. And have good public transportation to work. Public Transportation?  That rules out most residencial areas like Cerritos, Downey, Pasadena. The areas of L.A. best served by public transportation are Downtown, Hollywood, Santa Monica......now let's take those three places. They all have public transportation, but.....Downtown lacks a good retail infrastructure. Its a ghost town during the weekends.  So.....you guessed.....the other two, and other places like Glendale. 

Option B   Live near a Mall....

The malls of L.A. have changed.....they are full of cars, parking during the weekends is not easy. But there is a positive side to this. The malls have grown so much now, that they are like small cities. Banks, Pharmacies, all types of shops.  You live nearby? You have everything within walking distance. And they are nicer than Hollywood and parts of Santa Monica. Less crazies.....  The secret is out, and people are moving in droves to the apartment buildings around Del Amo in Torrance, Glendale Galleria in Glendale.....and the others. 

How is life then if you live in these areas? You can survive most of the week without driving. Since the city is so spread out, you will probably need the car to visit friends during the weekend, to go to certain places.  But the pressure is off. Hey Hey Hey!!!

  

HOLLYWOOD/HIGHLAND. AND THOSE ELEPHANTS?

The shopping center at Hollywood and Highland in Hollywood is probably one of the most visited places in Los Angeles. Most tourists visit the place together with the Chinese Theatre.

OK. Probably the most surprising thing about this place is the design, specially the statues of those two elephants high above the place. Some of us also notice the strange Babylonian mural.

It looks like an old Hollywood set, something out of a picture like Cleopatra.....but most people think it is just a generic thing inspired by Hollywood's Golden Era and forget about it. 

Yes....and No.   This is not generic.......it is a limited reproduction of one of the most grand and fabulous sets ever designed....the set of D.W. Griffith"s 1916 epic Intolerance.  That film was the most expensive to make up to that point, and was a commercial flop, creating big financial problems for Griffith and the studio. The  original set was not far from Hollywood and Highland. Some think that the idea of elephants comes from the italian film Cabiria, another classic. The set was so large that it could not be dismantled after shooting wrapped up, and was a type of "tourist attraction" for a couple of years until it finally came down. The builders of the mall must have known this, and are sort of recreating a great moment in film history. Sort of nice.  

In the pictures, you can compare the original set to what we have now.... 

THE PHANTOM THEATRES OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

A hundred years ago, Downtown L.A. was a West Coast version of Midtown Manhattan, or downtown Chicago.  The sidewalks were full of people, the streets were full of trams and cars.

And with the support of cinema industry, Broadway Los Angeles became the cinema version of Broadway New York.

Big glamorous movie theatres started to appear in 1910, and soon there was a string of them. Twelve movie palaces between Third and Ninth Street, on South Broadway, and a few more in the surrounding streets. Los Angeles, entertainment capital of the world. The star-studded premieres were divided between theatres in Hollywood and downtown. 

But concentration in L.A did not work out.  Starting with Miracle Mile, alternative urban centers appeared in different parts of the L.A. basin, and people had the option of avoiding Downtown L.A. if they wanted.....and they did. 

And if Downtown L.A. today is relatively unpopular for many reasons, Broadway is even worse. It is frankly considered one of the most rundown areas of downtown L.A. 

One of the biggest victims was those famous movie theatres.  All those regular customers disappeared into the residential wilderness. For years Broadway survived offering services to the Latino community, and they are still at it today. Some are churches, some are stores. Some are nightclubs.....Survivors include the Orpheum and the Mayan. 

 But the movies? the star studded premieres?   They are ghosts of a past that will not return. 

Is it worthwhile to see what is left?   Maybe. If you are a fan of fancy buildings. And you like ghosts. 
Please tolerate the area, which has complicated parking and very few people willing to provide public restrooms. 

Interested?  You can go to downtown in public transportation, as many people do today, and simply walk down to that magical stretch of Broadway. Don't worry, its relatively safe. While you are there, its worth seeing the Columbia Eastern Building, one of the nicest. Even if it never was a theatre.  

The City doesn't get it. As long as Downtown Los Angeles doesn't offer what the malls offer......

For more detailed info, go to the wikipedia page for The Theatre District. Los Angeles....

THE JOHN WAYNE STATUE IN BEVERLY HILLS

There are basically two well-known statues of John Wayne in the L.A area. This was the first one, with the guy on horseback, and near the corner of Wilshire Blvd and La Cienaga Bl in Beverly Hills. It was done by the famous artist Harry Jackson in 1984 .    There is a newer statue of John Wayne, without a horse, at John Wayne Airport.

The original work was very original. It was brightly painted, and had a motor at the base that allowed the statue to rotate. The City of Beverly Hills intervened, arguing that a moving statue distracted traffic. So Jackson switched off the motor....and complained until his death in 2011.

Many people find it funny that John Wayne, a symbol of conservative values, should be in front of the Flint Enterprises "Hustler" building. The story goes like this: John Wayne in his retirement did some famous advertisements for the Great Western Savings and Loan.  In those days, this building was the the S&L's main branch, and commisioned the statue.  Great Western became Wahington Mutual, and later on the publisher of Hustler Magazine bought the building. There has been some talk of having the statue moved, but......nothing has been done.

It is a very nice statue of John Wayne, but no big deal. Of more interest is the base. The two scenes are very original.....a cowboy trampled to death by a cattle stampede, and his solemn  burial.   Not the typical scenes of heroism one associates with statues.....and with John Wayne.

DON'T FORGET ANGEL'S FLIGHT!

Visiting Downtown LA?  Don't forget Angel's Flight, the shortest railway on earth!    

Today, it just carries tourists up and down a hill in downtown. But it has a rich history.   In the old days, when most of today's downtown was residential, it  used to be real transportation for the residents of classy Bunker's Hill.
Needless to say, it has appeared in many movies.   For the complete story, click this link

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_Flight

The original cars have been lovingly restored, and are worth seeing. 

How to get there?  From Grand Av, next to the Wells Fargo headquarters you have California Plaza.  The station is there.  Or you can go to the Broadway station and use the railway to go up to California Plaza.   

One way fare is 50 cents. 

WHY UNION STATION IS SPECIAL

Los Angeles main train station is Union Station, built in 1939. It is called "the last of the great railway stations". 

  In the city of the car, it has for decades played a low profile role.....until today, when people in LA are getting tired of the long commutes and going towards public transportation in droves. Also the City, through Metro, has bought the station from the rail company that owned it and has given it a more prominent role in the transportation grid. With all this attention, the station is changing. For the better?  We will see. 

Why is it special?  Because it is one of the few places in LA where you can breath "old America"  You really are "transported" in time.  And the Art Deco style is fantastic!  

So yes, it is certainly worth a visit.  Olvera Street is just across the street, so you can kill two birds with the same trip.   

  For the big fans, the Los Angeles Conservancy has 2 hour detailed tours, third Saturday of each month, at 10am.  (323) 623-2489    $10.  www.laconservancy.org

  

THE BAYWATCH BEACH....TODAY

Will Rodgers State Beach, Pacific Palisades

Millions of people became familiar with this beach through the hit program Baywatch in the 90s.  And it wasn't just fiction, the director of the series worked as a lifeguard on this particular beach. 

Yet today, it is almost a secret beach....OK, nothing is secret in LA......Let's just put it this way. No-one talks about this beach. It gets much less publicity than Santa Monica Beach, Venice, Manhattan, Redondo Beach...... 

Why? Because it is in low-profile Pacific Palisades. 

Just north of Santa Monica on the Pacific Coast Highway, the beach is easy to reach. One just has to go to Santa Monica on the 10 Freeway, and from Santa Monica one gets directly to the Pacific Coast Highway.  Travel a few miles north, and the beach is off the highway, with two large parking lots.   

  But here is the thing. In LA, people don't just go to Pacific Palisades....unless you have something to do there. It is not exactly in the way (the 405 is miles away) , and the exclusive residential area does little to attract people.  So the beach remains relatively quiet. 

It is a pity, because it is one of the best beaches in Los Angeles. 

Photos: Andrés Raab

HOLLYWOOD SIGN: WANT A GOOD PHOTO?

The sign is probably the most famous thing about LA.....after Disneyland!!!  But while the theme park has official imitators around the world, there is only ONE sign. It is our Big Ben, our Eiffel Tower.

The Big Ben, The Eiffel Tower, the tower of Pisa.....are all very accesible. They have avenues, parks around them. Not the sign. You can see it from many places, but it is far away. Specially when you want to take a picture. The zoom? Yes, but you lose some quality. And you cannot get a good picture of the sign with a person in front.

So the question is. Where can I go to get a decent picture of myself with the sign?

Lots of places advertise that they are "the best place to see the sign" but we know as Angelenos that they are wrong. They just want your money.   Here is our advise.

It is difficult to get a photo op close to the sign because the area is full of hills, and constructions. You end up driving round and round in the residential area around N Beachwood.....and fail to find a spot. There are just a few places to get a really good picture (like the one you see.....)

The best places.

Lake Hollywood Dr. The area round the resevoir has some spots. 

Deronda Drive.  Not easy, but you can find a good spot.

Griffith Park Observatory

One of the main tourist attractions anyway, so you can do both things with one trip. This is not the best spot. You are taking the picture from one side, and "hill to hill" But you can do so in comfort, and the pictures will be OK.  

HOW TO HIKE TO THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN

Updated  November 2016
 

Want to reach the famous HOLLYWOOD sign? 

 Before you do, remember that to avoid damage and vandalism, it is off limits.  The best you can do is see the back of the sign from just a few yards away and take a picture from behind the fence, as shown above. Also, the hike will not improve your chances of taking a good picture with the sign.

If you just want to take a good picture in front of the sign, click the link below

HOW TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN.

http://lainfoblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/hollywood-sign-want-good-photo.html

In other words, for many people it is simply not worthwhile to hike up to the sign.  But you still want to hike up?

OK, OK.....

From Franklin, drive up N Beachwood Drive. Keep going,  keep going..... All the way to the end, to where it meets Hollyridge Dr.   Park around there Monday to Friday, but on the weekends and holidays it is not allowed.  You have to park much further down on Beachwood Dr, near the stone arches,  where there are no signs.     

Enter the park as if going to the ranch. From the parking clearance, start out on the trail. Do not go in the direction of the "Ranch" unless you want to do business with them. The trail we want seems to go away and round the ranch. 

This is the sign you want. It is the beginning of the trail.

The first part is relatively steep. And unmarked. There are no signs to make things easy for you......just some horse droppings.....

About ten minutes later along the dirt road, you will see an intersection, TURN LEFT....you sort of go back in the direction you were coming from, but then you go round the hill. There is small sign, but it is sort of confusing.

DO THE SAME AS THE HIKER.   DO A U.....




 

TURN RIGHT HERE!!!

Another 10-15 minutes of hiking uphill, and you will come to a paved road. Turn Right here.  You are now on Mt Lee Dr, and from now on the going is a little easier. Another 15 minutes, and you will see the fence on your right hand side. 

Congratulations!  You have made it!