HOLLYWOOD'S FAMILY VALUES DEVELOPERS HAVE POURED MILLIONS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HOPING TO LURE BACK PARENTS AND KIDS.Byline: Chris J. Parker Correspondent ASK A Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, resident if she's been to Hollywood and she'll probably say only out-of-towners go to tourist traps. Ask a local parent the same question and he'll likely say Hollywood isn't a great place for kids. Both these Angelenos would be missing out on the latest Hollywood comeback story. The Entertainment Capital of the World now offers shopping, dining, family movies, live theater - and historic charm. ``I'm a native (Angeleno) and ... it's so amazing to rediscover Hollywood now,'' says Laurie Golden, owner of a public-relations firm in Woodland Hills. ``And the thing you discover now is old Hollywood and new Hollywood New Hollywood or post-classical Hollywood refers to the brief time between roughly 1967 (Bonnie and Clyde, The Graduate) and 1982 (One from the Heart and even rural Hollywood.'' The community of Hollywood has re-emerged from a decades-long slump, thanks to an influx of hundreds of millions of redevelopment dollars and a campaign by local officials to reintroduce the rest of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. to its entertainment roots. ``This is a wonderful place to take a family for a vacation,'' says Leron Gubler, president and chief executive officer of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. ``There's a lot of excitement and a lot of things here that people don't think of that are fun to do.'' Some parents still might consider Hollywood a bit too urban for a family outing. The community has in years past been crime-plagued, and some of the side streets and lesser-known buildings of Hollywood remain dirty and graffiti-marred. A few too many T-shirt curio cu·ri·o n. pl. cu·ri·os A curious or unusual object of art or piece of bric-a-brac. [Short for curiosity. shops remain. And yes, there are scattered strip clubs and lingerie shops. ``Hollywood is certainly not Disneyland,'' concedes Gubler. But Disney is in Hollywood, he points out. And the Burbank-based media giant doesn't typically make mistakes when it comes to its core family market. ``If Hollywood were really that urban and undesirable, I don't think (Disney) would have come here,'' he says. The Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co. began the Hollywood transformation when it revitalized the historic El Capitan El Cap·i·tan A peak, 2,308.5 m (7,569 ft) high, in the Sierra Nevada of central California. Its dramatic exposed monolith rises some 1,098 m (3,600 ft) above the floor of the Yosemite Valley. Theatre to show special, limited screenings of its kid-friendly movies. Now, each six- to eight-week run draws 100,000 to 150,000 customers to the heart of Hollywood Boulevard For uses other than the original street, see Hollywood Boulevard (disambiguation). Hollywood Boulevard is a boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, beginning at Sunset Boulevard in the east and running northwest to Vermont Avenue, where it straightens out . But that was only the beginning. In recent years, Hollywood has flourished thanks to multimillion-dollar renovations of the Chinese, Egyptian and Pantages theaters plus the refurbishing of dozens of smaller retail centers. It wasn't until November 2001 that the world took notice of Hollywood's rebirth with the opening of the $615 million Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex, which includes the Kodak Theatre The Kodak Theatre is a live theatre in the Hollywood and Highland retail, dining, and entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. , the new home of the Academy Awards. Hollywood is now the No. 1 tourist destination A tourist destination is a city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions or visitor attractions and possibly some "tourist traps". in Los Angeles County, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. surveys by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp. and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. ``There's no question that with Hollywood & Highland, it's really acted as a catalyst for Hollywood,'' says Richard Ayson, director of marketing at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. ``There's a lot more to do here.'' The Hollywood & Highland project has brought such family-friendly retailers as Gap, Build-a-Bear Workshop Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) is an American retailer that sells customizable teddy bears and other stuffed animals. Build-A-Bear is the largest of the create-your-own animal chains with the other companies in the business consisting of regional and/or locally-owned , Cold Stone Creamery Cold Stone Creamery is an ice cream parlor chain based in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.[1] History The company was co-founded in 1988 by Susan and Donald Sutherland (unrelated to actor Donald Sutherland), who sought ice cream that was neither hard-packed and Auntie Anne's Auntie Anne's, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is an American chain of pretzel bakeries founded by Anne F. Beiler and her husband, Jonas, in 1988. Auntie Anne's serves products such as pretzels, dips, and other desserts. Pretzels. Other Hollywood developments currently under construction have attracted Borders Books and Ross Dress-for-Less as tenants, among other suburban mainstays. Heck, even Starbucks Coffee has opened an outlet in Hollywood. Of course, at approximately 2,000 square feet, it's not just big, it's Hollywood-sized. Old Hollywood charm There is more than shopping in this new Hollywood. In fact, a lot of the charm of today's Hollywood is its reverence to old Hollywood. A half-dozen museums celebrate and remember old Hollywood, from the Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheatre at 2301 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California, USA, that is used primarily for music performances. The "bowl" in this context is the natural cavity in the earth into which the amphitheater is built, rather than the shape of the Museum's black-and-white photographs to the Hollywood Entertainment Museum's rotating exhibits on Hollywood legends. The Entertainment Museum is ``setting records'' with its current special exhibit celebrating the career of Judy Garland, Ayson says. Other sites honor old Hollywood. The Egyptian Theatre, for example, has semi-regular tours of its historic facility, and Hollywood & Highland has incorporated historical movies into its design. And then there are, of course, the tourist traps. Even they have benefited from the spit-shine that has polished Hollywood. The tourists' agenda starts in the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard with Hollywood's own, unique ``museum row'': Hollywood Wax Museum The Hollywood Wax Museum is located in the heart of the tourist district of Hollywood, California, USA, at 6767 Hollywood Blvd. The museum, the brainchild of entrepreneur Spoony Singh, was opened in 1965,[1] , Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum and the Guinness World Records Museum. Not exactly the Getty and Skirball centers in the Sepulveda Pass Sepulveda Pass (el. 1130 ft. / 334 m.) is a mountain pass through the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles, California. It is often called Poop-Out Pass, a phrase once used by now-deceased traffic reporter Bill Keene. , or the Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for H. Gaylord Wilshire (1861-1927), an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. corridor, but possibly more family-friendly than ``real'' museums. Nearby, Grauman's Chinese Theatre  The of this article or section may be compromised by "peacock terms".You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. has been renovated by its current owner, Encino-based Mann Theatres, and officially reopened in November 2001 after a $7 million facelift. The theater's world-famous ``Forecourt of the Stars'' still includes more than 200 cement casts of celebrity hand- and footprints, along with a few unusual imprints (Betty Grable's leg, Jimmy Durante's nose and the fist of John Wayne, for example). Other family-friendly destinations include the Hollywood Bowl and the Pantages Theatre There are multiple venues named the Pantages Theatre: Canada
Something for day trippers In fact, there's now so much to do in Hollywood - and so much of it is inexpensive or even free - that Golden, the Woodland Hills publicist, is putting together a series of day trips for people coming to Hollywood at the request of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Golden plans a series of ``Hollywood on $10 a day'' trips that will be listed on the chamber's Web site. Her first trip starts at the Hollywood Bowl for a morning picnic and tour of the Bowl's museum. From there, the self-guided tour A self-guided tour is where one navigates a route themselves as opposed to an escorted tours where a tour guide person directs the route, times, information, and places toured. Many self-guided tours come with suggestions, maps, instructions, directions, and items to see or do. goes to Outpost Circle, the site of the 1847 treaty signing that ended the Mexican-American War The Mexican-American War[1] was an armed military conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas. Mexico did not recognize the secession of Texas in 1836; it considered Texas a rebel province. . The tour continues on foot to Hollywood Boulevard for stops at the Chinese Theatre Chinese theatre has a long and complex history. Today it is often called Chinese opera although this normally refers specifically to the popular form known as Beijing Opera; there have been many other forms of theatre in China. and Hollywood & Highland. From there, she recommends a stop at the historic Roosevelt Hotel, where there's a self-guided tour of the hotel's Hollywood memorabilia ``that's as good as any museum,'' Golden says. This tour also goes rural with stops at the Hollywood Forever cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. It is adjacent to the north wall, or back, of Paramount Studios, who, with RKO Studios, bought 40 acres by 1920. , which has three theaters with more than 1,000 video celebrity bios, and at the Lake Hollywood reservoir, tucked up in the hills. And that's just one of her tours. ``Hollywood is jam-packed with all kinds of opportunities for fun,'' Golden says. Hollywood's hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. 12 great places to take the kids El Capitan Theatre What you'll see: Walt Disney Co. movies, including ``Lilo 1. (operating system) lilo - Linux Loader. 2. lilo - first-in first-out. & Stitch'' currently. ``The Country Bears'' arrives on July 26. Where: 6838 Hollywood Blvd. When: Show times vary. How much: $14 for adults, $12 for children 3-11 years old, and $11 for seniors 60 and older. VIP seats, available for $23, include free popcorn and soft drink, a reserved ``best seat in the house,'' early admission and no waiting in line. Information: (323) 468-8262 or www.elcapitantickets.com. Grauman's Chinese Theatre What you'll see: Footprints and handprints of more than 200 Hollywood celebrities are set in cement in the theater's courtyard. There's also the namesake theater, plus a recently added six-screen Mann theater complex. Where: 6925 Hollywood Blvd. When: Show times vary. How much: The courtyard is free. Movie tickets are $10 for adults, $6.50 for children and seniors. Matinee showings are $7.50 for adults. Information: (323) 464-6266 or www.manntheatres.com. Grauman's Egyptian Theatre What you'll see: ``Forever Hollywood,'' an hourlong movie produced by the American Cinematheque. The theater also shows a variety of independent and classic films. There are also occasional 60-minute tours of the historic theater; call or check the Web site for days and times. Where: 6712 Hollywood Blvd. When: Hours vary. How much: $8 for general admission, $7 for students and seniors 65 and older. Information: (323) 466-3456 or www.egyptiantheatre.com. Hollywood & Highland What you'll see: The 640,000-square-foot shopping mall that surrounds the Kodak Theatre, the new home to the Academy Awards. Where: 6801 Hollywood Blvd. When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. How much: Parking is $2 for up to four hours with validation from a tenant. An additional $1 for every 20 minutes, $10 per day maximum. Information: (323) 960-2331 or www.hollywoodandhighland.com. Hollywood Bowl Museum What you'll see: A history of the Hollywood Bowl, including lots of photographs of Hollywood celebrities enjoying the outdoor amphitheater. Where: 2301 N. Highland Ave. When: During the summer, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sundays. After Sept. 23, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. How much: Free. Information: (323) 850-2058 or www.hollywoodbowl.org. Hollywood Entertainment Museum What you'll see: The museum features interactive exhibits, memorabilia and a studio back-lot tour that culminates in the original sets of ``Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and ``Cheers.'' Where: 7021 Hollywood Blvd. When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Wednesdays. How much: $8.75 for adults, $5.50 for seniors 60 and older, $4.50 for students with ID, $4 for children 5 to 12. Information: (323)-465-7900 or www.hollywoodmuseum.com. Hollywood Heritage Museum The Hollywood Heritage Museum is a "Hollywood Studio Museum" located at 2100 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California, USA. The museum is opposite the Hollywood Bowl and is housed in the restored Lasky-DeMille Barn, which was acquired in February 1983 by Hollywood What you'll see: ``The Barn,'' which was the home of the first permanent major film studio. Hollywood mogul Cecil B. DeMille Noun 1. Cecil B. DeMille - United States film maker remembered for his extravagant and spectacular epic productions (1881-1959) Cecil Blount DeMille, DeMille rented half of the building when he made the first feature-length western motion picture, ``The Squaw Man,'' in 1913. Where: 2100 N. Highland Ave., across the street from the Hollywood Bowl. When: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. How much: Free. Information: (323) 874-4005 or www.hollywoodheritage.org. Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a pavement along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, which is embedded with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars featuring the names of not only human celebrities but fictional characters honored by What you'll see: The stars that honor top entertainers in five categories: Motion pictures, television, radio, recording or live theater. Where: Hollywood Boulevard from Gower to La Brea, and Vine Street from Yucca to Sunset. Hours: Public streets, open 24 hours a day. How much: Free. Information: (323) 469-8311 or www.hollywoodcoc.org/walkoffame/frameset.html Hollywood Wax Museum What you'll see: Wax figurines of famous Hollywood celebrities in replicas of some of their most famous costumes. Where: 6767 Hollywood Blvd. When: 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. How much: $10.95 for adults, $8.50 for seniors and $6.95 for children under 12. Information: (323) 462-8860 or www.hollywoodwax.com. Pantages Theatre What you'll see: ``The Lion King,'' the spectacular live production of Disney's movie of the same name. The Los Angeles production ends Dec. 31. Where: 6233 Hollywood Blvd. When: Times vary. How much: $47 and up. Information: (213) 365-5555 or www.lionkingla.com. CAPTION(S): 8 photos, box, map Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) A family town Your pull-out guide to Hollywood's fun spots for you and the kids (2) A youngster tries out a Meryl Streep impression at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. (3) Nicholas Evans, 2, of Torrance gets a hug from Lilo, co-star of the new Disney film ``Lilo & Stitch,'' at El Capitain Theatre. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer (4 -- color) Grauman's Chinese Theatre (5 -- color) Hollywood & Highland (6 -- color) El Capitan Theatre (7 -- color) Hollywood Wax Museum (8 -- color) Grauman's Egyptian Theatre Box: Hollywood's hot spots (see text) Map: Hollywood |
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