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The Hollyhock House was Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Los Angeles Architectural project. It was commissioned by Aline Barnsdall, granddaughter of the oil magnet, William Barnsdall, and was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to be a combination of house, gardens, and as a center for the theatrical community.

In addition to the central garden court, each major interior space adjoins an exterior space, connected either by glass doors, a porch, pergola or colonnade. A series of rooftop terraces further extend the living space and provide magnificent views of the Los Angeles basin and the Hollywood Hills.

In 1927, Aline Barnsdall donated the Hollyhock House and its eleven surrounding acres to the City of Los Angeles, for use as a public art park in memory of her father, Theodore Barnsdall.

The Dueling Iconoclasts

As is all too frequent in life, the relationship between Aline Barnsdall and Frank Lloyd Wright, quickly turned sour:

Aline Barnsdall, the donor of Barnsdall Art Park, was the ultimate iconoclast. A fiercely independent feminist, a bohemian, a devotee and producer of experimental theater, and an enormously wealthy heiress, she was a single mother at a time when women were simply not single mothers.

Without Aline Barnsdall, Frank Lloyd Wright might never have come to California. Yet with Frank Lloyd Wright, Aline, like many others, had a stormy relationship. Kindred spirits in many ways, it was Barnsdall who reached out and bankrolled Frank Lloyd Wright after his notoriety killed his domestic practice. She was enormously generous, supportive and patient, while Wright was consumed with his personal travails and the construction of the monumental Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. And while Barnsdall thought that Wright was brilliant, she despised the Hollyhock House Wright finally constructed for her.  Source: Discover Hollywood

After several residents and renovations, including one in 1946 by Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, today the Hollyhock House has realized its founder’s vision—it’s surrounded by the Barnsdall Art Center, the Junior Arts Center, a Municipal Art Gallery, and the Gallery Theatre.

Hollyhock House one of Los Angeles’ best Houses of all time

Although Frank Lloyd Wright and Aline Barnsdall had differing views of how Barnsdall Art Center should look and feel, the Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Park is considered a top architectural masterpiece in Los Angeles.

Tours of Hollyhock House are available Wednesdays through Sundays at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30pm.

Travelin’ Local often times leaves us in awe of the human spirit of achievement, vision, and capability. The Hollyhock House is testimony to that fact.

But before I left, I wanted to do a little bit of research. As a result, I learned a few things. For example:

History of the Star’s Design

Each star consists of a pink terrazzo five-pointed star rimmed with bronze and inlaid into a charcoal square. Inside the pink star is the name of the honoree inlaid in bronze, below which is a round bronze emblem indicating the category for which the honoree received the star.

The different emblems include:

• Motion picture camera for contribution to the film industry
• Television set for contribution to the broadcast television industry
• Phonograph record for contribution to the recording industry
• Radio microphone for contribution to the broadcast radio industry
• Twin comedy/tragedy masks for contribution to live theater (Source: Wikipedia)

The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of about 3.5 miles of stars.

I strolled, watched, and was at times amazed, other times astounded by the sheer number of stars and the who’s who on the famous walk. Not to mention the great time I had watching everybody’s varying reactions to the stars.

“Oh, look, here’s The Simpsons.” “Hey, I found Kiss!” “Look Mom, here’s Mickey Mouse!”

Almost everyone can find someone they know on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Early History

Just as with the rehabilitation of the Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame started as a way of promoting redevelopment in Hollywood. Although its history started in 1960, by the end of the decade, the Walk of Fame had deteriorated, becoming the home of drug dealers and addicts, runaways, the homeless and petty criminals.

The Walk’s Comeback

For over 10 years no new stars were added. But one man changed all that. Along came Johnny Grant, the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood. He led the efforts to revive the Walk of Fame by adding two new rules:

1. Honorees would be required to show up for a Walk of Fame dedication ceremony

2. Honorees would have to pay a $2500 fee to help pay for the Walk of Fame’s upkeep.

It worked. Today, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has more than 2000 stars filled in and more waiting in the wings. (Source: Wikipedia)

That same afternoon, the heartbreaking death of Michael Jackson was just being announced on the news and from person to person.

Walking the Hollywood Walk of Fame with an Interactive Map

I’ve included a map featuring the entire walk (click to see more pictures), which also includes the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater (an upcoming story), the Hollywood & Highland Center, and the Hollywood and Vine famous street corner.

View Hollywood Walk of Fame in a larger map

Included in the map are two Metro stops. One is at the Hollywood and Vine intersection, and the other at the Hollywood and Highland crossing. Both are located literally on Hollywood Boulevard.

Of course, being a forward thinking city, Los Angeles has recently installed a few new bike racks on Hollywood Boulevard– so bike parking is easier than ever. (Check out the round marker on the map at Hollywood and McCadden Place for the picture.)

The Passing of the Stars

Sadly—indeed tragically– I happened to be at the Hollywood Walk of Fame the day that two of our biggest and most iconic entertainment figures of our era passed away—Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, RIP.

Farrah Fawcett’s dedicated fans decorated her star in a tribute to her life, and in her memory.

As I stood at the corner waiting to cross the street, someone in a stopped car asked if we had heard the news of his death. “No” was my initial reply, because I thought it was a hoax. However that notion was dispelled within a few minutes, after literally everybody on the streets were talking about it. As I continued my walk, the only conversations remaining on Hollywood Boulevard that day was of the tragic death of the “King of Pop.”

It’s amazing that even in times of sadness Travelin’ Local can bring a sense of community to an otherwise group of total strangers.

Some people are as large in life as they are in death—and for that, I’m sure that the angels look down upon them from heaven.

For a true LA insider’s look at the Hollywood Hills, try the Hollywood/Highland Travelin’ Local Walking Tour. It’s 3 miles of total LA uniqueness.

That’s a rhetorical question to Angelinos, and others, of course. Yesterday, I went, I came, and I conquered in my search of the total Hollywood Walk of Fame experience, and I found more than I thought I would.

What did I find, curious minds are asking?

Truth be told, in the upcoming weeks I’ll be featuring all of the goodies I found during my foray; but for today I’d like to converse a bit about one of Los Angeles’ leading entertainment, shopping, and eating destinations:

The Hollywood & Highland Center

Home to the Kodak Theater, the Hollywood & Highland Center is a favorite shopping and eateries destination. With five stories of shops and food, including Planet Punk, American Eagle Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret, Baja California, Green Earth Café, and so many others, the Hollywood & Highland Center is uniquely Southern California, with its creamy pastel colors and hip aesthetic.

With that and the great art deco and modern architecture, how could you go wrong?

Upon entering, you’re greeted with

Following your own personal red carpet and walking up the stairs, your path leads you here.

Of course what good is shopping without eating Al fresco?

Let’s see, so far, you’ve done a little shopping and had some lunch, now what?

How about a little time to stop and smell the roses?

Just go to the top of the stairs to embrace the stunning view of the Hollywood Hills with the Hollywood sign as a backdrop.

Or maybe you’d like to walk around The Road to Hollywood?

And read a few of the funny “quotes” on the walkway

So far you’ve had a grand day, walking, shopping, and enjoying the gorgeous surroundings. Upon your departure, as you step onto the sidewalk toward the cross walk, suddenly, you stop and do a double take:

When Travelin’ Local in Hollywood, some of the locals may look like extras in a film, but we know that the Apes here don’t bite. And friendly too!

Here’s to a grand time and kudos to the developer and people that built the magnificent Hollywood & Highland Center—I could spend a whole lot of time and money there, but just being able to enjoy its sights, sounds, and some get-a-way time–truly seemed like a great vacation day in the middle of the day and city.

But for some serious eating and shopping, it can’t be beat!

For a true LA insider’s look at the Hollywood Hills, try the Hollywood/Highland Travelin’ Local Walking Tour. It’s 3 miles of total LA uniqueness.

Who would have thought that one intersection could be packed with so many attractions–both new and old. Beginning in the 1920s, Hollywood began to see an influx of money and influence, as the previous nascent movie and music businesses began to evolve and move in, creating the "Golden Age of Hollywood."

Each corner of Hollywood and Vine is graced with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star commemorating the first lunar landing mission, Apollo Eleven, featuring Neil Armstrong, Edward E. “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins.  I remember watching the moon landing on television, sitting huddled around a small black and white television with my parents.

Just north of the intersection lies the world’s iconic and first circular office building, the Capitol Records headquarters.

Its unique design–and creative and playful exterior–resembles a stack of 45s sitting on a turntable; for those of you old enough to remember that before CD’s and MP3 players there were LP’s, and before that 45’s.

The Capital Records Building, built in 1956, is also nicknamed, “The House that Nat Built” in reference to Capitol Recordings musical superstar, Nat King Cole.

Although Capitol Records no longer owns the building; it stands as a permanent testament to a time gone by, with such musical giants as Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, to Billy Idol, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay holding court in the building’s corridors of musical power past–just looking at the building brings back memories of long hours listening to record albums.

Just across the street from the Capitol Records building is the Avalon Hollywood Theater:

Built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the then Hollywood Playhouse opened its doors in 1927. Over the years, this theater has been named and renamed: the Hollywood Playhouse, the WPA Federal Theatre, El Capitan Theatre, The Jerry Lewis Theatre, The Hollywood Palace and The Palace.

In 1952, it held the first nationally televised telethon to help raise funds for the US Olympic team. It was hosted and attended by such Hollywood legends as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra.

No tour of the corner of Hollywood and Vine would be complete without the Pantages Theatre:

From 1949 to 1960, the Pantages Theatre hosted the Academy Awards. Although the Academy Awards are now held at the Kodak Theatre, the Pantages was a movie theater during the Depression and now it hosts live theater production– currently showing Dirty Dancing.

What I found amazing about the entrance to the Pantages Theatre was its magnificent Art Deco Ceiling:

From the minute I walked in, I knew I was someplace special. Its grandeur is from a bygone era.

By the 1960s, however, many studios and broadcasters had moved into more upscale enclaves, and the area fell into disrepair and disrepute, with many abandoned stores and offices, and the streets themselves, claimed by squatters and panhandlers.

It took several decades; hundreds of master plans created and discarded, and billions of dollars from the City for the area’s comeback to occur and take hold.

All too frequently visitors looking for Hollywood dreams were often taken aback by the area’s contrast with shinier tourist Mecca’s. I know that I was!

The Hollywood Redevelopment area is part of the Los Angeles Redevelopment Agency.

Now, Hollywood is undergoing rejuvenation, with one of the the construction projects being a new super-modern and chic W Hotel being developed directly across the street from the Pantages Theatre:

Where old meets the new, life will be different, but in Hollywood, you’ll never know what you’ll find just around the corner while Travelin’ Local.

This Saturday, I got pretty close. I went into the Hollywood Hills going north on Beachwood Drive, until it ends. There’s a very small dirt parking lot where I parked and followed a sign reading “Hollyridge Trail.”

Unsure if I was in the right place, I just got out of the car and started walking the trail. Within a few minutes, I realized I was and my vision was getting closer and closer.

Although time and weather prevented me from actually touching the sign, as you can see from the photo above, I nearly reached the Mountain’s peak and although I didn’t literally touch the Hollywood sign, this was as good as it gets!

The Hollywood Sign’s Early History

It was originally built in 1921 as a huge advertisement for a local real estate development company. The 50-foot high letters cost $21,000. Plus, the first sign read HOLLYWOODLAND, not Hollywood. Over the years, the sign has seen its share of history, from being used as part of a struggling actress’s suicide to almost falling down.

The Hollywood Sign’s Renaissance

By the early to mid 1970’s the sign was in shambles and in fact, it was literally falling down; however in 1978, Hugh Hefner, stepped in and organized and hosted a party at the Playboy Mansion in order to raise funds to revamp the sign. Using an “Adopt-a-Letter” campaign, the sign’s letters were “sold” for $28,000 each. Celebrities such as Gene Autry (who bought an ‘L’) and Alice Cooper (who bought an ‘O’), donated generously and the Hollywood sign was brought back to life.

The Hollywood sign now stands–literally and figuratively–as part of the history of Los Angeles, movies, and an iconic image known the world over.

What surprised me even more than seeing the Hollywood sign up close, were the stunning panoramic views of the city from the trail’s many perches, ledges, and vantage points.

From this vantage point downtown Los Angeles is a tad shy of being 8 miles away. Because today was such a clear day, it presented these majestic views.

Looking at the map below, you’ll see the little green hikers. That’s approximately where I shot this picture:

View Travelin’ Local Post Map in a larger map

If you thought hiking and Los Angeles don’t go together you’d be wrong.

With over 500 miles of hiking within the County of Los Angeles, I have a lot of trails to choose from while Travelin’ Local.

And everybody thinks Los Angeles is mostly concrete, and freeways— as people read more Travelin’ Local news, stories, and adventures, I’m positive that you’ll be amazed at the depth and breadth of the sheer physical beauty of Los Angeles, Southern California, and everything in between.

When you have the chance, be sure to visit, as the natives are friendly and local hiking is a year-round activity.

For a true LA insider’s look at the Hollywood Hills, try the Hollywood/Highland Travelin’ Local Walking Tour. It’s 3 miles of total LA uniqueness.