HURRAH FOR HOLLYWOOD!

This is the famous Hollywood sign up in the hills. It can be seen for miles and miles away.

It stands watching over the City. You can almost hear it speak, as it calls your name, bring you closer and closer, on your search for the Glitz and Glamour of the by-gone days of HOLLYWOOD!

As you drive down the 101 Fwy if you look to the right you see the Hollywood sign. Look to left and you see the high rise buildings that make up the skyline of Los Angeles.

It's not as impressive as the New York skyline, but, it still makes your heart beat a little faster as you know you are about to hit the City that has so much to offer you. The City where all your dreams can come true...if, you are one of the few lucky ones.



Once you get off the freeway, onto Hollywood Blvd, you will see some of the fun places to stop at. Places like Ripley's Believe it or Not museum.

If you enjoy seeing world records being set then you must stop at the Hollywood Guinness Museum. Here you find some of the many things that have been done in order to get into the Guinness World Record Book.

If you enjoy watching plays or musicals then you would enjoy a trip to the Pantages. This beautiful theater has been redone and is a sight to see on it's own. Let alone the great stage shows they present.

This is where many of stars go.

As you can see WICKED is playing now.

Across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theater is The El Capitan Theater. This is owned by Disney and shows only Disney and Touchstone movies. Before the show there is a live performance by some of the Disney characters. Often downstairs in the basement you will find movie props or drawings from the movie that is being shown.

Next door to the El Capitan is the Disney Soda Fountain. Here you can can sit down and have lunch or a yummy ice cream sundae. There is also a gift shop full of fun Disney items that you can't anywhere else.

We parked at the Kodak Theater. This is where the Academy Awards are held. Last year's American Idol's final show also took place here. It is attached to a large mall with lots of shops and places to eat.

This is where you enter into the Theater. Think of how many stars have walked this same path. I bet some of your favorites have walked through those doors.

This is Grauman's Chinese Theater. Movies are still playing here. I've never been inside but I hear it's a very large movie theater just like they used to have. Many premieres have been held here.

Outside the theater is where the stars foot and hand prints can be found as well as several people dressed up as old time movie stars or characters. You can pay them $5.00 if you want a picture with them.

Looks like someone forgot to tell these girls that Marilyn Monroe was NOT a twin.

There are many many people walking around. They want their pictures taken of themselves as they step in the foot prints or place their hands on the same spot as their favorite stars.

On the sidewalk, next to the foot and hand prints you will find the Stars Walk of Fame. These stars line the streets for miles.

Did you know, that before anyone could get their own star, someone who already has a star has to nominate them. Then they have to pay thousands to have a star made up before they could be honored and recieve their own star on the Walk of Fame? I wonder who the first person was who got their star. Do you know?

Here is Halle Berry's star. Due to the sun shinning, it was hard to get pictures of the stars without a glare or shadows.

Here is Johnny Depp's hand and foot prints. All the blocks are signed and dated by the stars.

New blocks are roped off for several weeks so people don't stand on them until they are completely dry.

Here is Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra's prints.

Kevin Costner's print had several men trying to see if their hands and feet were the same size as his.

Joan Crawford made this one back in 1929. The women's feet all look so small back then. I think it's because they all wore high heals tried to squeeze their feet into smaller size shoes. For some reason they thought smaller feet looked more feminine back then. I say they were foolish! High heals hurt enough without getting the shoe to small to begin with.

The Roosevelt Hotel is where the first Academy Awards were held. Many of the stars used to live in the Hotel. Stars like, Carol Lombard and Clark Gable had a suite there. They still have it named after them and you can now sleep where they did.

This Hotel is said to be haunted by the ghosts and spirits of some of the rich and famous guests that stayed there. They say, such good times were had here that some of those who died refused to leave the Hotel.

Those who believe these stories claim they are all true. Those who don't believe, just laugh and roll their eyes.

What about you? Do you believe?

This is one of large rooms where the rich and famous would hang out, have drinks and dance the night away.

As I stood in this room, I felt a sense of others being in there with me, yet I didn't see any ghosts or anything that lead me to believe anyone else was there with me.

However, when I got home, I looked at the photos I had taken of the day and this one is the only one that had an orb in it.

Now it could just be a coincidence or it could be the presence I felt? What do you think?

This is part of the main lobby.

Another part of the big lounge.

This is where you check in. I hear it cost several hundreds of dollars to stay here.

I guess if you are a big fan of the Golden era, you would think it was worth it.

I hope you enjoyed your walk around Hollywood today. Tomorrow we are going to Rodeo Drive. This is a famous spot where many of the rich and famous shop. Who knows if we will run into any stars there. One never knows.

Hugs,

Joanne