Hooray for Hollywood!

In the golden days of glitz and movie-dom glamour, hopeful starlets arrived by the busload to find fame in Hollywood where red-carpet excitement filled the nights, and dreams of stardom could come true while sipping a soda at the corner drugstore.

Today, when people refer to Hollywood as the heart of movie-making and celebrity sightings, they are no longer referring to Hollywood itself, but rather Tinsel town in general,  where the business of making magic extends to several surrounding cities.  But, you’d have a hard time convincing tourists of that reality who arrive from all over the world to find cinematic glitter on every corner of Hollywood.

And, they aren’t completely wrong.  “Going Hollywood” still applies to Hollywood—the actual “place.” The community, which interestingly has never become a city, regally reigns as the historic “keeper” of early Hollywood and a present-day escape into the world of movie- star magic. Park your car near Hollywood and Highland, grab your camera and spend the day following the “stars.” Sometimes the most fun we have is seeing a destination we know in a totally new way—from the eyes of tourists.

Attend an “A-list party”

Begin your hunt for the stars by going straight to Madame Tussauds Hollywood where you will find about 125 celebrity greats all in one place. They may be made of wax, but a few will have you looking twice to be sure.  Nestled between the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards, and the world famous TCL (former Grauman’s) Chinese Theatre, the collection of realistic wax celebrity figures is nothing short of amazing. From early Silver Screen icons to present-day blockbuster stars and athletes, the figures seem alive.  Several interactive exhibits allow guests to attend a “premier party” with Brad and Angelina, have a shoot-out with John Wayne and even share a chocolate with Forrest Gump. In September, Madame Tussauds Hollywood welcomed the Her Majesty The Queen of England in honor of the historic milestone of her officially becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history. The wax figure is fitted in an exact replica of the dress she wore for her official Diamond Jubilee portrait. Social media fans will find there are lots of opportunities to pose next to their favorite celeb.

The Dolby Theatre opened in 2001 as the Kodak Theatre in the spot where the historic Hollywood Hotel once stood. The home of the Oscars, the Dolby is an elegant theater with a European flair that makes it a perfect venue for many impressive events throughout the year from world-known entertainers to the Daytime Emmys and the AFI Awards. Daily guided tours of the theater will take you well beyond the Red Carpet to a close-up view of the famous Oscar© statuette itself and to see where your favorite celebrities sit on award night. The tour also includes a visit to the exclusive Dolby Lounge and maybe an insider’s view of the “Winners Walk.” Even if you don’t take the tour, don’t pass up the chance to try your feet (or hands) in the nearly 200 cement prints in front of the theater.

Directly across the street from Madame Tussauds and the Dolby Theatre is The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the host of the first Academy Awards in 1929. Marilyn Monroe was a resident (room 246) of the looming Spanish-style hotel; her first photo shoot was taken on the now-removed diving board of the pool. She and others are rumored to haunt the halls. The long-running television show, “This is Your Life,” originated at the hotel.  The 12-story hotel underwent a $25 million revival, replacing some of the former historical reminders for a more sophisticated look, but the grand hotel still bespeaks its rich early Hollywood past. Best yet, the location is ideal for parking and touring—everything is within a couple of easy walking blocks.

 

No tourist to Hollywood would pass on perusing the Hollywood Walk of Fame—one of the world’s most famous sidewalks and the most visited attraction in town. The star-studded walk with pink terrazzo inlaid stars honors celebrities with “Star Ceremonies,” with about two dozen new honorees annually. You might be lucky enough to do more than read the shiny stars under your feet; check the website for upcoming ceremonies. The events are free and open to the public.

Sightsee like Lucy and Ethel

“I Love Lucy” fans might remember when Lucy went “Hollywood” and took a bus tour of movie star homes. You are advised not to jump off the bus like Lucy did to pick a “Richard Widmark” grapefruit, but you can still enjoy the two-hour, entertaining jaunt into the star-filled neighborhoods that are home to your past and current favorite celebrities on Starline’s Movie Stars’ Homes Tour. The daily tour, which departs from in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre, takes you on a narrated voyage past more than 40 homes of the rich and famous in glitzy star-packed neighborhoods, with plenty of Hollywood trivia and history thrown in. Plus, the tour follows Rodeo Drive where the rich and famous shop, from Gucci to Harry Winston, as well as the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  You never know whom you might see!

Put Some Magic in Your Life

When former “Truth or Consequences” television show writer Milt Larsen stared out of his office window in Hollywood in the early 1960s, he routinely fastened his gaze on a 1909 “castle” perched on the hill above—complete with swirling turrets, colorful stained glass windows and lots of peeling paint. The stately home had gone from prestigious estate to boarding house decay over the decades, but Larsen, from a family of magicians, saw only magical possibilities for the structure. Larsen and his brother charmed the owners of the property into letting them transform the mansion into their vision of what would become the world’s most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the home of The Academy of Magical Arts. On Jan. 2, 1963, the Magic Castle opened its doors with 150 member magicians.

Today, the more than 100-year-old former Lane family mansion hosts a hardy membership of magicians and stands as one of Hollywood’s most popular backdrops for movie and television filming. Six theaters exist within the walls of The Magic Castle—from the Parlor of Prestidigitation and Peller Theater to the Palace of Mystery itself. The Cabaret at the Castle has featured some of Broadway’s biggest names, from Carol Channing to Neil Patrick Harris. However, every room in the mansion has its supernatural touches, from the ghost piano player in the lounge to the question-answering owl to the bar stool that unexpectedly moves its occupant up and down.

Although The Magic Castle is a private club, it is possible to be a part of the mystical fun. One way is to be a guest of a member; another is to attend a rare public performance. But short of having a member friend, you can visit by staying with a “member” overnight—that is, the adjacent Magic Castle Hotel. Guests of the hotel will find the doors of the legendary magic club next door hospitably open to them for an unforgettable day or evening. Not to say that your stay itself at the hotel won’t be magical. As the former living quarters to stars and starlets, the hillside hotel offers a half-century of its own interesting history. Overnight guests enjoy totally redone suites (most the size of full apartments) and an enormous amount of customized personal service and flexibility to meet the guests’ needs from poolside popsicles to unlimited free snacks.

The Magic Castle Hotel will book your reservations for The Magic Castle for you, for either brunch or dinner shows, depending on space. All in all, you’re in for a magical experience.