Hollywood is now a synonym for the American film industry. It’s also the oldest national film industry in the world! Although its golden age finished a few decades ago, it still has enough magic to attract both people hoping to make their careers in the film industry and tourists hoping to spot their favourite stars.

The name Hollywood was a result of mispronunciation. It is said that a man visiting the area asked a local person what he was doing in the neighbourhood and as a response he heard “hauling wood.” Since the local worker was of foreign origin and his pronunciation was not quite clear, the visitor, who by the way was a real estate developer, heard “holly wood” and decided that it was a good name for his new estate. It was the end of the 19th century and the developer’s name was H.J. Whitley.(http://H.J. Whitley).

Mr H.J. Whitley built his estate at the end of the 19th century, but it quickly grew to be a town. In 1910 it merged with Los Angeles and nowadays Hollywood is a district of LA situated at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Its other borders are Beverly Hills, Beverly Boulevard, and Hyperion Avenue. 

The Hollywood sign will turn 100 in 2023. It has become a symbol of the filmmaking business, however, its creation had nothing to do with the film industry. Its original purpose was to let people know about a newly developed housing estate in the neighbourhood. People looking for new houses were supposed to be able to spot it from a distance and be attracted to come closer to the hillside. What’s more, the first sign was longer than the current one and spelt Hollywoodland. It was changed to Hollywood in 1949.

The fact that the sign Hollywood is on quite a steep hill didn’t stop people in the past from trying to hike up and touch it. These days the sign is surrounded by a dense network of security devices. There are motion sensors, 24/7 monitoring, and even helicopter patrols. But don’t worry, a photo from a distance usually comes out much better.

Because the original sign was created to be an advertisement, it was only meant to last for 18 months. It stayed. Since 1973 the Hollywood sign has been considered one of the official L.A. cultural and historical monuments, which is another reason why it’s so well protected. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, the west coast of the United States was chosen by filmmakers as the home for major film studios. Why this part of the country? Because of Thomas Edison! He was one of the inventors of filmmaking devices and he actually had a patent on film cameras. Because he lived in New Jersey, other aspiring creators moved as far as possible from the east coast of the United States to avoid legal problems which might have occurred if they had tried to use the same technology without an appropriate agreement.

If you think this theme park is only for children, think again! It’s packed with attractions from your favourite shows, so everyone will find something for themselves. You can go on a movie‑themed ride or watch a live show with your favourite characters. 

If you’re not lucky to meet anybody famous in person, you can still go to the area of the Chinese Theatre courtyard which is paved with imprints of the hands and feet of celebs. You can measure your palm against that of your favourite star. 

If you’re not afraid of crowds and you have a strong will to resist the temptation of all the gift shops, you can have a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s a mile‑long pavement covered with star‑shaped plaques of the most popular people in the film industry.