Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards run parallel to each other, so for a brief interlude, I detoured my early morning run by heading north a few blocks. I was hoping that Grauman's Chinese Theatre was still lit from the night before. Mercifully, my 1.7 mile run (while holding the camera) was not wasted.
Across the street, the marquee for the El Capitan was going gangbusters promoting "Into the Woods."
I just saw the movie last night and for the life of me am baffled at how this convoluted movie has done so well at the box office. Of course Meryl Streep is amazing (her voice has greatly improved since "Mamma Mia!"), but besides its visual beauty, the film lacked any real punch.
The Hollywood and Highland Center has a great view of the Hollywood sign from the top of the stairs, but malls rarely call my name. I'll just stay down below on the Boulevard, thank you.
The marquee makes the Hollywood Theatre look like it's still a movie house, but I don't believe that's the case.
At first, I thought this retail store's garage front had a painting of Tippi Hedren. It wasn't until after I labored to get a decent shot in poor lighting that I realized it was Marlene Dietrich.
See more Daveland Hollywood Boulevard photos at my main website.
4 comments:
Beautiful shot of the Chinese Theater (2nd image close-up).
Love the D.W. Griffith Babylon archway and elephant statue from D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" in the Hollywood & Highland Center.
Was that really ever a theater? Looks like a fancy storefront façade to me. Loving your early morning Hollywood series. Thanks, Dave.
Not just a theater but "the theater" for the 2011 movie "The Muppets." Today it ( and the Disney gift shop next to it ) are as Disnified as possible with the Tom Staggs influence regrettably present. To their credit, the sidewalk has stars for Roy O. Disney out front. ( Also Michael Eisner and an unofficial star at the entry to the Disney shop for Disneyland itself. ) Walt's star is thankfully two blocks west in front of the CVS which helps me to believe he wouldn't want to be a part of that over-commercialized mess.
Dave, when you run through LA with a camera do the cops ever raise an eyebrow? They don't think you just robbed someone and ran, do they?
I've been to these places many times and NEVER seen them empty. Not even last December when it poured non-stop before the parade. These are rare pics indeed!
It's nice that you felt safe enough to explore during these wee hours of the morning... there was a time (not that long ago) when that part of Hollywood was pretty seedy, and occasionally scary.
Bryan - The cops aren't typically out at 5am. I did see a security guard towards the end of my run on this particular day and actually wondered what he was thinking, but that was about it.
Major - au contraire. I do not feel safe. It's a delicate balance of keeping one eye on what I am photographing and the other eye aware of what (and who) is nearby!
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