The RKO Globe: Up close and (semi) personal

Any classic cinema fan worth their salt is familiar with the RKO Radio Picture trademark that was featured at the beginning of their films. Maybe you are familiar with “Citizen Kane,” “Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”? The globe and radio tower weren’t just part of celluloid; they actually existed at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Gower Street in Hollywood, on top of Stage 21.



Now a part of Paramount Studios, the radio tower is gone, but the globe remains, barely visible from below as cars and pedestrians pass by.



As fate would have it, I had the opportunity to see the globe at eye level recently, and fortunately I had my camera.



Could you get a better framed detail view? The Hollywood sign AND the globe!



The old RKO studios where bought out by Desilu (“I Love Lucy”) in 1957, then sold to Paramount ten years later. It appears that the Globe was threatened back in 2015. According to the Los Angeles Visionaries Association:

Paramount’s new Master Plan calls for demolition of eight stages and multiple other ancillary buildings. One of the stages intended for demolition is Stage 21 at the corner of Melrose and Gower. The historic RKO Radio Pictures Studio Globe that sits atop Stage 21 is currently slated for demolition.

I’m not sure of the behind-the-scenes status, but I am glad it’s still there!

See more photos at my main website.

Back to the Hollywood Sign

This was my third collaboration with Vince Ramos, who wanted to get some shots of his new shades near the Hollywood sign. We began our semi-early morning near the James Dean statue by the late artist Kenneth Kendall.



Just in case we couldn't get close to the sign, I took my "insurance" shot of Vince from semi-far away.



With a 600mm lens, everything looks close.



And then after a bit of a journey, we made it. Backpacks and all.



It was a lot easier back in 2004.



Our next destination was Bronson Cave, where the Batmobile from the 1966 TV series roared out every Wednesday and Thursday night. Along the way we discovered the Giving Tree, which was one of those unexpected treasures along the way.



This park map was zero help. The water fountain a little further down...that was LOTS of help!



Finally made it.



Inside the cave. Unfortunately, neither Batman or Robin were here at the time.



Last one is a composite shot I got of Vince nearby.



More Hollywood photos at my main website.

The Wright Tour Pt. 7: Hollyhock House

The last time I had visited Barnsdall Park and the 1921 Hollyhock House in Hollywood, I was only able to tour the grounds since the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Mayan Revival home was under renovation.



Thanks to the Wright Tour that I participated in, I not only got to go inside, but I was able to take photos. This warms my heart to no end.



Never has anyone done so much with concrete.

















A touch of Italy with this Dancing Faun statue that is a reproduction of one from Pompeii:





How about these ornate dining room chairs?





The views from Barnsdall Park are amazing, too. The Hollywood Sign:



Griffith Observatory:



And another Wright gem, The Ennis House:





More photos of the master architect's work at my main website.

Hooray for Hollywood-land

This vintage image was taken in the 1940s and shows the iconic "HOLLYWOODLAND" sign. That's right, readers. The original 1923 sign was intended to be a short-term advertisement for a local real estate development but as we all know, it ended up staying. The reason it was allowed to stay was that in 1949 the City of Los Angeles Parks Department demanded that "LAND" be removed so that the sign would be representative of the district, not the housing development.



While driving through the residential area of the Hollywood Hills in August 2001, I captured a shot of the Hollywood sign that is somewhat close to the vintage shot.



This photo from March 2002 is even closer; I was hiking in Runyon Canyon when I snapped this.



More vintage Hollywood at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: The Hollywood Sign

What an iconic symbol: the Hollywood sign, high above the hills of Los Angeles. Originally constructed as a real estate advertisement, it said “HOLLYWOODLAND.” Eventually, the land was removed, Hugh Hefner donated a nice tidy sum to restore it, and voila, it should be good for awhile longer. I actually hiked up the hill (no foolin’) to present these pictures to you. The hike is not recommended for those with shortness of breath or shoes you don’t want completely ruined by the dirt. Or those who want to stay on the right side of the law.





The goal: get myself AND the letter "D." The result: almost.







Didn't see this until we were leaving. Oops.



See any similarities?



See more vintage and contemporary Hollywood photos at my main website.