Hollywood is known around the world as the home of the film industry, but the history of this iconic location is full of surprising twists and turns. Here are a few lesser-known facts about the real story of Hollywood:
Hollywood was originally a small agricultural community. In the late 1800s, what is now known as Hollywood was a small, rural community of farmers and ranchers. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the area began to transform into the entertainment capital it is today.
The name "Hollywood" was chosen by a real estate developer. In 1886, a man named H.J. Whitley purchased a large tract of land in the area and began developing it for residential and commercial use. He dubbed the area "Hollywood," after the name of his wife's ancestral home in Illinois. The name stuck, and Hollywood became the official name of the neighborhood in 1903.
The first feature-length movie made in Hollywood was "The Squaw Man." In 1914, a film production company called the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company chose Hollywood as the location for their new studio. They released "The Squaw Man," the first feature-length film made in Hollywood, in the same year. This marked the beginning of Hollywood's reign as the center of the film industry.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame was inspired by a similar honor in New York. In 1953, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea for the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a way to honor the contributions of actors, musicians, and other entertainment industry professionals. The idea was inspired by the "Walk of Fame" in New York City, where stars with the names of famous actors, actresses, and theater personalities were embedded in the sidewalk.
Hollywood has a dark history of censorship and blacklisting. In the early days of Hollywood, the film industry was heavily censored by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). In the 1940s and 1950s, many actors, writers, and directors were blacklisted from Hollywood due to their political beliefs or associations. These blacklistings had a significant impact on the film industry and continue to be a controversial aspect of Hollywood's history.
Hollywood may be known as the home of the film industry, but there is much more to its story than just the glamour and glitz of the movies. From its humble beginnings as a small agricultural community to its dark history of censorship and blacklisting, the real story of Hollywood is full of surprises.