Ready for a close-up: Oscar history lives along Hollywood Boulevard
Who will win the Oscar for best actor? Actress? Which movie takes home the title as the best of the year? Those questions are answered annually during the Academy Awards. The show takes place in Hollywood.
Hollywood’s electrified with all the big names and soon-to-be big names walking the red carpet, telling droves of television reporters “who” they’re wearing. Fans line up, just for a chance to check out an actor or two.
‘Star Trek” Star
We’ve been on that street – Hollywood Boulevard. Fans lined up for a glimpse of a celebrity or two as we watched “Star Trek” actor Walter Koenig get his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Leonard Nimoy – Mr. Spock – delivered a beautiful speech to honor his co-star.
We even got our picture taken with a celebrity. We are fans of CBS’ “Criminal Minds.” Kirsten Vangsness portrays Penelope Garcia on the show. She was checking out the festivities, too. She was super nice to pose for a picture with us.
Dolby Theater
We’ve strolled along Hollywood Boulevard. We checked out the entrance to the Dolby Theater, home of the Oscars show. We stood on the famous red-carpeted staircase.
One thing we found interesting was that there are columns listing all of the best picture winners. Additional columns await the future winners.
Former Grauman’s Theater
The Dolby Theater isn’t the only spot on Hollywood Boulevard to host the annual awards show. The former Grauman’s (now TCL) Chinese Theatre hosted the Oscars 1944-46. Casablanca won the Best Picture Oscar in 1944.
The Pantages Theatre hosted the Oscars 1950-60. Among the winners during its tenure was “All About Eve,” produced by Nebraska native Darryl F. Zanuck. Zanuck is buried in Los Angeles. Another former Husker to win an Oscar during its time at the Pantages was Marlon Brando, who brought Oscar home for lead actor in “On the Waterfront.” The movie also won Best Picture in 1954.
Historic dive bar
Next door to Pantages is The Frolic Room. Our friends Mark and Ron always visit this bar when in Los Angeles. We took in the scene with them during a visit. It’s considered a dive bar, but it’s a cool place. The ambience shouts ‘60s. A popular mural is located opposite the bar.
So, what Hollywood visit is complete without stopping at Hollywood and Vine? Not ours. We checked that off the list quickly during the trip.
Classic Hollywood sites
To feel like a true Hollywood player you have to have dinner at an established restaurant. Our choice was Musso and Frank Grill. Opened in 1919, the restaurant remains a meeting spot for Hollywood’s celebrities. Ron’s brother and sister-in-law beat us to the restaurant, and he wrangled a corner booth. Not just any corner booth, but, like, THE corner booth. He said the maître de told him Sean Penn and company had held court there a couple of nights earlier. In fact, that booth was featured during a scene in the movie “Hitchcock.” I may have said a little too loud “I sat there!” at the theater when I saw the movie with a daughter.
Hollywood Boulevard is so much more than just the Walk of Fame, where you can see so many stars’ names immortalized on the pavement. It’s a fun place to check out the sights and sounds.
So, as we watch the Oscars, we’ll do so recalling how much fun we had our adventure there.
For more information on Hollywood, check out www.discoverlosangeles.com.
