Chinese Theatre Cover-up

Back when I worked at Starline Tours, one of my favorite things was helping tourists get that perfect photo in front of the Chinese Theatre. When you get down close to the ground you can get a great shot upward that gets the whole front of the theatre.............................Not any more.

In an effort to make some extra $$, owners Elie Samaha and Donald Kushner have come up with a unique idea: Green screen the Chinese and have you pay for it.

If you want to enter the forecourt, you are directed to enter thru the "FREE" entrance and stand in front of the green screen to have your picture taken, then you can roam the forecourt to see "all" the handprints. 

After you are finished you can purchase photos at the booth.

Photo package pricing

An "official" photo in front of the green screen

While I applaud them for their ingenuity to get people to pay for a photo that they used to be able to take for free, what bothers me is.............The Cover up!!
If you want pictures of the Icons Bette Davis, Lucas and Spielberg, Betty Grable, Elizabeth Taylor or Edward Arnold.....well, that's too bad 'cause they're under the carpet!

Steven Spielberg & George Lucas

Betty Grable

Bette Davis

Elizabeth Taylor & Rock Hudson

Bottom line, if you have pictures of these Hollywood landmarks - savor them!

Oscar Day in Hollywood

This morning before my Dearly Departed Tour I wanted to catch Hollywood Blvd. before it got all crazy and they closed off everything.
The Boulevard is closed to all traffic for 10 blocks with 4 check points prior to the Red Carpet. The final being a short maze of concrete and through a metal gate that flips up in about 2 seconds in case of terrorists.

Once the tour ended I headed to find out what was available as far as viewing anything. Instead of staying in one spot I thought it best to walk around the entire perimeter of what was off limits.
First my own corner at Cherokee this is the last of the check points, the first 3 are just showing the tag in the window, this is the search under the cars with the Bomb Squad.

Everyone, even the Limos. Chain link fence lines the street and this year they were very picky about letting people up to the actual corner of Hollywood and Highland, so I got what I could and moved on to Highland and Sunset 'cause that's where the Real limos go. 

The westboro baptist church was there and this is my first actual encounter with these "christians" and thankfully they were drowned out by by the normal people. For those of you not from the United States, this is a (In My Opinion) group of christians who are, to use a term that Scott Michaels uses from time to time, "Crazy as a rat in a coffee can". You can look them up if you want but I will not provide a link for obvious reasons. 
The rest was somewhat uneventful although seeing the FBI Bomb Squad was cool.
I've gotta get back out now that my camera is recharged and check out the after party.
More later, I hope you enjoy. The rest of the pictures are here.

Oscar is coming!!! Oscar is coming!!!

Well it's Oscar time here in Hollywood and that means closing Hollywood Blvd. and welcoming every television Channel on earth!
This Sunday The Academy Awards will be given out at the Kodak Theatre.
In the past they would close the street about 3 or 4 weeks ahead of time but, now that they have down to 1 week, it seems the Oscars may move out of the Kodak. 
So if it's a last Hurrah, I should show what happens that you don't get to see on TV.

It all starts with removing the light poles.
That's a 2 day thing.               Watch Hollywood Blvd. from here. 

Then the bleachers to hold the hundreds of fans. If you ever wanted to be one of the lucky ones. You submit your application to the Academy. Bookmark this link and in the middle of  Sept. registration opens for 1 week.

Once the street is closed to all traffic, the bridge used by the media for that special look "Down the Red Carpet" is erected.









                                                After the chain link fence is put up to separate the Red Carpet from the real world, the place looks like a prison.

It's too early in the week for any outside media, they should start showing up once the carpet is in place. For now the local stations get as much in as they can.

Personally I can't wait for the statues to go up. I will continue to update as the week unfolds.

The Picasa album is here.

New Years Eve 2012........After Midnight

Heather, our tattoed, tutu-wearing bartender

After ringing in the New Year at Dillon's, at the Historic intersection of Hollywood and Vine, we thought that the Best time to walk Hollywood Blvd. would be between 1 and 3am..................
And boy were we right.

I have Never seen so many sparkly, sequin dresses staggering in one place.

 


Hollywood was on high alert, what with the drunks, partiers, homeless and an Arsonist running amok...All on MY Hollywood Blvd.

Click Here for more New Year's Eve on Hollywood Blvd.