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.......Done

Once the show was over I made my way to Hollywood and Highland to see what was happening. The crowd isn't anywhere as big as it was before and I made it to the corner only to find a double chain link fence. to shoot pictures through. (note to self.....get a camera with manual focus) Security is Still tight and they use those wand things to make sure nobody's armed.
As the guest stand around a wait for their limos, 2 men stand in the middle of the intersection with bull horns and yell out the numbers of each car that pulls up. It may not be efficient but it seems to be the only option.
Not far away Fox Searchlight was having an after party so I waited out side for an hour and the highlight was a Great pair of Christian Louboutan shoes  and Matthew Lillard (not at the same time).

All in all it was a Great week and maybe next year I can finally get into the Red Carpet Bleachers. Oscar is gone for now and life in Hollywood returns to normal (whatever that is).
Go here for the pictures.

Oscar On Air

In 1953 the 25th Academy Awards were televised for the 1st time from the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood and the NBC International Theatre in New York and for the next five years the telecast was divided between both coasts.

The Oscars are seen by 40 million people in the US alone and countless millions around the globe.

With all the cameras everywhere you may notice, There is NO Free advertising at the Academy awards, so any signs have to be covered in a neutral grey, that way you won't notice them.

Once the Celebs exit their limos at Hollywood and Highland and before hitting the Red Carpet they enter a sort of Quonset Hut, what they don't show on TV is they go through metal detectors, then it's Lights, Camera, Oscar. 

More Pictures Here

                                                                               

Oscar's Getting Ready.

Preparations move pretty fast as Sunday approaches and a variety of  things happen all around the area at the same time. 

Security is very tight and while the bleachers and lighting go up so do the concrete barriers and a small city behind the El Capitan Theatre
for media and the set pieces.

Today while I was giving my Dearly Departed Tour the Red Carpet went down, leading up to the grand staircase. It is covered in plastic (you know, like that aunt you have that has plastic over ALL of her furniture) so the public can walk over it and get the "feel" of what the stars feel.

Between Hollywood Blvd. and Hollywood High School is a large parking area that becomes "Oscarville". One side is  the International Broadcast Center and the other is the Red Carpet set getting ready for the world.

 




These are the Oscars that will be placed along the Red Carpet.

Meanwhile the members of the media are becoming more visible trying to get the "perfect shot" and interviewing the average man on the street.

 











More Pictures 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.