Look at this historical marker that’s been sitting at the southwest corner of Hollywood and Vine since 1953 – that’s 66 years, people! – to commemorate the beginnings of the city of Hollywood. Good idea. Great idea, in fact. Hip hip and hooray for Hollywood. But for gosh-darned sake, would it kill them to get the guy’s name right? It was Harvey Henderson Wilcox who founded Hollywood – not Horace! And his poor wife, Daeida, doesn’t even get mentioned. Apparently “and Mrs” is good enough. Do I really have to point out that Daeida was the one who came up with the name “Hollywood” in the first place?
Is there someone we can call to get this rectified???
(My thanks to Gary Helsinger for bringing this to my attention.)
** UPDATE ** Daeida Wilcox got an historical marker of her own.
Daniel M said: “Like most everything about “our” town, there is a more than a bit of confusion and mystery here. Harvey had a younger brother named Horace, although he reportedly never lived here on the West Coast. At some point, someone got confused and started giving Horace creditedit for founding Hollywood and the mistake got repeated enough that even the USC library is confused! (Note the title says this is a portrait of “Horace” yet under the “subject” tag, it says “Harvey.”) And to be fair, while Daeida was the one who suggested to Harvey that he name his development Hollywood, the name was reportedly thought up by H.J. Whitley (H is for Hobart) who owned the tract just to the west of the Wilcox’s, from today’s Highland to roughly La Brea Blvd. This area was initially called Hollywood Grand View (it included the hills above the Boulevard and the area where the Hollywood bowl is now. Daeida should get more acknowledgement, though as she was a driving force in developing the area after the death of Horace, I mean Harvey!“
I once suggested to the Hollywood CofC that they begin a major program, citywide, to place plaques like this at various sites important to our history and/or where major film scenes were shot. They said that was overdoing it!
The Daeida Wilcox plaque is at 6381 Hollywood Blvd, on the northeast corner of Cahuenga. It is facing Hollywood Blvd, next to the door at the east end of the building.
HARVEY! HIS NAME WAS HARVEY!
I once suggested to the Hollywood CofC that they begin a major program, citywide, to place plaques like this at various sites important to our history and/or where major film scenes were shot. They said that was overdoing it!
Sounds like a damned decent idea to me!
Where is that Daeida Wilcox historical marker?
I wish I knew, Craig! I haven’t been able to track it down…yet.
It is on the building at the northeast corner of Hollywood and Cahuenga!
Thanks, April!
The Daeida Wilcox plaque is at 6381 Hollywood Blvd, on the northeast corner of Cahuenga. It is facing Hollywood Blvd, next to the door at the east end of the building.
Thanks Craig! I’m so glad you were able to track it down.