It wouldn’t have been a great idea to drive west along Hollywood Blvd the night of March 26, 1958. That’s when the stars were pulling up outside the Pantages Theatre for the 30^th Academy Awards. That was the year “The Bridge on the River Kwai” triumphed with 7 awards and “Peyton Place” won in none of its 9 nominated categories. The front of the theater is ablaze with spotlights shining from the south side of the boulevard, where hundreds of fans are gathered to catch a glimpse of A-list crowd.

And here’s a shot from the crowded sidewalk to the immediate east of theater’s entrance:

Here’s how that corner looked in August 2022.