Tag Archives: Hollywoodland
A view across the Hollywood Hills where the roads are being graded for future homes at Belden and Flagmoor Sts, Hollywoodland, 1923
Up until the early 1920s, the Hollywood Hills were just that: hills. But then someone realized that the views across Los Angeles meant it was actually prime real estate and gave their idea a catchy name. In this 1923 photo, … Continue reading
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Beaton stand out front of the first home built in Hollywoodland at 2716 Woodhaven Drive, 1925
These days, of course, the Hollywoodland development is filled with homes built into every nook, cranny, and canyon of them there hills. But there had to be a very first completed home. Not long after the March 1, 1923 announcement … Continue reading
Looking north up Vine Street approaching Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, 1925
You want to talk about the Wild West? This was the true Wild West: Driving north up Vine Street without any traffic lanes painted on the road. Generally speaking, I guess drivers stuck to the right hand side of the … Continue reading
The Hollywoodland Stairs (aka Saroyan Stairs) at N. Beachwood and Woodshire Drives, Hollywoodland, circa 1923
One of the delights hidden among the curves and folds of the Hollywoodland development are these remarkable stairs. The Hollywoodland Stairs, also known as the Saroyan Stairs, can be found at the intersection of N Beachwood and Woodshire Drives. The … Continue reading
View of a largely empty Hollywoodland development, Hollywood Hills, 1924
These days we’re used to a Hollywoodland that has filled most square feet of the Hollywood Hills below the Hollywood sign. But back in 1924, when this photo was taken, only half a dozen places had been built—and that includes … Continue reading
Three cars are parked outside the sales office in the early days of the Hollywoodland development in the Hollywood Hills, circa 1924
In this photo, we can see three cars parked outside the sales office of the Hollywoodland housing development. The soon-to-be-world-famous Hollywoodland sign was illuminated for the first time on Saturday, December 8, 1923, so this photo probably was taken in … Continue reading
The newly constructed Hollywoodland sign overlooks Beachwood Canyon, Los Angeles, circa mid 1920s
In November and December 1923, the Hollywoodland sign was erected to advertise an upscale hillside housing development. (It was illuminated for the first time on December 8th, lighting up in sequence: Holly—wood—land, and then the whole name.) Given how new … Continue reading
Hollywoodland Tract office, 2690 Westshire Dr, Hollywoodland, 1926
On Saturday December 8, 1923 the soon-to-be-world-famous Hollywoodland sign was illuminated for the first time. It served as advertising an upscale hillside housing development that proved slow to take off. This photo was taken in 1926 and shows us the … Continue reading
Aerial shot of Hollywoodland, Los Angeles, 1928
This breathtaking aerial shot of Hollywoodland was taken in 1928, which was five years after the construction of the Hollywoodland sign let Angelenos know that the development was open for business. At the time, not too many locals were thrilled … Continue reading
Panoramic photograph looking north toward the Hollywood Hills where several large signs are visible, 1924
Although the Hollywoodland sign is the most famous and durable of the large signs erected in the Hollywood Hills, it wasn’t by any means the only one. In this 1924 photo looking across the northern end of Hollywood into the … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Sign, Hollywoodland
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