Tag Archives: MGM
Alla Nazimova, the original resident at the Garden of Allah
A great silent screen star, Alla Nazimova, was the original resident of the Garden of Allah. In 1917 she was offered a $13,000 a week contract–$3,000 more than Mary Pickford–with Metro studios (working with future MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer.) … Continue reading
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Tagged Alla Nazimova, MGM, Movie Stars, Sunset Blvd, The Garden of Allah Hotel
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Kay Thompson at the Garden of Allah hotel
Kay Thompson was an American author, composer, musician, actress and singer. These days she is best known as the creator of the Eloise children’s books but back in Hollywood’s heyday she worked for MGM and was their top vocal arranger, … Continue reading
Screenwriters Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett at the Garden of Allah hotel
Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett arrived in Hollywood from New York in 1932, took up residence at the Garden of Allah, and signed a contract with MGM in 1933 which lasted until 1939. During that time they wrote the first … Continue reading
Dorothy Parker at the Garden of Allah hotel
Writer Dorothy Parker stayed at the Garden of Allah on and off over the years when Hollywood studios would beckon her to write for them. The first time she made the trip went was in 1929 to work at MGM … Continue reading
F. Scott Fitzgerald at the Garden of Allah hotel
F. Scott Fitzgerald (author of ‘The Great Gatsby’) moved into the Garden of Allah in July of 1937. Down on his luck and deeply in debt, MGM offered him a lucrative contract to write for the movies. His first important … Continue reading
Front gates of MGM studios on Washington Boulevard in Culver City, circa 1925
This shot is of the front gates of MGM studios on Washington Boulevard in Culver City, circa 1925 (which would make it about a year after the studio was formed.) These are the gates through which the stars drove (or … Continue reading
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s postcard to himself at the Garden of Allah
I don’t know if F. Scott Fitzgerald was bored or tipsy when I wrote a postcard to himself at the Garden of Allah, but I’m glad someone thought to save it! (This is probably from the late 1930s. Fitzgerald came … Continue reading
Judy Garland Flowers, 5421 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
In the late 1930s/early 40s, Judy Garland opened a flower shop at 5421 Wilshire Blvd. This was around the time she was filming “The Wizard of Oz” and her mother thought it might be a good idea to invest her … Continue reading
Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios main gate entrance, 1938
Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios main gate entrance viewed from the left side showing off the colonnade, February 21, 1938. What a thrill it must have been to walk through those hallowed gates for the very first time! At least those columns … Continue reading
Graumans Chinese Theater, Hollywood Blvd, 1929
Grauman’s Chinese theater, Hollywood Blvd. In most photos I’ve seen, the ticket booth was in the middle of the forecourt with a long awning running down the middle. This picture was taken in 1929 when the movie playing there was … Continue reading
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Tagged Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood, Hollywood Blvd, MGM
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