Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/13146
From the Editor T TM ourism season excites and frustrates me at the same time. I love the influx of peo- ple from around the world that descend on Hollywood. I’m frustrated because I know that each person has their own expectation of what they’ll see once they get here. Several years ago, the Hollywood Cham- ber of Commerce did a survey that asked vis- itors what they liked best about Hollywood. The answers ranged from “the beach” to “Disneyland.” We learned a lot from that survey—mostly that people needed more information about this place called Hollywood. Discover Hollywood was created for people who love Hollywood and want to know more about it. Yes, many are attracted by the idea of glitz and glamour, but visitors quickly learn that that mostly is on the screen and not on the streets. Yet the allure remains and during the summer, cameras at the ready, the throngs descend. And, now, with more attractions, restaurants and shopping choices, Hollywood is no longer a quick stop on a tour bus heading east or west. Nowhere is the Hollywood experience more apparent than at Los Ange- les’ No. 1 attraction—Universal Studios. This year, technology and reality merge as King Kong comes to “life” in all his 3-D magnificence. Rena LaBlanc provides her own Universal tour and some insights into how it all began. We could not focus solely on Universal because Hollywood is the place where dreams are made—not a place made up of dreams and there are countless production houses and small studios that bring magic to screens around the world. Betsi Freeman gives her tour of Hollywood’s other historic studios that read like a who’s who of movie making. There is no longer a stu- dio system and most of the larger studios provide the production facilities that serve the industry. However, you still see the legendary Paramount Pic- tures and Warner Bros. logos on blockbuster offerings year ‘round, and their studios offer small tours for serious film buffs. There’s no doubt that tourism and entertainment are two of Hollywood’s most important products. And, if all that touring makes you hungry and thirsty, James Bartlett gives you a selection of pubs close by that make him homesick for Jolly Old Eng- land. You’ll rub elbows with locals and who knows who else might drop in. For you loyal resident readers, I know that you enjoy sharing our magazine with friends and relatives who visit year ‘round. So this issue is for you both. An interesting statistic is that 50% of all visitors to Los Angeles stay with friends and relatives. So pack them off with their copy of Discover Hollywood and enjoy your summer in the sun. Summer 2010 Publisher Oscar Arslanian Editor Nyla Arslanian Contributing Writers James Bartlett Betsi Freeman Rena Dictor LeBlanc Cover Photography Anthony Nelson Design & Production The Magazine Factory Listings & Administration Betsi Freeman Soni Bayles, Research Website Consultants COP Web Solutions Inland Pacific Consulting Discover Hollywood is published quarterly by Arslanian & Associates, Inc. Direct advertising inquiries and correspondence to: Discover Hollywood Magazine 6671 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1502 Hollywood, CA 90028. 323-465-0533 or email oscar@discoverhollywood.com www.discoverhollywood.com Copyright 2010 Discover Hollywood Magazine/Hollywood Arts Council. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without prior written permision. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, with schedule changes, etc., it is impossible to make such a guarantee. We recommend calling to avoid disappointment. The Calendar is compiled by the Hollywood Arts Council and is updated on website bi-weekly. E-mail press releases to: calendar@hollywoodartscouncil.org 6 DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD / SUMMER 2010