A little while ago, I was invited out to visit California by a cyber-friend who works in one of Hollywood's many little movie FX shops. So I did most of the well-known tourist things: LaBrea Tar Pits, California Science Center, LA Museum of Natural History, Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Long Beach, and Disneyland. I also got to visit my friend's FX shop and take an inside tour in Paramount Studios--got to visit the prop shop, sit in on a foley recording session, and had lunch with a group of background actors (if you call them "extras" they will correct you VERY quickly), but alas because they have all sorts of non-disclosure agreements I was not allowed to take a camera into the FX shop or Paramount.
But here are some photos of the touristy stuff in LA/Hollywood.
The iconic "Hollywood" sign on the hills just outside town.
Beverley Hills. Swimming pools, movie stars . . . .
Most of the rich set lives in the hills and canyons surrounding LA.
Hollywood Boulevard.
A memorial wreath for Shirley Temple, who died the day I arrived in LA.
Grauman's Chinese Theater, on Hollywood Boulevard
The courtyard at Grauman's, where celebrities immortalize their hand and footprints in the cement.
C3PO, R2D2 and Darth Vader footprints, at Grauman's.
Setting up a media event at Grauman's Theater for the premiere of the "Mr Peabody" movie.
People in costume can be found along Hollywood Boulevard--they make their living by posing for photos with the tourists.
I don't know which movie characters these two are, but they sure had a lot of people posing for photos with them . . .
The Walk of Fame, along Hollywood Boulevard.
A star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame.
Commemoration of the live TV broadcast from the moon, Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Egyptian Theater, on Hollywood Boulevard.
Filming a TV commercial on Hollywood Boulevard
The Taft Building, at Hollywood and Vine. Most of the silent-film-era movie companies had their offices in this building, making it the center of the motion picture industry.
The "L Ron Hubbard Life Exhibit" on Hollywood Boulevard. The Scientology cult is everywhere in LA/Hollywood--by snagging movie stars they hope to gain legitimacy and respectability.
Warner Brothers Studios.
Paramount Studios.
NBC/Universal Studios.
Jim Henson Studios. This building was originally the Charlie Chaplin Studio.
"When the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard . . . "
Hollywood Forever, cemetery to the stars.
The California Science Center.
The Page Museum at the LaBrea Tar Pits.
The LA Art Museum, next door to LaBrea.
The LA County Museum of Natural History.
The Griffith Observatory
Aquarium of the Pacific, in Long Beach.
The ocean liner "Queen Mary", now a floating hotel and restaurant at Long Beach.
Disneyland, just outside LA in Anaheim.