What is Hollywood? This is the center of the film industry, the quintessence of glamor, success and prosperity. All this is really true. However, few people know the story of the birth of Hollywood... a story that began with the death of a small child.

Hollywood:: The Beginning

One day in 1880, in a city called Topeka (the administrative center of the state of Kansas), two people met - the beautiful Daieda Hartell and the disabled Harvey Wilcox. Harvey suffered from polio as a child, which left its mark and forever confined him to a wheelchair. It would seem that the people who met were so different that it was difficult to even think about possible close relationships. However, life is full of paradoxes. Fate gave the couple not only strong feelings, but also the opportunity to start a new life - Daida and Harvey had a child, whom they named Harry. The young family moved to Los Angeles, where Harvey became involved in real estate transactions.

For a year and a half, the happiness of the young knew no bounds. They enjoyed life until their joy was suddenly cut short by Harry's death. Life seemed to have turned everything upside down. A heavy feeling settled in their souls, and in an effort to get rid of it, Daida and Harvey went to the distant outskirts of Los Angeles, so that in the surprisingly warm climate they could forget at least for a moment. Daida and Harvey loved the cozy corner so much that they decided to buy land here. Perhaps Harvey had an entrepreneurial instinct that allowed him to see prospects for resettlement in the mild climate that persisted in this place for 300 days a year. Be that as it may, Harvey bought 200 acres of land (0.81 sq. km.), paying only $150 per acre.

Harvey initially decided to plant orchards on his land, but nothing came of this venture. Then he decided to turn his land into a small town, beautiful and cozy. Harvey and Daida set about developing a plan. She outlined the location of houses, streets and green spaces. Daida planted the first trees and made flower beds with her own hands. She also came up with the names of the city streets. Wilcox was quoted a price of a thousand dollars for each plot of land. The business started working. People who liked the new Los Angeles area began buying land here.

One day, Daida decided to go to her hometown of Hicksville to see her relatives and friends. On the way, she met a woman from Chicago, who for some reason called her estate Hollywood. Daida liked this name, and upon returning home, she decided to give her city the same name. From now on, the area owned by the Wilcox family was named Hollywood.

Hollywood:: Cinema

The development of Hollywood as the center of the film industry began in 1907, when Colonel William N. Zeling bought part of the land from the Wilcox couple, where he located part of his film company, which he created in Chicago. The story of the “dream factory” has begun.

Consistent sunny weather, vast expanses of prairie land, the Pacific coast, and the large city of Los Angeles, which could supply building materials and labor, all contributed to the rapid development of the film business in Hollywood. By 1912, 15 studios were firmly established here. The city said goodbye to quiet life forever.

Over the next ten years, Hollywood finally became the capital of the American film industry, as about 90% of American film studios were concentrated here. It is interesting that the rapid development of American cinematography was facilitated not by native-born Americans, but by visitors from other countries. Few people know that, for example, the Paramount film company was founded by the Hungarian Adolf Zukor, who began his career as an apprentice to a furrier. Universal is the brainchild of a German clothing merchant named Karl Laeml. The Polish brothers Warner, who advertised bicycles, founded the Wamer Brosers. Russian Lazar Meir (changed his name after accepting American citizenship to Louis Mayer), who made his living in the resale of scrap metal, founded Metro-Goldwin-Mayer.

Paramount Company (founder: Hungarian Adolf Zukor, who started out as an apprentice to a furrier)

Universal company (founder German Karl Leml, clothing dealer from Germany)

Metro-Goldwin-Mayer company (founder: Russian Lazar Meir, scrap metal collector)

Hollywood:: Famous inscription

The publisher of the Los Angeles Times newspaper, Harry Chandler, who was also a large and very successful realtor, became interested in Hollywood and the surrounding area. It was by his order that in 1923 the famous letters HOLLYWOOD were installed on the southern slope of Mount Lee at an altitude of 491 meters. Chandler paid a pretty penny for his setup—$21,000. He did this for advertising purposes - the letters were supposed to attract the attention of potential buyers of lands in the area, the seller of which was Chandler. Initially, it was assumed that the letters would stand for only a year and a half - it was during this time that the land had to be sold. However, the letters from a huge advertising billboard turned into a city symbol. They were destined to exist to this day.

Initially there were more letters - HOLLYWOODLAND, and since their installation was intended as a temporary advertising campaign, they were made mainly of wood and metal sheets. It is not surprising that over time they began to rot and fall into disrepair. Therefore, in 1949 it was decided to remove the last part of the word - “LAND”. Despite the fact that the letters were repaired from time to time, they continued to deteriorate. The first letter "O" collapsed and became similar to a capital letter "u", and the third letter "O" completely collapsed, resulting in the sign looking like "HuLLYWO D" (in English, "hull" means "husk, wrapper"). In 1978, the crumbling sign was completely replaced. The new letters, each of which is 14 m high and from 9 to 12 m wide (somewhat smaller than they were in the original version), are still standing. They are protected by law and no change is possible.

The original appearance of the Harry Chandler inscription

Hollywood got its name thanks to the modest married couple of American emigrants, the Wilcoxes. In 1886, they bought a large plot of land near the small town of Los Angeles. Mrs. Wilcox gave the idea to call this place “Hollywood” (“holly” - holly and “wood” - forest).

As is known, the artist Paul de Lonpre, German peasants, and also an Indian reservation lived next door to the Wilcoxes. Five years later, this land began to generate profit because the family began to rent it out, and by 1903, a neighborhood had grown up around the small house, which was annexed to Los Angeles as a land plot. ode.

Cinema did not appear in Hollywood right away; it came thanks to Colonel William N. Seling. It all started with the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century he bought a share of land from the Wilcoxes to separate his Chicago film company. Everything happened legally, there was a license for filming equipment and permission to rent films and distribute them. At that time, the so-called “patent war” broke out in America, the main problems of which were disputes over the rights of ownership of projection technology.

As a result, the city of Los Angeles imposed a ban on the opening of nickelodeons in the city and its regions (illegal cinemas, for the cost of viewing a film, which was charged an amount of 5 cents, in English Yski "Nickel", "Odeon" - a theater where stolen films were shown films on unlicensed equipment. The more people populated the country, the more interest in American cinema appeared. In the last century, a significant number of people emigrated from Europe to America, which contributed to the more intensive development of cinema. Most of the emigrants became organizers and founders of the country's most famous film studios: Adolf Zukor (Hungary), who previously worked in a furrier's workshop, he founded the Paramount studio; Karl Leml (Germany) - was a clothing seller, founded Universal, Louis B. Mayer (Russia, Minsk) - previously resold metal, he owns the company Metro-Goldwin-Mayer.

All work in cinema used to be anonymous. This means that the names of the actors and actresses who starred in the films were not mentioned anywhere. The most popular actor had to hide under pseudonyms like “Little Mary”, “Vitagraph Girl”, etc. This fashion for incognito was broken in March 1910 by Karl Leml, he simply agreed nie with the actress Florence Lawrence, who had the pseudonym “Bayograph Girl” .

Everyone liked this innovation. Slowly Hollywood began to acquire its first stars, each of whom had a specific acting role. For example, each actor belonged to his own category: some acted as vamps, frivolous girls, elementary ordinary women, innocent girls, sex bombs (instead of the expression “sexuality in” At that time it was used - “something”).

Male actors were classified according to a different principle: passionate lovers, comedians, cowboys, neighbor boys, king of horrors and others.

Hollywood of the times from which it arose appears so unusual and interesting for us.

Premiere of the film "The Tourist" in New York

Film "Tourist". World premiere in New York

People's Choice Awards-2011: winners

Yesterday, the annual People's Choice Awards ceremony took place at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. The show was hosted by the big, cheerful and energetic Queen Latifah. Awards at the People's Choice Awards are awarded based on the results of fan voting through online voting.

The new haircut of 44-year-old Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston - a torn bob - has changed her appearance beyond recognition. See photos of the star with a new hairstyle.

Nicole Kidman was born in Hawaii, but at the age of 4 she moved to Australia with her parents. Nicole later studied in the same class as Naomi Watts.

68th Golden Globe Ceremony

Photo report from the 68th Hollywood Foreign Press Association Golden Globe Awards, held in Beverly Hills, California

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Due to its fame and cultural identity as a historical center of film studios and movie stars, the word "Hollywood" is often used as a metonymy for the American film industry. The name "Tinseltown" refers to the magnificent nature of Hollywood and the film industry.

Today, much of the film industry is located in neighborhoods such as the Westside, but much of the supporting industry, such as editing, effects, props, final editing and lighting, remains in Hollywood, as does the Paramount Pictures location.

Many of Hollywood's historic theaters are used as action and concert stages for the premiere of major filmed productions, as well as as a venue for the Academy Awards. It is a popular destination for nightlife and tourism, and is also home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hollywood history

Nowadays, the meaning of the word “Hollywood” is known in all corners of the earth. The spectacles they put on on the screens attract all connoisseurs of filmmaking. Hollywood cinema is without a doubt a leader among its “colleagues”. But often the concepts of “American cinema” and “Hollywood” are combined.

Hollywood cinema is by far the most popular in the world. Hollywood also has a significant influence on the cinema of other countries. It's no secret that Hollywood films set fashion in many film genres. They are also decisive in the choice of plot, in the selection of the ensemble of actors, and in creating the image of the film for the advertising campaign. Nowadays, this film empire really dictates the fashion of cinema. It produces thousands of films every year. And this is already something!

And it all started with a small plot of land in the vicinity of the small town of Los Angeles (now, when it is no longer small, it sounds quite funny). It was purchased in 1886 by a modest family of American settlers, the Wilcoxes. Deida Wilcox suggested calling the place "Hollywood." Why? From the words “holly” - holly and “wood” - forest. That's where you got "Hollywood". If only they knew then what this acquisition of theirs led to, adjacent to German peasants and an Indian reservation. Life moved on at its own pace. Soon the Wilcox couple decided to rent out the land, and around 1903, their ranch gradually sank into the depths of the new village, which was later honored to join Los Angeles as a suburb. At that time, born of the Lumière brothers, cinema more and more conquered the hearts of romantics who dreamed of translating their world of illusions into a visible picture. It did not bypass Colonel William N. Zeling, who laid the first foundation stones for the construction of a huge movie empire in Hollywood. He bought part of the land from the Wilcoxes for a branch of his Chicago film company.

Although all his actions were legal, he could not work on his favorite thing without obstacles. However, as always happens in life. In 1907, America experienced a wave of ongoing disputes regarding the ownership of projection equipment. The so-called “patent war” led to a ban on the opening of nickelodeons in and around Los Angeles. The reason was that in such semi-underground cinemas, where they paid 5 cents for admission (in English “nickel”, “odeon” - theater), stolen films were shown on unlicensed equipment. So the Los Angeles municipality had to fight this troubled phenomenon. But no matter how it was, interest in cinema did not decrease, but on the contrary increased. In the 20s, in southern California, in the area of ​​the already familiar town of Hollywood, the American film industry was created and began to rapidly develop. At that time, interest in cinema in America developed parallel to the population of the country with potential viewers. For example, in 1907, 1,285,000 people came to America from Europe alone, which gave a new strong impetus to the development of cinema. It was emigrants who made an amazing contribution to the development of the country's film industry. Many of them became great directors and producers, who are well remembered in the history of cinema to this day, and their works have become classics of world cinema. Who is this? Some of them were the founders of the country's largest film studios: Adolf Zukor (Hungary), who began his career as an apprentice to a furrier, founded Paramount; Karl Leml (Germany) - sold clothes, founded Universal, the Warner brothers (Poland) - advertised bicycles, founded Warner Bros., Louis B. Mayer (Russia, Minsk) - resold scrap metal, founded Metro-Goldwin-Mayer " By the way, let's focus on the last one. Why? Because it was the leading studio in Hollywood for over 30 years. And this, you see, is worth attention.

But we will start not with Mayer, but with a native of a Jewish family, Samuel Geblitz (Sachmuel Gelbfisz). This man was one of the luckiest refugees from Eastern Europe. He was born in Warsaw in 1892. He, still very young, was forced by fate to leave his homeland, and fled first to London and then to New York. Circumstances were such that he even had to change his name to Samuel Goldfish.

So in 1913, his life’s path took him to American soil and stopped in California, where he mastered a new profession related to motion picture production technology.

He began his film career together with two of his like-minded people (Edgar and Archibald Selwyn). He soon changed his name back to the American one - Goldwyn (he combined the first syllable of his old surname GOLDfish with the last syllable of his partners' surname SelWYN). And in 1925, together with the already well-known Russian emigrant Lewis B. Mayer, Samuel Goldwyn founded the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, which dominated Hollywood, as we have already mentioned, for about 30 years.

As for the star system, it did not exist in American cinema. The names of the actors and actresses were not mentioned anywhere. All were hidden under pseudonyms. In March 1910, Karl Leml changed the situation and entered into an agreement with actress Florence Lawrence. After this, gradually, under the influence of film business specialists, stars began to appear one after another, each of whom had their own screen role. The institution of stars in Hollywood cinema began to emerge around the 1920s and, having been formed in the 1930s, reached its full dawn in the 1940s and 1950s. The stars seemed ideal to the audience. Future stars were specially trained in courses at the film studios themselves. The huge PR industry at major film studios specifically worked to create and maintain the image of stars. The tabloid press vigilantly followed every step of the actors, talking about all the incidents in their lives and about their eccentric antics, which thus tested the boundaries of their popularity.

It is impossible to imagine the history of world cinema without two of the greatest stars of the era of the birth of Hollywood - Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. These were the brightest stars in Hollywood. They achieved such popularity that even today there is nothing to compare with.

Mary Pickford's real name was Gladys Smith, she was born in 1893 in Canada, in the city of Toronto. She made her debut on the theater stage at the age of 7. She was called "America's Sweetheart". The image of a young, naive, virtuous teenage girl, an American "Cinderella" in her performance, gained worldwide fame. For 20 years, the appearance of this wonderful actress preserved youthful innocence and purity, which played a huge role for her as an actress.

The years of her creativity coincided with the very years when the formation of American cinema took place. And Mary Pickford was among its most important creators. The first American woman to earn a million dollars in one year, a businesswoman of unique intelligence and insight. She was one of the first who understood what cinema was and what its role was. She was very insightful and intelligent and felt that Hollywood was the future leader of cinema. It’s not for nothing that she was called “the brightest head in Hollywood,” meaning not her golden curls.

The second star of that time was Douglas Fairbanks (real name Douglas Elton Ulman). He was born in 1883 in Denver, Colorado. Since childhood he was attracted to the theater. According to some reports, he first appeared on stage at the age of 12. From 1902 he performed on Broadway and by 1910 he had won the position of one of the theater’s leading actors, becoming the living embodiment of the “ideal American” - a young, active romantic, ready to conquer the whole world. In 1915, Fairbanks traveled from New York to Hollywood, where he made his screen debut. Fairbanks' famous smile and impressive athletic build made him one of the most popular actors of the era. He is especially famous for films such as The Three Musketeers, The Thief of Bagdad, The Man in the Iron Mask and The Mark of Zorro.

Two Hollywood stars have reached enormous heights. And, as often happens, in 1920 Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford got married. Their Pickfair mansion remained for a long time the largest and most prestigious mansion in Beverly Hills. In the 20-30s, scenes of some films were even filmed at Pickfair. It was considered a special honor to be invited to a reception at this mansion. Newspapers and movie almanacs reported literally every detail concerning the Pickfair guests.

At the end of the 60s, the studio system collapsed. Since that time, a new (modern) stage in Hollywood cinema began. Interest in traditional, formulaic star-studded studio films was steadily declining, and many even major film studios were brought to the brink of bankruptcy. Studio bosses were perplexed about what kind of movie audiences wanted to see. Experiments began. Among the young directors who were given the chance to demonstrate their abilities were George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma. And it was this group of directors who shaped modern cinema in the form in which it entered the 21st century. Their films in the late 1960s and early 1970s were huge successes. Thanks to them, the word “blockbuster” arose. The heads of large studios began to trust young directors. Moreover, inviting them for filming has become fashionable and profitable. After all, they, having come out of film schools and small studios, knew how to fit into very small budgets.

Michael Bublé, Hollywood – music video

Top Hollywood Attractions

Hollywood and Highland

Visiting numerous shops and restaurants is certainly not the most important, but also not the last place on a trip to Hollywood. Located on the corner of Hollywood and Highland Boulevards, the three-story modern shopping and entertainment complex Hollywood and Highland is one of the most visited centers in Los Angeles. In addition to shops and restaurants, the complex is an excellent starting point for a walking tour, as it is located directly next to the Walk of Fame, the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards) and one of Hollywood's most famous movie theaters, Grauman's Chinese Theater.

One of Hollywood's main attractions, the famous Walk of Fame is a chain of sidewalks located on both sides of a 15-block street on Hollywood Boulevard and a 3-block street on Vine Street. About 10 million people visit the alley every year. The Alley consists of approximately 2,400 five-pointed brass Stars set into a six-foot terraz floor. Each star celebrates the achievements of a specific real and fictional "star" in the music, film or television industries. The Walk of Fame was opened in 1958.

Grauman's Chinese Theater

On the site in front of the Walk of Fame, you can see one of the most popular attractions in Hollywood - the famous Grauman's Chinese Theater. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, the movie theater was built in 1927 by famed Hollywood impresario Sid Grauman. The cinema is one of the main monuments of the "golden era" of Hollywood and one of the most popular places for film premieres. It is worth noting that the choice of stars who leave their hand and foot prints in the cement on the Walk of Fame is made by the owners of the cinema. On the area in front of the cinema you can see prints of many celebrities, including Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Jack Nicholson, Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood. Since 2007, the cinema has been owned by the CIM Group company. The cinema is open 24 hours a day. You can buy a ticket for a tour of the cinema or just buy a ticket for one of the sessions.

Hollywood Bowl

One of the best open-air concert halls in Hollywood, the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater was built in 1922. The hall can accommodate about 18,000 spectators. The concert season at the Hollywood Bowl lasts from late June to mid-September. However, in addition to this, a number of unscheduled events take place in the hall, such as the Playboy Jazz Festival.

Hollywood sign

By far the most recognizable monument in Hollywood is the famous "HOLLYWOOD" memorial sign in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. The memorial sign was installed at an altitude of 491 meters above sea level, on the slope of Mount Lee in Griffith Park in 1923 as an advertisement, and subsequently gained wide popularity, becoming the main symbol of the US film industry. Each letter is 9 meters high, 15 meters wide, and a total of 4,200 light bulbs are used in the letters. It was originally planned that the sign would stand for about a year and a half, but with the development of the American film industry, it was decided to keep the sign. The sign has undergone several restorations and the letters are now 1.5 meters shorter than they were in the original version.

Usually the monument is not accessible by regular excursion, but you can choose several convenient places that offer the best view of the famous inscription. The most convenient places to view the sign are Hollywood Reservoir, Mulholland Drive, Franklin Avenue in Gower, Hollywood at Highland shopping complex, Griffith Park Observatory.

Los Angeles Farmers Market

One of the popular and most visited attractions in Hollywood and Los Angeles is the famous Farmers Market shopping center. The shopping center is located on the site of a historic farmers market that has existed since 1934. In 2002, the market area was turned into a huge shopping center, preserving some of the historical buildings. The Farmers Market attracts approximately 3 million visitors each year. The center is located at the corner of Third and Fairfax. The center is open 24 hours a day.

Sunset Strip

One of the largest shopping and nightlife centers in Los Angeles, the Sunset Strip is located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. The Sunset Strip is a 1.5-mile stretch between Doheny Drive and N. Crescent Heights Blvd. The Sunset Strip is quite a rich place in terms of attractions. Among the main attractions are the Rocky and Bullwinkle statue, the luxurious Sunset Tower Hotel, the popular Comedy Store comedy club, the Plaza chain of stores and restaurants, the legendary Whiskey A GoGo bar in the 1960s, where such celebrities as Jimi Hendrix began their careers, bands The Doors, The Byrds, Led Zeppelin.

Excursions to film studios

There's no better way to experience what goes on behind the camera than on a Hollywood Studios Tour. Most of these tours invite tourists to visit real, working studios. But unfortunately, this means that the tour can only be taken on a weekday when the studios are open.

Visiting the filming of the show

With a little planning, you can become part of the studio audience while filming a comedy, reality show, or game show. What's even nicer? It's free - and you get the opportunity to express yourself.

Hollywood Christmas Parade

If you're lucky enough to be in Los Angeles for the Thanksgiving holiday, you shouldn't miss one of the world's most colorful annual parades - the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The parade has been celebrated annually for the past eighty years and has long become one of the main cultural news of American television. A number of celebrities take part in the parade each year. The parade was first held in 1928 and was originally called the Santa Claus Lane Parade. In 1978, the event changed its name to the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The parade takes place annually on the third Thursday of November. The parade follows a 3.5 kilometer route along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard.

The history of the creation of Hollywood goes back to the beginning of the 19th century. As the story goes, the very name “Hollywood” owes its birth to the Wilcox couple who moved to America and acquired a large plot of land in the vicinity of the then small town of Los Angeles. At the request of the wife, this site was named Hollywood, which translated means “wood” - forest and “holly” - holly. According to historians, a few years later, the Wilcoxes began to rent out part of their land, and over time, a settlement grew around their estate, which was annexed to Los Angeles as a suburb.

HOLLYWOOD HISTORY. HOW THE CINEMATOGRAPH WAS CREATED

How did Hollywood begin?

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Colonel William N. Zeling bought part of the land from the Wilcox couple, where he located part of his film company, which he created in Chicago. The development of cinema in America received a big boost with the significant settlement of its territory by settlers. It was the immigrants who became the founders of the largest American film studios, for example, apprentice furrier Adolf Zukor, an immigrant from Hungary, became the founder of Paramount, and the Warner brothers, who were engaged in advertising bicycles, eventually created Warner Bros., clothing dealer from Germany Karl Laeml became the founder of the Universal company, and the Metro-Goldwin-Mayer company was founded by the Russian scrap metal dealer Louis B. Mayer.

Paramount English "Paramount"

At first, actors in American films acted under pseudonyms, such as "Vitograph Girl" or "Little Mary". However, the signing of a contract with actress Florence Lawrence by Carl Laeml, the founder of the Universal film company, marked the beginning of an era of glory and fame for Hollywood actors and put an end to the work of incognito actors. This initiative was readily taken up by other film companies. From then on, Hollywood stars began to appear one after another.

Universal English "Universal"

As history goes, the first Hollywood film was The Indian Husband, a Western directed by Cecil B. deMille.

The excellent natural conditions of Hollywood and its cozy streets have become an excellent basis for filming. Thanks to this, up to 800 films a year were created in Hollywood. Since then, the history of Hollywood has developed at a tremendous pace. With the development of cinema, the infrastructure necessary for film companies is actively developing in this city: financial institutions, restaurants, clubs and many other entertainment complexes. In addition, the population of Hollywood was divided into two parts - the elite and the auxiliary workers. Gradually, residential buildings were displaced from the main street by various buildings of film studios.

The development of cinema has led to increased competition between small film studios. To avoid bankruptcy, it was profitable to create large film trusts from small film studios. Subsequently, these film trusts began to merge with distribution companies. This is how film companies appeared "Paramount", "United Artists", "Metro Goldwyn Myers", "Warner Brothers".

United Artists eng. United Artists

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Hollywood developed rapidly, and soon the whole world was talking about it. Almost every actor and actress dreamed of taking part in the filming of a Hollywood film and, of course, becoming a star, and not just a star, but a star of Hollywood proportions.

A few words from the history of Hollywood cinema

The first Hollywood film studio was the Nestor studio, created by the Centaur company. Westerns were the first films to be released by Centaur. Who would have thought that 10 years after the opening of a film studio in an abandoned diner along the road, Hollywood would be talked about as the center of the film industry in the United States of America.

Connoisseurs of cinema history consider the film “The Birth of a Nation” as the beginning of cinema, as a special form of art. This film was directed by David Wark Griffith, thanks to whom the culture of cinema was introduced, which determined the entire further development of the film industry. It was he who was awarded the Oscar for his special contribution to the development of cinema.

I would also like to dwell on the history of the appearance of the figurine itself. There are several versions of the appearance of this name. According to the first version, the figurine was named by librarian Margaret Herrick, who saw the figurine and exclaimed that it looked so much like her uncle Oscar. The second version says that Bette Davis named the figurine “Oscar” because it looked very much like her husband, whose name was Oscar. It is worth noting that the figurine acquired its name a little later than it was first awarded. Since the first Oscars, this event has been followed by residents of many countries.

Alan Crosland, who starred in the film The Jazz Singer, was able to conquer all of America with his talent and gift for establishing psychological contact with the audience. This unique ability was noted by Charlie Chaplin himself. This film was released in 1927 and was the first sound film. It was with the advent of sound cinema that the golden age of Hollywood cinema began.

Alan Crosland – Jazz singer

The first film to be shot in widescreen format was The Shroud. This film was directed by Henry Coster in 1953. The first full-length color film was shot in 1935 by director Rouben Mamoulian. The appearance of this film, entitled “Becky Sharp,” is considered the beginning of the era of color cinema in Hollywood.

Henry Koster – Shroud

Rouben Mamoulian – Becky Sharp

Despite all the advantages of sound films over silent films, the transition to a new type of film turned out to be a very expensive undertaking for Hollywood, so it was forced to turn to banks and other financial institutions for help. Under pressure from certain financial institutions that expressed certain views of religious groups, Hollywood film companies were forced to sign a certain Production Code, according to which they had to avoid topics unacceptable to these organizations. Joseph Breen supervised the implementation of this code.

Here are the main prohibited points of the Production Code:

• religious beliefs should not be subject to any criticism;
• it was forbidden to show surgical operations;
• films should not include drug use;
• a ban on demonstrations of drunkenness was imposed;
• Films should not depict cruelty to children or animals;
• the use of curse words in speech was prohibited;
• the film could not show violence or details of robberies, so as not to encourage breaking the law;
• the killing of a policeman by a criminal in the film was also prohibited, although the police themselves could kill criminals in unlimited numbers;
• a ban was also imposed on sexual relations in the film. Passionate kissing, naked actors, same-sex or interracial relationships were strictly prohibited.

History of Hollywood. Part 1. Kinetoscope pioneers

History of children's and family cinema

In the 1930s, going to the cinema was a family affair since there were no television movies. Based on this trend, films were created in such a way that they would be interesting to any viewer. However, there were also films that were aimed at children, although adults also readily watched them.

Shirley Temple is considered the most famous young actress of that time. She first appeared on screen at the age of 4 years. Over the next 10 years, she starred in 31 films. Her popularity reached such proportions that many children's toys began to be named after her.

It was the 30s of the last century that became the peak of popularity of child actors and actresses. Among them are Peggy Ann Garner, Freddie Bartholomew, Margaret O'Brien. Much more often, young actors appeared in musicals and comedies. The famous singer Deanna Durbin, who starred in the film “The Hard Age,” saved the Universal company from bankruptcy in 1938.

However, the luxurious life of the little actors also had a downside. Before filming, they studied at a school at the film studio, and the shooting day often ended after midnight. Many of the children were given various pills to keep them from falling asleep on set and from gaining weight. As a result, some children developed drug addiction.

Only a few young stars managed to maintain their popularity into adulthood. Some were left without a livelihood at all because their parents spent all the money they earned. One of these actors, Jackie Coogan, was forced to sue his mother in order to get back at least a small part of the money he earned. Subsequently, the “Coogan Act” was even approved, according to which half of the money earned by the child actor was to be transferred to his personal account so that in the future he could safely dispose of it.

History of the Star Institute

Initially, there was no institution of stars in Hollywood cinema. As such, it appeared in 1920 and only in 1930 was it finally formed. At the dawn of Hollywood cinema, stars seemed as inaccessible to moviegoers as the stars of heaven. Aspiring actors and actresses were taught in special schools at the studios, and large PR companies worked to maintain the image of movie stars. The tabloids have become a source of information about the personal lives of Hollywood movie stars, bringing to the reader the slightest details of unattainable stars. Over time, when Hollywood cinema began to acquire modern features, the actors became closer to the viewer, and in addition they had more freedom. Now a Hollywood actor or actress could independently choose the films in which they would like to star and shape their image. We can definitely say that already in the 90s of the last century, the actors themselves began to set the tone for the development of Hollywood cinema.

We can highlight the following famous people who played an important role in the history of the development of Hollywood cinema:

• Max Linder, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers and Harrold Lloyd made Hollywood comedies famous;
• Rodolfo Valentino made Hollywood melodramas famous;
• John Ford made some of the most entertaining Westerns;
• The film noir genre was made famous by Humphrey Boggart;
• Fred Astern and Gene Kelly made Hollywood musicals famous;
• Thrillers were made famous by Alfred Hitchcock.

Since films were being made at that time that were mainly aimed at mass audiences, this somewhat narrowed the possibilities and desires of directors. Based on this, the leading places were occupied by the actors who were most loved by the public.

However, by the early 60s, the mass audience was fed up with films that were made according to the template, and this led to the collapse of the existing studio system. The directors thought about the question of what the viewer wants to see on the screen, and this is what led to the emergence of new ideas in cinema. A new wave of development in Hollywood cinema gave Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and others the opportunity to show their strengths. It was these directors who were destined to stand at the origins of modern Hollywood cinema.

History of the Walk of Fame

Many have already heard about the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At their core, these are the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, which contain the handprints of famous Hollywood personalities. Today there are 2600 prints there and this is not the limit. The alley is regularly replenished with new specimens.

The Walk of Fame's roots go back to the 50s. This project was developed by E.M. Stewart, which he worked on for several years. The main contradiction in the creation of this alley was the question “who is worthy to leave their imprint.” Initially, the number of applicants was 6 people. Subsequently, it increased to 130 and was constantly changing.

The year 1958 was marked in Hollywood by the laying of the first six stars, but only in 1960 did its official opening take place. Since then, the number of prints has grown many times over. It is worth noting that stars are received not only by actors, but also by other figures in the film industry. The awards are held in five categories: contribution to the development of the film industry, sound recording, theater, television and radio.

§1. Making of Hollywood

Almost a hundred years ago, at the beginning of 1908, the first American film producers moved from the cradle of the national film industry - New York to the West Coast, to California. This is how Hollywood appeared - the great “dream factory” and the capital of illusions. The word Hollywood is derived from the English words holly - “holly” and wood - “forest”. In 1886, a certain Deida Wilcons from Kansas City and her husband staked out a plot of land in the vicinity of Los Angeles, calling it Hollywood. A few years later, the couple began leasing the land, and by 1930, an entire village had grown up around the ranch, annexed to Los Angeles as a suburb. The first filmmaker to set foot in Hollywood was William Zelig, who bought part of the land to house a branch of his Chicago film company.

The world's most powerful film production center arose as a result of the so-called patent war. The famous inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847 - 1931), who, among other things, invented devices for filming and displaying paintings, had patents for his discoveries. Everyone who uses the results of other people's discoveries must pay for it. Cinemas at the beginning of the 20th century grew like mushrooms after rain; by the end of the first decade there were over ten thousand of them in America - almost more than in all of Europe. They were called “Nickelodeon” for two thousand dollars, after three months I got my money back. When Edison's company began to experience financial difficulties, the inventor decided to improve matters by forcing those who used his devices to pay. However, cinema owners and distributors were in no hurry to part with their money. They responded to each of Edison's appeals to court with counterclaims. This is how the legal “patent war” broke out.

To be sure to win, Edison's company teamed up with other companies that also owned a number of patents. The Motion Pictures Patent Company (MPPC) emerged (often called simply the Patent Trust). She attempted to take complete control over the production and distribution of films. On December 24, 1908, at the request of the trust, the New York police closed more than five hundred “nickelodeons” in the city that did not pay “tribute.” This day went down in the history of American cinema under the name “Black Christmas”.

Within months, the trust had expanded its influence over much of the American film market. The defiant film entrepreneurs (who came to be called “independents”) also banded together. A real fight began between the MPPC and the “independents”. Company agents, not content with legal measures, broke projection machines and poured sulfuric acid into film developing tanks. Once, on the set of an “independent” film, they provoked a fight between extras, after which several actors ended up in the hospital with serious injuries.

Film production was then concentrated in New York and Chicago. To avoid persecution by the MPPC, the “independents” at the end of 1907 - beginning of 1908 began to move away from these cities - to the West Coast. They fell in love with Hollywood - thanks to the mild climate, the abundance of sunny days necessary for filming, and the picturesque surrounding landscapes: mountains, forests, deserts, where a wide variety of scenes could be played out. In 1909, the pavilions of the first stationary film factory appeared on Hollywood Misha Road. And in the fall of 1911, the Hungarian emigrant William Fox (1879 - 1952) - a former tailor and future co-owner of the 20th Century Fox film company - began an action unprecedented in the history of the film industry. He filed a counterclaim to the IPC's legal claims.

The patent company ended its days ingloriously. In 1912, presidential candidate Thomas Woodrow Wilson won the election by putting forward a program to combat monopolies. MPC was accused of monopoly and was dissolved by court decision. However, even before this event, Hollywood began to gradually oust its opponent from the film industry market, as it organized the production of high-quality products that were more attractive to viewers.

It is natural for people to turn again and again to what they love; Hollywood based its strategy on this human tendency. If the public liked the performer, following the first picture, the next ones with his participation were launched; Actors' fees grew, which the tight-fisted MPPC skimped on. This is how Hollywood gave birth to a system of stars - highly paid actors, public idols, performing in one role beloved by the viewer many times. Before this, the names of the first American actors to appear on screen were almost never mentioned in the credits.

If the public liked a character, it could count on new meetings with him. The same thing happened with subjects that were attractive to her. In general, Hollywood won because it discovered and actually managed to implement the principle of serial production of films.1 Avanta Encyclopedia+ pp. 454-456

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