Hollywood Boulevard

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Image:Hollywood&Highland-1907.jpg Hollywood Boulevard is a boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, beginning at Sunset Boulevard in the east and running northwest to Vermont Avenue, where it straightens out and runs due west to Laurel Canyon Boulevard. West of Laurel Canyon it continues as a small residential street in the hills, finally ending at Sunset Plaza Drive. On the East side of Hollywood Boulevard it passes through the neighborhoods of Little Armenia and Thai Town.

The famous street was named Prospect Avenue from 1887 to 1910, when the town of Hollywood was annexed to the City of Los Angeles. After annexation, the street numbers changed from 100 Prospect Avenue, at Vermont Avenue, to 6400 Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1958, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which runs from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue, was created. The first star was placed in 1960 as a tribute to artists working in the entertainment industry. (The walk was later extended onto Vine Street.)

The Hollywood extension of the Metro Red Line subway was opened in June 1999. Running from Downtown to the Valley, it has stops on Hollywood Boulevard at Western Avenue, at Vine Street and at Highland Avenue.

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In recent years efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001. The street remains one of the major tourist draws in Los Angeles.

Another Hollywood Boulevard exists in both Hollywood, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada.

[edit] Trivia

The Famous Hollywood Christmas Parade pases down Hollywood Boulevard every saturday after Thanksgiving.
In 1946 Gene Autry rode his horse in the Hollywood Christmas parade and was inspired by the children yelling "Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus," to write the song "Here Comes Santa Claus" along with Oaklely Haldeman. Then, the boulevard was nicknamed "Santa Clause Lane".
The Kinks' song "Celluloid Heroes" is about Hollywood Boulevard and the personalities engraved therein. A number of landmarks are referred to.
It is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at one time.
An anti-cruising ordinance prohibits driving on part of the boulevard more than twice in four hours.
In the film, "Pretty Woman", Richard Gere "picked up" Julia Roberts on Hollywood Boulevard.
The System of a Down song Lost In Hollywood references Hollywood Boulevard and the unscrupulous nature of Hollywood itself.