These days, Hollywood is globally known as the most glamorous town in the world - but as these pictures reveal, 100 years ago this was very far from being the case.
Before the film industry took root in Southern California, the area that would became known as Tinseltown was nothing more than a village outside the growing city of Los Angeles.
In these vintage photographs, Hollywood looks like any other remote town in America, surrounded by fields and filled with horses, fruit sellers and a dinky general store.
And the famous Hollywood Hills had not yet acquired their iconic sign, which would not arrive until 1923 as a potent symbol of the town's newfound celebrity.
Iconic: But in the early 20th century, the Hollywood Hills had not yet acquired their famous sign
Rural: There was little sign that Hollywood would soon become one of the world's most glamorous spots; pictured here is West Hollywood, before and after the showbiz boom
Quaint: Santa Monica Boulevard was quiet and old-fashioned before the arrival of the motor car
Two-horse town: The scene on Franklin Avenue in 1904, before the automobile revolution, was very different to the gigantic Shakespeare Bridge which dominates the area today
Sunset Boulevard: The legendary street had not acquired its glitz or glamour in 1905
Vista: This 1916 photo of the Lookout Inn gives a hint as to why Hollywood became a desirable destination, though the same view today is evidence of the massive development in the area
Development: The once deserted Melrose Avenue is now home to the Pacific Design Center
Empty: Despite the broad, attractive streets, such as the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine St shown here, the population of the town was initially low
Barren: But this would eventually become the site of the Hollywood High School
Selling melons: But nowadays fruit in Hollywood is more likely to come in a smoothie or coconut water
Metropolis: The town's main thoroughfares were nothing more than country roads 120 years ago
Store: This is the first grocery shop in Hollywood, established in the 1890s for the burgeoning community
Farmland: California would soon shift from an agricultural economy to one based on new technologies
New dawn: The American film industry was based in Southern California from early on in its history
Virgin territory: California was still growing at the start of the 20th century after becoming a state in 1850
Now: The Hollywood sign is one of the most recognisable icons of the showbusiness world
Sprawling: The Hills are now studded with thousands of homes as Los Angeles stands in the distance
No comments:
Post a Comment