The name California comes from a mythical Spanish island ruled by a queen called Califia that was featured in a Spanish romantic novel ("Las Sergas de Esplandian") written by Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo in 1510. The Spanish explorers originally thought that California was an island
Did You Know…?
The motto of the State of California is “Eureka!” (“I have found it!”), a reference to the discovery of gold in the State in the 1800s. It is the only State motto in Greek..
The Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá visited the site of the future city of Los Angeles in 1769. On 4th September, 1781, the Mexican provincial governor, Filipe de Neve, founded “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles de la Porciuncula,” meaning “The Town of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of the Small Portion.” The pueblo became the capital of the Mexican province, Alta California, and it was the last place to surrender to the United States at the time of the American occupation in 1847. In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, Mexico ceded California to the United States, and Los Angeles was incorporated as a city in 1850.
Did You Know…?
When Los Angeles was founded in 1781, 44 people (14 families) lived there. Nowadays, the Los Angeles five-county area has a population of almost 20 million people. It includes Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. If the five-county Los Angeles area were a state, it would be the fourth largest in the United States.
For many people, Los Angeles is synonymous with Hollywood, and Hollywood means movies. What better time than Academy Award month to explore the city through the lens of the film camera.
Some Oscar-winning movies have been set in the wide boulevards and small alleys of the city, and we're going to retrace some of them here. Our tour begins in Hollywood itself, and our first tour guide is Sunset Boulevard (1950, nominated for 11 Oscars, won three, including Best Original Screenplay), which explores Hollywood both literally and figuratively. The first film studio opened on this very Boulevard in 1911, and many stars of the silent screen era lived in mansions along this street in the 1920s. The film explores how one of these stars, Norma Desmond, is driven mad by the Hollywood machine after her star fades. Sunset Boulevard has faded too - it's a bit sleazy these days and the stars have all moved to Beverly Hills, but it's still a must-see on your trip to Los Angeles.
Another more recent film classic captures the mood of the modern Sunset Boulevard - Pulp Fiction (1994, Oscar for Best Original Screenplay). The diner where Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) famously stop for a Big Kahuna burger is on Van Ness Avenue, just north of Hollywood Boulevard. Stop off here for a burger, visit a film studio then walk the famous boulevards of Sunset and Wilshire.
Downtown Los Angeles is richly explored in 1997's classic L.A. Confidential (Two Oscars: Best Screenplay and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kim Basinger). Adapted from a James Ellroy novel, the film is set in the 1950s in a world of corrupt cops, organised crime and celebrity. Much of the action takes place in LA City Hall, and the familiar pyramid-topped high-rise can be seen at 200 North Spring Street.
The J&J Sandwich Shop, 119 East 6th Street, opposite the Pacific Electric Building, is where Bud White (Russell Crowe) dangles the terrified DA (District Attorney) from a window. Also in the same area is the “Night Owl Café”, site of the massacre in the film.
Heading back to Hollywood, sleazy journalist Sid Hudgens (Danny De Vito) has his office beneath the illuminated spire and revolving globe of the Crossroads of the World, 6671 Sunset Boulevard, a glorious 1930s shopping mall designed as an ocean liner, complete with port holes.
Also in Hollywood is the bar where Captain Smith (James Cromwell) gives Bud White his gun and badge back: Boardner's, 1652 North Cherokee Avenue on Hollywood Boulevard.
Finally, for a view above all the action, head to the Hollywood Hills and the Griffiths Observatory. The home of Lyn Bracken's (Kim Basinger) high-class pimp Pierce Patchett in the film is Richard Neutra's 1929 Lovell House. It's a private residence, an example of the International Style in Los Angeles, at 4616 Dundee Drive, Los Feliz, below the Griffith Observatory, which you can see on the skyline in the movie.
The Griffith Observatory, situated in Griffith Park not very far from the famous “Hollywood” sign, has been featured in many films over the years, most memorably in the closing scenes of Rebel Without a Cause, James Dean's classic 1955 film about teenage angst. The Observatory has an extensive array of space and science displays, most of which is free, and there is a wonderful view of the city.
Did You Know…?
A 1910 merry-go-round featured in The Sting (1973) is on Santa Monica Pier.
Eating out in Los Angeles
Musso & Frank Grill - 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
Opened in 1919, it is steeped in Hollywood history - it was the hangout of a host of famous Hollywood celebrities from days gone by. (It also appeared in the films Ocean's Eleven and Ed Wood)
Giorgio Baldi - 114 W. Channel Rd., Santa Monica
An Italian trattoria with a star-studded clientele, where Signor Baldi cooks the food of his childhood. Thanks to the celebrity diners, the prices are pretty high.
Cliff's Edge - 3626 W. Sunset Blvd.
One of David Lynch's favourite diners, and the location is fantastic.
Skooby's Hot Dogs - 6654 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood
Near the Ritz Theater, on Hollywood Boulevard. It has the best hot dogs in Hollywood, the best fries in Los Angeles, and the best lemonade in California (and it made an appearance in Lethal Weapon).
The Hard Rock Cafe at Universal City Walk - 1000 Universal Studios Blvd.
Universal City
The vast, open dining area is dominated by a gold '57 Cadillac revolving over the circular bar at the center of the restaurant. Unlike the other local Hard Rocks, this one has two levels, both jammed full of rock 'n' roll memorabilia.
Some Los Angeles Bars and Music Clubs
Boardner's - 1652 North Cherokee Ave. Hollywood,
This great little bar has a fascinating history going back to the 1930s. It has been featured in many films, including L. A. Confidential, Ed Wood, Hollywood Homicide and Leaving Las Vegas.
Foxfire Room 12516 Magnolia Blvd, East San Fernando Valley
This family-owned bar has been here since the 1950s. Dim lights, dark wood panelling, great people-watching, and check out the monitor near the back entrance showing patrons coming in from the parking lot. It appeared in Magnolia (1999).
The Formosa Cafe - 7156 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
Since the Formosa Cafe is the nearest bar to the historic Warner Hollywood Studio, this little café has been frequented by just about every movie star in Hollywood. Listing all the celebrities who have come here is impossible. It featured in L. A. Confidential.
Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas - 1200 N Alta Loma Rd, West Hollywood
Near the famous sidewalk of Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The Bar is among the favourites of actors and rock stars.
California Speak
smart casual - informal, well-made clothes
culture vulture - someone who enjoys museums, concerts, etc.
grab something to eat - have a quick meal
24/7 - open twenty-four hours every day
Latino - Hispanic
awesome - fantastic
mega - very big
laid back - relaxed
make waves - cause problems
mickey-mouse - unimportant
zip - nothing
in the bag - settled
up for grabs - available
split - (to) leave
no sweat - no problem
GLOSSARY
ruled - governata
featured - apparsa
novel - romanzo
thought - pensavano, credevano
surrender - arrendersi
treaty - trattato
ceded - cedette
alleys - viuzze
retrace - ripercorrere
silent screen - cinema muto
mansions - ville
driven mad - impazzita
fades - si affievolì, sbiadì
sleazy - squallido
must-see - "da vedere"
mood - essenza, umore
diner - ristorante, tavola calda
richly - riccamente, ampiamente
organised crime - criminalità organizzata
takes place - avviene
pyramid-topped high-rise - alto edificio sormontato da una piramide
dangles - fa penzolare
spire - guglia
revolving globe - globo girevole
ocean liner - transatlantico
port holes - attracchi portuali
badge - distintivo
head - dirigetevi
pimp - protettore
closing - ultima, di chiusura
angst - angoscia (esistenziale)
merry-go-round - giostra, carosello
steeped - inserito
hangout - ritrovo
vast - enorme
jammed full - straripanti, pieni
dim lights - luci basse, flebili
panelling - rivestimento
check out - controllate, date un'occhiata
patrons - avventori
sidewalk - marciapiede
Il viaggio: un esercizio di inglese!
Phoenix
