Hollywood is situated in the north-west of Los Angeles, California. It has been the centre of the American film industry. It has an ideal sunny climate and a varied terrain – most suited for film industry.
Supposedly one of the richest and most glamourous places on earth, Hollywood’s greatest days were in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1908 one of its first feature films ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ was completed. It was shot in Chicago. By the end of 1911, more than 15 film producing companies had sprung upon the area. Some of the famous film personalities in Hollywood, before World War I, have been Charlie Chaplin, Samuel Goldwyn, Douglas Fairbanks and Cecil B. Mille. The 20th Century-Fox, Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer, Paramount Pictures, Columbia, Warner Brothers etc. were among its greatest film producing companies.
However with the advent of ‘talkies’, many famous stars of the silent era were virtually forced to retire. But the greatest threat to Hollywood came with the introduction of television in the late 1940s. Many film companies had to pull down their shutters. This brought a great change in Hollywood. By the early 60s, Hollywood had been supplying about 80% of the programmes to US Television network.
Some of the other highlights of Hollywood are the Hollywood Bowl (a natural amphitheatre), the Pilgrimage Play Amphitheatre and Greek Theatre in Griffith Park, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the California Art Club.
Hollywood has carved out its present place in the map of world cinema through all round cinematic activities. Its use of latest and advanced technology in film-making makes it the trade leader.