Short film taking you through 1930s Hollywood. What do you recognize?

Look at Hollywood California in the 1930s. Movie stars, Beverly Hills, fancy cars, big houses.

[@rafaellewis4528]

Sad to think how many of those beautiful and historic homes and buildings aren't there anymore.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

You are so right

[@larrywakeman4371]

IT is HORRID and a SIN.

[@larrywakeman4371]

IT is HORRID and a SIN. Dumb LIBs RUIN old buildings....

[@colleendemaio]

Yup, developers and real estate investors are paying off politicians to allow tearing down everything to put up ugly 5 story plywood apartment buildings that cost more than the beautiful, well made old building they replace. It's such a shame.

[@smorgasbordtv4092]

Most of those houses are there. I drive through there 3 times a week.

[@stanmoroncini8825]

$5 a ticket for Graumanns in the 1930’s??? That’s over $100 today. I imagine that was just the ticket for the premier.

[@juliomarques6741]

Such a good observation! That is curious

[@BlueSkyGal777]

That is fabulous footage!! A bygone era to be sure-- thank you for posting this! 💗

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Thanks for your comment.

[@jaysverrisson1536]

The movie Dirigible, premiering at the Chinese Theater, was released in 1931, as was Bad Sister (poster at left 4:12), so that pretty well pegs the date on this film.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

That is some great detective work. Thanks for that.

[@efrem1]

Add Trader Horn. Definitely from 1931.

[@exaudi33]

You have to love the theatre attendants in their Chinese costumes.

[@disboygotdabeat]

Right in the early days of the Great Depression

[@immaterialimmaterial5195]

What a gorgeous place it was in the 'Golden Age'. Like a magical dream!

[@aintnoway3467]

Everything well kept and all secrets nicely tucked away.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

yep

[@muffassa6739]

Great video of old Hollywood, people should read Hollywood and Babylon.

[@jameschapman6559]

I lived in Hollywood from February of 1986 until 1993 when I moved to Long Beach. I felt very privileged to have been living there. Found so much to do and explore. I meet some really wonderful people and a long term friend. I especially like Griffith Park, the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theater, movie theater's on the boulevard and services at Hollywood Presbyterian and so much more. It was a great time in my life and many positive experiences. Hooray for Hollywood!

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@paullewis2413]

In the 80’s it was still great and a very interesting place. Now?

[@frederickcombs8661]

It was tranquil and lovely then. NOT NOW.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Love watching the video.

[@axidhaus]

What changed

[@biggerock]

Hollywood is a dump now.

[@lemorab1]

@@axidhaus I was a kid there in the early 1950's. My dentist's building at Highland and Hollywood Blvd. is in this video. Back then, the world's population was about 2 and 1/2 billion people, compared with the 7 billion plus that we have today. The drugs weren't as plentiful or as scary, mental illness afflicted a smaller percentage of the population, cheap housing was plentiful, and the state mental hospitals were up and running. Hollywood Blvd. has been described as tawdry, going back to the 1920's, however. I remember it looking trashy, with rent boys and girls, and litter all over the streets, by 1965. However, it also had wonderful used book stores and movie palaces and I wasn't afraid to hang out there.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

@@biggerock First time I went to Hollywood was in the early 90s. I went there thinking I would see Hollywood stars and saw a dump with homeless all over.

[@JackF99]

Like many, my parents moved to LA in the late 1940s. They said it was paradise for about 10 years, prettydecent for another 10. Then sometime in the 70s it had just become too overcrowded and overdeveloped. We all got out in the 80's.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Nice story, Thanks for sharing that. I bet it was great back in the day.

[@axidhaus]

The 80s was the beginning of the dystopia. It was great all the way until about 1991 and then they just were like screw everyone.

[@StationRussification]

Stop crying

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

@@axidhaus First time I went to Hollywood was about 1992. It was horrendous.

[@axidhaus]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51back when it was nice

[@kitschyoyo78]

Wow, how clean and beautiful the place was back then. Not anymore. Glamour is completely gone now and never to be again.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Definitely a beautiful place back then

[@faustinreeder1075]

Can’t have nice things. We need strip malls.

[@johngraves6878]

As a long time resident of LA and a 1974 graduate of Hollywood High, I say that was a wonderful time portal to the past. I love the perfunctory narrator and his old-fashioned colloquialisms, and the music too is a reflection of the period. Hollywood somewhat fell into a state of disrepair in the 1970s, but has since been redeveloped and become more in tourist demand than ever. The Dolby Theater brought the Academy Awards back to Hollywood where they belong. But one can't help feeling that the Covid plandemic and HD home viewing has forever damaged the long-running concept of theatrical distribution. What do I miss most? Cafe Figaro, CC Brown's, The Shack, Lou's Quickie Grill, Tiny Naylor's, A&M Studios, La Villa Taxco, Jacopo's (actually Beverly Hills), Tower Records Sunset, Group 4. Even World Book and News on Cahuenga has closed down. The internet conquers all.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Love your comment

[@PeterMcDonald-sl9rt]

Opening sequence filmed at Yamashiro restaurant, still very much part of Hollywood. An authentic Japanese temple reerected circa 1914, as a house and art gallery.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Thanks for sharing that. It is great how people are sharing what they know.

[@darryljorden9177]

Norma Desmond!

[@lauriewarner4848]

Own a home, and lived here on and off my whole life. It is a beautiful place to be. I have homes in other states too, but come back always. No place like it. For those that bad mouth and only dwell on the negative, I feel sorry for.

[@libertygiveme1987]

@laurie - Why do you feel sorry for those that speak the truth?! My brother lives in San Diego, and can attest to what some are saying. San Francisco ALONE HAS BECOME A DUMPING GROUND FOR THE HOMELESS!!!! A few years back, the city had Sanitation Trucks come in and had to get rid of ALL KINDS OF FECES!!!! IT WAS SOOOOOO DISGUSTING!!!! This only BREEDS DISEASE!!! So, if you like it, OK!!!!

[@bruceferguson6637]

The narrator sounds like Groucho Marx.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Wonder if it is.

[@zeldasmith6154]

​@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51 Not Groucho but has a similar cadence.

[@roadrunner381]

It's Groucho!😉😂

[@AngelAPAVLOVSCornDog]

It's the Mid-Atlantic accent. Popular for the time

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

@@AngelAPAVLOVSCornDog I didn't know it was a Mid-Atlantic accent. That's cool to know.

[@gpxo11]

I recognize what was Bob Barker's future home-2 minutes into the video but no swimming pool yet. former residents in backyard. 2min to 2:10 mark. the home as of this entry is currently for sale.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Thanks for sharing this information. What has made the video so fun for me to watch are the comments from people like this one. Much appreciated.

[@charlespatrick8650]

at ​​⁠4:11 the story of Carl Laemmle, then Universal Studios founder and owner, is that he paid $350,000 for the Hollywood and Vine empty Northwest corner lot in 1925, and was offered, but turned down, the $1,000,000 in 1928, it was reported at the time that the lot had been offered for sale in 1912 for only $15,000, Laemmle finally had a building built there in 1932, which was many things over the years, including a Howard Johnson’s restaurant, and was a nightclub called the Basque Club when it burned down in 2008, making that Northwest corner lot empty once again (still empty today in 2024)

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

That is so interesting. Thanks for sharing that. A $1,000,000 in 1928, that was crazy money back then.

[@susanb2015]

Edward G. Robinson and Gloria Swanson.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@marshatrue8220]

Doesn’t look like the depression hit Hollywood at that time

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

It looked great once upon a time.

[@exaudi33]

Of course it did. That's a different documentary.

[@vestibulate]

@marshatrue8220 The studios were forced to take in partners from back east, mainly bankers and gangsters (I know, hard to spot the difference). Profits were down, new technology was expensive, unions were forming, and falling cinema attendance had to be offset with lower labor costs and cheaper productions such as the "B" pictures. Hollywood was hit very hard by the Great Depression. They just put on their best face and revved up the old PR machine.

[@gregt8638]

Thank you for posting this most enjoyable video. This was before I was born. But my dad lived in the area at that time and had very fond memories of it. Thank you again for this nice trip down Hollywood's Memory Lane

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Thank you so much for the great comment. The video is good but the comments make it so much better.

[@PeterMcDonald-sl9rt]

The large Mediterranean homes, at the beginning of the film, appear to be Outpost Drive, just north of Hollywood Blvd.,in 1931 then relatively new? Bob Barker's long-time home (1969) just came on the market there, a shade under $3 million.

[@texas1949]

That seems surprisingly low for BB’s home.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

That is so cool. Thanks for sharing that. It is awesome how people are sharing information, makes the video 100x better.

[@texas1949]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51 😂 glad you think so.

[@PeterMcDonald-sl9rt]

Google 1851 N. Outpost Dr., L.A. 90068. The Bob Barker house, listed at $2.9 million, but will undoubtedly sell for MUCH more!

[@texas1949]

@@PeterMcDonald-sl9rt seeeeee? 👍

[@bradbundy1471]

Well Done. Thank you! 🤠🧑‍🦰🌲🌲 🎼

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Thanks for the comment

[@benmartinez8443]

I came to Hollywood in 1994, it was great then and it is great now. Yes, there are problems, and they are shared all over the country.

[@rosaspanjol673]

Beautiful times😘!…not anymore !

[@barrybarnes96]

You just saw a video from the Great Depression. "Beautiful times" for those that had a job...not so for the tens of millions who didn't and scraped by on nothing and hunger.

[@stevehoffman9735]

"Trader Horn" M-G-M 1931. Wow, this is really back there.. They didn't have Cinecolor then. Must be a reissue print from two-strip Technicolor..

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

I was thinking the color was added at a later time as well.

[@stevehoffman9735]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51 No, that's actual two-strip color. Mainly green, brown tones..

[@Luvoldmovies-Kat.St.Aug.]

5$ a ticket 🎫 then to go to the premier 😂. love the footage❤

[@avalondreaming1433]

That must have been alot of money back then. I heard the average salary was a dollar a day, so that would have been a week's pay to attend.

[@Luvoldmovies-Kat.St.Aug.]

@@avalondreaming1433 I can imagine. On a personal note my Grandfather (a carpenter by trade )told me he made .50 cents to put a roof on a house , and it took him 2 weeks .!

[@user-dp1kf8xh7r]

I’m not even from there and recognize a lot of the landmarks. Been there enough times.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Same here

[@normm1619]

It would be interesting to have the film color restored and upscaled… Peter Jackson’s company did an amazing job with older black and white films….

[@Cheryl-dy5ug]

A time when nobody dressed like freak's at premier's

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

LOL, true

[@lindaloe]

I Noticed How nice The Palm Trees 🌴 Looked Then!! Now The Palm Trees 🌴 Look Kind Of Ratty!!😂

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

LOL

[@betsyr4724]

94 yrs ago. Wow

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Wow, I knew it was 90+ years but seeing 94 years makes you go, wow

[@betsyr4724]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51 Assuming it was 1931

[@deeppurple883]

I wonder did the Sydney Opera House get their inspiration from this arena in Hollywood. 🤔☘️

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Good question

[@papagen00]

they all drove big SUV's back then. No compact sedans.

[@bawillard2578]

Like 100s after the war, my family both sides moved to California. From north to south. The 50s were fabulous. Orange groves ,clean, and exciting. My husband worked for family ,largest roofing company in San Fernando Valley . He met many celebrities and supervised jobs on celebrities homes. In the early 1980s we were sitting at a red light on Reseda Blvd.I looked at my husband and asked " how many hours are we going to waste in our lives sitting at red lights". We decided rite then to move to the mid west. Now we are in Florida . Fortunately for us .. I am disheartened to see California so downtrodden.

[@animalntelligence3170]

That voice almost certainly is Groucho. I would guess there is more than one house that looks like the one in Beverly Hills in which Ben Siegel was shot, but if it really was the same one, obviously a complete coincidence because that happened more than a decade later in 1947.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

That is a great point of when Bugsy Siegel was shot.

[@fokkerd3red618]

No offense intended, but I'd wager $20 that isn't Groucho Marx voice.

[@MadMomma-kj9ks]

@@fokkerd3red618 might be Bugsy’s voice.

[@juliomarques6741]

@@enriquesanchez2001your comment is rude. Whatever makes you angry in life needs to be resolved outside of the internet.

[@dr.a.995]

Unobstructed views to the ocean! There’s a video of a very early Oscars ceremony in which “a clear view to the ocean” is mentioned from somewhere along Wilshire.

[@TwistedGeniusMedia]

Either that’s Groucho or my watch has stopped.

[@sharksport01]

It's Frank Zappa.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Someone else mentioned that as well.

[@donnaalfonso634]

Being an only child with abusive parents was difficult, especially not having a sibling to lean on and get/give support. It makes you socially inept.

[@scottfulps2065]

This was the Great Depression for everyone else.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Definitely a different time for most.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

To whom is everyone else? Manhattan? Chicago? San Francisco perhaps? Miami?

[@scottfulps2065]

@@WitchKing-Of-Angmar What? 'To Whom?' I don't understand your question.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@scottfulps2065 whom as in others.

[@charlespatrick8650]

the movie premiere was April 3, 1931, so this probably was filmed in March/April of that year

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

So probably filmed about that same time as it is right now. Thanks for sharing that. Fun to see the comments people have. Makes the film much better.

[@charlespatrick8650]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51agree, BTW, at ​​⁠4:11 the story of Carl Laemmle, then Universal Studios founder and owner, is that he paid $350,000 for the Hollywood and Vine empty Northwest corner lot in 1925, and was offered, but turned down, the $1,000,000 in 1928, it was reported at the time that the lot had been offered for sale in 1912 for only $15,000, Laemmle finally had a building built there in 1932, which was many things over the years, including a Howard Johnson’s restaurant, and was a nightclub called the Basque Club when it burned down in 2008, making that Northwest corner lot empty once again (still empty today in 2024)

[@mtlicq]

Geeee, that's swell !!!!!!! I'd love to visit that time and just ogle those autos !!!

[@davidroberson8030]

That's crazy they got color film back then but yet color TVs didn't come out till the '60s nuts and the guy mentioned the architecture of the old world that was a trip there was some pretty cool stuff there Fancy buildings Hollywood in the '30s???

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Remarkable how everyone lies about car colors at this time. It's offensive to the real history and manufacturing, and makes the era seem dull and lifeless when it was the complete opposite. The city scene is a perfect example, and proves that black and white is a terrible representation compared to how vibrant color is in comparison (nothing wrong with B&W but making guesses as to the colors is the issue and why it often slips you up). This is a long comprehensive list but thorpughs my point on this fine, fine era: 3:28 coupé in dark green with maroon fenders (vague but obvious at the same time) 3:31 a corner roadster in milkweed brown for the fenders, and river stone gray for the body 3:32 a 1929 Buick with two tone lining and directly behind it a very interesting model with a California top, butter esk color. Next three vehicles are various unsaturated shafes of green, last being more gray, with a sweet little coupé in gray green centerstage. 3:33 directly behind the driving coupé is a Rauch and Lang model from 1930! Bright vanilla colored fender with a sort of stormy brown body color, beautiful two tone lining across the hardtop doors. 3:35 a 1926 Imperial in a lovely shade of green, brighter than it's fellows on the left of it and rich in color, light yellow wire spoke wheels. 1929 Pontiac (?) in eggshell at the corner with a black two tone for fender and hardtop, right of that is a turning 1928 Ajax (?) in a dark emerald color barely perceptible to the human eye, and a vehicle in silver screen light gray that I'm honestly not too sure on the make..though Diane comes to mind; Black two tone being a lovely accompaniment..! 3:38 inspires a new front running line of vehicles notably 3 models in similar shades of gray which is really fun to look at (blue green, olive green, and gray at close up), very notably a 1923 Chalmers in light blue (a guess unfortunately but I'm thinking it's that for a good reason) at 3:39 there is a 1927 Studebaker with a daring white wall on the back rear only! very dark mint green paintjob almost unnoticeable, especially if it were in B&W. 4:00 and take a gander at this tritone Willys knight roadster. Soft brown two tones, with striking frosted orange disteel wheels or perhaps spokes a almost maroon looking vehicle to the right of it! 4:03 at this time here, we have a wash of blue that enters, first with a elegant storm blue colored roadster, and then a striking phaeton top with a rich light aqua and white two tone!.. 4:09 appears a light gray vehicle, terribly interesting looking Rolls royce or perhaps a late Roamer open top, and a equally classy two tone brown enclosed sedan directly behind it..Packard I think. 4:18 offers a little wink of greenish-blue on a passing coupé model.

[@MadMomma-kj9ks]

Gripe gripe gripe. Ban film.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@MadMomma-kj9ks ?

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

What a great post. Thank you for taking the time to do this. This is the type of post that makes the video so much better.

[@garyfrancis6193]

I’d like to go see that and maybe meet Gloria Swanson and ride in one of those Dusenberg limos. It would be grand. I’m sure nothing has changed.

[@morganm9040]

If you want to see Dusenbergs on display, visit the Nethercutt Museum in Sylmar (Los Angeles). They are beyond stunning.

[@user-js6rz4vk6d]

Missed by all.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

If you had 1 million back then you were rich. You could live off the interest alone and be set.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

So true

[@larrywakeman4371]

it was nice white and bright, get my drift?

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

That wouldn't matter because it would be their grandchildren that would be the minority cliches. Black folks then were just as mature as white folks.

[@user-og1dm8ii1g]

That's Groucho Marx narrating!!!!!

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

It does sound like him

[@Me97202]

I was just thinking that.

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

I would love to see a comparison of the area but in the 50's or 60's, once modern appliances and technology started to go more mainstream. I bet in those few decades that TONS had changed in these areas, and that's probably when the over-building and crowding started to happen.

[@Cathy-kk6lo]

Back when LA. was the place to be!! NOT ANYMORE now it's a TOILET!!

[@nlpnt]

These old travelogues don't show any of the problems. Now the algo is far too eager to show you nothing but problems.

[@dadsongs]

It's funny how cynical the narration sounds.

[@lilajagears8317]

Hollywood is a district NOT a suburb.

[@jepolch]

1:11 Scientology Celebrity Center.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Wow, did not know that. Thanks for calling that out. Very cool.

[@marrsart2085]

Today yes it is, but also in this footage it was still the Château Élysée, "a luxury long-term residential apartment house for movie stars and the film industry" according to wikipedia.

[@dapinelli]

It isn't the Scientology Centre. I believe it is the Chateau Marmont

[@clivecarser7356]

No its on hollywood blvd. The chateau is still hotel on sunset blvd.​@dapinelli

[@marrsart2085]

@@clivecarser7356 You are correct about the Chateau Marmont but the Hollywood Blvd Scientology office is only an "Info Center." The Celebrity Center is at 5930 Franklin Ave.

[@petebondurant58]

I don’t see any…

[@BeliaLastes]

Hollyweird 🥴

[@juliomarques6741]

Why are you on this page? The very app you’re on was formed because of Hollywood and the entertainment industry

[@Porsche996driver]

4:34 The American Legion building is still an icon of LA. It has a small bar inside and is a popular meeting spot for veterans and locals! You see in California we honor our veterans, not like trump who calls us suckers & losers.

[@axidhaus]

Insert Clown 🤡 horns here

[@stewartteaze9328]

Cram it, commie

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

It is nice how people like you are identifying the land marks with the time stamp. Much appreciated.

[@westaussie965]

Trump is a huge supporter of troops and veterans, what the hell are you on about? Remember when he didn’t take his Presidents wage and instead donated it to the upkeep of war cemeteries?

[@westaussie965]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51nice side step😂

[@argopunk]

Nice footage. Those Hollywood stars played wholesome. Nowadays, they are pretty well all open and honest with their degeneracy and radical politics.

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Well put.

[@argopunk]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51 Thanks

[@mariocisneros911]

??Mae West , Tallulah Bankhead , Joan Crawford, Bette Davis , Errol Flynn 2:36

[@Porsche996driver]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51 Well put how?! What about MAGA degenerates and insurrectionists?! There are 400,000,000 guns on our streets thanks to radical politicians. Women and doctors are in jail for an abortion because of radical politicians. Putin invaded Ukraine because Trump blocked military aid and got impeached. Afghanistan withdrawl blew up because trump and Pompeo did agreement with THE TALIBAN and without the Afghan government!! Now Repugnantones are going to collapse when trump is sentenced for trading nuclear TOP SECRETs to Russian agents and trying to cover it up!! Ted Cruz and Ron Johnson and Scott Perry should all be in prison for insurrection and collusion. F maga. NATO has kept the world safe and our economy growing for 75 years!! God bless the USA!! 🇺🇸🎖️💪🏼💪🏾

[@robertc8110]

Not really punk, the eara pictured was known as Holywood Babylon...less well know because of no tv or social media. You seem fascinated with degenerates and left wing politics.

[@Rocks_Dad]

Well, this must be a victory celebration film. We see the depravity of Beverly Hills in the early 20th century. Now, our streets are flush with diversity and inclusion !!!!!!!!

[@MrEdWeirdoShow]

That awful corny "music" drowns out all the classic vocals here. Fix it!

[@GeemailMailboxx]

Weird to think, if you were a millionaire back then, you were Big Time. Now you need to be a Billionaire or Trillionaire. 🤯 Now back to my dinner of Cereal.😢🥣

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

Was thinking the same thing the other day. When I was a kid a millionaire was crazy big.

[@GeemailMailboxx]

@@amazingplacesandnationalpa51 Want to blow your mind. Do a Google image search on what a trillion dollars looks like sitting on pallets next to a semi truck. 🤯 Our government is currently Giving away Trillions to foreign nations with zero expectations of being payed back by THEM. It has to be payed back in the future with American Workers taxes. 😱 No matter who takes over as president, they now have to keep playing this ponzi scheme just to keep America from imploding under our debt load. 😕

[@roadrunner381]

Yep, peanut butter sandwich here, enjoy your dinner!😂👍

[@amazingplacesandnationalpa51]

@@roadrunner381 Luckily I still love eating Top Ramen :-)

[@zroy9263]

A millionaire is still considered to be rich in Hollywood! Of course, several million (6 million for instance) is a must in the minimum amount of liquid cash is needed in this town. A billionaire is considered to be wealthy in comparison to just being rich!