Hollywood Blvd. is a disaster, can it be fixed?

Hollywood has long been a place we've all fantasized for decades...so why is Hollywood Blvd. such a disaster? I investigated Hollywood's current state, from the seedy Walk of Fame to the LA Metro with the question: will this place ever change for the better?

#hollywood #hollywoodboulevard #losangeles

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____________________
00:00 the allure of hollywood
00:35 welcome to hollywood
1:43 investigating hollywood boulevard
4:44 will hollywood blvd. change?
5:44 LA metro in hollywood
8:34 hollywood forever? [cultural analysis]
11:53 a spiritual cleansing

tags: hollywood, hollywood boulevard, los angeles travel, los angeles 2024, california, walk of fame, los angeles travel, hollywood forever cemetery

[johnwarner]

I'm 70 and I grew up just over the hill from the Hollywood Sign (in Burbank). I know every square inch of Hollywood (and the surrounding areas). Believe it or not, Hollywood is cleaner and less tacky now than it has ever been. When I was 10, the place was a disastrous mess. Everything was old and run down, there were homeless and crazy people walking the streets, and the Hollywood Sign was literally falling down. The sign was dark and dingy. Letters had fallen down, and some were just plain missing. Millions were spent fixing it up. Extensive effort was made to clean up Hollywood Blvd. Store fronts were brightened up, and trash was removed. Homeless and insane people were moved to other areas. Hollywood and Highland was built. I know that looking at it now, it's hard to believe that it was for the most part almost always worse than it is now, but it's true. And as far as tour operators lying to customers about where things were filmed, they do that all the time, with everything. Hollywood is the land of lies and illusions.

[PalmBeachDog]

I’m always amazed at people’s perception of Hollywood. I met a couple at Heathrow airport on their way to a dream vacation in Hollywood. They actually thought they would see “celebrities “ shopping and having lunch on Hollywood boulevard.

[ulexite-tv]

A Youtuber named Metal Leo just did a walk down Hollywood Boulevard, documenting the blocks and blocks of empty and boarded up retail and restaurant spaces. It wasn't a matter of sleaze ... just vacancy after vacancy. It will take a lot to bring commerce back, and without it, why would any tourist even walk Hollywood Boulevard?

[bbsara]

I don't see why hollywood is even a tourist destination... its literally a bunch of studio lots that are not generally open to the public since its private businesses. and just because the celebrities live nearby in those hilltop homes, they are also closed to the public. so its not like there is really anything to see

[dante]

What's really sad is that Hollywood is the first spot most tourists flock to when they visit LA and it is literally one of the WORST places in the city you could possibly visit lol They'll form their entire opinion of the city based on it because it's such an awful first impression

[hologramhouse]

I was just back in La for 2 months. Pretty much every square inch of Hollypoop is trashed, dirty, dangerous, gross, closed down, too much traffic etc.

[screenplayhouse]

THE way to save Hollywood would be to 'Vegas' it up. You'd have to build resort after resort, each with it's own secure row of restaurants and night clubs. The rooms would have to be affordable enough for people to say, "Oh, we're going into Hollywood this weekend to see a show, enjoy the big pools, and eat some eats." I tell you if it was a better 'deal' than Vegas it would be a wow.

[optitom]

I lived in Palos Verdes and made the drive up to Hollywood to cruise the Blvd back in the late 60s then stop for burgers at the Tiny Naylors drive-in. The hay days of Hollywood are just distant memories.

[janethernandez]

Oh, wow Michael, Hollywood hasn't changed since our recent visit, that's too bad. As one who lives in LA county, I remember many years ago when Hollywood would be the place to be way back when but not so much now. I also remember when my husband and I were dating at the time in the mid or late 1980s I think it was. The company he used to work for designed hanging ceilings, they were offered the opportunity or bid to come up with ideas for the new Hollywood Metro Station, that was being constructed at the time; well, from one idea to another he finally came up jokingly with the idea of using old style movie film reels as part of the ceiling decoration. they thought about it, the people who were bidding told his company there were warehouses with a lot of those film reels collecting dust they didn't know what to do with them, before you know it he saw they were mark-up designs using those movie film reels, and well, THERE THEY ARE, we seem them on marker 6:23 those movie film reels at the metro subway celling, after you asked about Hollywood/Highland. We were amazed when we finally first saw it for the first time on our way to Universal Studios about 5 or 6 years ago. We travel to LA when we have to nowadays, Hollywood not so much. Once in a while we do visit the Griffith Observatory. Los Angeles does need to brighten up Hollywood, seriously, the LA Olympics are coming to town soon, and they need to clean up big time! I enjoyed your video today! Take care of yourself! Peace. ☮

[thediver]

After moving here and during the pandemic, I decided to take a drive to Hollywood Boulevard to check out the walk of fame, and to be honest I was too scared to even get out of my car because of all the homeless people there

[cv]

Im a native Angeleno and currently living in Japan for the last couple of years. I agree with everything you say about Hollywood. I used to go to Hollywood to catch a movie to add a little more excitement. Good times walking around various streets and finding a random cafe or restaurant with great food. It was a nice urban adventure and I'll never forget those memories.

The Red Line was still dirty but never felt too unsafe. Very reliable subway from Downtown. I see Hollywood/Vine station still poorly lit and with all the upgrades Metro has put in place, perhaps upgrading the lighting would have been nice too.

I've visited home only twice since then but it's too bad how many areas of LA that were on the cusp of decline like Hollywood have actually done so. I had to take my in-laws to other local areas of LA to keep them safe. Unfortunately the super left politics may prevent LA for getting back on it's feet. I just wish those streets were walkable again because there is so much culture that I've never experienced elsewhere and it's my hometown too.

[Bluzin]

Hate to burst your bubble, but what you see now is a gentrified version compered to the 1980's when I lived there. No Hollywood and Highland, W Hotel, Disney Theater, or nice apartment buildings. It was mostly tourist traps, hookers, pick pockets, car break ins, sex shops, trashy bars, sex shops, smoke shops, sex shops, tacky stores, sex shops, wig store, sex shops, and 2 adult theaters. When I go there now on occasion, I think WOW! They really cleaned this place up!

[Amadeus_]

Who would have thunk Escape from LA was a documentary from the future?

[hothotheat]

Hollywood Boulevard is Times Square. Locals avoid it like the damn plague.

[infinite_vortex]

As a NJ/NYC guy, and I know you are too, I think I can sum up my time at Hollywood very simply: it's the Times Square of Hollywood. Tourists love it, but locals would never step foot in it if they don't have to.

[commanderstarstrider]

Ive lived in LA my whole life and im 43. Hollywood is and always has been a dump my whole life. Everyone from out of state is always disappointed with what they see.

[qica]

Hollywood is the sign of Los Angeles; just like Eiffel tower to Paris, even more it should be as the movie effects to all! It’s supposed to be the place filled with inspiration, dreams, magic, powerful energy to all especially tourists! Unfortunately There is no any movie stars passing by ; no nice restaurants, bars, shopping, nice museums, park;but poor little stores, , , , dirty buildings and streets, ,,,it’s a shame.

[Sch]

I’m 60 years old and was born and grew up 45 minutes away from downtown Hollywood. I’ve never ever been there never wanted to go.

[dcal]

Went to the Hollywood Museum about a month ago and had a perfectly fine day. It was sunny out and there wasn't too much going on on the street. Got some food after.

Walked down to the Roosevelt and looked around. Nothing too crazy.

Anyway, I'm an LA native.

When I go to other countries I usually buy a book and study up before I go. Why don't people look into these things? The internet exists. All the drama and pearl clutching is ridiculous.

[djmk]

I grew up in LA and had gone to Hollywood Blvd many times over the years. It has always been a grungy, blighted area with tons of homeless and weirdos lurking around. I don’t think a renovation of the streetscape will make a difference unless it includes eviction and removal of all the shady businesses that operate there and replace them with more respectable businesses. Anyone who rides the Metro must have a death wish as you hear almost daily on the news someone is purposely hurt or murdered on a train or in a station. Hollywood Blvd is just one example of how Los Angeles and surrounding communities are deteriorating physically and morally. You can take any rundown blighted area of a city and turn it into a phony spammy tourist trap complete with a cast of regular weirdo character zombies lurking around 24/7.