Why are Hollywood Blvd. and Vine famous? What's on those streets?

Answer 1

Right now, the only notable things at the corner of Hollywood & Vine are the Pantages Theatre ("Wicked" is playing there at the moment), and the circular Capitol Records building (which looks like a stack of records), and, of course, the stars in the sidewalk (the Holywood Walk of Fame) that runs along the entire length of Hollywood Blvd. There's also a new subway station.

But the corner became famous decades ago when the Brown Derby restaurant was there (it burned down years ago), and when a daily radio broadcast originated from that corner.

Today, it's nothing special. The action on Hollywood Blvd has shifted a few blocks west, to Hollywood & Highland, where the new Kodak Theatre was built to be a permanent home to the annual Oscars show.

They DO have plans for the near future, though. A trendy "W" Hotel will be built soon at the corner of Hollywood & Vine, across from the Pantages, and that should vastly improve the area.

See http://www.seeing-stars.com/Streets/HollywoodBlvdMyth&Reality.shtml

Answer 2

Steve Allen used to be on the Tonight show, and then later his own shows, have interviews with the common man on the street. He would go out and interview everyday people on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. These turned out to be funnier than many of the real performers. The studio used to be across the street. It use to be referred to as, " famous Hollywood and vine." It was sort of a tongue in cheek reference like "beautiful down town Burbank."
But there is really nothing there. And there never was anything there,except some show business buildings during the silent film era. (Except I was rejected for a job in the building there once.)

Answer 3

It has significant movie and radio history, the Hollywood walk of Fame (the stars engraved into the concrete) is centralized there, and there are a few buildings on the intersections designed by famous architects. I was there yesterday, and there are a lot of homeless people in the area. (mostly street kids)
http://www.hollywoodandvine.net/

Answer 4

In the 1920's ,it was the original epicenter of the Hollywood radio and movie business, with many important studios and companies there or nearby...and it is the original site of the walk of fame. Now those companies for the most part have moved elsewhere and the area is of nostalgic importance.

Answer 5

Today, if you go to Hollywood Boulevard during any time of the day you'll see a handful of weirdos.

Answer 6

I agree with the top posters that talk about the history of the intersection

I would also like to add that at this point in time... there are mostly prostitutes in that cross-section. usually either younger teens or transexuals.

Answer 7

They are cross streets and they are in the heart of the really weird part of LA

Answer 8

here's the wikipedia on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_and_Vine