Evening star., 1941-11-23
That Dream World on the Pacific Remains i
Artists Postscript Hollywood Visit Paints New Picture
OF Life in the City Where Fantastic Is the Normal

it-or what? 1t is decidedly terrific
whatever.
So Near, Yet So Far.
The last time 1 was out here was
five years ago and big change has
taken place-for the better. Esthet-
ically, Hollywood has grown out of
its rompers. It's smoother-the
warts have been sandpapered.
On one road there is a working
oil well, spang in the middle of the
avenue l wondered how many
speed-mad drivers struck oil!
The colors of Hollywood are white,
yellow and blue-and some olive
green, outdoors. Indoors is shadows
on purpose. 1t lives in its cars day
and night. Every place is near and
yet so far. If you want to mail
letter it's sleeper jump. 1t thinks
nothing of driving 40 miles to din
ner. 1t also thinks nothing of for
getting you've asked dinner guests
and being somewhere else when they
arrive! Even today when it says
I'll call you at 10 tomorrow morn
ing" 1t simply means Good night"
ScrewytoWn! But they do get
things done!
A plalntlve sane voice peeps up
once in while protesting it's being
publicity neglected. 1t says in ef-
feet, Wait a minute-We aren't all
motion pictures-We have homes and
schools and civic bodies and stuff. 4"
The world doesn't care and shrugs
so what?"
So the old world pats the sane
and unsung citizen on the pate and
says, Fine, you betcha! Keep up
the good workout excuse me.
wasn't that Hedy Lamar in that
carr"
A Traditional Gesture.
Americans down to the humblest
pushcart pusher are publicity mad,
camera conscious - whether they
are noticeable or not, they all wLnt
to be noticed. 1t has become a ma
tional disease-ballyhooitis. And
Hollywood methods have been part
ly to blame
A traditional gesture of Holly
wood. instead of letting the guest
OF interest to the industry 20 on
to the Los Angeles station, is to
grab him off at Pasadena and motor
him the remaining miles to the
movie capital.
am glad I chose this time to
continue through on the train be-
cause l got nice surprise by COM
Ing into new, huge terminal in
the Spanish style-spacious and
modern-in place of the dingy little
brick place the great city put up
with for years.
Many streets and boulevards have
been improved, many new houses
and homes have been built 1t
doesn't seem to have slums as We
back East are accustomed to and
the early honkytonk period has gone
with the zephyrs. No more pedestals
on the highway sides bearing great
plaster elephants and stucco COWS.
four times life-size. advertising
wares. Or maybe I just didn't see
them.
The drive-in roadside eating tenn
piles are another modern touch,
where glistening sedans and lin
| cuisines seem to be sucking in a
circle.
Pretty musical comedy mattresses
come out and attach tray to the
sill of your opened car window and
serve you glamoured hamburgers
and pampered hot dogs and drinks
A Modern Symbol.
While there are still madcaps at
large with a moronic sense of fun, /
believe that the fashion has lapsed
for gay stars to send presents to
departing fellow topliners-like pre-
senting them with a spawned mule
at Albuquerque.
Most of the big studios have archi-
tectural leftovers from the earlier
days still being used as Offices.
The boom" is the modern symbol
of modern picture making-a great
iron skeleton on wheels with long
neck tipped by ball that noses like
a metal giraffe into the center of all
| action and listens! This is the
microphone that hears all and
tattles all.
The actual business and action on
a live movie set seem little changed
in essence from the old days with
the exception Of the boom
The same darkness lit up in q
corner of a set. The same harried