HOLLYWOOD CONNECTIONS
1. Warner Bros Tour
3400 Riverside Dr, Burbank • 818-846-1403 • Adm • www.wbstudiotour.com
This excellent three-hour tour provides a thorough look at both the glamorous history as well as the day-to-day working reality of a major motion picture studio. Watch an introductory movie, visit the museum, and outdoor sets. Tour routes vary.
DC Universe: The Exhibit, part of the Warner Bros Tour
2. Samuel French Theatre and Film Bookshop
7623 Sunset Blvd • 866-598-8449 • www.samuelfrench.com
This purveyor of printed Hollywood material is geared to the needs of professional actors and screenwriters. The company also publishes and leases scripts of live plays.
The Samuel French bookshop
3. Larry Edmunds Bookshop
6644 Hollywood Blvd • 323-463-3273 • www.larryedmunds.com
Books about animation, acting, and Hollywood history, as well as historic movie posters, publicity stills, and screenplays – this store has it all.
4. American Cinematheque
To listen to Hollywood actors and directors discuss movies, attend screenings by this group (see The Egyptian Theatre) at the historic Egyptian Theatre. The schedule ranges from retrospectives to filmmaker tributes.
5. It’s a Wrap!
3315 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank • 818-567-7366 • www.itsawraphollywood.com
Much of the clothing worn by actors ends up here. There are bargains galore, and each item sports a tag identifying the show it appeared on.
6. TMZ Hollywood Tour
6925 Hollywood Blvd • 855-486-9868 • Tours: check website for timings • Adm • www.tmz.com/tour
This two-hour, open-air bus tour is run by the TV show, TMZ. Guides are poised to spot celebrities and interview them on the street. An edgy, fast look at current hot star hangouts.
7. Sony Pictures Studio Tour
10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City • 310-244-8687 • Tours: call for schedule, reservations required • Adm
This giant movie lot was the historic home of the famous MGM, producer of well-known classics such as The Wizard of Oz, until purchased by Sony in 1990. The two-hour walking tour may include a visit to the set of the game show Jeopardy.
8. Paramount Pictures Studio Tour
5555 Melrose Ave • 323-956-1777 • Adm • www.paramountstudiotour.com
See the famous New York backlot and learn about the history of this working movie studio on a two-hour tour. Reservations required.
Paramount Pictures Studio entrance
9. Margaret Herrick Library
333 S La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills • 310-247-3000 • Open 10am–6pm Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–8pm Tue • ID required
It’s easy to get lost in this repository of movie-related books and publications, operated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
10. Audiences Unlimited
A great way to see stars live is to be part of a studio audience. This organization handles the distribution of free tickets to live tapings, mainly of game shows and sitcoms. Book early for the best selection. Tickets are available online 30 days ahead.
TOP 10 LA SCANDALS
1. Fatty Arbuckle
The silent-era funnyman was charged with the murder of actress Virginia Rappe in 1921, thus ending his career.
Fatty Arbuckle’s police headshot
2. Errol Flynn
He was charged with statutory rape in 1942.
3. Lana Turner
The actress’s mobster lover was found stabbed to death in her house in 1958. Her teenage daughter took the blame.
4. Sharon Tate
Tate, 8½ months pregnant, was among the victims of the Charles Manson murders in 1969.
5. John Belushi
A drug overdose ended this Blues Brother’s life at age 33 in 1982 at the Chateau Marmont Hotel.
6. O. J. Simpson
The football star was cleared of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in 1994.
7. Heidi Fleiss
Fleiss ran an elite call-girl racket and received 37 months in jail in 1997.
8. Bill Cosby
In 2018, he was sentenced to prison for aggravated indecent assault. More than 50 women have accused him of similar sexual misconduct.
9. Hugh Grant
Caught in a sexual act with a prostitute in his car, he was given two years’ probation and a fine in 1995.
10. Harvey Weinstein
Weinstein was expelled from the Academy of Motion Pictures and sent to prison in 2018 after more than 80 women accused him of sexual assault and rape.
