New (and Renewed) Faces On the Block

Hollywood's revitalization didn't come about by accident. The result of continuing efforts by various parties from concerned citizens to local government officials to investors and advertisers, Hollywoodís resurgence is being powered by major funding, a savvy marketing campaign and good, old-fashioned hard work.

Since the past decade or so, new developments have been popping up and old establishments have been getting facelifts. Hollywood, California lofts are now on the same block as a wide assortment of entertainment, dining and shopping venues. A short walk from Hollywood, California lofts like The Broadway Hollywood, youíll find everything from a Coffee Bean to a Virgin Megastore.

For years, Hollywoodís famed grand theaters, such as the El Capitan and the Egyptian, had been struggling to keep their doors open. Then, in 1989, the Walt Disney Company began a complete restoration of the El Capitan Theatre, which had opened in 1926 as ìHollywoodís First Home of Spoken Drama. The El Capitan would reopen, fully restored to its former glory, in 1991.

The Egyptian Theatre, another major landmark and Hollywoodís first ever glam movie palace, would also undergo renovations. After years of neglect, it would reopen its long-closed doors in 1999, serving as the new home of the American Cinematheque. One by one, Hollywoodís historic buildings and theaters have been restored, renovated and revamped, bringing the luster back to an entertainment district that had long been forgotten.

The biggest development in the neighborhood, however, has to be the Hollywood & Highland Center. Incorporating old features with new, the complex sprawls over 387,000 square feet and has become one of the top destinations in all of L.A. Right across the El Capitan, itís anchored by an expansive three-story courtyard built along the same monumental lines as D.W. Griffithís Intolerance. Within the complex are retail stores, restaurants, studios, a 637-room hotel and two Hollywood architectural and entertainment icons: Graumanís Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre, permanent home of the Academy Awards.