Sunday, January 12, 2025

How Hollywood Got Her Name in Lights

 By Kathy Kovach

 

Like it or not, Hollywood has become entrenched in American culture. From her humble agricultural beginnings to the glitz and glamor we know of today.

Even the little ingénue of a town had to start somewhere. This is her story.
Daeida "Ida" and H. H. Wilcox
She started out in 1853 as an adobe hut, plain but functional. Over the next few years, she developed into a thriving farming community and became known as the Cahuenga Valley, accessorized with fig and apricot trees. But like many starlets, she had other dreams and aspirations. It wasn’t easy for her. She had to pay her dues. Her first real development happened in 1883 at the hands of Harvey Henry Wilcox, a politician and real estate developer from Topeka, Kansas, who bought 120 acres to try his hand at ranching. The source of the name is shrouded in myth, but many a successful icon has a mysterious past.
Some say Hollywood got her name from Harvey’s second wife, Daeida, aka “Ida”, taking inspiration from the bushes in the area. They were thought to be holly but were actually toyon, otherwise known as the Christmas Berry or California Holly.
Toyon plant

American Holly plant
Or, Ida may have received inspiration for the name after attending mass at Holy Wood of the Cross. Another thought was that she learned of the name from a wealthy landowner from Ohio whom she met on a train. Ida became so enamored with the name of his estate, Hollywood, that she encouraged Harvey to put the name on the subdivision map. Wherever the name originated, one cannot deny the worldwide appeal.
Excuse me. Did you say subdivision? Yes, it appears that Harvey Wilcox was not great at raising fruit, so he decided to put his real estate skills to use and subdivide the area into lots at $1000 a pop. With this development, our girl Hollywood was well on her way.
H. J. Whitley
Finally, by the turn of the century, someone came along and saw her potential. By this time, Hollywood had become a pretty little town, complete with a post office, hotel, livery, and a street car. Banker and real estate mogul H. J. Whitley opened the Hollywood Hotel, on the site which became the Dolby Theater that now hosts the annual Oscars Ceremony. He also developed an upscale neighborhood called Ocean View Tract, financed the building of a bank, and was ultimately responsible for electricity to be brought into the area. As a result, Whitley became known as “The Father of Hollywood.”
The Count of Monte Cristo, Selig Production, 1908
Soon to become a shining star, Hollywood was incorporated in 1903 and merged with Los Angeles in 1910. Testing her acting chops, a movie that began production in Chicago moved to Hollywood and completed filming in 1908, entitled The Count of Monte Cristo. She reached her full potential at the appearance of the first movie studio in 1911, and by 1915, she was courted by many major motion picture studios relocating from the East Coast.
Hollywood’s allure included the mild California weather and diverse terrain. She became a success story and went on to achieve full stardom.

Stay tuned as we dive into the highs and lows of what would soon become The Golden Age of Hollywood.

***
When I chose this topic, the fires in Southern California had not yet happened. As of this writing, the Pacific Palisades Fire has been the most devastating with the Sunset Fire affecting many Hollywood landmarks, however, that fire has been 100% contained. The Dolby Theater, which I mentioned in the article, was in the evacuation zone. Please join me in praying for the victims, their animals, and their property.


A TIME-SLIP NOVEL

A secret. A key. Much was buried on the Titanic, but now it's time for resurrection.


Follow two intertwining stories a century apart. 1912 - Matriarch Olive Stanford protects a secret after boarding the Titanic that must go to her grave. 2012 - Portland real estate agent Ember Keaton-Jones receives the key that will unlock the mystery of her past... and her distrusting heart.
To buy: Amazon


Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother and a great-grandmother—though much too young for either. Kathleen has been a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.




1 comment:

  1. Thank you for posting today. God's timing is amazing. We surely must pray for this area. Happy New Year to you and your family.

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