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.
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Daeida "Ida" and H. H. Wilcox |
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.
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Toyon plant |
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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.
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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.”
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The Count of Monte Cristo, Selig Production, 1908 |
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.
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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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