Hollywood, USA

During the first few decades of the movies, many films would end with the words "Filmed in Hollywood, USA". Tim Burton even used this at the end of his Ed Wood biopic. This started me thinking that Hollywood is not just a myth or an idea or an industry, it's also a place. I should know, because I live there. It's not a real city; technically it's just a neighborhood of Los Angeles. In fact, as many of you are doubtless aware, it began as a real estate development. Eventually, what had started as a hillside billboard was transformed into a cultural icon. The funny thing is, in spite of it's worldwide fame, not that many people live in Hollywood proper, and that's what this whole thing is about. Since I am currently employed by a celebrity obsessed cable network, there will be occasional talk about the "industry", but what I'm really aiming for is to give some idea of what it's like to actually inhabit the streets of "Hollywood, USA". The title of this is a nod to Budd Schulberg, who God bless him, is still alive.