Even our children in the street know the name of Hollywood. During my childhood days- period 1940-45 – myself and my cousin used to visit Ramakrishna Theater at Trichy to see English Films. Those days stunt films were popular especially Errol Flynn, Joan Caves, Nadia etc.
On those Ticket was priced at 1.5 Anna ( 16 Anna's make one rupee ) We saw jungle book featuring the Indian boy- Mysore Sabu.
20th Century Fox, Metro Goldwin Mayer, Warner Bros were all popular names. At the beginning one lion will roar-that is Hollywood Picture for us.
During my visit to America I had opportunity to visit Hollywood. They have preserved the settings and place of films made in those days. I saw the Cow Boy set up, the streets etc and the recent films like Jaws, Earth Quake and Maecenas Gold.
In Hollywood it is worth to see the universal Studios-a city with in a city. I saw more than 50 Stages for shooting films by various producers and for each stage was equipped fully for the film to be produced.
On a mountain top there are two tiers . In the upper tier universal studios sell the vintage photos of ester years actors and actresses, souvenirs, Terminator 3-D souvenirs, Famous Animals who acted in may films, cameras, cartoon items etc
In the lower tier shopping complex, food parlors etc to cater to the visitors.
There is a theme parks where daily many shows are held. Some of them are:
1. Back Draft: Live show of how they shot many thrilling films- Volcano came pouring on us at 10,000 degree heat- a wonderful experience.
2. Jurassic park: You can see the Dinosaurs attacking and a man falls from 84 feet in motor cycle.
3. Water world: Very big water gushing from dam and at 10,000 degree heat a boat piercing through it.
4. E.T.SO. Terminator 2:3D: Mummy returns:Fearful Ghosts and hell where the man is tortured by mummies.
5. Animal World: Thrilling show by Dogs, Birds and monkeys.
The tour ends by taking us in tram car to see the old places where pictures like Cow Boys-streets, carts etc. The place where the picture-Three Musketeers shot. Also shown to us the real Earth Quake and how it was shot-one side the helicopter crashing and another side huge fire balls roaring and falling on us.
The sea in which the giant Whale in Jaws coming towards us was reenacted for us. The whale is made of fiber glass and the actual man is a dummy-Think about how they shot which looked very real.
Hollywood and History:
The biggest and best development in 20th and 21st century is Cinema and Hollywood contribution is tremendous and has given to us many famous films from 1934 and famous Actors and Actresses. Some of them are:
Shirley Temple, Betty Garble, Melvyn Monroe, Tyron Power, Henry Vonda, Gregory Beck etc from Century Films.
Bing Crosby, Clark Cable, Garry Cooper, Lancaster, Greg Douglas etc from paramount Studios.
Humpy Bogart, Betty Davis, Errol Flynn from Warner Bros.
Some finest films from Hollywood:
1. Gone with the wind.
2. Casablanca.
3. Bicycle Thief.
4. Panther Paschalis.
5. Aparajitha.
6. From here to eternity.
7. on the water front.
8. A star is born.
9. A bridge in the river Kwan.
10. A witness to the Prosecution.
11. Dr Shiva go.
12. Coco.
13. Last Supper.
14. French Connection.
15. M.A.SO.HE.
16. God Father.
17. Exorcist.
18. China Town.
19. Jaws.
20. Taxi Driver.
21Lost Emperor.
Hollywood history can be divided into different periods:
1. Silent movie.
2. Talkie.
3. Color Film.
4. Cinemascope.
5. 3 D
6. Star War & Computer graphics.
The latest development is IMAX-Image Maximum Screen. The length is 21-meter, height 15 meter ( 64 x 48 feet ) 6- channel digital sound and 10 times bigger than 35mm film and 15,000 watts projection light.
I.Jagannathan.
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