Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Eye on L.A. stopped by the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theatre which has been a cornerstone of Hollywood for over 75 years. Designed by master showman Sid Grauman, the theatre is world famous for its celebrity hand and footprints along Hollywood Boulevard - with about 4 million visitors a year. Inside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, you'll find an Asian-inspired space with statues and an impressive mural filled with history and Old Hollywood stories. Grauman's Chinese is the most sought after theatre for movie premieres and almost every major movie star has been here. [Watch video]
Old Hollywood Photographer Roger James
Glamour was one of Hollywood's most precious commodities in its Golden Era and we stepped back in time with Old Hollywood Style photographer Roger James. James recreates the classic Hollywood concept of glamour, elegance and sophistication for the men and women who want to experience what it was like to be photographed as a movie star during Hollywood's heyday. A photo session with Roger James runs about $500. [Watch video]
Hollywood Tower Hotel
Eye on L.A. visited the Hollywood Tower Hotel, which was a favorite destination for stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Humphrey Bogart. Today, the Hollywood landmark has maintained its original charm and now it's a hotspot for aspiring actors and models. The Hollywood Tower Hotel is not a hotel, but is actually an apartment building. [Watch video]
Griffith Observatory
Eye on L.A. took a look around the best place to see the real stars high above the Hollywood Hills. A celebrity in its own right, the Griffith Observatory has appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows, including James Dean's "Rebel Without a Cause." [Watch video]
Iconic Buildings in Los Angeles
Eye on L.A. visited some of the iconic buildings and structures throughout L.A., including the historic St. Vibiana's 19th century cathedral, mining millionaire Lewis Bradbury's architectural masterpiece and the famous Watts Towers folk art structure. [Watch video]
The Magic Castle
Eye on L.A. got a private tour of the exclusive, members-only magician club, The Magic Castle. The Magic Castle is the world's most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts and home to The Academy of Magical Arts. The Magic Castle features 13 performance areas, five bars and a restaurant that seats 150, and is the showplace for some of the greatest magicians from around the globe. Built in 1908, this storied mansion has watched Hollywood grow and change for almost 100 years while never losing its original charm. [Watch video]
The Houdini Estate
Eye on L.A. checked out one of L.A.'s most renowned properties, steeped in local urban legend, the Houdini Estate is reputed to be the former home of legendary magician Harry Houdini. After a fire in the late '50s, the estate fell into ruin and was known to be the home of Houdini's ghost amongst generations of L.A. high schoolers. Today the Laurel Canyon hillside compound has been transformed into something truly magical. Featuring dramatic waterfalls fed by a natural mineral spring, century-old palms and other exotic trees, canyon views, hiking trails, pool, spa, BBQ patio, seven gazebos, terraced gardens, koi pond, and parking for 50 cars, it's become a revered destination for charity events, film and fashion shoots and vacation rentals. [Watch video]
The Hollywood Bowl
Celebrating 90 years, the Hollywood Bowl is an iconic venue to picnic and enjoy outstanding music under the stars. Throughout the summer, the L.A. Philharmonic presents the best in jazz, classical, Broadway, and world music, featuring artists that range from Sarah Chang to Diana Krall, John Williams to Pet Shop Boys, and Nancy Wilson to Arcade Fire. The Bowl is the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. [Watch video]
The Capitol Records Building
Eye on L.A. was given a rare tour of the iconic Capitol Records Building. A beacon in the music industry, the building, which looks like a stack of records on a turntable, was built in 1956 and was the first round building in the world. Frank Sinatra was the first artist to record in its studios. Since then, musical legends like Barbra Streisand and Nat King Cole, and some of today's biggest artists have recorded here. It's an historic landmark recognized around the world for its unique building and for its underground echo chambers created by legendary guitarist Les Paul. Capital was the first record company based on the West Coast. The building is not open to the public. [Watch video]
The Jim Henson Company Studios
Eye on L.A. stopped by the iconic Jim Henson Company Studios in Hollywood. The historic lot was once a motion picture studio belonging to silent movie star Charlie Chaplin. Over the years, the property served as the shooting location for the "Adventures of Superman" and "Perry Mason" television series, as the Red Skelton Studios and headquarters for A&M Records, where "We Are the World" was recorded, before being purchased by the Henson Company in 1999. The studios are not open to the public, however, once a year, attendees of the Farscape Convention are allowed on the property. [Watch video]
The Jim Morrison "Love Street" House
Just behind the legendary Laurel Canyon Country Store is what the Doors frontman referred to as "Love Street," the former apartment-turned Chateau style home where Jim Morrison and girlfriend Pam Courson lived. This is where Morrison wrote the album "Waiting for the Sun" and is also where Pam and Jim had some of their epic fights, chronicled in the Oliver Stone film, "The Doors." [Watch video]
Fred Segal
Eye on L.A. visited L.A.'s most iconic fashion boutique and celeb hot spot Fred Segal, which just celebrated 50 years of the brand. In an exclusive interview with Fred Segal himself, we learned how his designs began a fashion revolution, making jeans and fabrics like silk and satin all the rage amongst the A-list celebrity set. The unique Santa Monica location features approximately 40 mini boutiques, including men's, women's and children's clothing and accessories, a floral shop, salon and spa, and the popular cafe, Umami Burger. [Watch video]
See the complete list of all of the places featured on this week's episode.
[Original air date: April 2, 2011]
