Welcome to Los Angeles, also called LA. It's the second largest
American city. LA is famous for one of its suburbs, Hollywood, which is
the capital of world movie production. A lot of famous stars have
been through the gates of these studios.
Most celebrities' homes
are in Beverly Hills, an area near^A. If there is one city that is even more beautiful and glamorous
than Beverly Hills, it's Malibu, known for its beautiful beach. Here
celebrities can look at the ocean from the windows of their
multi-million-dollar homes.
You are unlikely
to spot a star from the window of your car or a tourist bus.
You may
have more luck on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills where the expensive shops
are.
Or try Hollywood Boulevard, with its world-famous
movie theaters like Mann's Chinese Theater, the Egyptian Theater and the
3,300-seat Kodak Theater, where the Oscars take place. Every year,
usually in February, celebrities are sure to come for the most important
event in show biz: Oscar Night. You'll be surprised to find out that the "red carpet"
area that leads to the Kodak Theatre is actually a huge shopping mall
called Hollywood and Highland, which is full of shops and restaurants.
If
you missed the Oscars, you're unlikely to see any celebrities on an
ordinary day, but don't leave Hollywood Boulevard in a hurry. Look down
at your feet and you'll see bronze stars set in the sidewalk. Look
closer and you'll be able to read the names of the people who made
Hollywood famous: film directors, producers, camera operators, actors
and actresses, and musicians. It's the Walk of Fame, the most unusual
monument to talent and success in the world. The tradition started in
the late 1950s and now there are more than 2,500 stars in the sidewalk.
If
you don't look down, Hollywood Boulevard looks like an ordinary street.
There are no architectural masterpieces, it's not very clean and it's
full of little souvenir shops.