Hollywood, the Dream Factory

Filmmakers fled west for the light and the distance from Edison's patents — and built an industry. Silent film, the studios, the sign, and the city that became cinema itself.

Part of Los Angeles

33 moments in this segment.

1. 1880 — Clocktower (Temple) Courthouse, Market and Theater 4. Los Angeles, 1880. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
2. 1895 — Hollywood looking north-northeast from Olive Hill (Barnsdall Park), Hollywood, 1895. Los Angeles, 1895. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
3. 1898 — Orpheum Theatre when located at the former Grand Opera House, 110 S. Main, Los Angeles, …. Los Angeles, 1898. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
4. 1906 — Exterior view of the Hollywood Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library (the Norman F. M…. Los Angeles, 1906. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
5. 1910 — Ramona (1910) — D.W. Griffith silent short. An early film shot in the LA area.
6. 1915 — Early days in Hollywood, 1910s (archive). Silent-era footage of the new film colony.
7. 1916 — MGM Studios. Los Angeles, 1916. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
8. 1917 — Camouflage - Wooden Guns - Movie men, camoufleurs. Dummy gun, camouflaged by movie men, …. Los Angeles, 1917. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
9. 1918 — Chaplin meets Harry Lauder — rare archival footage. Behind-the-scenes film of the silent-era star.
10. 1919 — Charlie Chaplin — "A Day’s Pleasure" (1919). A Chaplin short from the silent era.
11. 1919 — Chaplin & Maxine Elliott — rare archival footage. Rare film of Chaplin in his Hollywood prime.
12. 1919 — North Hollywood Pacific Electric Car Station, 1919 (LAVC15). Los Angeles, 1919. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
13. 1921 — California Theatre, 810 S. Main St., Los Angeles, c.1921. Los Angeles, 1921. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
14. 1922 — Cahuenga Pass Hollywood. Los Angeles, 1922. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
15. 1925 — Hollywood & Cahuenga (1920s). The young film capital in the Roaring Twenties.
16. 1930 — Albert Kothe and his Ford Model A at Hollywoodland Sign. Los Angeles, 1930. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
17. 1930 — Columbia Broadcasting System at night, Radio City, Hollywood, Calif. Los Angeles, 1930. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
18. 1935 — Publicity at Hollywood dog training school, Southern California, 1935. Los Angeles, 1935. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
19. 1940 — Los Feliz Brown Derby postcard. Los Angeles, 1940. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
20. 1950 — Sunset Boulevard (1950). Billy Wilder’s noir about Hollywood itself.
21. 1952 — Brown Derby on Wilshire 1952. Los Angeles, 1952. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
22. 1960 — Hollywood Plaza Hotel pool. Los Angeles, 1960. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
23. 1963 — Hollywood Plaza Hotel coffee shop. Los Angeles, 1963. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
24. 1965 — The Hollywood dream, 1965 (vintage LA). Vintage 1965 footage curated by Alison Martino.
25. 1965 — Hollywood in 1965 (British Pathé). British Pathé colour film of Hollywood, 1965.
26. 1966 — The Sunset Strip in the 1960s (vintage footage). The Strip at the height of its rock-and-roll era.
27. 1967 — The Brown Derby (Kodachrome, c.1950). The hat-shaped restaurant where Hollywood ate. This photograph dates from 1967.
28. 1967 — Sunset Boulevard, 1967. Archive footage of the boulevard.
29. 1972 — HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY - NARA - 542684. Los Angeles, 1972. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
30. 1983 — Hollywood Sign. Los Angeles, 1983. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
31. 2011 — Hollywood Hills view from Jefferson Park. Los Angeles, 2011. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
32. 2011 — Mutual of Omaha building and Hollywood sign. Los Angeles, 2011. From the Wikimedia Commons historical-photo collections.
33. 2026-06-19 — Chaplin filmed in an LA park, 100+ years ago. Original footage of Chaplin shooting in Los Angeles.