Holy crap, I lived off Hollywood and Van Ness for YEARS! Not quite so close to the Pantages as you, but still walking distance! I used to walk all up and down the boulevard, even walked to and from my place when I went clubbing! Which seems completely insane now.
Ah, so you were down by the 101 Freeway (Made famous in song as "Ventura Highway" by the rock group America). I used that freeway to go back to my base. I traveled on it quite a bit and it really was spectacular.
I used to walk up and down the boulevard a lot, too. Those were amazing days. I loved the shops and all the old movie memorabilia. And there were two great comic stores in the area: The Golden Apple on Melrose and The American Comic Book Company in Studio City. As someone who grew up loving classic movies and comics it was fair to say I was in heaven.
True story for people who love sci-fi. On June 4th, 1982, I saw Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Poltergeist on the same day! I saw Star Trek at the Chinese theater and then walked down to the Pacific near Hollywood and Vine to see Poltergeist. And then, just three weeks later I saw Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and John Carpenter's The Thing, again both on the same day. Same two theaters.
Later that summer I saw Paul McCartney and Wings play at the Hollywood Bowl. What was really special about that night was Jack Kirby being in the audience. Yes, that Jack Kirby. The Fantastic Four Silver Surfer Thor Hulk X-Men Jack Kirby. The King. About halfway through his set, Paul said that they had a special guest in attendance and they asked Jack to stand up. Then they played Magneto and the Titanium Man! While they were playing there were Marvel Comics graphics on the screen behind them. My girlfriend whispered "You're like a geek magnet" and I had to laugh. I agreed with her. A month later I drove to San Diego for the first time to attend my first comic con. I saw Jack again and wanted to ask him about the concert but I was too nervous and shy. As far as I was concerned I was a peasant in the presence of royalty. I did ask him about that night a few years later and he said it was something he'll never forget. Me neither.
I loved my time in Hollywood. I just loved it. It was like I was living in a weird dream. I'd walk into the Roosevelt Hotel and imagine Shirley Temple tap dancing down the stairs. When I used the restroom at the Brown Derby or Musso and Franks I'd wonder if John Wayne, Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart used the same urinal. Honest to God. That's the way my mind works.
So Ace, the next time you're walking on Hollywood Boulevard and see Fleetwood Mac's star on the walk of fame, know that I was there the day they were honored with it. The same with the Three Stooges. Their star is on Vine Street right between Hollywood and Sunset and right across the street from the Merv Griffin theater. I have no idea if that theater is still there or not but there was a huge crowd that day for the Stooges. One of the largest to ever attend a star ceremony I was told.
The next time I make it up that way I'll DM you. If you're not busy maybe we can do lunch. We can swap Hollywood stories.
