Hollywood: History of American Cinema – Educational Reading Text

HOLLYWOOD
Hollywood is the name of a Los Angeles district which appeared in 1910 and it
also stands for American cinematography. It’s part of the American entertainment
industry aimed at amusing, educating and giving public what it wants. American
cinema was born in the East when “Patent Cinema Company” was formed in 1908.
It included 8 cinema-making films. Those who did not go into this company went to
the West. The ‘independent’ producers soon made half of the American movies, the
number of film companies in California was growing. In the 20s the American film
industry blossomed. Producers needed more money and American banks readily
gave money as movie brought big profits. Producers grew more and more
dependent on businessmen. Unknown actors could become famous in a day, poor
people became rich all of a sudden and Hollywood became the ‘town where all
dreams come true’.
The 20s saw Hollywood as the centre of the movie industry with a world-wide
market. The production of films began in Hollywood in the late 20s and resulted in
building huge sound stages many of which are used even now.
Hollywood helps to create the ‘American Dream’ and to convince people that
the American way of life is the ideal one. In the beginning movies were like a
dream giving an escape from reality and showing that longing for happiness and
success could be fulfilled.
The fate of a movie often depends on advertisement. Before the release, grand
shows, parties with big stars, interviews are organized. At the same time in the 80s
more than 1/3 of American actors were unemployed. The star system is also
cultivated because it gives big profits. A star is a kind of goods that can be bought
and sold. Everything, including stars’ private lives, is used by managers to build up
their public image. A star must compete with other stars, a star must always be in
good form. Not everybody can stand the stress and strain of stardom. Nervous
breakdowns are a commonplace phenomenon in Hollywood.
Stars are often used mercilessly and are forced to appear in weak films, as
they have signed a contract with the studio. The contracts are signed for several
years and stars have no right to appear in films made by other studios. As a
reaction to this already in 1913 M. Pickford, D. Fairbanks, Ch. Chaplin, B. Hart
founded their own company “United Artists”.
In the 50s several actors became producers – Lancaster, Douglas, Waine,
Sinatra, Grant. Stars demonstrated their ability to be independent. In 1969 B.
Streisand, Sidney Poitiers, Paul Newman founded their own association “First
Artists”. Later Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman joined them. They decided to
work without pay, to make movies using set budgets and then to divide the profits
equally.
One of the greatest events in Hollywood is the annual presentation of an
Oscar, the legendary figurine which is the highest award of the American Cinema
Academy. This organization was founded in 1927. Its aim was to further the
development of cinematography. Every year in February the American press
publishes the titles of films which have been chosen for the competition. On the
presentation day there is a magnificent show in the Los Angeles Music Centre.
Awards are given to the best actor, to the best actress, for the best script, for
music, etc. Foreign films also participate in the competition. Soviet films “War and
Peace” and “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears” have been awarded Oscars by the
American Cinema Academy. Another tradition is the ceremony of leaving one’s
footprints in the pavement in front of the Chinese Theatre. Some actors consider it
too pompous and do not accept the invitation for the ceremony.
HOLLYWOOD
Hollywood was once all farmland. By 1910, however, filmmakers began
moving there. Southern California’s climate was perfect for shooting movies year
round. And the area had settings for just about any movie – it had mountains,
desert and ocean. Soon Hollywood came to mean ‘the American film industry’.
Today, of the major studios, only Paramount is still in Hollywood. If you go to
Hollywood looking for glamour and movie stars, you’ll probably be disappointed.
Downtown Hollywood looks somewhat run-down, and the stars are nowhere to be
found. But then you’ll get over your disappointment: Hollywood is no longer what it
once was, but it still feels like Hollywood.
In Hollywood you can see two great theatres, where many movies premiered:
Pantages Theater and Mann’s Chinese. Mann’s Chinese is famous for its cement
courtyard with footprints and handprints of stars who were in – and at! – movies
the theater showed. (People say the tradition started when the theater first opened
and an actress in the movie being premiered accidentally stepped in the still-wet
cement.)
Even if you can’t see the stars, you can see many things associated with them.
Hollywood souvenir shops are filled with autographs, old movie posters, costumes
and stills. Stills are photos of scenes from movies. You can go on a tour, for
example, the unusual Grave Line Tour. On this tour, you will travel in a hearse, the
vehicle that usually takes the dead to the grave. The hearse will take you to places
where celebrities died.
Hollywood even gives visitors a chance to become stars – on TV game shows.
Several shows are based in Hollywood, and visitors can audition, or try out, to be
game show participants!