Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [60]
Become a Seat Filler – Savor the excitement of glitzy award shows like the Daytime Emmies, American Music Awards and People’s Choice Awards. Empty seats don’t look good on TV, so seat fillers get to put their butts in unclaimed chairs or to keep one warm while an audience member (possibly a star) takes a potty break. For the complete low down, see www.seatfiller.com or www.tvtickets.com/seatfillers.
Become an Extra – If you’d like to see yourself on screen, check with Be In a Movie (www.beinamovie.com) on how to become an extra in a big crowd scene at major film shoots. The company’s supplied the masses for Seabiscuit, The Doors and Anger Management, to name a few. There’s no money in it for you, but the behind-the-scenes experience and chance of seeing a big star live and in person should make you a hit back home at the office watercooler.
Become a Game Show Contestant – Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are among the game shows that tape in LA, but the chances of actually becoming a contestant are greatest on The Price is Right, now hosted by Drew Carey and taped at CBS. Check www.cbs.com/daytime/price for ticket details.
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HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL
Great architecture, rich history and delicious gossip rendezvous at this venerable hotel (Map; 323-466-7000; www.hollywoodroosevelt.com; 7000 Hollywood Blvd; admission free; 24hr), where the first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929. Following a complete makeover, it’s again firmly on the radar of tabloid regulars, who can often be spotted tucking into Kobe burgers at the insanely pricey Dakota steakhouse or misbehaving poolside at the velvet-rope Tropicana Bar. Back in her day, glamazon Marilyn Monroe shot her first print ad (for suntan lotion) posing on the diving board of said pool, the bottom of which was later decorated with squiggles by artist David Hockney. And while we’re name-dropping: actor Montgomery Clift, who stayed in room 928 while filming From Here to Eternity, apparently never checked out; his ghost can still be heard pacing and playing the bugle. The Roosevelt itself has made movie appearances aplenty, including in Catch Me If You Can and Charlie’s Angels. Click here for a review of the hotel.
EL CAPITAN THEATRE
Spanish Colonial meets East Indian at the flamboyant El Capitan (Map; 323-467-7674; http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan; 6838 Hollywood Blvd) movie palace built for live performances in 1926 and now run by Disney. The first flick to show here was Citizen Kane in 1941 and it’s still a fine place to catch a movie. Before or after the show, peruse the museum-style exhibits in the lobby related to the current release. Kids love the colorful Disney Soda Fountain downstairs. See also Click here.
EGYPTIAN THEATRE
The Egyptian (Map; 323-466-3456; www.egyptiantheatre.com; 6712 Hollywood Blvd), the first of the grand movie palaces on Hollywood Blvd, premiered Robin Hood in 1922. The theater’s lavish getup – complete with sunburst ceiling, hieroglyphs and sphinx heads – capitalized on the craze for all things Egyptian sparked by the discoveries of archaeologist Howard Carter. (Contrary to popular belief, though, the Egyptian actually opened before Carter stumbled upon King Tut’s tomb). In its heyday, it had live caged monkeys and usherettes dressed like Cleopatra.
The Egyptian got a royal makeover in the late 1990s and became a shrine to serious cinema when the nonprofit American Cinematheque moved in Click here. Ask about upcoming tours (adult/child & senior $7/5).
HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM
The museums on Hollywood Blvd generally fall into the tourist-trap category, but we quite like the slightly musty Hollywood Museum (Map; 323-464-7776; www.thehollywoodmuseum.com; 1660 N Highland Ave; adult/student & senior $15/12; 10am-5pm Wed-Sun). It’s a convoluted temple to the stars, crammed with kitsch, posters, costumes and rotating props from both classic films and the latest