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Hollywood Then and Now: Looking For What's Left of the Silent Screen Locations in L.A.
The Music Box Steps (Andy Sternberg/LAist)
Inspired by the popularity of the Academy Award-nominated film "The Artist," the Associated Press takes a look at the remnants of the Silent Screen Era in Los Angeles. "Hollywood was truly the Wild West, infinitely more accessible than now," they explain, noting that because the industry had moved out here, they made use of whatever locations they found, often turning them into whatever they needed.
Compiling a list of spots still standing that were used in silent films from nearly a century ago, Angelenos and our city's movie buff visitors can roam about town to see these cinematically significant places. From the famous Downtown building from which Harold Lloyd famously dangled on the hands of a clock (at 908 S. Broadway; the clock isn't there, though) to, naturally, the Laurel & Hardy "Music Box" steps (we profiled the park that's there), there's still vestiges of Chaplin, Keaton, and the rest of the stars to be found.
Warm up with a look at films like "Hard Luck," "The Kid," and "Safety Last," and then head out to find those long-ago locations today.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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