The Story of Hollywood's Jealous Co-Star

Eric Jaffe writes of an article appearing in the January issue of the Journal of Urban History in which the forgotten story of a time when Hollywood's jealous co-star tried to claim her throne is re-told.

1 minute read

January 23, 2012, 8:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Apparently there's a good reason why Hollywood is the only neighborhood in Los Angeles with official boundaries. As the story goes, Hollywood's rival was Culver City, a neighboring community with an inferiority complex, that claimed more than 30 percent of motion pictures credited to Hollywood were, in fact, produced in Culver City.

The climax of the rivalry came on June 6, 1937 when Culver City's Chamber of Commerce passed a vote to officially change the city's name to Hollywood and prepared a petition for voters.

"Ultimately the city of Los Angeles stepped in to settle the contest once and for all. On September 20, the city passed an ordinance establishing the legal boundaries for Hollywood...[and] in October, representatives from both Hollywood and Culver City took part in a reconciliation ceremony - arriving at Grauman's Chinese in a "gilded coach drawn by four white horses," Stephanie Frank, the article's author, reports.

Friday, January 20, 2012 in The Atlantic Cities

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Rendering of wildlife crossing over 101 freeway in Los Angeles County.

World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County

Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.

April 15, 2024 - LAist

Workers putting down asphalt on road.

U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause

A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.

April 18, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Row of yellow Pacers Bikeshare bikes at station in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indy Bikeshare System Turns 10, Expands to E-Bikes

Pacers Bikeshare riders logged over 700,000 rides since the system launched in 2014.

54 minutes ago - Indy Today

Aeriel view of white sheep grazing on green grass between rows of solar panels.

Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US

The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.

1 hour ago - Columbus Dispatch

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

New York’s Deadliest Neighborhoods for Pedestrians

Pedestrian deaths rose last year, but remain below pre-2020 levels.

2 hours ago - PIX 11

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.