The Hollywood neighborhood emerged as a small village in the late 19^th century and was incorporated as its own municipality in 1903. But for most people in the world, “Hollywood” is synonymous with the commercial American film, which established itself there first in an area that came to be known as "Gower Gulch."

Before Hollywood emerged as a film-making hub, various companies produced films around the country – especially in Chicago, Florida, California and especially New York. In Los Angeles, the first filming was done by Thomas Edison’s company around 1898 on South Spring Street, in Downtown.In 1909, William Selig and actor director Francis Boggs moved their company, Selig Polyscope Co, to the Edendale neighborhood (in what’s now Echo Park). Bronx Films, Fox Film Corporation, French & Forman, Keystone Studios, New York Motion Picture Company, Norbig Film Company, The Pathé West Coast Film Company, Reaguer Productions, Western Arts, Westwood Productions, and other studios followed, in the process turning Edendale into the capital of American film production, taking the title from New York City in 1915.

This first-ever Sunset & Dine event on June 7th will be a community celebration of the amazing food, art, and businesses located in the Sunset & Vine Business Improvement District in Hollywood.

Held at Academy Hollywood, the brand new outdoor movie amphitheater at AMPAS's (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) Pickford Center (Vine & Delongpre), the $20 admission gets you access to beer and wine, food from local restaurants, and an art exhibition of pole banner designs created by students at Helen Bernstein High School (HBHS). The top four winning designs will be turned into actual street pole banners to be installed throughout Hollywood. All proceeds from the event will benefit the HBHS art department.

The new Oscars Outdoors venue.

Running from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. we encourage everyone to come out and support this new spot in the heart of Hollywood. Stop by the Amoeba booth and say hello!

Academy Hollywood
6322 Delongpre Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90028

Thursday, June 7, 2012 - 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Starting June 15th, AMPAS is holding Oscars Outdoors, film screenings Friday and Saturday nights through August 18th at the new outdoor amphitheater in Hollywood. They'll kick off the series with Casablanca (1942) on June 15th. Gates at 6pm, screenings begin at sunset. $5 general admission, $3 for Academy members and students.

Ever since word of the 2012 remake of the 1990 movie Total Recall (starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, and Bryan Cranston) began circulating via various publicity vehicles including the above movie trailer, it begged (no screamed) the question, why? Why, Hollywood? Why do you need to remake already well-made movies like this one? The original Total Recall, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, and Ronny Cox, and loosely based on the 1966 Philip K Dick short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, was made only 22 years ago and was just fine to begin with...better than fine in fact since any movie strong enough to distract from Arnold's poor acting is one very good movie!  Additionally, it is not like the original Total Recall was a foreign language film that needed an English language/Americanized version. Of course that excuse for remaking foreign language films based on the premise that Americans won't read subtitles is ridiculous anyway, but even so why not simply dub foreign movies into English for Stateside release? The rest of the world sits through American blockbusters dubbed in their native tongue, so why not the other way around?

Already, movie fans - all of whom have not seen the new version - are slamming the remake saying that Hollywood should have left well enough alone. Meanwhile, the new movie's makers contend that Total Recall Version 2012 is not simply a straight remake; it alters the storyline, leaving out all the Mars scenes and adding more of a modern era international political backdrop. Personally, I am with these other movie fans in believing that they should not have remade Total Recall. Why not just adapt another good SciFi story to the big screen? There are so many great SciFi novels that should be given the film treatment.

Time Out New York's #1 Thing to Do is coming to Hollywood & Argyle for the Summer with a series of four fun-filled events!

The Hester Street Fair series will kick off on Saturday, June 2nd from 11am - 7pm with the Bite Size Food and Craft Festival, a handpicked selection of LA restaurants, indie chefs, and food trucks transforming their most popular dishes into bite sized portions. Mini portions mean maximum plate-hopping. Over 120 amazing arts and crafts, vintage vendors and collectors will be on hand for their premiere event, tapped off with a craft beer garden and live music.

Amoeba is delighted to sponsor a day filled with bite-size delights, arts and crafts, shopping, music performances, and microbrews. Come on down and join us and stay tuned for info on upcoming Hester Street Fair events!

More info HERE!