William A. Gordon has written a book called The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book, which is in its 4th Edition, and contains quite a feast of information on celebrities in this California area. The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book gives the lowdown on movie stars’ home addresses, crime and scandal scenes involving celebrities, and much more in this star-studded California region. Here’s more about The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book, which is a must for those who travel to this California area full of the attractions of celebrities.
The feel of the book is good in my hands and is very travel-friendly in that it’s easy to carry around while seeking out the venues of your choice.
The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book contains 21 chapters (including the introduction), as well as a detailed index. It covers such areas in the greater Los Angeles, California area where celebrities and their haunts abound like Pacific Palisades, The Hollywood Hills, and Pasadena (where the exterior of the Benson tv show mansion was shot).
Via the index, I found something interesting about one of my favorite comedians Bob Newhart on page 44, in that he actually lived near the purported “featured” home of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book tells people where some of the sites of the O.J. Simpson saga took place, including his home in Brentwood, California (the address number has been changed), and the building where he was acquitted of murder charges. Other infamous locales involving the beautiful people can be found by using the index.
The Sunset Strip chapter discusses more than 30 sites for those who are into the lives of celebrities, which are on Sunset Boulevard or just off of this legendary drag. The Chateau Marmont is where John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose. Celebrities stay here when they want more seclusion in the Hollywood, California area such as Keanu Reeves, Nicole Kidman, Robert DeNiro. In the movie Annie Hall, a scene took place at the location of the Cabo Cantina, in which Woody Allen was jilted by Diane Keaton. I learned about a book store on Sunset Boulevard where celebrities gather for autograph signings called Book Soup, which has been featured in a couple of movies, too. Get the book to find the exact addresses.
In the Downtown chapter of the Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book, I learned where many of Sly Stallone’s boxing scenes for the Rocky movies were filmed. I found out about a flying saucer house called “The Chemosphere” that’s been featured in movies like Body Double and Charlie’s Angels in the chapter called Mulholland Drive And The Hollywood Hills. I’ve always wanted to know where the Brady Bunch “lived”, and because of this book on celebrities called The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book, I found out that the exteriors for the home were shot in the Studio City area. This is just the tip of the ice berg of what you find in this informative book about where your favorite tv shows and movies were shot at or where the California exterior shots came from.
Page 165 talks about many dead celebrities buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which is really tourist-friendly since they provide maps of the gravesites of the rich and famous dearly departed like Tyrone Power and John Huston as well as “Alfalfa” from The Little Rascals. Page 193 of this book on celebrities advises tourists on getting close to the Hollywood sign to take pictures.
The book contains some 33 maps which will help in your attractions of celebrities hunting. A lot of photos are in the book, too, including a photo of Mel Blanc’s gravestone and a picture of the Dynasty Mansion.
I found out something interesting about the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star’s studio or recording company has to pay 25 grand for the honor, and Liza Minnelli’s fan club had to raise money on her behalf in order to see her name on this legendary walk!
Author William A. Gordon has a neat YouTube video to help introduce his book here
The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book (4th Edition): Can be ordered by calling North Ridge Books sister company called BubbleRock at 877-541-5819, with Visa and MasterCard accepted. By fax, it can be ordered at 949-855-4860 by Visa and MasterCard and retails for $16.95 in trade paperback, though if you order by mail, you currently get free shipping and a $2 discount if you print out the form and use it. Website for more information, including ordering, is in the “Resources” box. ISBN #: 978-0937813-08-9.
Reference:
- The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book link: www.nrbooks.com/hollywoodtour.htm
