*1769 - Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá crosses hills into San Fernando Valley and names it the “Valley de Santa Catalina de Bononia de los Encinos” or the “Valley of the Oaks.” Area is known as “Kawangna,” meaning “little hills” in native Gabrieliño.
Cahuenga Pass
The Cahuenga Pass is a mountain pass through the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Hollywood district of the City of Los Angeles, California. It connects the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley via the Hollywood Freeway U.S. Route 101 and Cahuenga Boulevard. With an elevation 745ft./227m, it is the lowest pass through the mountains.
It was the site of two major battles, the Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1831 (a fight between local settlers and the Mexican-appointed governor and his men; two deaths), and the Battle of La Providencia or Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1845 (between locals over whether to secede from Mexico; one horse and one mule killed), both on the San Fernando Valley side near present-day Studio City; cannonballs are still occasionally found during excavations in the area. Along the route of the historic El Camino Real, the historic significance of the pass is also marked by a marker along Cahuenga Blvd., which names the area as Paseo de Cahuenga.- from Cahuenga Pass History, CPPOA website
The Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Association website (quoted above) contains great historic photos (including one of this same postcard). The same website has a page with some fascinating history about The Cahuenga Pass, including a Chronology of Hollywood Area, the Cahuenga Pass and the Cahuenga Pass Parkway.*
But wait! .....it gets even better. There might be treasure in them thar hills:
This is a 7 minute clip taken from the television series "World Of Treasure" produced by Burrud Production in the mid 1990s. This story centers around the true story of the lost riches of the Cahuenga Pass. We'll hear modern day treasure hunter Roy Rousch's theory as to where the treasure is located. Despite the massave [sic] development in the Los Angeles area the treasure still today has not been uncovered.
The entire series "World Of Treasure" is now available on DVD by going to www.twothumbsupdvd.com as well as other Burrud Production releases.
The Hollywood Bowl ranks #1 in an article titled Top Ten Outdoor Venues in Los Angeles, where it's described as:
An 86-year-old slap in the face to Hollywood’s historical amnesia, the Hollywood Bowl is a refreshing reminder that some things in this town can survive beyond the last pilot season. Since 1922, the Bowl at Bolton Canyon has been thrilling audiences under the stars as the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The nearly 18,000-seat amphitheatre has also hosted hundreds of musical events under the famous orchestra shell (the fifth and newest shell was constructed in 2004). From the Playboy Jazz Festival to Radiohead, the Bowl continues to be a world-class music destination in the heart of Hollywood.
An article titled Seeing Stars: Hollywood Landmarks offers an enthusiastic page full of information, beginning.......
No trip to Hollywood would be complete wiothout a visit to the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. For over 70 years, the Hollywood Bowl has been the scene of some of the most memorable musical moments in Los Angeles History...symphonies, opera, jazz, ballet, presidential addresses, rock concerts...
This is the world's largest natural amphitheater, virtually hidden away in the folds of the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, yet it's mere blocks from busy Hollywood Blvd.
The Bowl was build in 1919 in a natural amphitheater/canyon which was called "Daisy Dell." The first shell was designed by Lloyd Wright (the son of Frank Lloyd Write), who also designed another local landmark: the Wayfarer's Chapel in Palos Verdes. The Beatles became the first rock & roll band to play here on August 23, 1964.
The official website of the Hollywood Bowl has great photos, history, and the schedule for 2009 events. Addionally, it contains a Newcomers Guide sure to answer any questions you might have about the Hollywood Bowl.
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