1953 Map of Hollywood

About this map

Graumans Chinese Theatre and the major film lots of Paramount Studios and RKO Studios anchor this mid-century look at the Los Angeles basin. This era of urban development is defined by the early expansion of the Hollywood Freeway and the Harbor Freeway, cutting through established neighborhoods like West Hollywood and Edendale. In the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, landmarks such as the Hollywood Bowl and Griffith Observatory sit above the dense street grid. Farther south, the map reveals the scientific and cultural landscape of the La Brea Fossil Pits and Exposition Park. The mapping details a complex network of public life, from the Monastery of the Angels to numerous local institutions like John Marshall High Sch and LA City College & State College.