007 Travelogue: Los Angeles (USA) 2023: Universal Studios and Hollywood Walk of Fame

If you want to read our “Los Angeles, Malibu, Palm Springs” 007 Travelogue first, click here.

Universal Studios

We started the morning in Los Angeles from our Safari Inn Coast hotel, whose Olive’s Bistro & Lounge restaurant we visited for breakfast.

The hotel had a shuttle to Universal Studios which was located very close to our hotel. This was one of our criteria when choosing a hotel.

Universal Studios is huge, and an hour or two can pass quickly there. There are plenty of different themes from the Simpsons to dinosaurs, from the world of Fast and Furious to King Kong. You can run into Frankenstein’s monster in the area, or Norman Bates from Psycho can chase you.

On a great sightseeing tour, you can explore Wisteria Lane which is familiar from the “Desperate Housewives” series, or see Jaws rising from the water right next to your car.

There is also a Bond connection. In the movie “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971), Bond (Sean Connery) escapes from the Las Vegas police in a Ford Mustang. Part of the chase was filmed at the parking lot of Universal Studios

The Hollywood Walk of Fame

One of the most famous attractions in Los Angeles and a must-see for movie fans is of course The Hollywood Walk of Fame which has nearly 2,800 stars (2,796 by the end of November 2024) carved into the asphalt, each one is dedicated to a celebrity for their work in the entertainment industry. The awardees are named for their achievements in film, theater, radio, television and music. The first permanent star was installed in 1960. Bond actors Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig have received stars on the Walk of Fame. Sean Connery’s hand- and footprints can be found in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame has many other stars from the Bond World and from elsewhere. Here are just a few examples: Javier Bardem (Silva in “Skyfall“, 2012), Halle Berry (Jinx in “Die Another Day“, 2002), Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass performed Burt Bacharach‘s theme in first movie version of “Casino Royale“, 1967, Wayne Newton (Professor Joe Butcher in “Licence to Kill” (1989).

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is a movie theater located along Hollywood Boulevard. The footprints and handprints of countless Hollywood stars have been immortalized on the concrete in front of it.

There were many other interesting things to see near the Walk of Fame. In the Young Bond book “Shoot to Kill”, young Bond visits a pharmacy at the intersection of Yucca Street and Wilcox in the 1930s.

“James hurried along the street, scanning the windows on every block. A few minutes later, on the corner of Wilcox and Yucca, he found a drugstore with fancy signage promising everything from paint for hard corns to a soda fountain.”

Steve Cole: “Shoot to Kill” (2014)

We also drove through Mulholland Drive. “Mulholland Scenic Overlook” offers a great view of all of Los Angeles.

“James nodded, changed up a gear. Barely breaking, he swung the car out onto Mulholland Drive.

“On the right! Tori yelled, as headlights came swooping towards them round the corner. “Drive on the right, you dumb Limey!”

James jerked the wheel and the Plymouth dodged a collision at the last second. James fumbled for a lower gear as he took the tight corner ahead, forced himself to stay calm.

“You think they’ll come after us?” he said breathlessly. I mean, they’re supposed to be looking after Mr. Kostler’s big party…”

Tori whiped at her bloody nose. “They’ll come after us.”

Mulholland, with its ghostly palms swaying slowly in the night breeze, twisted and turned in treacherous darkness. The engine groaned and rattled as he shifted gears, up and down with the constant curves and corners. To the right the LA lights burned in the blackness, while to his left he could see only the unclaimed shadows of the San Fernando Valley. Gripping the wheel, James felt he was taking a tightrope between the two.

Finally, Mulholland gave onto the Hollywood Freeway. It was close to midnight, and the roads were still busy. A set of traffic lights turned red as they approached, and Tori swore.”

Steve Cole: “Shoot to Kill” (2014)

Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery

Another cemetery visit was ahead. The most famous grave in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is probably Marilyn Monroe. Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner is buried right next to Monroe. Hefner is said to have bought the vault next to Monroe’s crypt in 1992 for $75,000. Both were born in 1926, Monroe died in 1962 and Hefner in 2017. Our visit was slightly delayed by an ongoing funeral service, so we couldn’t go to the cemetery. The guard explained to us that strangers would come to take selfies with the bodies, which is why unauthorized people are not allowed to enter during the blessing ceremony.

Other graves that can be found in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery are those of Louis Jourdan (Kamal Khan in “Octopussy“, 1983), Natalie Wood Wagner, sister of Bond girl Lana Wood (Plenty O’Toole in “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971) and Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcett, who also acted with Roger Moore in “Cannonball Run” (1981).

Hugh Hefner also has connection to the Bond world, because in Raymond Benson‘s short story “Midsummer Night’s Doom” (1999) 007 visits the Playboy Mansion.

“As they came back into the Great Hall, Bond noticed Hugh Hefner himself, talking with guests and holding a glass of Jack Daniels on the rocks. He was wearing purple, tailor-made silk pyjamas and a smoking jacket. Two gorgeous women, a blonde and a brunette, were on either side of him. They were wearing next to nothing…”

Raymond Benson: “Midsummer Night’s Doom” (1999)

Thank you again, USA! Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Las Vegas left unforgettable impressions. Hopefully we will be back soon!

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