Southern California - Hollywood
There are a ton of machines on Hollywood Boulevard, but there are others in Los Angeles area
"Hollywood Walk of Fame" My boss Andy gave me this one. It was one he had laying around somewhere... a souvenir of a wonderful time he had strolling the star-studded streets of Hollywood, back before he made his fortune and became a star himself.
"Mann's Chinese Theater - Hollywood" Some of the best coins people give me ones they find laying around somewhere after they find out that I collect them. This is one like that, yeah yeah, it's zinc, but I still like it and I don't think it's available anymore. One other thing, how come in the old "I Love Lucy" episode the name is Grauman's Chinese Theater?
"Hollywood - World Movie Capital" I was in Los Angeles in November 2001, while I was there I took a walk down Hollywood Boulevard. On my 6 block walk, between La Brea and Las Palmas, I found 9 penny machines for a total of 28 pennies.
"Made in the USA - Hollywood, California" So I found 28 pennies on Hollywood Boulevard that day in November. I already had 4 from one machine I found on an earlier trip, so that means I had added 24 pennies to my collection in one 6 block stretch. All I could think was, "How am I going to write something unique and interesting about each one?"
Of the 24 pennies I got that day in November 2001, there were two very similar ones, this one and one other. They're almost exactly the same, but there are slight differences. ... Well, I guess I've already given up on the writing something interesting part of this discussion... Oh, the last three all came from the same Eurolink machine.
"Hollywood Walk of Fame" Did you know that the walk of Fame is something sponsored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce? And that all the stars are just paid for by people or groups who want a star? I may be wrong about that, but that's what I think.
"Hollywood" I guess this is supposed to be an Oscar, you know the statuette given by the Motion Picture Academy to Academy Award winners... Boy, I'm really filling up the space now alright...
"Hollywood, California" This is supposed to look like a license plate. I mean, it does look like a license plate, except that I don't think you can have 9 letters on a license plate in California. These last three pennies all came from the next Eurolink machine.
"Hollywood - California" The quintessential Southern California accouterments, a convertible with surfboards sticking out the back. Did I mention that it was cold and rainy that November day when I got this penny?
"Good Luck - Hollywood California" I don't know, is this Chinese lettering? The famous Chinese Theater is on Hollywood Boulevard near where I got this penny, so I guess it would figure that it is.
Mann's Chinese Theater - Hollywood California" This is the third penny from the same Eurolink machine as the two right above. If you know what that means, you are a serious collector and you better get a life. I like this penny a lot, nice detail!
"Walk of Fame - Hollywood" This one is funny. The Walk of Fame are the stars embedded in the sidewalk, but this penny has footprints and hand prints on it which are really associated with the Chinese Theater, not the Walk of Fame. Another smashed penny mystery, oohhhh. (Is it really a mystery?)
"Hollywood" - This is the one that is almost same as the other one I got that same rainy Sunday morning in November 2001. The images depict the same design, but this one is a little clearer and a little more detailed. It's as if the other one was made from a photocopy of this one. I wonder if that's the way they do it. Who knows?
Eww, I used a really dirty penny for this one. In case you can't tell, it has everything you need to make a movie, except the actors: a scene clapper thingamajig, a kleig light, and a movie camera. Oh, it does have some stars. Maybe those are supposed to be the actors. Another Eurolink design.
"Hollywood California" There's a tiny American flag on this one, right between "Hollywood" and "California" I kind of assume that this penny is the oldest one on the Hollywood Boulevard right now, because it came out of the only single die machine.
"I Love L.A." As Love pennies go, this one is pretty good. The heart and banner is nicely detailed. As for the sentiment, ah, I can't take it or leave it. One reason to go is to visit my friends Jonna and Anthony
"Los Angeles" I like this penny. It's got a tiny bit creativity. It's not just another Hollywood boulevard penny. I don't know what building that is in the middle though. If you know, tell me.
"Rodeo Dr. - Beverly Hills, CA" I didn't go here. I got this on Hollywood Boulevard, along with 24 other pennies on one rainy morning in November 2001. I've never been to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, but from what I know about it, I don't think there'd be any penny machines there.
"Mann's Chinese Theater" This is the place where the cement has all the footprints and autographs. When I was a kid, the place was called Grauman's Chinese Theater, someday it'll called ABC's or Viacom's Chinese Theater.
It's supposed to be "Hollywood" sign up on the hill there, but what are the squiggly lines underneath it?
"Walk of Fame - Hollywood, CA" The walk of fame is all up and down Hollywood Boulevard, right? It also runs around the corner onto Vine Street, some of parts of which are quite deserted and have boarded up graffiti-covered businesses. I don't know what I'm trying to say, but I thought it was kind of ironic. Check out the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
"Hollywood, CA" Movie Making Tip: If you're making a movie and the film starts spilling out the front of the camera, let alone spilling out the back, stop right away, close the camera, and start over.
"Hollywood" Movie Making Tip: If you see a big-eyed alien being walking down the street, you better make sure that your camera has film in it and that the film isn't spilling out the back! (or front!)
"My Lucky Penny" You knew it was coming. How could there be 28 smashed pennies on one small stretch of Hollywood Blvd. and there NOT be one "Lucky Penny"? Well, smartypants, here it is.
"Hollywood" You know, the palm tree is so emblematic of Hollywood, Los Angeles, and Southern California in general, but the trees I notice most when I'm down there are the Jacarandas, they grow on all the residential streets and have beautiful purple flowers.
"Star Gazing in Hollywood" Whew, I thought I couldn't do it, write something about all 24 pennies from Hollywood Boulevard, but I did.
"Hooray for Hollywood" Hey, this one says it all. Hollywood Boulevard has a few penny machines intermingled with the broken dreams and other junky tourist stuff.
"Hollywood" The palm tree is synonymous with Southern California. I'm disturbed that they keep planting them for decoration up in San Francisco. Growing up in Northern California, the Eucalyptus (which isn't native either) was really the definitve tree. Oh well...
"Having Fun in Hollywood" Brady and I actually did have fun in Hollywood. We went down there to see our friends Jonna and Anthony and to see our other friend Jessica (yup I spelled her name right this time.) in a play.
I have to admit something. I lost all the Los Angeles pennies. We visited there in May 2000 (almost a year ago) I had them mixed up with some others and now I've forgotten where I got them. What I do remember is that the machine was near Joel Grey's Walk of Fame star. If you can find that, you found these pennies.
"Walk of Fame Hollywood, California" A couple of things I noticed about the walk of fame was that it doesn't really lead anywhere and it stretches out in all directions. There are stars for people you've never heard of way down on the side streets, there are stars in front of old abandoned buildings, and there are stars that are chipped and neglected. Hey, that's Hollywood!
