beverly hills 23 by Editorial Zone
Published Date: 21/07/08
Beverly Hills
There are certain places in the world that conjure an image of unbridled luxury and glamour. One such place is Beverly Hills in California. It is the most valuable real estate and shopping areas that the media shows. The city is home to many people in the movie business and tourists can do some star spotting. Blue skies and palm trees form the backdrop to the celebrity homes.
The darling couple of the silent movies, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, were the first stars to reside in Beverly Hills in 1919. They bought a property, which they expanded into a 22-room mansion and called it Pickfair. The house was famed for its d?cor and art and it had a swimming pool, a luxurious item even for film stars in those days, and a formal garden. It was the home that everyone wanted to be invited to and the couple hosted many parties, inviting their show business friends and royal family members from Europe.
More film stars set up house in the city, including Harold Lloyd and John Barrymore and mansions began to be part of the landscape. Other stars and producers would stay at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard, which opened in 1912. This glamorous landmark is on the cover of the Eagles' 1976 album, Hotel California. Sunset Boulevard was the inspiration for the film of the same name, made by director, Billy Wilder. The other main thoroughfares are the Wilshire Boulevard and the Santa Monica Boulevard. One of the tourist attractions is also one of the most expensive streets in the world with rows of designer stores and boutiques. It's called Rodeo Drive and the shops include Versace, Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior, Polo Ralph Lauren and Prada.
The city has been used as a location for several films and TV shows. The popular comedy series, The Beverly Hillbillies ran during the 1960s and told the story of a poor Texas family that struck oil and moved to Beverly Hills with their newfound wealth. They lived their lives in the same way, despite moving to a mansion. The Beverly Hills Cop movies, starring Eddie Murphy, were also set in the city. One of the most popular TV shows of the 1990s was Beverly Hills 90210. The teen angst show was set in a fictitious High School in a fictitious zip code but depicted a school full of beautiful people with rich parents.
There are public facilities in the city for all to enjoy. La Cienega Park is a public space with baseball diamonds, soccer fields, playground, running track, tennis courts and community center.
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