10 facts about Los Angeles

1. When Los Angeles became a city, its full name was “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Porciúncula .” That would translate to “The Town of Our Lady Queen of the Angels on the Porciuncula River.” The city’s name officially changed in 1850 when Los Angeles became an American city.

2. Los Angeles has a few nicknames. The best know is the City of Angels. Less know ones are the Big Orange (in response to New York’s Big Apple), the City of Flowers and Sunshine and La La Land.

3. The Hollywood Sign is one of the most iconic sights in Los Angeles and definitely at the top of any Los Angeles itinerary. But the worldwide symbol of the U.S. movie industry has a different beginning.

Many people believe the Hollywood Sign was part of a movie set, but it was actually an outdoor billboard for a real-estate development. The original Hollywood sign initially read “Hollywoodland.” 4,000 20-watt bulbs illuminated the sign. Over the decades, the sign fell into complete disrepair.

In 1949, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce removed the last four letters and restored it. But despite the restoration, the sign began to deteriorate again. By the 1970s the Hollywood sign was an absolute wreck. The municipality even decided to tear it down completely.

In 1978 Hugh Hefner, the Playboy magazine founder, stepped in and raised funds to rebuild the sign and preserve the iconic landmark.

4. The City of Angels is famous for being the land of show business, but it hasn’t always been that way. The original location of the entertainment industry was in Atlantic City. So why did it move to L.A.? Basically to get away from Thomas Edison. Edison held most of the country’s film patents and established a monopoly on all aspects of filmmaking. In Los Angeles filmmakers found freedom from his claims, cheap land and plenty of labor.

5. There are secret tunnels under the city. The tunnels run from Temple and Spring streets to 1st Street and Grand Avenue. Some are abandoned subway underpasses. Others date back to the Prohibition era when people used them for smuggling liquor to some of the shady establishments in Los Angeles.

There are some creepy stories about these tunnels. Some say Mafia mobsters used them to store dead bodies. Others say the police used them as a hideout place for transport prisoners and large sums of cash.

Due to the many earthquakes in California, these tunnels are now mostly closed off. However, there are some that remained open and are sometimes used as film locations.

6. Los Angeles has some pretty weird laws:

I’s illegal to lick frogs. The Law came in power after some teenagers in Los Angeles found out that a certain type of toad’ skin contains hallucinogens. 

It’s illegal for a man to beat his wife with a strap wider than 2 inches without her consent.

7. Since 1950, Oscar winners cannot officially sell their statuette. Before taking home the Oscar, the laureates have to sign an agreement according to which they can’t sell their trophy without first offering it back to the Academy for one dollar.

The Dolby Theatre – the tenth and current venue of the Academy Awards – has a capacity of 3322 seats. On the night of the Oscar ceremony, as not all those who are invited show up, the Academy employs seat fillers to make sure that every single space is filled. The so-called “seat fillers” are hired by the Academy for an undisclosed amount. The “fillers” also have to sign a non-disclosure agreement to prevent them from talking about their experience.

8. The exclusive and mysterious Magic Castle with performance parlors, secret doors and mysterious illusions hosts fancy old-fashioned dinners and magic shows. Since 1963 this private club housed in an old Victorian mansion has served as the home base for the Academy of Magical Arts.

Sadly, entrance is for members and their guests only, so you have to know someone in order to experience it. Reservations and formal attire are required and photography is not allowed.

9 Los Angeles is one of only 2 megacities in the world where over 100 mountain lions reside within the city limits, giving new meaning to the term concrete jungle.

As the National Park Service specifies, LA is one of only 2 megacities in the world with (wild) big cats living in its limits, and while they mostly reside in remote, open areas, it’s not uncommon for them to pay a visit.

The only other mega-city with this unique honor is Mumbai.

10 Classic hotels that old Hollywood stars stayed in, and even died in, are still running and open to patrons. For example, you can stay in the room where Marilyn Monroe allegedly died in the Roosevelt Hotel. Be careful though – it’s said her ghost still haunts the suite.