22 Apr 2012
Experience Fame and Fortune on a Celebrity-Sleuthing Bus Tour at one of Several Entertainment Museums, or While Shopping Alongside the Rich and Famous
LOS ANGELES —It's a never-ending parade of lights, cameras and plenty of action on the streets of LA, where star-studded celebrities and world-famous musicians live, work and, most of all, play. A bus tour with TMZ Tour/Starline or sleuthing the designer shops at the Beverly Center can bring a serendipitous brush with fame. Visitors can check out celebrity-focused museums, such as The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE, The Hollywood Museum and the famed Madame Tussauds Hollywood, or compare handprints and footprints of celebrities past and present at the Forecourt of the Stars fronting the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Those who can't have their 15 minutes of fame can at least have 15 minutes with fame.
Visitors can step into the world of the rich, famous and infamous on an open-air bus tour of Hollywood with TMZ Tour/Starline (yes, that TMZ!) where clandestine celebrity hotspots are explored. Tour goers should have their cell phones on camera mode as celebrity-spotting gets underway. A recent bus tour included an unexpected encounter with Shaquille O'Neal, who chatted with the busload of gawkers and posed for pictures. Donovan, the 1960s singer who was being interviewed by a local newscast on a Hollywood street corner, was anything but Mellow Yellow when he waved hello at fans.
Those who want to delve more closely into the history of music or moviemaking can visit The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE or The Hollywood Museum. The GRAMMY Museum, which opened in 2008 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the GRAMMY Awards, explores and celebrates enduring legacies of music and boasts four floors of cutting-edge exhibits. The Hollywood Museum, housed in the historic Max Factor Building, where the famed make-up artist worked his magic, features a vast display of movie and celebrity memorabilia, including Cary Grant's Rolls Royce, Hannibal Lecter's jail cell from the film "Silence of the Lambs," and Nicole Kidman's costume from the movie "Moulin Rouge." The museum's lower level, dedicated to Hollywood's horror films, was a former speakeasy during the Prohibition Era.
Within walking distance from The Hollywood Museum is Madame Tussauds Hollywood, which features a display of life-like wax figures that runs the gamut from legendary movie stars, such as Clark Gable and Audrey Hepburn, to pop stars and sports figures, such has Justin Timberlake and David Beckham. After leaving Madame Tussauds visitors can pay a visit to Grauman's Chinese Theatre and its Forecourt of the Stars, where famous footprints and handprints are cast in cement and signed by the stars who made them. Icons, such as Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne, are immortalized alongside more contemporary stars, like George Clooney. Along the sidewalks that front these museums are the nearly 2,500 terrazzo stars belonging to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which spans more than 15 blocks and pays tribute to stars past and present.
For a chance encounter with a real live celebrity, visitors may want to do a little shopping at the Beverly Center, which features 160 specialty boutiques and designer shops, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry and Michael Kors, with Bloomingdale's and a pair of Macy's locations serving as anchors. The Beverly Center is also a favorite backdrop for movie and television shoots, having recently appeared on "Khloe & Lamar" and "NCIS Los Angeles." Celebrity sightings are frequent as well with red carpet walkers, such as Eva Longoria, Justin Beiber and Selena Gomez, who sleuth the racks at designer stores. Traffic Men and Traffic Women, a store unique to Los Angeles, dress the contestants on "American Idol" every season, and the store is a favorite of Grammy Award-winning artist Usher.
Contacts:
TMZ Tour/Starline
Toll-free from the U.S.: 855-486-9868
www.tmz.com/tour
Harvey Levin
A former litigator, law professor and legal analyst, Harvey Levin is probably best known as the face of TMZ and TMZ.com - which he created and serves as executive producer. Harvey is credited with taking TMZ from a small Internet start-up to the go-to place for anything--and everything—that has to do with entertainment. He has helped guide the TMZ brand to become one of the fastest and most successful entertainment websites ever launched. In addition, Levin does double duty as the co-producer of The People's Court and continues to host the interactive segments of the show.
Philip Ferentinos
As the Director of Starline Tours, the largest and oldest tour company in Los Angeles, Philip Ferentinos is responsible for areas including new product development. With a background in business and theater, this London native has worked in marketing for Unilever and has performed in London's West End. Currently he is working on expanding Starline Tours to include Hop-on, Hop-Off City Tour to Venice, Marina del Rey and the LAX Hotels - which would make it the largest hop-on, hop-off service in the world.
The GRAMMY Museum
800 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite A245
Los Angeles, CA 90015
001-213-765-6800
Media contact:
Andie Cox
The GRAMMY Museum
001-213-763-2133
acox@grammymuseum.org
The Hollywood Museum
1660 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
001-323-464-7776
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
6933 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028
Toll-free from the U.S.: 866-841-3315
www.madametussads.com/hollywood
Media contact: Jerry Digney
Digney Company Public Relations
001-323-993-3000
jbrown@digneypr.com
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
6801 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028
001-323-461-3331
www.chinesetheatres.com
Media contact:
Lisa Ha
001-323-463-2390
lisa@chinesetheatres.com
Hollywood Walk of Fame
www.walkoffame.com
Ana Martinez
In Hollywood Ana Martinez reigns when it comes to star power. As the VP Media Relations, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Ana has produced nearly 600 star ceremonies during her nearly 25 year tenure deciding where celebrity stars will be located along the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Beverly Center
8500 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
001-310-854-0070
www.beverlycenter.com
Media contact:
Steve Valentine, Valentine Group L.A.
001-323-801-0014
Susan Vance
Michigan State University alumna Susan Vance is the marketing and sponsorship director of the Beverly Center, one of Southern California's premier shopping destination, where she oversees its developing programs and events. Her background in retail and fashion marketing include positions with St. John Knits, Liz Claiborne and Marshall Fields.
About The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. Though not part of City government, Los Angeles Tourism is recognized as the City's official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com. Please visit our FaceBook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesFan or follow us on Twitter @discover_LA.
Los Angeles International Pow Wow is supported by the following Premiere Partners; Brand USA, Los Angeles World Airports, and Visit California. The Premiere Event sponsors are Cirque du Soleil, Hollywood & Highland and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Platinum sponsors are The GRAMMY Museum, LA Waterfront, Metro, and Wolfgang Puck Catering.
The Gold sponsors are Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, CityPASS, Coach America, DFS, Downtown Business Improvement District, The Grove, Hollywood Entertainment District, Merlin Entertainments Group, Miles Marketing Destinations, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Original Farmers Market, Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities CVA, Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, Starline Tours & Tour Coach Charters, Temecula Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau. The Silver sponsors are Beverly Center, The Capital Grille, Citadel Outlets, City of Santa Clarita, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Malibu Family Wines, Premium Outlets, and Visit Mendocino County. The Bronze sponsors are da Vinci Villa, El Monte RV, Integrated Transportation Services, and Japanese Assistance Network.
Media contacts:
Carol Martinez Beth Brett
Vice President, Communications Director, Communications
phn: 213/236-2357, fax 213/425-1457 phn:213/236-2397, fax 213/452-1497
cmartinez@LATourism.org bbrett@LATourism.org
For more information on Los Angeles visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com
Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LosAngelesFan
-30-
(04/12)
Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/tourism_LA
