Harebrained Hollywood – 5 Wacky Things to Visit in Movieland, USA
The (Thai) King Lives – Palms Thai, 5273 Hollywood Boulevard
What would a trip to Hollywood be without a celebrity impersonator? A visit to unassuming Palms Thai in East Hollywood is a must for any tourist. Why? Thai Elvis. That’s right – Kavee Thongprecha has been playing Elvis for years and he’s one of the most low-key and impressive impersonators around. His voice is a dead ringer for the King, his appearance pure late Presley – and nothing can beat some spicy noodles with your crooner. Be aware that the Thai Elvis only performs on weekends, and be ready for a wait – Palm Thai is a local landmark and can get quite busy during peak hours.
Strange Skivvies – Frederick’s Of Hollywood Lingerie Museum, 6608 Hollywood Boulevard
Sure, you’ve hit the wax museum and Grauman’s Chinese. Why not check out a more titillating exhibition? Frederick’s Of Hollywood features a lingerie museum complete with undies of stars from the silent era on. Pay homage to a Madonna bustier and check out Forrest Gump’s boxers – the exhibit is packed full of all things wild and frilly. Best of all – it’s free.
California Kitsch – Youngwood Court, 304 South Murfield Road (3rd and Murfield)
This residential location isn’t just a house – it’s one of Hollywood’s strangest landmarks. Known fondly as the “house of Davids” (or just plain “eyesore,”) Youngwood Court is a white abode covered in tacky, wacky David sculptures that don’t exactly jive with the rest of its upscale neighborhood. The house defies description – visit at night to get a glimpse of the bizarre lighting on the 17 Davids. Even better, plan a Christmas visit so you can see Davids in Santa hats. It’s a free sight that is not to be missed.
Pay Your Respects – Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard
If you like a little spook with your stars, pay a visit to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and take a look at the graves of thousands of familiar faces. The cemetery, which is free and open to the public, is the final resting place of stars like Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Cecil B. DeMille and the Talmadge sisters. It also features strange mausoleum architecture, creepy portraiture and spooky gravestones in addition to memorials for forgotten historical deaths such as the victims of the Los Angeles Times Building fire of 1910. Best of all, it’s literally adjacent to the Paramount Studios, so it’s a good bet before your tour or screening.
Death Becomes You – Museum of Death, 6340 Hollywood Blvd.
You’re sick of perky starlets and the corporate look of the Hollywood & Highland district. Why not cross over to the dark side with a visit to the Museum of Death? Not for the faint of heart, the museum features hundreds of gruesome photos, a working guillotine, serial killer and massacre memorabilia, and shrunken heads. It might not be the greatest place to take the kids, but the Museum of Death might just be the rotten cherry on top of your tour of twisted Hollywood.
