In March 1914, a 230-acre ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles was chosen to be the site of Universal City - the world's first self-contained community dedicated to making movies.
The first film completed at Universal City was based on Greek mythology, Damon and Pythias - but the studios soon gained more of a reputation for westerns, comedies and action-adventure movies.
Behind-the-scenes tours of the studios are a long-established tradition still popular with visitors today.
THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
Probably the most photographed scene in Hollywood - although many who go to see it are surprised to find it is illegal to get anywhere near the sign.
The original was erected in 1923, intended to advertise a suburban housing development called Hollywoodland.
The sign - built to last just 18 months - became so much part of the LA landscape that when it fell into disrepair in the late 1970s some of showbiz's biggest names contributed tens of thousands of dollars to a charity auction for the restoration fund.
HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL
The hotel played host to the very first Academy Award ceremony on 16 May 1929.
The winners were announced after a banquet in the Blossom room, but there were no surprises as the names had been announced three months ahead of the ceremony.
For the next few years, the results were released in advance to the press under strict embargo. It was only when the Los Angeles Times broke the rules and published the winners ahead of the show that the sealed envelopes were introduced.
The awards ceremony has been postponed only three times - in 1938 when LA was flooded, in 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King and in 1981 following the shooting of President Ronald Reagan.
GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE
The Chinese Theatre has been the site of more gala Hollywood movie premieres than any other theatre - starting with the 1927 debut of the original silent version of King of Kings, produced by Cecil B DeMille.
In the 1940s the theatre also played host to the Academy Award ceremonies and even appeared in quite a few movies itself, including the opening scene of Singing in the Rain and more recently Speed.
But it is perhaps most famous for its forecourt with its hand and footprints of the stars.
THE KODAK THEATRE
The theatre is the new home of the Oscars ceremony. It is at the heart of the Hollywood and Highland retail, dining and entertainment complex.
It opened in November 2001 as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards and can seat 3,400 guests. The first ceremony was held there in March 2002.
The name is part of a 20-year partnership deal with Eastman Kodak and represents one of the biggest non-sporting sponsorships in history.
HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME
The Hollywood Walk of Fame runs from east to west on Hollywood Boulevard from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue and north on Vine Street between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard.
More than 2,000 five-pointed stars are embedded in the pavement, and famous names - both real and fictional - have have been added to them over the years.
The first star was awarded to Joanne Woodward on 9 February 1960.
Mickey Mouse became the first cartoon character to receive a star in honour of his 50th anniversary in 1978.
Paramount's history dates back to 1912 when Adolph Zukor secured the distribution rights for the film, Queen Elizabeth, the first full-length drama shown in the United States.
The company grew and began making its own films. Wings, released in 1928, won the first Academy Award for best picture.
In 1997 Paramount's Titanic received 11 Academy Awards, equalling the record for most awards set by Ben Hur in 1959.