Where Hollywood Hides

Celebrities in Paradise: Santa Barbara

By: Robert McCullough, Suzanne McCullough

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

There's no business like show business! In 1912, long before Hollywood had a foothold in the world of movies, Flying A Studios opened its doors in downtown Santa Barbara. As one of the earliest studios on the West Coast, Flying A Studios produced more than 1,000 films, which put Santa Barbara on the map as a prominent center for movie magic. The movie business evolved quickly. A decade later Hollywood had become the new center of international film production, but Santa Barbara never lost its celebrity allure. Since those early days, the area has continued to attract a wide range of celebrities seeking respite from the demands of Tinseltown, a mere 90 miles away. The quiet streets and uncrowded beaches of Montecito, Carpinteria, Hope Ranch, and Summerland have always attracted internationally famous movie, television, and music superstars, who give Santa Barbara a connection to Hollywood like no other place in the world. This book celebrates the Santa Barbara-Hollywood relationship, paying homage to some of the show business personalities from Charlie Chaplin (builder of the landmark Montecito Inn) to Jeff Bridges to Oprah Winfrey, who continue to make our town the place "where Hollywood hides"...