In 1911 the small, peaceful village of Hollywood (1) has voted / voted to become part of Los Angeles, because it (2) had / was having problems with its water supply. Today, nearly a hundred years (3) ago / later , this same village (4) grows / has grown into the home of one of the most glamorous industries in the world - the American film industry.
With this growth (5) came / were coming many other well- known symbols. There is the famous Hollywood sign which (6) is standing / stands above the hills of the town. The original sign was built in 1923, but the present one (7) has only been / is only there (8) in / since 1978. Then there is the Grauman’s Chinese Theater, where great actors and actresses (9) are leaving / leave their hand and footprints. Norma Talmadge (10) has been / was the first actress to do this in 1927. But most famous of all are the Academy Awards, better known as the ‘Oscars’. In March every year, actors and actresses still (11) are waiting / wait nervously to find out if they have won - although director Woody Allen (12) has once missed / once missed the ceremony because he (13) played / was playing the clarinet in his favourite jazz club!
Nowadays it (14) becomes / is becoming more and more common for films to be made away from Hollywood, but it remains the home of film, and thousands of hopeful young actors (15) still come / have still come to ‘The Dream Factory’ every year. But not all Hollywood dreams (16) have been / were happy ones - as one actress who later (17) died / has died tragically, said: ‘Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay $500 for a kiss, and fifty cents for your soul.’