The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 185

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1998 A27 LOS ANGELES TIMES Hollywood Subway Features Movie Glitz Since 1975 'iV ff AC TAV1SH Irvine 949. 551.0703 jlcULJUU. t-i fmnnmmm ,111, m.i in, i.i.i.. fmmm ti ryij' Photos by RICK MEYER Los Angeles Times running through the tunnels to test various safety systems. The yellow brick road that guides passengers to the trains begin on the plaza above the station, where sculptures of Hollywood icons double as bus shelters: the Brown Derby, Mann's Chinese Theatre and a white lowrider limousine.

A movie palace marquee towers over the elevator entrance. The "Wizard of Oz" theme continues inside the subway station, where the walls are decorated with dozens of hand-painted tiles, including depictions of the Cowardly Lion, Toto the dog and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The Hollywood theme also includes a dash of Latino flair, provided by Los Angeles artist Gilbert "Magu" Lujan, who worked with the architectural firm of Morales Associates to design the station. The wall tiles depict whimsical scenes, such as dogs and rabbits driving "lowrider" cars along Hollywood Boulevard. On one tile, a lowrider is cruising above the city on a magic carpet.

The support columns throughout the station are shaped to resemble L.A.'s ubiquitous palm trees. The ceiling over the subway platform is covered in more than 6,000 recycled film reels. Two massive 1930s-vintage movie cameras donated by Paramount Studios stand on the station's mezzanine floor. The wall on one end of the station platform is painted to look like a huge movie screen, with gold and red curtains. Maya Emsdem, the MTA's art director, said the MTA is considering installing a video camera to project movie scenes on the wall.

"It's wonderful to have, that unique Hollywood flavor in the station," she said. Sl'MONTON WINDOWS ENERGY GARD windows Doors (888) 354-GARD www.wwryganj com (4273) xand (Dfiznincj Eumtl Enter drawing for Free Simonton Sliding Door V1sit Showroom to enter Visitors descend for a tour of the new MTA subway station at Hollywood and Vine. The entertainment-themed station includes painted tiles by Los Angeles artist Gilbert "Magu" Lujan. would only provide $30 million for subway construction and nothing for buses and planning. Without the $62 million, MTA officials say, they may have to borrow or divert money from other projects to keep the North Hollywood station on track to open in May 2000.

The funding debate will not affect the Hollywood and Vine station, which MTA officials say is already 99.5 completed. During the next nine months, trains will be 'Call for details. Financing sponsored by The Southern California Gas Co. APPROVED CONTRACTORS BY THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA HOME OWNERS 8IFWY 3188 UPalma Ave, Anaheim 4 How does your Off? garden grow! Commerce of the San Fernando Valley and the Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of! Commerce, among others. The group called on Congress to adopt a $76 -million House appropriations bill that provides a $62-million federal subsidy to help the MTA complete the subway to North Hollywood.

The bill includes $6 million for new buses and $8 million for regional transit planning. An alternative Senate bill Design: Entertainment industry provides theme for the nearly completed $56-million station unveiled at media preview. By HUGO MARTIN TIMES STAFF WRITER A yellow brick road leads pas-! sengers from gritty Hollywood Boulevard to the subway platforms below. The brushed steel railings are i adorned with the musical notes to the score for "Hooray for Hollywood." Below ground, thousands of empty film reels cover the ceiling. Love it or hate it, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood's entertain ment industry is the theme for the nearly completed $56-million subway station at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, which the 'Things have not turned around.

But they are turning around' EZEBURTS LA chamber of commerce president besieged Metropolitan Transporta-: tion Authority publicly unveiled Monday. The media preview was part of a campaign by the MTA and a coali-tion of Los Angeles business leaders to pressure Congress to approve a $76-million transit bill needed to complete the final subway segment to North Hollywood. Subway supporters, headed by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, argued that the line to North Hollywood will bring tourism to Hollywood. "Hollywood is on the brink of a rebirth and the North Hollywood station will play a big role in that rebirth," Johnny Grant, the honor-. ary mayor of Hollywood, said before joining the media tour of the station.

The station, which is scheduled to open to the public in May 1999, is the final stop on the troubled 6.7-mile Hollywood segment of the Red Line subway. The segment has eight stations, beginning at Wilshire Boulevard and Vermont Avenue and ending at Hollywood and Vine. The segment is already $293 million over its budget and five months behind schedule. The budget includes $4.4 million for art and amenities $550,000 for the Hollywood and Vine station alone. The lavish design of the Hollywood station may stick in the craw of MTA critics, who last week were vilifying the agency for failing to live up to a court settlement requiring it to reduce overcrowding on buses.

Eze Burts, president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged that the MTA's record is marred with construction fiascoes and cost overruns. But he argued that the MTA is mending its ways under chief executive Julian Burke, who took over the helm on a permanent basis in April. MTA officials say they are on schedule and within budget limits on the segment to North Hollywood. "Things have not turned around. But 'they are turning around," Burts said.

"We are comfortable that it is moving in the right direction." Burts was joined by representatives from the Central City the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the United Chambers of Paula Jones Cited for Traffic Violations Paula Corbin Jones, whose now-dismissed sexual harassment suit sparked an investigation into President Clinton's relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky, was cited recently for driving with expired license plates, without car insurance and without a valid California driver's license, Long Beach police said. Jones was driving on Ocean Boulevard near Molino Avenue on Sept. 6 when she was pulled over, said Long Beach Police Cpl. Harry Erickson.

Officer Mark Dumas noticed that the car had expired Tennessee license plates, Erickson said. Once stopped, Jones acknowledged that the plates were expired and that she had no insurance for the car, Erickson said. She told Dumas that she did not normally drive the car but that her usual vehicle was being repaired. Jones then produced a valid Arkansas driver's license. Under state law, drivers must apply for a California license within 10 days of moving to the state, Erickson said.

Jones said she has lived in California for five years and was unaware of the law, he said. GiecA Unur I'lL ORANGE 518 W. KATELLA (714) 633-4355 BEB- wfV d'aimaiyi in lie mm 0MNUCMMTI SANTA ANA 2720 S. Harbor Blvd. (714) 558-5555 M' Pickering SMINGTOK f5SlSI EPERGO" I ari riu from pj Biaw I QUALITY ZO sq.ft.

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