Disclaimer: The views expressed in this web log are the personal opinions of Ian D Smith, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or members of the Official Lord of the Rings fan club. Sir Ian McKellen's Web Site.... and Paramount Pictures Who was it who first said "Never ASSUME because all it does is make an ASS out of U and ME". Whoever it was hit the nail bang on the head, as far as I'm concerned - certainly with respect to the problems I've had with my planned Paramount Studios tour today.

I had planned an early start for the Paramount Pictures Studio Tour. Unlike Universal and Warner Brothers, the Paramount Pictures tour cannot be pre-booked and it's a case of "first come, first served". I had intended to ring them first, but got side-tracked with arguing with Universal Studios over a group-planned trip for a week on Sunday (they wanted to fax over credit authorisation forms instead of just accepting the credit card booking). I then made the foolish mistake of checking my email. Little did I know what I was letting myself in for! Sir Ian McKellen had just published an email on his web site claiming the Decipher Lord of the Rings fan club boards were homophobic (nothing could be further from the truth and, like most things, this was down to a simple misunderstanding). Sir Ian's reply had been to suggest he would not be visiting the boards as a result (no big deal really as he hasn't got time to check out the minutae of film fandom anyway). But, not suprisingly this upset a lot of fan club members, who felt the criticisms totally unjustified since there has been nothing but support for gays, and Sir Ian in particular. As an "out" gay moderator on the boards people felt I should try and do something, so the morning was wasted composing a response, discussing the post online, and trying to ensure it got throught to Sir Ian rather than being lost in the generally heated responses that were being generated on Sir Ian's web site response forms. We queens do like a bit of drama! I am beginning to see why people advise you to NEVER take your laptop on holiday with you!

Eventually I got away and got a taxi to take me to Paramount Studios, but in the rush, forgot to phone ahead and check that the tourist guide advice that no bookings were required still held true. The taxi dropped me off (only $15 for a ride that 2 days ago had cost me $26!) and I entered the main reception, only to be advised that the studio tours were closed - and had been since September 11th! The gate staff were less than helpful in calling a new cab ("You could find a pay phone and call one") and I decided I may as well investigate the area anyway. The studios are located in Melrose Avenue, a very long main road which at the Paramount Studios end (about 2 miles from Golden Apple Comics that I visited on Sunday) seems to consist of little more than endless Palm Reading, Tarot Card Reading and Psychic stores. Only in America!

Looking at the map I decided to head for Perfect Beat Records on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. I had visited this place, a gay-run record store, on my last trip to try and get hold of a CD for a friend. My trip that time had been rushed, but from what little I'd seen I liked the area with its gay restaurants and bars which were not too "in your face" about being gay (rainbow coloured flags and nice eye candy were the only real giveaway). Perfect Beat Records also had the advantage of a couple of cheap Internet Cafe terminals outside the store which would cut down on my hotel telephone bills. The map showed Perfect Beat Records as being about 5 miles away. The midday sun was beating down (and I was really regretting bringing my heavy paparazi lens for the camera in case of any celebrities being around), but it's not often I get the chance to do long walks in the sunshine so I figured 5 miles was do-able! One way and another I am getting more exercise on this trip than I've had in a long time!

Santa Monica Boulevard

		Santa Monica is a fascinating road to walk along. Small stores abound - with a LOT of pet stores for some reason. However, just as you think you've hit the equivalent of up-market suburbia, there will suddenly be something rather outrageous appear - whether it's what looks like an ordinary cinema which on closer review turns out to be displaying movie posters for pornographic gay movies, or such treats as a rather yuppie "Gay Supermarket" ("Parking in rear" - well, there's a surprise!)
In all seriousness, the whole boulevard warrants investigation if you're fascinated by the diversity of goods available in the States. All sorts of stores, selling all sorts of little gems are to be found along this route. I was rather glad I'd decided to walk the 4-5 miles along its route as I'd have missed some fascinating stores if travelling by car. As it is, I am obviously becoming rather blasé about Hollywood as I saw two "Filming On Location" film crews en route and didn't bat an eyelid - just another everyday occurrence in Los Angeles.

There are some really fun t-shirt stores in West Hollywood, as this area is known. I resisted the temptation to buy t-shirts bearing the slogans "Do I look like a people person!" or "Big Hands. Big Feet. You do the Math!" but did succumb to a couple of others, together with the best orange-flavoured drink I have ever had - something called a Jambo Juice which was a cross between Orange Juice, Orange sherbert and a Slush Puppy - very refreshing! I saved a fortune in cab fares by discovering the MetroBus on Sunset Boulevard (just 2 blocks up from Santa Monica Boulevard). For less than 2 dollars this bus takes you from Western Hollywood to Downtown LA in about half an hour. Highly recommended if you don't mind being the only white person on a very crowded bus, as you get to see more than if in a cab speeding down the freeway.
Tomorrow is an early start as I head off to San Diego with Catherine (Arwen2) and Maureen (Goldilocks Brownlock) and start to meet up with all the other fan club members who are heading there for Comic-Con. Click here for report for July 31st - trip to San Diego, Comic Con Preview Night and First Pub Moot.