Hollywood Origin Story

Hollywood was founded in the late 19th century by Harvey Henderson Wilcox and his wife, Daeida Wilcox Beveridge. Here's a closer look at their roles:

• Harvey Wilcox: A real estate developer, according to Britannica, he purchased land west of Los Angeles in 1887 and began laying out the town.
• Daeida Wilcox Beveridge: Harvey's wife, Daeida, is often credited with naming the town "Hollywood." She reportedly heard the name from a woman on a train who mentioned her summer home, also named Hollywood, and found it suitable for the area. She played a crucial role in developing Hollywood, focusing on community development, including churches, a school, and a library. After Harvey's death, she continued her work, becoming known as the "Mother of Hollywood". 

The Nestor Film Company, originally known as the Nestor Motion Picture Company, was an American motion picture production company. It was founded in 1909 as the West Coast production unit of the Centaur Film Company located in Bayonne, New Jersey. While not the first movie studio in Los Angeles, Nestor made great strides on October 27, 1911, by establishing the first permanent motion picture studio in Hollywood, California, and producing the first Hollywood films. The company later merged with its distributor, the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, on May 20, 1912. Nestor remained a recognizable brand name for Universal until at least the middle of 1917.

The five major film studios in Hollywood, often referred to as the "Big Five," are Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery, Walt Disney Studios, and Sony Pictures. These studios dominate both the American and global film industry, known for their efficient distribution infrastructure and ability to reach a broad international audience. Here's a brief overview of each:

• Universal Pictures: Owned by Comcast through NBCUniversal, Universal is known for its blockbuster franchises.
• Paramount Pictures: Owned by Paramount Global, Paramount is known for its diverse slate of films, including action, comedy, and dramas. 
• Warner Bros. Discovery: Warner Bros. Discovery is a media giant, known for its vast library of intellectual property, including DC Comics and Harry Potter.
• Walt Disney Studios: Owned by The Walt Disney Company, Disney is a powerhouse in animation and family-friendly films, also known for its Marvel and Star Wars franchises. 
• Sony Pictures:  Owned by Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures is known for its superhero films, including Spider-Man, and its diverse slate of films that includes animated and live-action productions.