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Canada
/ Arts
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Interview with author
Gaelyn Whitley Keith - part 2

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Cendrine
Marrouat
, Canada
Independent Artist Examiner

August 23,
2011 - Like this? Subscribe
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To read part 1, click here.

Cendrine Marrouat: Would you share a short extract from "The Father of
Hollywood"?

Gaelyn Whitley Keith: This is always one of my favourite stories in
the book.

Treasuring horseback riding, HJ and Gigi made plans to explore the
hills the next morning at daylight. With a knapsack lunch in hand, they headed
to the stables to get the horses. In those days, it was not customary for
ladies to ride astride, so HJ insisted that Gigi start her ride wearing a
skirt. HJ wore his tan suit and cap while she had on a black skirt, red
jacket, and cap with her hair tucked up inside. When they were out of the city
limits, she stopped and took off the skirt. Flaunting her riding britches, she
hastily stuck the skirt in her pack. Soon, they left the city far
behind.

The horseback ride was breathtaking. The horses seemed to dance and
prance gracefully, as though the rhyme of the ride was timed to a lively
ballet of classical music. Gigi adored the cadence of water flowing over rocks
in the creek mixed with the highs and lows of chirping birds. The pungent
scent of wildflowers flavored the air as they rode along the meandering trail.
After traveling north for several hours, they began to pass small ranches and
country places where fruits and vegetables were grown. They even enjoyed
picking a variety of luscious produce and savoring its sweetness. Gigi
appreciated that oranges were once considered the fruit of the
gods.

HJ asked one of the farmers along the trail, “Where would you go if
you wanted to purchase some land?”

“Go through the Cahuenga Pass to the San Fernando Valley. It is
very productive,” he replied.

“Well, someday we will go out there, but today I think I will show
my bride Lookout Mountain.”

They rested for an hour after enjoying the lovely picnic lunch
provided by the hotel.

Gigi remarked, “Can we journey up higher and get a better view of
the valley?”

As they neared the top, they stopped and dismounted their horses to
admire the view below. As HJ was making a few sketches in his notebook for
future memory, he spied off to the left an old rickety wagon full of wood
pulled by one horse with a Chinese man driving pell-mell down the narrow road.
The Chinese man was singing at the top of his voice. HJ and Gigi stood to one
side of the road as the man appeared around the cluster of trees. He had also
caught a glimpse of them, so he drew up his reins to stop the wagon full of
firewood. Getting out of the wagon, he put his palms together in front of his
chest and bowed his head a little, closing his eyes as an expression of
respect. HJ and Gigi were delighted with his greeting. Gigi still remembered
those two tall men talking to each other. Much to her surprise, the Chinese
man spoke an intelligible but broken English with a thick Chinese
accent.

“What are you doing?” HJ asked.

“I up sunrise. Old trees fall down. Pick up wood. All time haully
wood.”

“Holly wood…Hollywood!” HJ declared as he gazed off to the valley
below.

After a long silence, the Chinese man climbed back in the wagon. He
continued on his way down the trail. HJ was lost in thought and had not meant
to ignore the man. All of a sudden, HJ turned to Gigi and said, “Hollywood!
That is a perfect name! I will name this new town Hollywood. Holly will
represent my British ancestors and Wood for our Scottish. Yes,
Hollywood!”

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CM: What has this book taught you about your family and yourself? Any
favorite anecdote?

GWK: One of my favourite antecedents  from HJ Whitley is “If
life gives you lemons make lemonade.”  This taught me that with
perseverance and hard work you can turn a lemon orchards into a world-renowned
city, Hollywood.  Our family motto appears to be; “I Can.”

End of part 2.

---------------

Cendrine Marrouat may be contacted for potential interviews, reviews and
general enquiries at [email-masked]

Official website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com/
Twitter: @cendrinemedia
Facebook: http://fb.cendrinemarrouat.com/

Suggested by the author:

Interview
with author Gaelyn Whitley Keith - part
1

H J Whitley built the Hollywood Hotel on the corner of
Hollywood Blvd and Highland where the Kodak Theatre is located today.

Credits:

courtesy of guest

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Father of Hollywood

Gaelyn Whitley Keith

HJ Whitley

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By Cendrine Marrouat
Canada Independent Artist Examiner

Cendrine Marrouat is a writer, published author and translator residing in
Winnipeg, Canada. In addition to her local and national articles on...

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