Before the flashing cameras, before the Oscars, before the stars — there was Harvey Henderson Wilcox: a humble real estate developer who named a patch of orange groves Hollywood. He never made a film, never met a movie star, and died long before his land turned into the world’s dream factory.
In this immersive episode of Faces Of History, your host Thee Duke Of New York digs deep into the accidental story behind Hollywood’s name, tracing Harvey’s quiet Ohio childhood, his battle with polio, his moral mission for a sober community — and the twist of fate that turned his orchard into the epicenter of cinema.
Stay curious. Stay brave. And remember: sometimes history’s biggest dreams start with someone who never lived to see them come true.
________________________________________
👉 Did you know Hollywood’s founder never made a single movie? What other hidden origin stories should we cover next? Drop your ideas below!
________________________________________
Harvey Henderson Wilcox, Hollywood founder, history podcast, Faces Of History, Hollywood origin, Daeida Wilcox, old Hollywood, Los Angeles history, early Hollywood, Hollywood sign history
#FacesOfHistory #HarveyWilcox #Hollywood #HistoryPodcast #HiddenHistory #OldHollywood #LosAngeles #HollywoodSign #MovieHistory