Hollywood Christmas Parade

A 75-year Los Angeles tradition came to an end Wednesday as officials disclosed that last year's Hollywood Christmas Parade was the final one. Rising costs and shrinking revenues are to blame for the cancellation, leaders of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said. "This is a very difficult thing for us to have to do," said Jeff Briggs, chairman of the chamber's board of directors. "We're disappointed and sad. But we're out of the parade business."

It was only a week ago that Hollywood leaders announced that there would never be another Hollywood Christmas Parade. But there Santa Claus was Wednesday, parading down the boulevard's Walk of Fame with a ragtag band of supporters behind him. "Save the Hollywood Christmas Parade!" they shouted during a three-block march as tourists snapped photos and locals stared.

FOR YEARS, I HAD A second-floor loft/photo studio on Hollywood Boulevard, above Frederick's, across the street from Johnny's Steak House, down the block from Musso & Frank's, with two enormous French windows that opened out onto the boulevard and the Walk of Fame in all its tacky glory. It was the perfect place to watch the Hollywood Christmas Parade go by, as all my friends soon noticed.

Escorted by TV icon Bob Barker and the youthful cast of "High School Musical," Santa Claus is coming to town after all this year, Hollywood leaders said Friday. A hastily organized Hollywood Santa Parade will replace the 79-year-old Hollywood Christmas Parade, which was canceled seven months ago for financial reasons by its former sponsor, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. This year's parade will begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 25.

For Michelle Sawers, the bottom line Sunday night was that no matter what, she and her family got to watch a holiday parade along Hollywood Boulevard. "It's a family tradition," said Sawers, who was surrounded by her four young children and her father near North Cherokee Avenue. "It's on the agenda every year. It's the kickoff to our Christmas season."

Comedian George Lopez was announced Wednesday as grand marshal of this year's Hollywood Christmas Parade. The 75th annual parade, which travels a 2.3-mile route along Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard, will be broadcast live on KTLA-TV Channel 5 on Nov. 26. And, for the first time, the parade also will have an honorary grand marshal: TV host Regis Philbin, who also is 75.

In years past, many of the movie capital's greatest stars have served as grand marshal of the Hollywood Christmas Parade -- Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Sammy Davis Jr. and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to name a few. In honor of its 75th anniversary, this annual kickoff of the holiday season in Los Angeles, for the first time will have two grand marshals: Comedian George Lopez will serve as grand marshal and television personality Regis Philbin will be its diamond jubilee honorary grand marshal.

The 75th annual Hollywood Christmas Paradewill take place Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. How to get there and where towatch: Getting thereSpectators are urged to take Metro buses and the Red Line to theparade, as traffic and parking in the area are very difficult. Faresare $1.25 one-way or $3 for an all-day pass. Red Line stations are onHollywood Blvd. near Highland Ave. and near Vine St. Go towww.metro.net for routes and schedules, or call (800) 266-6883.

For more than three-quarters of a century, the Hollywood Christmas Parade has stepped onto Hollywood Boulevard, an enduring Los Angeles tradition that began as a promotional event to boost holiday shopping along the famed thoroughfare. In the 1920s, Hollywood merchants, under the leadership of future Los Angeles County Supervisor Harry M.