Why is the U.S. motion picture industry concentrated in Hollywood and
why does it remain there in the age of globalization? Allen Scott uses
the tools of economic geography to explore these questions and to
provide a number of highly original answers. The conceptual roots of his
analysis go back to Alfred Marshall's theory of industrial districts and
pick up on modern ideas about business clusters as sites of efficient
and innovative production.
On Hollywood builds on this work by adding major new empirical
elements. By examining the history of motion-picture production from the
early twentieth century to the present through this analytic lens, Scott
is able to show why the industry (which was initially focused on New
York) had shifted the majority of its production to Southern California
by 1919. He also addresses in detail the bases of Hollywood's
long-standing creative energies and competitive advantages. At the same
time, the book explores the steady globalization of Hollywood's market
reach as well as the cultural and political dilemmas posed by this
phenomenon.
On Hollywood will appeal not only to general readers with an interest
in the motion-picture industry, but also to economic geographers,
business professionals, regional development practitioners, and cultural
theorists as well.
