The iconic song “On the Good Ship Lollipop,” made famous by Shirley Temple, has become a cultural symbol, referenced in various forms of media. However, not many realize that the ship in question is actually an airplane. Originally sung by Temple’s character as she taxied around Glendale’s Grand Central Air Terminal, the song celebrates air travel and its growing popularity in the 1930s.

Today, the Grand Central Air Terminal, which was completed in 1929, has been restored by Disney and serves as their headquarters and event space. It is one of the few remaining remnants of the airport, where aviation pioneers like Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Laura Ingalls made history. The airport also played a role in early Hollywood films such as “Hell’s Angels” and “Lady Killer.

However, the famous airport scene in “Casablanca” was not filmed at Grand Central Air Terminal, but rather at Van Nuys Airport. This is just one example of the deep and complex relationship between Hollywood and aviation, which has been mutually beneficial and occasionally tragic.

In the early 1900s, Los Angeles was the perfect location for both the flight and film industries to flourish. As small aircraft manufacturers like Lockheed and Douglas settled on the West Coast, Hollywood power players also became interested in aviation. In 1910, over 200,000 people attended the Los Angeles International Air Meet, and by the end of World War I, there were 53 airports within a 10-mile radius of City Hall.

Famous Hollywood figures, such as Howard Hughes and Cecil B. DeMille, were also involved in the aviation industry. DeMille even established the first commercial airline with regularly scheduled flights in the world. However, the profitability of air travel was short-lived, as the runways of small airports became too short for larger planes and the land became more valuable for real estate development.

Despite this, Hollywood continued to promote and celebrate aviation through films and the endorsement of airlines. Stunt pilots, who were often former World War I airmen, became popular movie stars. However, the dangers of the job were evident, as seen with the death of Ormer Locklear during the filming of “The Skywayman. ” This tragedy motivated actor Reginald Denny to create a miniature remote-controlled plane for filming stunts, which later became the basis for drones used in World War II.

As air travel became more common, Hollywood celebrities also began to travel by plane, and their arrivals were often captured by photographers for publicity. Studio costume designers even created flight attendant fashion. During World War II, Hollywood also played a role in camouflaging Lockheed Air Terminal, now known as Hollywood Burbank Airport, to protect it from potential Japanese attacks.

Since then, both Hollywood and air travel have continued to evolve, with LAX becoming the new hub for celebrity sightings and film locations.