The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ Crossing To Be Recreated In Hollywood For One Day Only
Los Angeles will close down Vine St. at Hollywood Blvd. on 26 September to recreate that other famous London intersection.
Traffic has been perpetually tied up around London’s Abbey Road Studios for 50 years now as fans flock to the street outside to recreate the Beatles’ photographic stroll. To celebrate five decades of that famous morning walk – and also 50 years of Abbey Road the album – the city of Los Angeles will close down Vine St. at Hollywood Blvd. on 26 September to recreate that other famous intersection.
That and other ceremonial festivities will take place adjacent to Hollywood’s famed Capitol Records tower the day before the release of the 50th anniversary edition of Abbey Road, which includes a newly remixed version of the album and previously unreleased outtakes from the 1969 sessions.
The Hollywood & Vine crossing will not, however, be permanently repainted in a zebra pattern for the celebration. A Beatles/Universal Music Group spokesperson told Variety what, exactly, the photo op will entail: “The crosswalk will be recreated with a non-slip heavy vinyl recreation of Abbey Road’s zebra crossing laid down over the existing Vine St. crosswalk, with an 8-foot tall double-sided backdrop of 4 panels (two per side) showing the Abbey Road cover art photo without the Beatles in the image. There will be four Abbey Road zebra crossing and backdrop areas (two areas per side) for fans to take photos and videos.”
And then, after being closed for the festivities from 1-3:30 that afternoon, Vine St. will reopen to Hollywood’s usual too-many-new-hotels-and-condos traffic.
Sir Patrick Stewart will provide the celebrity presence at the occasion, joined by L.A. city council member Mitch O’Farrell and Board of Public Works President Kevin James. Other attractions beyond the photo op will include a Beatles pop-up shop curated by Amoeba Music, food trucks, “Abbey Road” cupcakes and an unspecified “free, exclusive, commemorative takeaway item,” while supplies last.
The temporary crosswalk unveiling and a dedication for a permanent new City of Los Angeles sign at the Capitol tower will take place from 1-1.15pm, with the rest of the festivities going on till 3.30pm.
The 50th anniversary editions of Abbey Road are out now and can be bought here.
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