The story of Earl Holliman’s journey to Hollywood is one of aspiration and perseverance. In 1943, Holliman was 14 years old and adamant about wanting to be a movie star.

Raised in Oil City and Mooringsport, rather than Shreveport as is frequently stated, he traveled via a number of locations before arriving in Hollywood.

He first went to see relatives in Camden, Arkansas, and from there he bused himself to Texarkana. He took a rideshare to Hollywood from there.

Holliman had worked the night shift at a diner close to Barksdale Air Force Base and as a theater usher, so he had saved some money. A serviceman he met at the cafe even gave him a lead on a place to stay, which turned out to be in El Monte, California, a good distance from Hollywood. Looking back on his trip, Holliman acknowledges that it was a dangerous decision that wouldn’t be prudent in the modern day.

DAILY LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD

After his initial try in Hollywood failed, Holliman made a quick trip back home before deciding to serve in the Navy. But his desire to be a movie star never went away. Later on, he went back to Los Angeles to continue his education at the University of California, Los Angeles and the Pasadena Playhouse.