Batman Returns (1992)

May 24, 2018August 13, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

One of the original Catwoman costumes, worn by Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton’s 1992 sequel “Batman Returns” can be found at the Batman exhibit as part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505

A prop of one of The Penguin’s armed penguin soldiers can be found on display at Planet Hollywood, Florida.

LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

May 23, 2018April 5, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can,” while Carl, played by Tom Hanks, is on the hunt for Frank Abagnale, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, eats at a diner, where a waitress tips him off that the alias Frank has been using is the name of “The Flash” in the comic books, cluing him in that his suspect may be younger than he originally thought.

This was filmed at the former Quality Cafe in downtown Los Angeles. The diner was a one-time staple of films, appearing in “Seven” “Training Day,” “Ghost World,” “Million Dollar Baby” and dozens more. However, it was not an actual restaurant open to the public. Instead it was used solely for filming. Sadly, it ceased to function as a filming location and was completely renovated in 2014. The property no longer bears any resemblance to how it appeared in so many films.

LOCATION: 1238 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (now closed and heavily remodeled)

The Miami Airport where Frank slips past the FBI by surrounding himself with attractive flight attendants was actually filmed at the Ontario Airport in Ontario, California. This particular terminal is not in active use and has popped up in countless other films, including “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Zodiac,” “Blow,” “Argo” and many more.

LOCATION: 1940 Moore Way, Ontario, CA 91761

Another view of the same airport, depicted as the baggage claim terminal in the film.

Later in the film, Frank takes his father, played by Christopher Walken, to an upscale restaurant, where he tells him he bought him a Cadillac. The actual location is not a restaurant at all. It’s the famous “Pompeian Room” of the Doheny Mansion, located on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. While the mansion does offer occasional tours to the public, some of the guides can be strict about allowing photos inside. Many films have shot at the mansion, including “The Princess Diaries,” “Drag Me To Hell” “The Three Amigos” and more.

LOCATION: 10 Chester Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Frank strikes up a romance with Brenda, played by Amy Adams, who brings him to the house of her father, played by Martin Sheen. Frank has to make an abrupt departure with the FBI hot on his heels. The house used in the film can be found in Pasadena. The address is on E Crary St, but the back of the house faces that direction and the perimeter is surrounded by a wall, so you won’t see much from there. The front side of the house is actually around the block on Layton St, which dead-ends into the driveway of the home. The same house has also been seen in the films “Matilda” and “Scream 2.” Unfortunately, the property owners have since posted no trespassing signs near the end of Ladyton St, making it much more difficult for pedestrians to see the house anymore.

LOCATION: 2186 E Crary St, Pasadena, CA 91104 (front of the home faces Ladyton St)

Near the end of the film, Frank is arrested in front of his mother’s house, which can be found in Pasadena.

LOCATION: 3077 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)

May 21, 2018September 29, 2018 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Will Ferrell drives this Wonder Bread race car in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” The car can be seen on display at the Sony Pictures Studio Tour in Culver City, California.

Ricky Bobby’s racing uniform can also be seen on the tour.

LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Stanley Kubrick LACMA Exhibit

May 20, 2018September 14, 2018 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, better known as LACMA, ran a Stanley Kubrick retrospective exhibit from November 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. While the exhibit is long since closed, here we’ll take a look through some of the items that were on display.

LOCATION: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Numerous posters from Kubrick’s filmography.

One of his old director’s chairs.

Some “2001: A Space Odyssey” items, starting with a film slate.

Some concepts for the ape costumes for the “Dawn of Man” sequence.

Some props from the film, including silverware and a watch.

A model of the running wheel from the film.

The monolith.

A model of the room from the end of the film.

The star child.

One of the ultra wide angle lenses used on the film.

Some items from “The Shining.”

The typewriter from the film. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

The twins’ dresses.

Danny’s sweater.

A knife from the film.

A model of the hedge maze.

The final shot.

Some items from “A Clockwork Orange.”

A Japanese press brochure.

Some press clippings of the ensuing controversy the film stirred up.

Some “Full Metal Jacket” items.

The “Born to Kill” helmet.

A slate for Kubrick’s final film, “Eyes Wide Shut.”

Some masks from the orgy scene.

Some “Barry Lyndon” items.

Some costumes from the film.

Some “Dr. Strangelove” items, starting with some posters for the film.

A model of the war room.

A costume from “Sparticus.”

Some concept art from Stanley Kubrick’s version of “A.I.” The film would famously go on to be made by Steven Spielberg after Kubrick’s passing.

Some items from Kubrick’s “Napoleon” film, which was never made. Here is a script page.

A bookshelf full of research materials.

Some notes for the film.

An assortment of lenses used by Kubrick were also on display.

Last, but not least, Kubrick’s chess board. The director was famously fond of the game.

While the exhibit is no longer on display, LACMA is an excellent museum and regularly has interesting things to see. We highly recommend a visit if you find yourself in the Los Angeles area.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

May 17, 2018 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The house from the 2007 action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, can be found in Pasadena, California.

LOCATION: 1565 San Pasqual St, Pasadena, CA 91106

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

May 13, 2018May 12, 2018 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

This Volkswagen van was one of five used in the 2006 film “Little Miss Sunshine.” It can be found on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

American Horror Story

May 12, 2018 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The murder house from season 1 of the TV series “American Horror Story” can be found in Los Angeles, California. The house attracts such a high volume of fans from the show that when it was sold in 2015, the new owners, who claimed they were unaware of the home’s connection to the show, sued the previous owners and their realtor for allegedly failing to divulge the house’s pop culture notoriety and the influx of visitors it would attract.

LOCATION: 1120 Westchester Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Gravity (2013)

May 12, 2018May 12, 2018 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

On the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, you can find these props and costumes from the film “Gravity.” First is one of the original capsules used in the film.

Here is one of the light boxes from the film, which was used to perfectly simulate light, shadow and reflection in a way unobtainable via traditional green screen.

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505

Saved By The Bell

May 6, 2018July 28, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The original “Saved By the Bell” show taped at Sunset-Gower Studios in Hollywood, California. Those sets are long since gone, but that didn’t stop the next best thing from happening; a full blown, pop-up restaurant, inspired by the show. Recreating many of the classic sets, Saved By the Max was created with participation and support from NBC and first opened in Chicago, Illinois (1941 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622), where it ran for a year, before relocating to Los Angeles, California, where it is also currently slated to run for one year.

LOCATION: 7100 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

The restaurant is well designed, capturing many of the little details of The Max. It is a full service restaurant, serving burgers, shakes and many other foods. Occasionally cast members from the show even make appearances.

Not an actual, functioning door. In fact, even the window is not real.

The classic jukebox from the show.

And of course the arcade machines.

A DJ station for KKTY Bayside.

Some oversized heads of the cast for visitors to use for photo ops.

A look at the kitchen.

The merch area, where you can buy hoodies, t-shirts, slap bracelets and more.

Visitors can also choose to dine in Mr. Belding’s office.

Sections of the restaurant even tried to recreate portions of Bayside High.

Here we see the lockers of all of the cast. Zack, Slater, Kelly, Screech, Jessie, Lisa and even Tori.

There’s even a “Belding stinks” sticker on the bathroom door, a nice touch.

Some props and merchandise from the original show, including menus for The Max, dolls, the Saved By the Bell board game, a copy of the Bayside Breeze newspaper and much more.

There are a few locations in the real world that were used for the show, but these were limited to the TV movies, which came after the original show and could no longer utilize the former sets. In “Saved By the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas,” this Pacific Palisades home is shown the be the house of Zack Morris. Throughout the main run of the show, Zack’s house was always a set.

LOCATION: 510 Frontera Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

There is also a shot in the movie showing Palisades High School as the famous Bayside High School. This is the only time, aside from a couple establishing shots during Season 1, an exterior high school shot was ever used. Again, in the original show, it was always a set. The same school was used in the original 1976 “Carrie,” the 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday” and many more films.

LOCATION: 15777 Bowdoin St, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

For those wondering, the Malibu Sands Resort was filmed at the Annenberg Community Beach House at 415 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402. It has since been heavily remodeled and looks nothing like it did on the show.

Teen Wolf (1985)

May 5, 2018August 11, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1985 film “Teen Wolf,” Scott, played by Michael J. Fox, lives at this South Pasadena home. Ironically, the same house was seen in another 1980s Michael J. Fox film, “Back To The Future,” where it served as the house of Marty’s mother, Lorainne.

LOCATION: 1727 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The party house, seen briefly in the film, is located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. The same house can be seen in “A Star Is Born” and the TV series “This Is Us.” Directly next door is also the house of Chloë Grace Moretz’s character in “(500) Days Of Summer.”

LOCATION: 5223 Shearin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Scott’s high school is the John Burroughs Middle School. The same school was used in many films, such as “Pleasantville,” “Pretty In Pink,” “Never Been Kissed” and “Waiting For Guffman.”

LOCATION: 600 S Mc Cadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Film Oblivion

Movie and TV locations, points of interest.

Month: May 2018