Air Force One (1997)

August 16, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1997 Harrison Ford action movie “Air Force One” was filmed in several different locations, including Ohio, California, Washington D.C. and Russia.

When Vice President Kathryn Bennett, played by Glenn Close calls Russian President Petrov, he speaks to her from his bedroom. This was filmed at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. The same room was used in “The Big Lebowski” and “There Will Be Blood.”

LOCATION: Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The scenes of General Alexander Radek being released from prison were filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. The former prison is of course most well known for being featured in “The Shawshank Redemption,” but it was also featured in the 1980s action film “Tango & Cash.” This gate is seen in the establishing shot of the prison. It’s not a real gate and was built by the production specifically for the film. There was also a longer wall built on each side of the gate. After filming completed, the property had the wall taken back down but left the gate. Seeing it in person, it looks a bit strange, as it’s a gate to nothing on the side of the building.

LOCATION: 100 Reformatory Rd., Mansfield, OH 44905

The camera then moves above the gate and we see these stairs leading into the prison.

The Ohio State Reformatory does offer tours and inside they have a couple photos from the production. On the right, you can see the full wall.

Here is an autographed poster from the film.

If you find yourself in Ohio, it’s well worth it to make a stop at the Ohio State Reformatory. It’s one of the most memorable filming locations we’ve visited.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The neighborhood in Tim Burton’s 1990 film “Edward Scissorhands” was originally considered to film in Burbank, California, where Burton grew up. However, the director felt the neighborhoods had changed too much from his childhood and began scouting other locations, ultimately settling on the Tampa Bay area of Florida.

Early in the film, the neighborhood is introduced as Peg, played by Dianne Wiest, goes door to door selling make-up products. The neighborhood in question known as Carpenter’s Run in Lutz, Florida. The production took the unusual step of painting all of the houses in faded pastel colors. The homes were newly built at the time and the production painted them back to their original colors at the completion of filming.

One house Peg skips while making her house calls is that of Esmerelda, an eccentric religious woman.

LOCATION: 1816 Tinsmith Cir, Lutz, FL 33559

After an unsuccessful loop through the neighborhood, Pam decides out of desperation to visit the castle of Edward, played by Johnny Depp. This was a composite of two locations. The castle is seen in a matte painting at the top of a rocky peak at the end of this cul-de-sac on Tinsmith Circle. The castle exterior itself was a real set, however, built by the production over in an empty plot of land only accessible via a dirt road just outside of Dade City, Florida. It was then composited into the shot on Tinsmith Circle, with castle set torn down at the completion of filming.

LOCATION: End of Tinsmith Cir, Lutz, FL 33559 (nearest address is 1800 Tinsmith Cir, Lutz, FL 33559)

Here’s a reverse view from the cul-de-sac, also seen in the film.

The Boggs family house where Kim, played by Winona Ryder, lives is in the same neighborhood, just across the street from Esmerelda’s house.

LOCATION: 1774 Tinsmith Cir, Lutz, FL 33559

The back yard of the house is seen in many scenes in the film, such as when the family throws a party and when Edward sculpts ice, making the shavings appear as snow.

Edward is brought to a hair salon at the Southgate Shopping Center in Lakeland.

LOCATION: 2515 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL 33803

He sees Kim and her boyfriend embracing here.

Behind the main sign is where the hair salon could be found.

The salon location itself currently sits vacant.

Kim’s boyfriend Jim, played by Anthony Michael Hall, lives in this house, also located in Tinsmith Circle, near the other houses from the film.

LOCATION: 1844 Tinsmith Cir, Lutz, FL 33559

Fight Club (1999)

August 9, 2019August 9, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

David Fincher’s 1999 film “Fight Club” was shot primarily around Los Angeles, California. Early in the film, the unnamed narrator, played by Edward Norton, attends support groups for diseases he does not have. He visits the St. Brendan Catholic Church, which has appeared in numerous productions, including “Spider-Man 3,” “Armageddon” and the Guns N’ Roses music video for “November Rain.”

LOCATION: 310 S Van Ness Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020

After meeting Marla Singer, played by Helena Bonham Carter, he follows her to this laundromat, where she takes clothes that don’t belong to her. The laundromat is still in business.

LOCATION: 4371 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029

The vintage clothing store where she sells the clothes was located just across the street.

LOCATION: 4314 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004

The narrator’s apartment can be found near downtown Los Angeles. It’s located just across from the 2nd Street Tunnel, a popular filming location seen in such films as “Blade Runner,” “Kill Bill,” “The Terminator” and many more. Known as the Promenade Towers, the property consists of two main towers. The one seen in the film is closest to the W 1st St overpass. He calls Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, from a phone booth at the front entrance between the two towers.

LOCATION: 123 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Fight Club begins at Lou’s Tavern. The building was a real bar, located near Wilmington. It had closed by the time the production came along, which added the neon signs. Not long after filming completed, the building was demolished altogether. It’s now just some empty land at the corner of S Figueroa St and W Harry Bridges Blvd.

LOCATION: S Figueroa St / W Harry Bridges Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90731 (now demolished)

The building where Tyler holds a man at gunpoint and urges him to go back to school was also filmed at a nearby liquor store at 1109 W Harry Bridges Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744, but was also demolished.

Tyler’s house, supposedly located on Paper Street, was a set built by the production on Neptune Ave in Wilmington. It was removed at the completion of filming and is likewise now just empty land.

LOCATION: 240 N Neptune Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744 (now demolished)

As Fight Club begins to expand, the club begins taking on homework assignments by trying to start fights with the public. A man sprays a preacher with a hose as he walks by this tire shop.

LOCATION: 505 N Avalon Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744

Another public fight takes place in front of these geometric art pieces, found in the Citigroup Center in Downtown Los Angeles. The same area was used as the exterior of the bank in “Heat.”

LOCATION: 444 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

The car dealership fight was filmed at 5151 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, but the building has since been demolished, with a new building standing in its place.

As the assignments escalate, things go wrong when the space monkeys try to destroy a piece of corporate art. This was filmed at Two California Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles. There is no actual ball or fountain there. To get to this area, look for signs for the Water Court from S Grand Ave.

LOCATION: 350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Three scenes were filmed at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The first is where Tyler appears in a corporate video, welcoming the narrator to his hotel room. The second is when Tyler works in a hotel restaurant where he defiles the food. This was filmed in the hotel’s Emerald Room. In a third scene, Tyler threatens to cut off the police commissioner’s balls in the men’s restroom of the Regency Room.

LOCATION: 506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Marla lives in the Hotel Bristol, also in Downtown L.A.

LOCATION: 423 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

A computer store gets blown up in Downtown L.A., near the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

LOCATION: 501 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Video tapes are erased with magnets at a former video store on Wilshire Blvd.

LOCATION: 6340 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Marla is put on a bus at the corner of S Broadway and W 8th St in Los Angeles. The narrator is then seen walking towards the former Olympic Theater.

LOCATION: 313 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

The final scenes with the buildings collapsing were a CGI composite.

It’s unfortunate that some of the most iconic locations from the film were either sets, CGI or since demolished. However, if you’re a fan of the film, there’s still a lot of locations to be seen.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

August 6, 2019August 6, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2017 film “Kong: Skull Island” filmed at a variety of locations around the world, including Australia, Vietnam and Hawaii. Over at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, there are a couple interesting set pieces from the film.

First up is the bone graveyard. These props made by the production were unfortunately not built to last. As they remain exposed to the elements year round, they are slowly deteriorating. The props will not likely be displayed in this manor long term, but for now they can be seen on the ranch’s movie tours.

LOCATION: Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

In the Jungle area of the ranch, there is one more location from the film; the site of the helicopter crash.

A few more bone props are stored in the prop building at the ranch.

If you’re a fan of filming locations and make it to Hawaii, Kuloa Ranch is an oasis, hosting dozens of memorable films. There are a wide variety of tours available at the ranch, more than one of which are film related. We recommend the Premier Movie Site Tour, as it takes you to many locations that are only seen on that particular tour. The Hollywood tour, while cheaper, skips many locations around the ranch.

Roadracers (1994)

August 4, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Between his successful indie debut “El Mariachi” and the hit sequel “Desperado,” Robert Rodriguez made a small film called “Roadracers.” Shot in just 13 days, the film was part of a television anthology known as “Rebel Highway,” which enlisted notable directors to take b-movie titles from the 1950s and apply them to original stories. This first installment was set to be directed by Wes Craven, before he dropped out in order to begin work on “New Nightmare.” Rodriguez stepped up in his place and made a fun film that continues to find new audiences decades later.

While set in Texas, most of the film was shot in Whittier, California. The downstairs club where Dude Delaney, played by David Arquette, meets up with Donna, played by Salma Hayek, can be found on Greenleaf Ave in Whittier. The location pops up numerous times over the course of the film. While located on a busy shopping strip, the property currently sits vacant.

LOCATION: 6745 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90601

The theater where Dude and Donna pick up Nixer, played by John Hawkes, is the Whittier Village Cinemas, located just up the road. Over twenty years later, the theater is still going strong.

LOCATION: 7038 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90602

The theater pops up again later in the film when trio watch the 1956 version of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” featuring a cameo from original film star Kevin McCarthey.

Teddy Leather, played by Jason Wiles, rolls up with his crew next to Dude’s car in front of the Nixon Plaza. Dude flicks his cigarette butt, which lands in the hair of the girl in the back seat. Indicative of Rodriguez’s run and gun style of his early career, the same location was used again later in the film, when Teddy’s crew toss beer bottles at Dude.

LOCATION: 13002 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601

The two cars drag race down Philadelphia St.

LOCATION: Philadelphia St / Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90601

Donna’s house can be found just across the street from the Whittier Central Park, another location that pops up later in the film.

LOCATION: 6543 Washington Ave, Whittier, CA 90601

The roller rink where Dude greases his hair and spreads it across the floor of the rink was the former Fiesta Roller Rink in San Gabriel. The roller rink closed back in 2003. Some other businesses have since come and gone, but the building currently sits empty.

LOCATION: 136 S San Gabriel Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Here’s a look inside.

Dude’s house, which has been slightly remodeled, can be found back in Whittier.

LOCATION: 5919 Redman Ave, Whittier, CA 90606

Along the curb in front of his house, Dude backs his car into the police car of Sarge, played by William Sadler.

As Donna and her friend walk beside Whittier Central Park, Teddy Leather’s crew approaches along Bailey St and Teddy forces himself on Donna. The same area was used again in a later scene, where Sarge gives Teddy a gun.

LOCATION: Near the intersection of Bailey St / Washington Ave, Whittier, CA 90601

Dude and Donna sit on the steps of this gazebo, located at Whittier Central Park.

LOCATION: Central Park, Whittier, CA 90601

Teddy’s crew walks down these steps and challenge Dude.

The final confrontation between Dude and Teddy takes place across from the former Los Portales Mexican restaurant.

LOCATION: 13033 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601

The Sandlot (1993)

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The beloved 1993 baseball comedy “The Sandlot” was filmed mostly around Salt Lake City, Utah. The open and close of the film, however, was shot at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

LOCATION: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The houses of Smalls, Benny and Ham are all located next to each other in a cul-de-sac in Salt Lake City. The Smalls house can be seen here.

LOCATION: 1556 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Benny’s house is just across the street.

LOCATION: 1571 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Ham’s house is just a couple doors down from Smalls.

LOCATION: 2005 Bryan Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

The boys can be seen walking in front of the houses here.

Over in the town of Midvale, you’ll find Vincent Drug, where the boys purchased their baseballs. Vincent Drug has long since closed, but the signage and decor largely remain in tact. The trees out front have grown considerably since filming took place, so it’s a bit difficult to see from across the street.

LOCATION: 7696 Main St W, Midvale, UT 84047

Here’s a better view of the front of the store, where Squints and Yeah-Yeah walk out and see Wendy Peffercorn walking down the sidewalk.

Here is the sidewalk where Wendy approaches.

An additional scene was also shot at the back of the store. The boys sit in front of the wall to the right, talking about Babe Ruth.

The Sandlot itself is unfortunately inaccessible to the public. It sits in a quiet neighborhood, tucked away behind a block of houses. The owner of the land lives in one of the houses and according to comments online, he is not welcoming to guests. There are one or two spots where there are gaps between the houses, where just a small section of the land can be seen, such as this.

LOCATION: The land behind 1388 Glenrose Dr S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104

About 45 minutes north of Salt Lake City, in the town of Ogden, you’ll find the swimming pool from the movie. The Lorin Farr Community Pool is where Squints fakes drowning in order to steal a kiss from Wendy Peffercorn when she attempts to administer mouth to mouth. While you’re in Ogden, be sure to check out the Dante’s Inferno restaurant location from “Dumb And Dumber.”

LOCATION: 1691 Gramercy Ave, Ogden, UT 84404

As the boys are thrown out, they get escorted through this exit on the opposite side of the pool. There’s a river running right next to the path. It’s a beautiful area if you have extra time to walk around.

Squints stands in front of this fence and catches one last look at Wendy.

Some kids challenge the boys to a baseball game, which was filmed at Riverside Park in Salt Lake City.

LOCATION: 739 N 1400 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Film Oblivion

Movie and TV locations, points of interest.

Month: August 2019