“The Golden Palace” was a spin-off of the classic sitcom “The Golden Girls,” which aired for one season from 1992 to 1993. The show tells the story of Blanche, Rose, and Sophia opening a hotel in Miami. The hotel, known as “The Golden Palace,” is actually known as “The Carlyle” and can be found along the famous Ocean Dr in Miami Beach. The same hotel was featured in the films “The Birdcage” and “Scarface,” as well as the TV show “Miami Vice.”
The 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday,” starring Lindsay Lohan (Anna Coleman) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Tess Coleman), was filmed in Southern California. The Coleman house can be found in Pacific Palisades. The same home appeared in the film “You Again.”
LOCATION: 732 Chapala Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
The high school seen in the film is Palisades High School. The same school was used in the original 1976 “Carrie,” “The Glass House,” “Havoc,” “Crazy/Beautiful,” the TV show “Saved By The Bell” and many more productions.
LOCATION: 15777 Bowdoin St, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
The elementary school scenes were filmed at Dorris Place Elementary School. The same school appeared in the films “Child’s Play 2,” “Unlawful Entry,” “Robocop,” “Cooties” and “Pinocchio’s Revenge,” as well as the TV series “Cold Case” and “Lucifer.”
The 2000 Robert Zemeckis film “Cast Away” shot in Tennessee, Texas, Moscow, Russia and a remote island named Monuriki, which is part of the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. The production famously shut down for one year to allow Tom Hanks, who stars as Chuck Noland, to lose weight and grow his hair out for the role. The island’s coordinates, where much of the film takes place, are 17°36’36.0″S, 177°02’03.5″E.
The beginning and the end of the film take place at the same location, a crossroads located near the towns of Mobeetie and Canadian, in Hemphill County, Texas. Depending on the map, you’ll see it listed under either town. The opening shot shows a delivery truck turning right from FM1268 onto a dirt road called Co Rd 5 (the southern, paved portion of the road is FM 48).
The film closes at the same intersection, where Chuck pulls over near the stop sign. He speaks here with the owner of the ranch, who offers him directions. In the film, you can actually see the street signs. While the stop sign is still there, the street signs are gone. Chuck then walks to the center of the intersection and faces all four directions of the crossroads, before the film fades into the end credits.
The truck from the beginning, as well as Chuck’s vehicle at the end, both drive up Co Rd 5 (also known as Neece Road) towards a ranch. The path the vehicles take is geographically accurate from the intersection where the film begins and ends. Its about a ten minute drive to reach it. The road is mostly flat and can accommodate most vehicles.
The truck then turns into a ranch, with a sign for “Dick and Bettina” at the entrance gate (the “Dick” part of the sign has been removed by the end of the film). The real ranch is known as Arrington Ranch House Lodge. When Chuck leaves a note to the owner at the end of the film, the letterhead actually says “Arrington Ranch.” The home was built in 1919 by former Texas Ranger George Washington Arrington. Today the ranch is still owned by the same family and operates as a bed and breakfast, offering fans of the film an opportunity to stay at the property.
LOCATION: 9765 Co Rd 5, Canadian, TX 79014 (the address is also listed as 9765 Neece on some maps)
The entrance gate currently at the ranch is not the same one seen in the film, but the owners did use angel wings in the center, as seen in the film.
The barn where the truck picks up the parcel is still there.
Here’s a better look at the main ranch house. Chuck returns the package he kept from the plane wreckage, which washed ashore the deserted island, leaving it at the front door.
Here is a wider view of the property. The ranch itself is private property and there are warning signs not to trespass. You can see everything well from the road, however, or if you want a closer look, you can seek out reservations online to stay at the ranch, via the Arrington Ranch website.
The home of Kelly, played by Helen Hunt, can be found in Memphis, Tennessee (74 Devon Way Memphis, TN 38111).
The 2006 drama “Bobby,” about the day of the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, filmed at the former Ambassador Hotel, where the real assassination took place. The film was notable for being the last production to shoot at the Ambassador, before it was demolished. Demolition had actually already begun at the time of filming, but many parts of the hotel had not yet been destroyed yet. So the production filmed in areas they could at the real hotel, then used multiple other locations to stand in as well.
The Ambassador was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “Forrest Gump,” “True Romance,” “Seven,” “Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Mask” and dozens more. After closing for good in 1989, the Ambassedor was used primarily for filming throughout the 1990s. The film crews were apparently not always considerate of the property, leaving it in poor condition after wrapping. Eventually the hotel was in such disrepair, despite a long struggle to preserve the property, it was eventually settled upon to be demolished. Only this post and statue from the original building remain at the location.
LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)
Many more locations were used to composite the hotel, including the MacArthur in Los Angeles, formerly known as the Park Plaza Hotel. No longer a functioning hotel, the MacArthur today serves primarily as a property for hosting filming and special events. However, it is under renovation with apparent plans to open a portion up once again as a hotel in 2022. The interior stood in for portions of the lobby of the Ambassador. It has been featured in many films, such as “Wild At Heart,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Drive,” “Gangster Squad,” “Tango & Cash,” “The Hidden” and many more.
LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
The Castle Green Apartments in Pasadena stood in for the hotels gardens area. Castle Green has likewise been featured in countless films, such as “The Little Rascals,” “True Romance,” “The Sting,” “Wild At Heart,” “Deja Vu,” “Sneakers,” “Bugsy,” “The Last Samurai,” “Puppet Master” and many more.
Portions of the 2017 Alexander Payne film “Downsizing,” like much of his work, filmed in the director’s home state of Nebraska, with additional filming in Canada and Norway. Early in the film, Paul and Audrey Safranek, played by Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig, live at this duplex, located in Omaha. In one scene, they are seen selling their belongings in a yard sale out front, as they prepare to downsize.
LOCATION: 4629 Douglas St, Omaha, NE 68132
The back of the property and garage also appear in the film. An alley runs behind Douglas Street to this area.
Paul sits with his buddies watching a news program debating the benefits of downsizing at this restaurant.
LOCATION: 4432 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE 68105
The Safraneks look at this home in Elkhorn as they evaluate the local housing market. The interior was filmed at a different house in the same neighborhood.
LOCATION: 18676 Oregon Cir, Elkhorn, NE 68022
Paul and Audrey attend an alumni gathering at this school, where they run into an old friend Dave, played by Jason Sudeikis. Dave has been downsized and tells Paul all about the benefits of his life after the procedure. The entrance seen in the film is at the back and has been slightly remodeled since filming took place.
LOCATION: 7400 Western Ave, Omaha, NE 68114 (back entrance at 41°16’19.5″N, 96°01’39.8″W)
Paul and Audrey have a going away gathering at Jams Old Market (1101 Harney St, Omaha, NE 68102).
The 1974 cult thriller “Bad Ronald” tells the story of a boy whom, after an accident, is locked inside his home even as it changes ownership. The home in question is known as the Goode House, located in Glendale, California.
The 1975 documentary “Grey Gardens” tells the story of a reclusive mother and daughter, both named Edith Beale (and referred to as “Big Edie” and “Little Edie” respectively), who live in poverty amidst an upscale neighborhood of East Hampton, New York. The Beales are the aunt and the first cousin of former U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The filmmakers were originally planning a film about Kennedy’s sister, Lee Radziwill, but after meeting the Beales through that project, they were so taken by their personalities and lifestyle, they scrapped their original idea and instead decided to make a film about the Beales. Big Edie and Little Edie lived for over 50 years in their derelict home, known as Grey Gardens. After the passing of her mother, house was sold by Little Edie in 1979. The new owners subsequently restored the home, which still stands today.
The 1999 revenge film “The Limey,” directed by Stephen Soderbergh, is set in Los Angeles, where the production mostly took place as well. Wilson, played by Terence Stamp, plays an Englishman who travels to L.A. to track down those responsible for the death of his daughter. Wilson follows a lead to the offices of some associates of Terry Valentine. He first approaches from the corner of S Santa Fe Ave and Willow St in Downtown L.A., with the Fourth Street Viaduct visible in the background. Today, buildings mostly block the view of the viaduct, but a small portion of it can still be seen.
LOCATION: S Santa Fe Ave / Willow St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The location of the offices was actually part of what is now known as Willow Studios. In one of the most famous sequences of the film, Wilson takes a beating from the men inside and gets thrown out onto the street. Wilson stands up, pulls out a gun and proceeds back inside to finish the job.
LOCATION: 1335 Willow St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Terry Valentine, played by Peter Fonda, lives in this home overlooking the Hollywood Hills. The house is featured prominently in the film, particularly the distinctive looking pool area. Wilson attends a party at Valentine’s house. Most of Astral Dr is public, but the last stretch of it leading up to the home is marked private.
LOCATION: 2210 Astral Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Wilson meets up with Elaine, played by Lesley Ann Warren, at Dinah’s Family Restaurant near Culver City, which has also appeared in such films as “The Big Lebowski” and “Nightcrawler.”
LOCATION: 6521 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Elaine’s apartment can be found in West Hollywood. The same building has been featured in the films “L.A. Story,” “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Rush Hour” and more.
LOCATION: 1400 N Hayworth Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
The car chase begins at the intersection of Ledgewood Dr and Mulholland Hwy.
LOCATION: Ledgewood Dr / Mulholland Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Portions of the third act of the film were shot north around Big Sur. Wilson, Elaine and Ed (Luis Guzmán) stop at the Lucia Lodge, located at 62400 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920. The property was partially destroyed by a fire in 2021, but the lodge portion survived and remains open.
The 1967 film “In Cold Blood,” based on the classic “non-fiction novel” of the same name by Truman Capote, was filmed primarily around Kansas, with some additional scenes shot in Missouri, Nevada, California and Colorado. Published one year after the book, the filmmakers strove for authenticity by shooting at quite a few of the locations where the crimes actually happened.
The book tells the true story of the Clutter family, Herb, Bonnie, Nancy and Kenyon, who were murdered in the night by a pair of men they had never met before, Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith. While incarcerated in prison, Dick Hickock caught word from a fellow prisoner of the Clutter farm, where the owner, Herb Clutter, supposedly kept a safe filled with large amounts of cash in the home. Unbeknownst to Hickock and his co-conspirator, Perry Smith, this information was false. The pair proceeded with their home invasion plans and tragically murdered the entire family in the morning hours of November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. Author Truman Capote became interested in the story, traveled to Holcomb and began writing, which continued for years until the completion of the book.
For the film adaptation, director Richard Brooks was able to film scenes at the actual former Clutter house in Holcomb. The home sits tucked away along an isolated, unpaved road, where no neighbors heard the gun shots inside on the night of the crimes. The home still looks mostly the same as it did back in 1959. The path up to the home is private and when the surrounding land is harvested and barren, the house looks particularly isolated.
LOCATION: 611 Oak Ave, Holcomb, KS 67851
Here is the long, tree-lined path up to the home, where Dick and Perry, played in the film by Scott Wilson and Robert Blake, drove up in the dead of night to perpetrate their crimes. Oak Road remains paved and open to the public until about this point, before it becomes private.
Upon arrival, if you weren’t paying attention and didn’t know beforehand, you might not even realize the path is private. There is only this small, hand painted sign, noting it as such. This is located at the same spot as the above shot, on the left hand side.
You can in fact see the home from several of the surrounding roads, such as S West St, but the views are all from afar.
There are several other locations that are open to the public, which remain surprisingly unchanged decades later. Dick and Perry are seen driving throughout quite a bit of the film, with Perry stopping at this gas station in Garden City. The building still looks very similar to how it appeared in the film, with the same brick work. Perry walks along the side of the building, to the restroom on the right.
LOCATION: 407 E Kansas Ave, Garden City, KS 67846
Hartman’s Cafe appears a couple times in the film, which is located just down the road from the Clutter house.
LOCATION: 305 N Main St, Holcomb, KS 67851
While a different restaurant now occupies the space, it still operates as a dining establishment.
The courthouse where Dick and Perry stand trial is the Finney County Courthouse, where the real trial took place after their capture.
LOCATION: 425 N 8th St Garden City, KS 67846
After the murders are depicted in the film, the bodies are discovered and the coroner is seen driving to the crime scene from this intersection, which remains mostly unchanged.
LOCATION: Near 102 N Main St, Garden City, KS 67846
Much like reading the book or watching the film, it is a sobering experience to visit what are, in many instances, the real locations from one of the most famous true crime stories in American history. Holcomb is not your typical travel destination city, it is a small town that requires going out of your way to visit, but in many ways, you’ve likely visited towns just like it many times before.
The 1978 crime drama “Straight Time,” starring Dustin Hoffman, much like the novel its based upon, “No Beast So Fierce,” by Edward Bunker, is set in the Los Angeles criminal underworld. In the film, Hoffman plays Max Dembo, an ex-con out on probation and adapting to a straight life. Max reconnects with his friend Willy, played by Gary Busey, who lives at this home located near Angelino Heights.
LOCATION: 327 N Bixel St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Max meets up with Manny, played by Sandy Baron, at The Bat Rack cocktail bar, which could be found in Santa Monica. Max asks Manny to give him a gun.
LOCATION: 2454 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Max uses the gun to rob Ahn’s Market.
LOCATION: 2609 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Max robs a pawn shop, where he obtains more weapons to take on bigger scores. This is located just a few doors down from the former “Quality Cafe,” which has been seen in dozens of films, such as “Seven” and “Training Day.”
LOCATION: 1226 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Max teams up with Jerry Schue, played by Harry Dean Stanton, to start doing robberies together. The pair rob a bank at the Wilshire Colonnade. It has been featured in many films, such as “Zodiac,” “Wrath Of Man,” “Stealing Harvard” and “Earthquake,” as well as such TV series as “Californication,” “American Crime Story: Impeachment” and more.
LOCATION: 3701 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
After the robbery, the pair swap vehicles at the intersection of W 4th St and S Kenmore Ave.
LOCATION: W 4th St / S Kenmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
The climactic jewelry store robbery was filmed at this building in Beverly Hills, while the back alley scenes were filmed at a different location (138 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212).
LOCATION: 9634 Wilshire Blvd Beverly Hills, CA 90212
The gas station and diner from the end of the film can be found in Lancaster. It is located almost directly across the street from the church from “Kill Bill.”
Film Oblivion 