California

Easy Rider (1969)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1969 counterculture road trip film, “Easy Rider,” directed by Dennis Hopper, was filmed across the American Southwest and South, including many sites tucked away along back roads.  If  inclined, one could take a unique road trip cross-country revisiting the filming locations.  Production took place across California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Louisiana.

At the beginning of the film, after completing a drug deal that scores them cash for a cross-country trip, Wyatt and Billy, played by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper respectively, begin their trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.  During the opening credits montage, they are seen driving past many locations on their bikes.  They drive along the California-Arizona Bridge at the border of the two states, passing over the Colorado River.  The Old Trails Bridge (15130 W Historic Rte 66, Topock, AZ 86436) can be seen behind them.

easyrider7

LOCATION: California-Arizona Bridge, AZ-95, Needles, AZ 92363

During the same montage, they pass this hotel as they drive down Route 66 through Flagstaff, Arizona.  This building is located within walking distance of the “shit happens” jogging scene in “Forrest Gump.”

easyrider1

LOCATION: 2 W Historic Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

At the end of the day, Wyatt and Billy stop off at this motel, where the owner shuns them and changes the vacancy light to “no vacancy.”  Known as the Richfield building, it is located next to the Pine Breeze Inn RV Park.  The building itself has no known address.  The exact GPS coordinates are 35°13’27.1″N 111°48’02.3″W.  The owners are clearly aware of their connection to the film.  On the front door window, there is a small poster for the film.

easyrider2

LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 35°13’27.1″N 111°48’02.3″W (nearest address is 10520 W Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86015)

Here is the side of the building, where Wyatt and Billy have their encounter with the rude motel clerk.

easyrider6

After picking up a hitchhiker, Wyatt and Billy stop at the Sacred Mountain service station in Flagstaff.  Billy pulls Wyatt aside and questions the safety of allowing the hitchhiker to fill his gas tank, as that is where their money stash is hidden.  The station has long since closed, but the building still remains.  If you’re driving on US-89, there is a small intersection at 150 Rd, which is where the building is located.

easyrider3

LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 35°27’17.9″N 111°33’45.3″W (near intersection of US-89 / 150 Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004)

Billy, Wyatt and the hitchhiker end up camping overnight at Lomaki Pueblo in Cameron, Arizona.  There are several ruins along the trail at Lomaki Pueblo.  To find the exact spot used in the film, simply follow the trail to the furthest ruins and the location is just behind the wall.  In the photo below, the walking trail is just to the right of the frame.  It’s not a difficult task to reach the site, but there are many rocks protruding from the ground, so watch your steps as you traverse the uneven terrain.

easyrider4

LOCATION: Lomaki Pueblo, Cameron, AZ 86020 (GPS coordinates: 35°34’46.3″N 111°28’04.8″W)

Even if you’re not a fan of the film, the Lomaki Pueblo is a unique place to visit and one we recommend if you’re in the area.

easyrider5

Wyatt and Billy ride into a parade taking place around Plaza Park in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The hotel on the left also appears in the films “No Country For Old Men,” “Convoy” and John Carpenter’s “Vampires.”

LOCATION: 230 Plaza Park, Las Vegas, NM 87701

Wyatt and Billy get arrested for parading without a permit, where they meet George Hanson, played by Jack Nicholson. George helps them get released from the police station, which is also located in Las Vegas.

LOCATION: 157 Bridge St, Las Vegas, NM 87701

Birds Of Prey: And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn (2020)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2020 film “Birds Of Prey: And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn” was mostly filmed around Los Angeles, California.  Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, lives at this upstairs apartment in Chinatown.  The address is 301 Ord St, with the view seen in the film facing the intersection of Ord St / New High St.

LOCATION: 301 Ord St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Harley visits a supermarket with Cassandra Cain, played by Ella Jay Basco, where they fill their cart with items to steal.  The market is Fields Market in Canoga Park.  The store is a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “Bird Box,” “Lady Bird,” and “Matchstick Men,” as well as such television shows as “Desperate Housewives,” “American Horror Story” and dozens more.  It has also been seen in countless commercials and music videos.

birdbox4

LOCATION: 23221 Saticoy St, Canoga Park, CA 91304

birdbox2

The Huntress, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, rides a motorcycle with Harley in tow on a pair of roller skates, as the two chase after Roman Sionis, played by Ewan McGregor.  These scenes were filmed at the former Hawthorne Plaza Shopping Center.  The plaza has been abandoned for years, with on-again, off-again plans for demolition.  In the meantime, it has become a popular spot for filming and photography.  It has been seen in such films at “Gone Girl,” “Minority Report” and “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” as well as the TV series “Westworld” and “Too Old To Die Young.”  The building is closed to the public and regularly patrolled by security, but much of of the outside is visible from the street.  In the film, it appears like the cars are driving down a very long stretch of road, but in reality, the chase scenes just shot over and over in front of the same buildings.

toooldtodieyoung51

LOCATION: 12124 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250

Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1976 John Carpenter film “Assault On Precinct 13” was filmed around Los Angeles, California. This home was used as the residence of Ethan Bishop, played by Austin Stoker.

LOCATION: 1957 N Alexandria Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

The police station from the film can be found in Venice, California.  The building, once an actual police station, now serves as an art center.  It has been featured in numerous films, such as “L.A. Confidential,” “Annie Hall” and “The Net,” as well as such television shows as “Beverly Hills, 90210.”

assaultonprecinct13-1

LOCATION: 685 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

assaultonprecinct13-2

To see our “Assault on Precinct 13” location page, click here.

Related articles: Halloween (1978), Christine (1983), Starman (1984), Prince Of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988)

Arachnophobia (1990)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1990 comedy thriller “Arachnophobia” is set in the fictional Central California town of Canaima.  In reality, much of the film was shot in the similarly named town of Cambria.

The house of the Jennings, which was featured heavily in the film, was a set and no longer stands.

The funeral home where the spider first escapes is located on Main St.  However, the building seen in the film actually faces around the corner on Arlington St.  It currently operates as an antique store.

arachnophobia1

LOCATION: 755 Main St Unit C, Cambria, CA 93428 (facing Arlington St)

The doctor’s office where Ross Jennings, played by Jeff Daniels, works can be found about a mile away from the funeral home location.

arachnophobia2

LOCATION: 4090 Burton Dr, Cambria, CA 93428

arachnophobia3

The house of Margaret Hollins can be found about thrity miles away from Cambia, in the town of Paso Robles.  The house is part of the Halter Ranch Vineyard, which is a large property, but this house sits close to the road.  Adelaida Rd is a long and winding road, passing countless vineyards.  Cell phone reception is very spotty through this area, so be sure you plan your directions well if you do visit.

arachnophobia4

LOCATION: 8910 Adelaida Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Little Giants (1994)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1994 football comedy “Little Giants” supposedly takes place in the town of Urbania, Ohio.  However, most of the filming actually took place in the small Central California town of Arroyo Grande.  Producers felt they could match the look of Ohio there while keeping the advantages of filming in California.

One of the main locations featured is the gas station where the Little Giants practice over the course of the film.  The gas station is owned by Danny O’Shea (Rick Moranis), father of Becky “Icebox” O’Shea and coach of the Little Giants.  The gas station itself is located on Traffic Way and the location is seen from both the front and back in the film.  However, it’s the back of the location, facing Bridge St, which was featured the most.

Back when filming took place, the parking area was still dirt and not paved with cement as it is today.  The barn on the right was also featured in many scenes and still stands today.

littlegiants1

LOCATION: 139 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 (back area faces Bridge St)

Here is the front of the gas station facing Traffic Way.  The kids are seen running a car wash out front in one scene.  In the film, there were gas pumps and a canopy extending out, which has since been removed.  The black pole on the right, which was the sign for the gas station, still remained.

littlegiants2

The owner of the shop kindly wrote in to let us know the building has since been renovated and offered this photo showing how the building now appears.

The Arroyo Grande Bridge is also seen frequently in the background as the kids practice football.  In one scene, rival coach Kevin O’Shea, played by Ed O’Neill, spies on the team from the bridge.  Built in 1908, the bridge really is located right next to the gas station location on Bridge St.

littlegiants3

LOCATION: Arroyo Grande Bridge, 118-142 Bridge St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Arroyo Grande is located almost halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  If you’re a fan of the film and find yourself making the drive between cities, some 90s nostalgia can be found tucked away in the small town.

The Party (1968)

/ filmoblivion / 1 Comment

The 1968 comedy Peter Sellers comedy “The Party,” directed by Blake Edwards, is a gem of a film if you’ve never seen it.  The house of Mr. Clutterbuck serves as the central location of the film.  The exterior of the house can be found near West Hollywood, California.  The interiors were a set build at the former Samuel Goldwyn Studios (7200 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046).

theparty1

LOCATION: 9271 Robin Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069

theparty2

Near the end of the film, Hrundi V. Bakshi, played by Sellers, drops Michele Monet, played by Claudine Longet, off at her apartment, which can also be found near West Hollywood.

theparty3

LOCATION: 1427 N Poinsettia Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90046

She’s All That (1999)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1999 teen comedy “She’s All That,” starring Rachel Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr., was filmed entirely in Sourthern California.  Laney Boggs, played by Cook, lives at this house in Redondo Beach.

shesallthat1

LOCATION: 507 Paseo De La Playa, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

The home was only used for exterior shots.  Interior shots were filmed just across the street at 504 Paseo De La Playa, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.

The high school scenes were filmed at Torrance High School.  The same school was featured in the TV series “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.”

beverlyhills90210-5

LOCATION: 2200 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501

Last Action Hero (1993)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1993 film “Last Action Hero” was shot mostly in Southern California, with a few additional scenes filmed in New York City.  Early in the film, Jack Slater, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, faces off against his nemesis, The Ripper, played by Tom Noonan.  These scenes were filmed at the Culver Hotel in Culver City.

lastactionhero1

LOCATION: 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

A magic ticket enters Danny, played by Austin O’Brien, into the movie. He proceeds to try to convince Slater, unsuccessfully, that he too is in a movie. Danny takes Slater to a video store in an attempt to point out other movies Arnold Schwarzenegger has appeared in. After coming across a standee for “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” Danny is shocked to see Sylvester Stallone on the image instead. These scenes were filmed at the Malibu Colony Plaza in Malibu. The two continue arguing out front after they leave the video store.

LOCATION: 23705 Malibu Rd, Malibu, CA 90265

Tony Vivaldi, played by Anthony Quinn, lives at this Mailbu estate.

lastactionhero2

LOCATION: 28824 Cliffside Dr, Malibu, CA 90265

Jack Slater’s house can be found in Sherman Oaks.  A large gate has been built around the front, obscuring most of the view.

lastactionhero6

LOCATION: 3831 Oakfield Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

This angle of the back of the home, also seen in the film, remains a bit more visible.

lastactionhero7

Late in the film, a mob funeral is held at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.

lastactionhero4

LOCATION: 200 S Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Reacher can be seen driving his car across the water here.

lastactionhero5

Here is the entrance to the hotel, where Benedict, played by Charles Dance, is seen.

lastactionhero3