The classic Billy Wilder comedy, “Some Like It Hot,” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, filmed at the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California, just across the San Diego Bay. The Victorian beach resort opened in 1888 and still goes strong today. The cast and crew made their way down from Los Angeles to film at the resort, where they also stayed as guests during the production. The same hotel appears in the films “K-9,” “My Blue Heaven,” “Wicked, Wicked,” “The Stunt Man” and many more. It has also appeared in such TV series as “Baywatch,” “Simon & Simon,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and more.
The Freeling house from the 1982, Steven Speilberg produced “Poltergeist,” can be found in Simi Valley, California. Some trees have since been added to the front yard, obscuring the house a bit.
The Victorian home of horrors from the 1985 film “House” can be found in Monrovia, California. It’s an impressive house to see, even if you’re unfamiliar with the film.
In Robert Zemeckis’ 1992 black comedy “Death Becomes Her,” Madeline, played by Meryl Streep and Ernest, played by Bruce Willis, live at this estate in San Marino, California. Later in the film, Helen, played by Goldie Hawn, pays the couple a visit with sinister plans. The same home can be seen in the film “The Last Boy Scout.”
LOCATION: 1125 Oak Grove Ave, San Marino, CA 91108
The funeral home seen in the film is actually the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Ernest does reconstructive work on bodies in what is actually the kitchen. The mansion is owned by the City of Beverly Hills and frequently hosts productions. The building has been used in countless films. This room alone has also been seen in “Spider-Man 3,” “The Bodyguard,” “The Loved One” and “The Witches Of Eastwick.” While the exterior grounds of the mansion are open the the public, the interior usually is not. However, once or twice a year, the city does allow the public access inside. It is one of our most highly recommended places if you’re a movie fan and can manage to get on one of these self-guided tours. Short of a film studio, you’ll be hard pressed to find another place with so many film locations.
LOCATION: 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
At the end of the film, the story jumps ahead several decades as Madeline and Helen attend a funeral. After they leave, the two fall down these stairs. The exterior scenes were filmed at Mary Chapel on the Chalon Campus of Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, while the interior scenes were filmed at St James Episcopal Church (3903 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010).
“Benson,” a spin-off of the television series “Soap,” about a butler becoming the Governor’s “Director of Household Affairs,” ran from 1979 until 1986. The Governor’s house from the show can be found perched atop a hill in Pasadena, California and is much larger than you might expect. The same house was featured on an episode of the TV series “GLOW,” as well as in the films “American Gigolo” and “Monster-In-Law.”
The 2005 Steven Spielberg remake “War Of The Worlds,” starring Tom Cruise, was filmed in New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Connecticut and California. The home of Ray Ferrier, played by Cruise, can be found in Bayonne, New Jersey.
LOCATION: 11 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Ray is seen driving past the Bayonne Bridge on his way home, which runs right beside the house.
In one scene, Ray stands in the street in front of his home and notices a disturbance in the sky.
On the Universal Studios Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, you can see the plane crash set from the film. It is a very intricate set, with lots of full-scale, realistic wreckage. Cars, ambulances and even an actual, out of use, Boeing 747 were all used for film. Universal made it an interactive exhibition, with fires and smoke as you pass through.
LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
One tip for those perhaps not interested in paying the full price for admission into Universal Studios Hollywood, this set can actually be seen free of charge from a hilltop behind the studio. Just head up to the 3400 block of Blair Dr in Los Angeles for a view of the crash set. It’s obviously not as good as viewing it up close from ground level, but if you’ve got some time to spare, it’s still an interesting sight.
LOCATION: 3400 block of Blair Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Ray and Rachel, played by Dakota Fanning, make their way to Boston, where they find the alien vegetation withering. These scenes were actually filmed in Los Angeles.
LOCATION: Witmer St / Ingraham St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
A tripod has collapsed into this building, seen at the same intersection.
Pieces from the oval office set of the television series “The West Wing” can be found on the Warner Bros. lot as part of their studio tour.
LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
Some props from the show are also on display on the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. Here is C.J Cregg’s fishbowl and President Jed Bartlet’s campaign napkin.
In the early 1990s, in an effort to capitalize on the popularity of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” Aaron Spelling’s production company introduced a second series into the 90210 universe, known as “Melrose Place.” The show inhabited the same universe, with characters overlapping for special guest appearances. The original series ran from 1992 to 1999.
The famous apartment building from the show was supposedly located at 4616 Melrose Place in Los Angeles. It turned out the producers made just a minor change to the real apartment’s address, which is located at 4616 Greenwood Place, in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. The building is known as the El Pueblo Apartments. There is also a real Melrose Place in West Hollywood, but you won’t find much there besides some commercial businesses on a short street.
As for the courtyard and interiors seen in the show, those were filmed on a sound stage. There is no pool at the actual El Pueblo location and if you head past the front gates, you’ll quickly realize the rest of the building bears little resemblance to the show.
LOCATION: 4616 Greenwood Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90027
While Anaheim is primarily known as the home of Disneyland, another big piece of the city’s pop culture legacy is the rock band No Doubt. The former Stefani house on Beacon Avenue in Anaheim plays a major role in the band’s history. After their formation, No Doubt regularly practiced in the garage of this house. When they finally found their breakthrough hit, “Just A Girl,” the house was seen in the music video (the neighbor’s house to the left could be seen as well), as Gwen Stefani sings in the driveway. The band even named their record label Beacon Street Records, as well as naming one of their albums “The Beacon Street Collection,” all in reference to their beginnings at this home. A shot of the band in the driveway can be seen on the back cover of the album.
One of the more well-known filming locations in Los Angeles is the house from Wes Craven’s 1984 horror classic, “A Nightmare On Elm Street.” The house can be found, not on Elm Street, but a road just off of Hollywood Blvd, called Genesee Ave.
The house of Nancy Thompson, played by Heather Langenkamp, it a fairly popular spot and receives a regular stream of visitors and fans of the films.
LOCATION: 1428 N Genesee Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Just across the street, you’ll find the house of Glen Lantz, played by a young Johnny Depp.
LOCATION: 1419 N Genesee Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
The high school seen in the film is John Marshall High School. A regular location in film and television, it has also appeared in such movies as “Rebel Without A Cause,” “Pretty In Pink,” “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Bachelor Party,” “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “Grease” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” as well as such TV shows as “Boy Meets World,” “Boston Public” and many more. It was even used in the Van Halen music video for “Hot For Teacher.”
LOCATION: 3939 Tracy St, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tina Gray’s house can be found in Venice.
LOCATION: 620 Milwood Ave, Venice, CA 90291
In the alley behind Tina’s house, you’d find the location where Freddy chases her.
LOCATION: Milwood Ct / Electric Ct, Venice, CA 90291
The cemetery seen in the film is Evergreen Cemetery, in particular the Ivy Chapel, which is located near the back of the grounds. The cemetery closes early, so if you’d like to see it, don’t plan for an evening visit.
LOCATION: 204 N Evergreen Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033
The bridge where Nancy and Glen discuss dreams can be found at the Venice Canals near Venice Beach. The bridge they stand on connects Linnie Canal to Court C. The same bridge is seen in the Oliver Stone film “The Doors,” as well as “The Little Rascals.”
LOCATION: The bridge between Linnie Canal / Court C, Venice, CA 90291 (GPS coordinates: 33.985319, -118.464566)
