Film Locations

House Of 1000 Corpses (2003)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2003 Rob Zombie horror film “House Of 1000 Corpses” was shot entirely in Southern California. Captain Spaulding’s “Museum of Monsters and Madmen” was filmed at the Four Aces Movie Ranch in Palmdale, California.  The set has been seen in countless films, such as “Identity,” “Palm Springs” and “Faster.”  It has also appeared in such TV shows as “Twin Peaks” and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” as well as numerous commercials and music videos.

Please keep in mind the property is private and there are “no trespassing” signs posted.  However, it is easily visible from the road.  The set is a popular filming location, so you may encounter a shoot in progress when you visit.  If it’s a particularly secretive set, sometimes the roads next to it are closed off to the public.

LOCATION: Four Aces Movie Ranch, 14499 E Ave Q, Palmdale, CA 93591

The Firefly house was another set, this time located on Universal Studios Hollywood lot, where it can be seen as part of their studio tour. The same house facade was featured in the film “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas,” as well as the TV show “Sliders.”

LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Also on the Universal lot is the house of Don Willis. The same house was featured on the classic television series “Leave It To Beaver.”

Related articles: The Devil’s Rejects (2005), Halloween (2007), Halloween II (2009), 3 From Hell (2019)

Turner & Hooch (1989)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1989 comedy “Turner & Hooch,” the City Hall where Scott Turner, played by Tom Hanks, works can be found in the small Central California town of Pacific Grove. The building is now a bank, although much of the exterior remains similar to how it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 569 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

A wedding takes place across the street at this building, which is supposed to be a church in the film. Hooch the dog, looking out the window from the City Hall building, spots his owner’s murderer in the crowd outside of the church and begins frantically barking. This building is now also a bank.

LOCATION: 580 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Used Cars (1980)

/ filmoblivion / 1 Comment

The used car lot from the 1980 comedy “Used Cars,” starring Kurt Russell, was actually a set, built on a then empty space in Mesa, Arizona. Due to the fact it was constructed on a major road, the location presented numerous logistical issues during production. It has long since been removed and an apartment complex now stands in its place. Here is what the former space looks like now.

LOCATION: 944 W Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 (demolished)

Related articles: Back To The Future (1985), Back To The Future Part II (1989), Back To The Future Part III (1990), Death Becomes Her (1992), Forrest Gump (1994), Cast Away (2000)

You, Me And Dupree (2006)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2006 comedy “You, Me and Dupree,” Molly, played by Kate Winslet, lives in this house with Carl, played by Matt Dillon. The home, located in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, was curiously given a second story by the film production using vfx.

LOCATION: 2406 Gramercy Park, Los Angeles, CA 90018

Neil, played by Seth Rogan, lives in the house, which is located just around the corner from the above location.

LOCATION: 2170 W 24th St, Los Angeles, CA 90018

The Thompson building where Carl works is the former Nikken Building in Irvine, California, now known as the Masimo Building.  The same building has been used in many other productions, including “Iron Man,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” and “All About Steve.”

dodgeball1

LOCATION: 52 Discovery, Irvine, CA 92618

Over The Top (1987)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the opening of the 1987 Sylvester Stallone film “Over the Top,” Lincoln Hawk, played by Stallone, meets his son after he graduates from a military academy. The military academy scenes were actually filmed at Pomona College in Claremont, California. The park where the graduation ceremony takes place is known as Marston Quad. It is located directly across the street from the Carnegie building, which is another location featured in the film.

LOCATION: Marston Quad, Stover Walk, Claremont, CA 91711

Lincoln first enters the academy at the corner of N College Ave and E 6th St.

LOCATION: N College Ave / E 6th St, Claremont, CA 91711

The Carnegie building is where Lincoln meets his son. The same building appeared in the films “The Absent Minded Professor” and “Massacre at Central High.”

LOCATION: 425 N College Ave, Claremont, CA 91711

Lincoln’s son has an arm wrestling match at this coffee shop in Sylmar. The same coffee shop has appeared in the films “Memento” and “Every Which Way But Loose,” as well as such TV series as “Too Old To Die Young,” “Bosch” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Across the street is also another notable filming location, the motel from “The Addams Family.”

toooldtodieyoung55

LOCATION: 12192 San Fernando Rd, Sylmar, CA 91342

The home of Jason Cutler, played by Robert Loggia, can be found in the upscale Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. Known as the Chartwell Mansion, the property has also been featured in such films as “Cinderfella,” “Armed and Dangerous,” “Disorderlies” and “High Society,” but is best known as the Clampett House from the classic TV series “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Like many homes in the neighborhood, walls and hedges line the perimeter, eliminating any visibility from the street. The surrounding roads, which are narrow and do not allow street parking, are located near Hotel Bel-Air, with regular traffic through the streets. There are cameras peppered along every street and property, with construction crews, landscapers and security in abundance. It is a difficult spot to photograph, even managing aerial photography was a challenge. In spite of the many obstacles, here is the home as it appears now.

LOCATION: 750 Bel Air Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077

Waxwork (1988)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The house from the 1988 horror film “Waxwork” can be found in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Large hedges and trees now obscure much of the view, but the home can still be seen from some angles.

LOCATION: 255 S Rossmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Waitress (2007)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2007 romantic comedy “Waitress,” starring Keri Russell, is set in the American South, but was filmed in California. In the movie, Jenna Hunterson, played by Russell, works at a pie diner, located in Santa Clarita, California. The same location has appeared in many productions, such as “Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Space Cowboys,” “The Twilight Zone: The Movie” and “Westworld.” The cafe also appeared in a famous commercial starring Cindy Crawford.

LOCATION: 15564 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390

The office of Dr. Jim Pomatter, played by Nathan Fillion, is a private home, which can be found in South Pasadena.

LOCATION: 1901 Oxley St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Into The Wild (2007)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2007 Sean Penn film “Into The Wild,” which was based on true events, filmed across quite a few locations, including Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, South Dakota, Mexico, California and Alaska.

Tracy, played by Kristen Stewart, invites Chris McCandless, living under the alias of Alexander Supertramp and played by Emile Hirsch, to take a walk over to Salvation Mountain. Salvation Mountain is a hillside sculpture created by Leonard Knight in Calipartia, Californa. It is located near Slab City and not far from the Salton Sea. Despite appearing quite remote in the film, Salvation Mountain is actually not far from nearby towns, such as Niland.

LOCATION: Salvation Mountain, Beal Rd, Calipatria, CA 92233

Leonard Knight appears as himself in the film, giving the characters a guided tour through his creation. Leonard unfortunately passed away in 2014.

Originally built in 1984, the initial attempt at the project collapsed in 1989. Knight, however, rebuilt the sculpture with more sturdy materials and it remains standing to this day.

After Leonard’s passing, a public charity was established to preserve and maintain the site.

The “magic bus” seen in the film is not the actual bus Chris McCandless stayed in. It was also not filmed at the real location in Alaska, both out of respect for the family, as well as the major logistical issues of filming at the real site. Instead, a set was built about 50 miles south of the real bus, in the town of Cantwell, Alaska, with all traces of the set since removed. However, the replica bus featured in the film can be found at the 49th State Brewing Company in Healy, Alaska (248 Parks Hwy 5 mile, Healy, AK 99743).

In spite of the film’s use of an alternate site, many hikers still made the trek out to the real “magic bus” location, located on the Stampede Trail. The real site presents many dangers, much like those that McCandless encountered. After numerous cases of visitors needing rescued, with some even losing their lives, the bus was extracted by helicopter on June 19, 2020, due to public safety concerns. Officials stated the real bus may be put on display at a safe location someday in the future.

Point Of No Return (1993)

/ filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1993 action film “Point Of No Return,” a remake of “La Femme Nikita,” was filmed in a variety of locations, including New Orleans, Washington D.C. and Southern California.

Maggie, played by Bridget Fonda, relocates to this “apartment” in Venice Beach. The actual building is not a residential property. The same location appeared as the Colonic Institute in the 1991 Steve Martin comedy, “L.A. Story.”

LOCATION: 523 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291

Maggie is instructed to blow up a hotel room. These scenes were filmed at a hotel in Century City, located next to the “Nakatomi Plaza” from “Die Hard.”

LOCATION: 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067