Catch Me If You Can (2002)

May 23, 2018September 25, 2025 / filmoblivion / 2 Comments

In Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can,” Frank Abagnale Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio, lives at this home early in the film. Supposedly located in New York, the real home can be found in Studio City, California. It is located next door to the house from “My Stepmother Is An Alien.”

LOCATION: 12075 Valleyheart Dr, Studio City, CA 91604

Frank and his family are forced to move into a smaller apartment at this building, which can be found in Yonkers, New York.

LOCATION: 110 Buena Vista Ave, Yonkers, NY 10701

Frank Abagnale Sr, played by Christopher Walken, reads a letter from his son as he walks into the Abagnale Stationers store, which can be found in San Pedro.

LOCATION: 421 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

After posing as an airline pilot, Frank begins forging payroll checks at the former Ambassador Hotel. The hotel was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “Forrest Gump,” “Seven,” “Bobby,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “True Romance,” “The Mask,” “Calendar Girl” and dozens more. The hotel has since been demolished, with only this post and statue from the original building remaining.

LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)

Carl, played by Tom Hanks, is on the hunt for Frank, who stays at the Tropicana Motel in Hollywood. While the Tropicana was a real motel at one time, it was demolished in 1988. Instead, the Hollywood Roosevelt was used. It’s actually the rear of the Roosevelt building that is seen in the film.

LOCATION: 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (rear of the building on Hawthorn Ave)

Carl eats at a diner, where a waitress tips him off that the alias Frank has been using is the name of “The Flash” in the comic books, cluing him in that his suspect may be younger than he originally thought.

This was filmed at the former Quality Cafe in downtown Los Angeles. The diner was a one-time staple of films, appearing in “Seven” “Training Day,” “Ghost World,” “Another Day In Paradise,” “(500) Days Of Summer” “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Rules Of Attraction,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “The Heartbreak Kid” and dozens more. However, it was not an actual restaurant open to the public. Instead it was used solely for filming. Sadly, it ceased to function as a filming location and was completely renovated in 2014. The interior of the property no longer bears any resemblance inside to how it appeared in so many films.

LOCATION: 1238 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (since closed and remodeled)

The Miami Airport where Frank slips past the FBI by surrounding himself with attractive flight attendants was actually filmed at the Ontario Airport in Ontario, California. This particular terminal is not in active use and has popped up in countless other films, including “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Zodiac,” “Blow,” “Argo” and many more.

LOCATION: 1940 Moore Way, Ontario, CA 91761

Another view of the same airport, depicted as the baggage claim terminal in the film.

Later in the film, Frank takes his father to an upscale restaurant, where he tells him he bought him a Cadillac. The actual location is not a restaurant at all. It’s the famous “Pompeian Room” of the Doheny Mansion, located on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. While the mansion does offer occasional tours to the public, some of the guides can be strict about allowing photos inside. Many films have shot at the mansion, including “The Princess Diaries,” “Drag Me To Hell,” “Flowers In The Attic,” “Spider-Man 3,” “The Three Amigos” and more.

LOCATION: 10 Chester Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90007

The bank scenes were filmed at Union Station, a train station in downtown Los Angeles. It has featured in many films as well, such as “Blade Runner,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Species,” “Bugsy,” “Pearl Harbor” and more.

LOCATION: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Frank strikes up a romance with Brenda, played by Amy Adams, who brings him to the house of her father, played by Martin Sheen. Frank has to make an abrupt departure with the FBI hot on his heels. The house used in the film can be found in Pasadena. The address is on E Crary St, but the back of the house faces that direction and the perimeter is surrounded by a wall, so you won’t see much from there. The front side of the house is actually around the block on Layton St, which dead-ends into the driveway of the home. The same house has also been seen in the films “Matilda,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Scream 2” and “The Midnight Hour.” Unfortunately, the property owners have since posted no trespassing signs near the end of Ladyton St, making it much more difficult for pedestrians to see the house anymore.

LOCATION: 2186 E Crary St, Pasadena, CA 91104 (front of the home faces Ladyton St)

Frank is arrested in front of his mother’s house, which can be found in Pasadena. The same location appears in the film “Disturbia.”

LOCATION: 3077 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

Late in the film, Frank passes this store and stops as he sees a pilot’s uniform on display. This can be found just a few buildings up from the Abagnale Stationers store seen early in the film.

LOCATION: 446 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

The Addams Family (1991)

May 20, 2018January 16, 2023 / filmoblivion / 6 Comments

The 1991 film adaptation of “The Addams Family” was shot in Southern California. The primary location was of course the house, which was a set built for the film and dismantled after production. The facade was built atop a hill above Burbank. Reader Peter Hillman kindly allowed us to share these photos of the house he took back at the time of filming. He added that the back portion was just a frame, barely visible if you looked up from the mountains. Thanks to Peter for these fantastic shots!

LOCATION: Lockheed View Dr, Burbank, CA 91501 (GPS coordinates: 34°12’17.6″N, 118°18’35.3″W, now demolished)

This fake wall was built across the street to cover shots from the house looking outward.

Here is what the area looks like now where the house was built.

After a scheme by Tully Alford, Abigail Craven and Gordon, the Addams family loses their home and wind up in this motel, located in Sylmar. Wednesday and Pugsley are seen selling drinks out front.

LOCATION: 12171 San Fernando Rd, Sylmar, CA 91342

Lurch belches fire and burns a wooden Native American statue in front of this building.

Morticia Addams, played by Anjelica Huston, is seen walking from this direction, with the Addams car parked near the back.

Across the street behind Lurch is a Tombstone billboard. Just out of frame to the left is another filming location. The Olympic Coffee Shop has been featured in such films as “Over The Top,” “Memento” and “Every Which Way But Loose,” as well as such TV shows as “Too Old To Die Young,” “Bosch” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

Additional sets were filmed at Sunset Las Palmas Studios, known then as the Hollywood Center Studios, which is likewise where the 1960s television series shot.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

May 13, 2018October 23, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2006 film “Little Miss Sunshine” was primarily filmed in Southern California. In the film, this hotel, supposedly located in Scottsdale, Arizona, is where Richard Hoover, played by Greg Kinnear, comes to confront Stan Grossman, played by Bryan Cranston. The real hotel is actually located in Valencia, California. The same hotel appeared in the films “Twilight” and “Magnolia” (interiors only), as well as numerous TV shows, including “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: New York,” “NCIS,” “Big Love,” “Las Vegas,” The Unit,” “Make It or Break It” and more.

LOCATION: 24500 Town Center Dr, Valencia, CA 91355

This Volkswagen van was one of five used in the film. It can be found on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Puppet Master (1989)

April 25, 2018November 10, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1989 horror film “Puppet Master” was largely filmed at the Castle Green Apartments in Pasadena, California. Castle Green has been featured in countless films, such as “True Romance,” “The Sting,” “Wild At Heart,” “The Little Rascals,” “Deja Vu,” “Sneakers,” “Bugsy,” “The Last Samurai” and many more.

LOCATION: 99 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

Namyangju Film Studio

April 22, 2018December 22, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Many people have taken tours of the Hollywood film studios, such as Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, etc. However, many other countries offer tours around their studios and backlots as well. Here we’ll take a look at Namyangju Film Studio in South Korea, located in Gyeonggi-do, about an hour outside of Seoul.

LOCATION: Namyangju Film Studio, 138, Bukhangang-ro 855beon-gil, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

The road to the studio. You can find bus rides from Seoul that will take you straight to the studio.

Inside this building is the studio and several exhibits. You can go above this building to the outdoor grounds where many sets stand.

The reverse view from atop of the same building, which is pretty spectacular. As you can see, the studio is tucked away in the Korean countryside, far away from the city lights.

One of the most internationally famous films to shoot at the studio was Chan-Wook Park’s “Joint Security Area.”

The production built an entire, full scale recreation of the Joint Security Area, a highly militarized section of the border between North and South Korea, intended to hold discussions between the two sides. Obviously filming a movie in the real J.S.A. would not be possible. Even though the Chan-Wook Park film was completed decades ago, to this day, the set on Namyangji remains the go-to spot for pretty much all South Korean productions looking to film scenes set in the J.S.A. We did a separate article on this particular set here.

A tank and some military vehicles from the 2015 film “The Long Way Home” (a.k.a. “Seoboojeonsun”).

A full scale ship from the 2014 film “Pirates” (a.k.a. “Hae-jeok: Ba-da-ro gan san-jeok”).

There is also a set for an entire old, traditional Korean village at the studio, but it was being used for filming the day of our visit, so unfortunately our views of this area were limited.

Some train cars.

Some interesting paintings along the walls as you head into the interior portions of the studio.

This contraption was sitting outside of the studio.

A rope bridge in front of a blue screen, where visitors can simulate crossing a treacherous passing.

Some film costumes. The military costumes to the left are from the 2007 film “May 18” (a.k.a. “Hwa-ryeo-han-hyoo-ga”), while the costume on the right is from the 2007 film “Hanbando.”

Some excellent models and miniatures.

This photo does not do justice to how beautiful and intricate this miniature shipwrecked city is.

The prop room.

Some props and costumes from old Korean films.

Some old Korean awards and honors.

If you’re a film lover and find yourself in South Korea, it’s worth taking a visit out to Namyangji Film Studio. We of course realize most people reading this will likely never make it out there, so we hope this post is the next best thing.

Halloween (1978)

April 8, 2018October 1, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

John Carpenter’s original 1978, classic horror film, “Halloween,” is one of those films that tends to inspire people to seek out it’s filming locations. Nearly everything from the film can still be seen today, much of it within a small radius of one another. These locations have been heavily documented over the years, but that won’t stop us from taking a look at some of the most iconic spots from the film.

Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, lives at this house, supposedly located in Haddonfield, Illinois, but actually filmed in South Pasadena, California.

LOCATION: 1115 Oxley St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Another view of the house, from the corner of Oxley St and Fairview Ave. The owners of the house are quite welcoming to fans of the film, which is always refreshing to see, even leaving Halloween pumpkins on their front porch year round.

Haddonfield Elementary school is actually Garfield Elementary in Alhambra. The interior of the same school also serves as Laurie’s classroom.

LOCATION: 110 W McLean St, Alhambra, CA 91801

Some bullies are seen teasing Tommy.

Tommy continues walking past the front of the school.

Laurie and Lynda are walking home from school at this street corner.

LOCATION: Corner of Highland St and Fairview Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

They cross the street, whenever they feel they are being followed by a car being driven by a strange figure. The camera looks back toward Fairview Ave, where the car first turns down the street.

LOCATION: Facing the street approximately in front of 1014 Highland St, South Pasadena, CA 91030 (looking towards Fairview Ave)

Annie yells “Hey jerk, speed kills!” at the car, when it hits it’s breaks. The camera in this shot is on the same street, now facing the opposite direction, towards Meredian Ave. The houses from a couple very different kinds of films, “Liar Liar” and “Space Jam,” were shot on this same block. John Carpenter would himself return to the same neighborhood for his 1983 Stephen King adaptation, “Christine.”

LOCATION: Facing the street approximately in front of 1014 Highland St, South Pasadena, CA 91030 (looking towards Meridian Ave.)

Laurie and Annie are walking toward these shrubs, when they appear to see Michael Meyers looking out at them.

They approach the shrubs and look behind them, only to see no one is there.

LOCATION: 1019 Montrose Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The Michael Meyers house was originally located at 707 Meridian Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Since then, some apartments have been built in it’s place. The original house, however, was spared from demolition at the last minute in 1987. A South Pasadena resident, recognizing the historical importance of the home and realizing it was about the be demolished, purchased it for a mere $1, with the promise to relocate the house and keep it in tact. It wasn’t moved very far away, just over on Mission Street, near some train tracks. Later recognizing that the home had historical significance, the city of South Pasadena would go on to designate the home as a California landmark. Many iconic movie locations have been demolished over the years, so it’s always nice to hear of stories where one was not only spared, but preserved and honored. While fans of the film are encouraged to visit the house, it is currently occupied by a local business, who simply asks visitors to keep to the driveway area and refrain from attempting to go up on the porch or inside.

LOCATION: 1000 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030 (original 707 Meridian Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030)

Right across the street from the Myers house, you’ll find the hardware store Michael robs. The same intersection appears in the film “13 Going On 30,” ” as well as “Step Brothers,” “Straight Talk,” “Carpool” and “Prototype.”

LOCATION: 966 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Just a couple blocks away from Hollywood Blvd, you’ll find the Wallace house.

LOCATION: 1537 N Orange Grove Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Just across the street is Doyle’s house. The same house has appeared in the Rodney Dangerfield comedy “Back To School,” as well as the TV series “American Horror Story.”

LOCATION: 1530 N Orange Grove Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Overall, if you are a fan of the original “Halloween” film, you’ll likely have an enjoyable time strolling around South Pasadena visiting many of these spots and it won’t even consume too much of your time.

Pretty Woman (1990)

March 18, 2018September 25, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1990 romantic comedy “Pretty Woman,” Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, lives at this Hollywood hotel. The real hotel is located right off of Hollywood Blvd, exactly as depicted in the film. At the end of the movie, Edward, played by Richard Gere, climbs the fire escape with roses and the two passionately kiss.

LOCATION: 1738 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Vivan stays at a luxurious hotel in Beverly Hills.

LOCATION: 9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Vivian and Edward walk past the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain at Grand Park in Downtown L.A. The same fountain was seen in “(500) Days Of Summer.”

LOCATION: Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Edward’s office can be found in Downtown Los Angeles. The same building can be seen in such films as “Barbie,” “Night Of The Comet,” “Cutter’s Way” and “The Muppets.”

LOCATION: 333 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

The opera house was a composite of three locations. The exterior, supposedly located in San Francisco, is actually the Carnegie Museum & Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The same building appears in the films “The Silence Of The Lambs” and “Flashdance.” In fact, this film used the actual footage from “Flashdance” as their establishing shot after their planned location fell through. The interior lobby was filmed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (900 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007), while the theatre was filmed at Walt Disney Studios (500 S Buena Vista St, Burbank, CA 91521).

LOCATION: 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

The Mask (1994)

February 28, 2018September 14, 2025 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Much of the 1994 Jim Carrey comedy “The Mask” filmed around the Warner Bros. Studio Lot in Burbank, California. After Stanley Ipkiss, played by Carrey first tries on the mask, a startled neighbor pulls a gun on him and he leaps out of a window from this building on the Warner Lot, where he falls to the street and like a cartoon character, flattens like a pancake, before peeling himself back up. The same building was featured in an action sequence in the Steven Spielberg film “Minority Report.”

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

The bank where Stanley works was filmed at the A.G. Bartlett Building in downtown Los Angeles. The building is currently used for a variety of businesses and lofts. The property has been seen in countless other films, including “They Live” “Seven,” “The Prestige,” “Ghost,” “Bridesmaids,” “13 Going On 30” and many more. This area cannot normally be accessed by pedestrians. However, portions are still visible from the street in a couple areas through the windows.

LOCATION: 650 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

The mechanic’s shop where Stanley gets a loaner car was filmed at Fire Station No. 23 in Downtown L.A. The fire station was closed in 1960 and has currently fallen into quite a state of disrepair. Currently the building is boarded up, covered in graffiti and prohibited from entry. It sits in a pretty bad area, not far from skid row. The same building was featuring in such films as “Ghostbusters,” “Lost Highway,” “Flatliners,” “Set It Off,” “Big Trouble In Little China” and more.

LOCATION: 225 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The Coco Bongo nightclub scenes were filmed at the former Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, which has long since been demolished. The hotel was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “True Romance,” “Seven,” “Forrest Gump,” “Bobby,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Calendar Girl” and dozens more. Only this post and statue from the original building remain at the location.

LOCATION: 3400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (now demolished)

Neighbors (2014)

February 10, 2018November 3, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2014 comedy “Neighbors,” starring Seth Rogen and Zac Efron, as well as it’s sequel, “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” starring Chloe Grace Moretz filmed around Midtown, Los Angeles, California.

Seth Rogan and his wife, played by Rose Byrne, move into this house in hopes of having a quiet homestead to raise their infant daughter.

LOCATION: 2179 W 20th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90018

Unbeknownst to them, a wild fraternity, led by Zac Efron, has just moved in next door as well to host their frat parties. As you can guess, a comedic feud arises.

LOCATION: 2203 W 20th St, Los Angeles, CA 90018

As seen in the film, the two homes really are located right beside one another. The houses were once again used in the 2016 sequel, “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” when a sorority moves in and the neighbor feud is reignited.

One of the frat houses where a party takes place was filmed at a property known as The Beckett Mansion, located in the West Adams neighborhood. The house actually operates as an event space and filming location year round. The same house has been featured in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween,” “True Romance,” “No Strings Attached” and many more. It’s also located directly across the street from the house from “The People Under The Stairs.”

LOCATION: 2218 S Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

War Of The Worlds (2005)

December 27, 2017December 9, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

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

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