American Beauty (1999)

January 15, 2019October 5, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

It is common practice in Hollywood to film exteriors of homes on location, while filming interiors on studio lots. For the 1999 Sam Mendes film, “American Beauty,” an unusual approach was taken to film the exteriors on a studio lot and the interiors in real locations.

Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey, lives at this house, the exterior of which is located on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank, California. The ranch is a small lot located apart from the main studio lot, and is unfortunately not open to public tours. The house is also well known for having been used as the Griswold home in 1989’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” It has also appeared in “WandaVision,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Small Soldiers,” “Pleasantville” and more. As is often the case with houses on studio lots, the outer facade has since changed a bit from how it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505

The interiors of Lester’s home were filmed at this house, located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. The exterior of the house was also featured in the TV series “Lizzie McGuire,” starring Hilary Duff.

LOCATION: 11388 Homedale St, Los Angeles, CA 90049

To the right of the Bernham house at the Warner Bros. Ranch is the exterior of the Colonel’s house. This house is most well known for being Danny Glover’s home in the “Lethal Weapon” films. Known as the Lindsay house, it has also appeared in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “WandaVision,” The Three Stooges serials, “Pushing Daisies,” “The Middle” and many more. Once again, the outer facade has changed a bit from how it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505

The interior of the Colonel’s house was filmed at this home near Hancock Park. The same house appeared in the film “Lady Bird.”

LOCATION: 330 S Windsor Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90020

To the left of the Burnham house is the house of the two Jims, played by Scott Bakula and Sam Robards. To stand on Blondie Street at the Warner Bros Ranch, where all three of the house exteriors are located, it really does feel like you’re standing in a real neighborhood. It’s only when you approach up close that the facades begin to show.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505

Lester takes a job at a fast food restaurant, where his wife unknowingly visits him at the drive through.

LOCATION: 20105 Saticoy St, Winnetka, CA 91306

Carolyn, played by Annette Bening, has an affair at the Top Hat Motel. The building can be found in North Hills.

LOCATION: 8525 Sepulveda Blvd, North Hills, CA 91343

Halloween II (2009)

October 6, 2018October 1, 2022 / filmoblivion / 4 Comments

For Rob Zombie’s 2009 sequel, “Halloween II,” various towns in Georgia were used as a composite for the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois. The opening scenes of the film, however, used footage from the first film for Smith’s Grove Sanitarium. The location is a Veteran’s Hospital in North Hills, California. There are quite a number of buildings on site and it can be tricky finding the exact spot used in the film. To locate it, you must first turn onto Puller Rd. Each building has a large number on it. A bit down Puller Rd, you’ll see the building from the film, which is building 4. It can be easily identified by the long wall surrounding the yard in front of it.

LOCATION: 16111 Plummer St, North Hills, CA 91343

The story picks up moments after the first film, even though the two productions took place far across the country from one another. Laurie walks the streets of the town square of Covington, Georgia, which has been seen in dozens of productions, such as “Doctor Sleep,” “Cannonball Run,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “The Vampire Diaries” and many more. This shot is from Covington Square, looking toward the courthouse.

LOCATION: 2101 Washington St SW, Covington, GA 30014

The Myers house can also be found in Covington, not far from the town square.

LOCATION: 2166 Conyers St SE, Covington, GA 30014

Sheriff Brackett’s house can be found over in Newborn, Georgia. The house sits far back from the road.

LOCATION: 1981 Broughton Rd, Newborn, GA 30056

Back in Covington, Laurie comes across a new book by Dr. Loomis at a local bookstore.

LOCATION: 1113 Floyd St NE, Covington, GA 30014

The Haddonfield Police Department is actually a courthouse, located in Madison, Georgia.

LOCATION: Morgan County Court House, Madison, GA 30650 (at the corner of Hancock St / Jefferson St)

Last, but not least, we leave you with Rob Zombie’s star paver, located in Covington, Georgia. Sometimes referred to as the “Hollywood of the South,” Covington began their own walk of fame, lining the sidewalks with engraved pavers noting the many stars and productions that have graced the town.

Memento (2000)

March 17, 2018May 25, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The Christopher Nolan film “Memento” mostly shot around the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. The opening and closing scenes of the film, as well as the scenes of Leonard burning his wife’s mementos, were all shot at the Fletcher Oil Refinery in Carson, California (24721 S Main St, Carson, CA 90745), which has since been demolished.

Teddy, played by Joe Pantoliano, takes Leonard, played by Guy Pearce, out to lunch at this diner in Sylmar. The same coffee shop has appeared in the films “Over The Top” 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.”

LOCATION: 12192 San Fernando Rd, Sylmar, CA 91342

Throughout most of the film, Leonard stays at the Discount Inn motel. It’s actually the Travel Inn in Tujunga, California. Both the motel and the surrounding area have seen better days, so use caution if visiting.

LOCATION: 7254 Foothill Blvd, Tujunga, CA 91042

The motel manager takes advantage of Leonard’s condition and secretly charges him for two rooms.

Later in the film, Leonard visits Natalie’s house, played by Carrie-Anne Moss, where she deceives him into believing that Dodd has beat her. The house, which as since been renovated a bit, can be found in Burbank.

LOCATION: 919 E Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91501

Leonard finds himself at another motel, the Mountcrest Inn, where he ambushes Dodd and ties him up. This motel is the Hill Crest Inn in North Hills.

LOCATION: 9111 Sepulveda Blvd, North Hills, CA 91343

Leonard visits Natalie at “Ferdy’s Bar,” where she spits in his beer to test his memory. This was filmed at The Blue Room in Burbank. The interior of the bar is shown in the film.

LOCATION: 916 S San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

July 21, 2017September 24, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

James Cameron’s iconic sci-fi action sequel, “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” shot all around California, primarily in the Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Fremont areas. Here we’ll take a look at some of these spots.

The T-1000 travels back in time and arrives underneath the 6th St bridge in Downtown Los Angeles, where he kills a police officer and takes his car, beginning his search for John Conner. The 6th St Bridge has been used in countless films. The original bridge was demolished in 2016, with a new bridge built in its place in 2022. The area where the scene took place has changed quite a bit.

LOCATION: Under the 6th St. Bridge, at the intersection of lower E 6th St / Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (heavily remodeled)

John Conner lives at this house in Canoga Park with his foster parents. The T-1000 later arrives searching for John.

LOCATION: 19828 Valerio St, Canoga Park, CA 91306

John Conner and a friend rob an ATM at this former bank in Van Nuys, California. The building is now a pharmacy and is fenced off from the street, with no trespassing signs. It’s still fairly easy to photograph from the sidewalk, however.

LOCATION: 14400 Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

After the T-1000 spots John Conner, he begins to pursue him, as John flees down the stairwell of a parking garage. This is a garage at the Santa Monica Place shopping center. Despite appearances, it’s actually not too difficult to match up the areas used in the film.

LOCATION: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

John races over to his bike.

The T-1000 chases him at an inhuman speed.

A look at some other shots seen during the bike chase…

In one of the most famous scenes in the film, after thinking he’s finally escaped the T-1000, due to some help from the T-800, John is surprised when the T-1000 drives a semi truck through the overpass wall of Bull Creek, a flood control channel located in North Hills.

LOCATION: Bull Creek, SW corner of Plummer St, near Hayvenhurst Ave, North Hills, CA, 91343

Here is a view of the Bull Creek channel, where John Conner is chased on his dirt bike by the T-1000.

After The Terminator saves John Conner, Conner asks him to stop the bike at this alley in Van Nuys, where he questions him on his mission. The alley is located very close to the bank where John Conner robs the ATM.

LOCATION: Alley on Wakefield Ave, between Burton St and Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

Sarah Conner, played by Linda Hamilton, is being held at the Pescadero State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. These scenes were shot at the Phoenix House for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation. We did not replicate the exact angles seen of the building in the film, as those sections are now entirely obscured by a row of trees.

LOCATION: 11600 Eldridge Ave, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Sarah has a dream in which she approaches a playground as Judgment Day begins. This was filmed at Elysian Park, overlooking Dodger Stadium and Downtown Los Angeles. The park has changed quite a bit and the chain link fence is long gone, but the city skyline can still be matched up. This area is near Elysian Fields on Park Road, where it ends in a cul-de-sac. The playground has been moved up closer to the road and the area seen in the film is now a lookout point.

LOCATION: Near Elysian Fields, Park Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (GPS coordinates: 34°04’56.8″N, 118°14’23.4″W)

The T-800, Sarah and John stop off at this desert market and gas station, as they make their way to the Salceda ranch. Although long since closed, the property is still recognizable from the film. However, a fence has since been erected around it, blocking some of the views. The same building was featured in the film “From Dusk Till Dawn.”

LOCATION: 46551 140th St E, Lancaster, CA 93535

The house of Miles Dyson, played by Joe Morton, can be found in Malibu. The home sits up a long, gated driveway, so the only views are looking up from Pacific Coast Highway. The same home appeared in the film “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!”

LOCATION: 30068 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Later in the film, the Terminator, John and Sarah Conner all break into the Cyberdine Headquarters, where Skynet will be created, launching Judgement Day. The real building is located in Northern California in the city of Fremont. Ironically, the building actually belongs to a real tech company, Mattson Technology.

LOCATION: 47131 Bayside Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538

A closer look at the entrance, where the SWAT truck crashes through.

The exterior of the factory where the ending takes place can be found in Long Beach. The same building appeared in the film “Child’s Play 2.”

LOCATION: 118 Pier S Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

We leave you with some props from the film. The T-1000’s crowbar arms, stabbing finger and liquid metal bullet wound can be found on display at Planet Hollywood in Florida.

LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Halloween (2007)

June 11, 2017October 1, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

For Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake of “Halloween,” the fictional town of Haddonfield is actually South Pasadena, where the original film likewise shot. In fact, just a few blocks down from the Myers house from the John Carpenter original, you’ll find the Michael Myers home from Rob Zombie’s remake. The house was also notably used in the TV series “My So-Called Life.”

LOCATION: 1110 Glendon Way, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The interior of young Michael Meyers’ bedroom and bathroom was a completely different location, found in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. Known as The Beckett Mansion, the property actually operates as an event space and filming location year round. The same house has been featured in “True Romance,” “Neighbors,” “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

Here is the house of Laurie Strode. The same home was featured in the films “Space Jam” and “Sky High.”

LOCATION: 1002 Highland St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Here is the Wallace house. The same house was featured in the film “The Battle Of Shaker Heights.”

LOCATION: 1937 La France Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The Doyle house can be found on the same street as the Wallace house. The same house can also be seen in several other films, including “She’s Out Of Control,” “Flowers In The Attic,” “Little Fockers,” “Bruce Almighty” and “Star Kid.”

LOCATION: 1960 La France Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Young Michael Myers attends school at this building, which is actually an administration building for the South Pasadena Unified School District.

LOCATION: 1020 El Centro St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Directly across the street is Laurie’s school, which is actually the entrance of the Community Room of the South Pasadena Public Library. The same library was featured in a deleted scene in the film “Say Anything…“

LOCATION: 1115 El Centro St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, where Michael Meyers is housed later in the film, is actually a Veteran’s Hospital in North Hills. There are quite a number of buildings and roads on the premises, so it can be tricky finding the exact spot used in the film. To locate it, you must first turn onto Puller Rd. Each building has a large number on it. A bit down Puller Rd, you’ll see the building from the film, which is building 4. It can be easily identified by the long wall surrounding the yard in front of it. The same building was also featured in the films “Step Brothers,” “Argo,” and “Accepted.”

LOCATION: 16111 Plummer St, North Hills, CA 91343

Step Brothers (2008)

June 7, 2017December 10, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2008 comedy “Step Brothers,” Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly famously waged war on the front lawn to this house in Altadena, where their characters find themselves suddenly living together.

LOCATION: 1987 Midwick Dr, Altadena, CA 91001

The spot where Brennan and Dale, played by Ferrell and Reilly respectively, get beat up by child bullies was filmed at Veteran’s Hospital in North Hills. There are quite a number of buildings and roads on the premises, so it can be tricky finding the exact spot used in the film. To locate it, you must first turn onto Puller Rd. Each building has a large number on it. A bit down Puller Rd, you’ll see the building from the film, which is building 4. It can be easily identified by the long wall surrounding the yard in front of it. The same building was also featured in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween,” as well as such films as “Argo” and “Accepted.”

LOCATION: 16111 Plummer St, North Hills, CA 91343

Film Oblivion

Movie and TV locations, points of interest.

North Hills

American Beauty (1999)

Halloween II (2009)

Memento (2000)

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Halloween (2007)

Step Brothers (2008)