The 1988 film “Earth Girls Are Easy” was shot in Southern California. The house of Valerie and Ted, played by Geena Davis and Charles Rocket, can be found in Northridge.
LOCATION: 19625 Bryant St, Northridge, CA 91324
Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Northridge
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
The house from the third installment in the “Paranormal Activity” series can be found in Northridge.
LOCATION: 19155 Mayall St, Northridge, CA 91324
Related articles: Paranormal Activity (2007), Paranormal Activity 2 (2010), Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
Day Shift (2022)
The 2022 action comedy “Day Shift,” starring Jamie Foxx, was primarily filmed in Southern California. In the film, Bud Jablonski, played by Foxx, lives at this apartment building, which can be found in Toluca Lake. The area where he is seen parking can be found facing Sarah St.
LOCATION: 4604 Cahuenga Blvd, Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Bud’s ex-wife and daughter live in this home, located in Northridge.
LOCATION: 11804 Darby Ave, Northridge, CA 91326
Seth, played by Dave Franco, lives in the apartment building, located in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 12835 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91607
American Sniper (2014)
The 2014 Clint Eastwood film “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper is set in Texas and Iraq. However, much of the filming took place in Southern California, with some additional filming in Morroco. Early in the film, a young Chris attends church with his family at this location in Highland Park. An additional scene moments later shows Chris helping his brother in a fight on a playground. This was also shot on the same property.
LOCATION: 6338 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Chris Kyle, played by Cooper, enlists in the military at this building, which can be found in Acton.
LOCATION: 33318 Santiago Rd, Acton, CA 93510
While deployed in Iraq in search of a sadistic killer known as “The Butcher,” Chris assembles a team to capture or kill him. After his team learns the suspected location of The Butcher, they enter a family’s home directly across from the targeted building, to gather information and run a stakeout. These scenes were filmed on a set at the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch in Santa Clarita, California. The ranch features many Middle Eastern sets, with quite a number of different productions filming there, such as “Iron Man.” The Americans subdue the man who owns the home on this floor. After things settle down, the family, who claims they don’t know anything, serve dinner to the team in the dining room in the background.
LOCATION: 20019 Blue Cloud Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
After noticing scrapes on the skin around the homeowner’s elbows, Chris becomes suspicious the man is hiding something and begins searching the bedrooms. He discovers a large hole in the floor concealing a major weapons stash. The hole and the metal sheet covering it are still there.
Here is the area in the living room where the team watches out the window, photographing who is coming and going from the adjacent building.
The shot of Chris crossing the Texas border line is on E Ave K in Lancaster, just past 85th St E.
LOCATION: GPS coordinates: 34°40’31.8″N 117°58’28.7″W (Near E Ave K / 85th St E, Lancaster, CA 93535)
Chris Kyle’s house in the film can be found in Sherwood Forest, near Northridge in the San Fernando Valley.
LOCATION: 8843 Newcastle Ave, Sherwood Forest, CA 91325
Related articles: Breezy (1973), The Bridges Of Madison County (1995), Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Licorice Pizza (2021)
The 2021 Paul Thomas Anderson film “Licorice Pizza” is set in the 1970s San Fernando Valley, with the production likewise staying pretty faithful to that area. This article contains some minor spoilers, so we only recommend reading if you’ve seen the film.
The opening scene where Alana, played by Alana Haim, first meets Gary, played by Cooper Hoffman, was filmed at Gaspar De Portola Middle School in Tarzana. There are a couple of similar looking corridors located at the school. Alana walks near the southwest corner, facing the towards Linnet St. The same school appeared in the films “Thirteen,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love” and “Akeelah and the Bee.”
LOCATION: 18720 Linnet St, Tarzana, CA 91356
Gary eats at this hot dog stand, where he tells Greg he met the girl he’s going to marry one day.
LOCATION: 9039 Lindley Ave, Northridge, CA 91325
Gary’s house can be found in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 7902 Goodland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91605
The Tail O’ The Cock scenes were filmed inside the former Billingsley’s Restaurant, located on the grounds of the Van Nuys Golf Course. While the restaurant closed in 2004, it remains in tact and Anderson previously used the same location for his film “Magnolia.” Some websites state the Tail O’ The Cock scenes were filmed at Barone’s, but this is incorrect. These exterior shots of the building were kindly provided to us courtesy of Ingo Schmoll (schmollywood1).
LOCATION: 6550 Odessa Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Alana’s house can also be found in North Hollywood, on a cul de sac located very close to the scenes where Gary and Alana run together later in the film.
LOCATION: 12801 Miranda St, North Hollywood, CA 91607
The wig shop where Gary first sees a waterbed for sale is located in Canoga Park. The store is currently vacant, but the lettering on the windows from the film is still there.
LOCATION: 21819 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303
You can see the nursery & hardware sign behind him as he enters the store.
The Teen-Age Fair scenes were filmed at the Hollywood Palladium. Gary and his friends are seen loading in from the side entrance on Argyle Ave. Police mistakenly arrest Gary because his description matches another suspect.
LOCATION: 6215 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Gary is taken to the police station, where he is seen in this hallway. The real building is actually a youth center in Hollywood.
LOCATION: 6501 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Alana is seen across the street.
After a witness confirms Gary is not the suspect, he is released. Gary and Alana start running from this point.
They are seen running together down Cole Pl.
LOCATION: Cole Pl / Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
The film seamlessly jumps to North Hollywood and the two continue running along Burbank Blvd, with Bellaire Ave visible behind them. To find the exact area, look for this spot where there is a second fence running perpendicular, with the building on the left and towers. They as seen running past these exact spots. This is close to the location of Alana’s house.
LOCATION: 12755 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91607
After Alana gets an advertisement on the radio for Gary’s water bed business, sales pick up as they start shipping out numerous orders. They load a truck from this location in Studio City. This is just behind Ventura Blvd, at the rear alley near Laurel Terrace Dr.
LOCATION: 12444 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Here is where the UPS truck is parked. Alana then heads back inside and yells at the other boys for not helping her carry the dolly up the stairs.
This is also where the film’s poster image was shot, with Alana and Gary standing in front of a car, facing the camera
Gary opens his own store, Fat Bernie’s, selling waterbeds. Later in the film, Gary re-brands his business as the Pinball Palace, using the same location. The actual storefront can be found in Chatsworth.
LOCATION: 21758 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Here is the front of the store, seen numerous times in the film.
We were actually able to visit the set of the film back when production was taking place. Here you can see the Fat Bernie’s signs and the crew prepping the location.
Here’s a look at the interior, which is also featured heavily in the film.
Alana follows Gary to the back of the store, as she jealously watches him take interest in another girl.
Alana, angered by Gary’s behavior, walks along the side of the building and kisses a random guy on the sidewalk. Here’s how the area appeared in the film, with the Jurgensen’s Grocery Co. advertisement painted on the wall.
Here’s the same area, repainted as it appears since filming completed.
The back of the store appears again when they load up the truck to leave the store.
Alana auditions for Jack Holden, played by Sean Penn (reciting dialogue from the film “Breezy“), inside the Church of the Chimes in Sherman Oaks. The scene is only shown from interior views in the film. The property, which consists of several buildings, has also appeared in the film “Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy,” as well as the TV shows “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” “The Office” and “Scrubs.”
LOCATION: 14115 Magnolia Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
The scenes where Jack Holden does a motorcycle stunt were filmed at the the Van Nuys Golf Course (6550 Odessa Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406).
As the gas crisis takes hold, Gary runs past a line of cars waiting to fuel up near the intersection of Victory Blvd and Lindley Ave in Tarzana, overlooking the L.A. River.
LOCATION: Near Victory Blvd / Lindley Ave, Tarzana, CA 91335
The camera follows him running up to the gas station, which is known as Signal Gasoline in the film. In reality, it’s not a gas station at all, rather a mechanic’s shop and smog check station.
LOCATION: 18102 Victory Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91335
The eccentric Jon Peters, played by Bradley Cooper, lives at this home in Encino, where Alana and Gary deliver a water bed.
LOCATION: 4450 Balboa Ave, Encino, CA 91316
While the home is located on a public road, it sits at the top of a long driveway up a dead end hillside and is not really visible from the street. There are additional views around the property available online via old real estate listings.
Alana and Gary give Jon Peters a ride to this gas station in Encino. The geography laid out in the film is somewhat plausible, in that Jon Peters’ home really is at the top of the hill on the road to the left. However, in the film, it is depicted as a long, steep and winding road, when in reality, it is a relatively short, straight path up Balboa Ave. The two locations are in near proximity, however.
LOCATION: 16900 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316
The actual winding road seen in the film is Palo Drive in Tarzana, near Rosita Street. This is where Gary smashes up Jon Peters’ car, only to realize their truck has run out of gas, forcing Alana to coast down a series of hills, back down to the gas station. Here is the curve they are seen taking in the film. The house in the background behind the trees and shrubs appeared in the film “Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood,” for the back yard scenes of Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski’s home.
LOCATION: Palo Dr, Tarzana, CA 91356 (GPS coordinates: 34°09’26.5″N, 118°33’26.4″W)
Here is the area where Jon Peters’ car was parked.
Here is another view of the general area where the car was parked.
Alana says in the film if she can make the light at Ventura, she can make a right and get them to the gas station. This is again geographically accurate, as the truck is seen turning at the intersection of Genesta Ave and Ventura Blvd, which turning right does indeed put you about one block from the gas station used in the film.
LOCATION: Ventura Blvd / Genesta Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91316
Afterwards, Alana sits on this curb in front of the Encino Post Office. Jon Peters walks by and throws a garbage can through the front window of the store next to it, before turning around to flirt with some women walking past. The real property does provide mails services, but is not a post office.
LOCATION: 18034 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316 (Jon Peters breaks the window out of 18034 1/2 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316)
Alana begins volunteering at the campaign offices of Joel Wachs, played by Benny Safdie. The building is actually a mattress and furniture store.
LOCATION: 21702 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303
Later, she notices a man loitering across the street watching the office and confronts him.
Here is the reverse view, where Alana would have been looking out of the offices, which are mostly seen from interior views in the film.
Late in the film, Gary and Alana embrace under the marquee of the El Portal theater in North Hollywood. For those hoping to catch a screening there, the theater does not host theatrical films, rather stage productions by local performing artists.
LOCATION: 5269 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
We leave you with a few more behind the scenes shots of some of the production design from when we visited the shoot. This was all around the Fat Bernie’s location in Chatsworth.
Related articles: Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), There Will Be Blood (2007), The Master (2012), Inherent Vice (2014)
Apollo 13 (1995)
The 1995 Ron Howard film “Apollo 13” was filmed in Florida, Texas and California. The house of Jim and Marilyn Lovell, played by Tom Hanks and Kathleen Quinlan, can be found in Northridge, California.
LOCATION: 18325 Index St, Northridge, CA 91326
Marilyn loses her wedding ring in the shower of this motel, supposedly located in Florida. The real motel, the Safari Inn, is actually located in Burbank, California.
LOCATION: 1911 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506
The same motel was featured in the films “True Romance” and “Coach Carter.”
Mysterious Skin (2004)
The 2004 drama “Mysterious Skin,” while set in the town of Hutchinson, Kansas, like most films by Gregg Araki, it was actually filmed in Southern California, primarily around the San Fernando Valley.
Early in the film, a young boy, Neil, is taken by his mother, played by Elizabeth Shue, to a little league baseball field back in the early 1980s. These scenes were filmed at Balboa Park in Encino. Its a fairly large park and it shows up in numerous scenes throughout the film, so we’ll attempt to identify where inside the park different scenes take place. Young Neil first sees the coach at the baseball fields. The field used in the scene is nearest to the basketball courts, with GPS coordinates around 34.174865, -118.504439.
LOCATION: Balboa Park, Encino, CA 91316 (nearest address is 17015 Burbank Blvd, Encino, CA 91316)
A teenage Neil, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, hustles at the playground of the same park. It has since been remodeled some. The GPS coordinates are around 34.173486, -118.505016.
Later in the film, as Neil walks away from this building to catch a ride, he shouts that he is sick of his town. This too was shot at Balboa Park, at the parking lot near the soccer fields. The GPS coordinates are around 34.176277, -118.504659.
This house is seen as a young Neil goes trick or treating in 1983. The same house can be seen in “Kill Bill” and the 2003 “Project Greenlight” film, “The Battle Of Shaker Heights.”
LOCATION: 5500 Atlas St, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Neil’s house can be found in Reseda.
LOCATION: 19220 Ingomar St, Reseda, CA 91335
Neil stands outside of his former coach’s house in the middle of the night, which can be found in Northridge.
LOCATION: 8417 Shirley Ave, Northridge, CA 91324
Late in the film, things take a violent turn at this apartment building, supposedly location in Brighton Beach in New York. The building can actually be found in Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 2910 Leeward Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Thanks to Set-Jetter for first finding several of these locations.
True Detective (Season 2)
Our article on Season 1 of the TV series “True Detective” remains one of the biggest location searches we’ve ever done, through the small towns of Southern Louisiana. For the second season of the show, writer Nic Pizzolatto shifts the setting to Southern California in the fictional city of Vinci, loosely based on the city of Vernon, which had a corruption scandal not unlike what is depicted in the show.
The locations are just as plentiful as the first season, spanning from Santa Paula to Santa Ana, from Mt. Baldy to Beverly Hills and everything in between. The show presents a more gritty look into Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Visiting the locations is a deep dive into Southern California and one that should only be done if you’re a fan of the show, as it won’t take you to any tourist destinations. Sometimes you’ll even find yourself in somewhat unsafe neighborhoods.
The following article contains numerous spoilers for the show, so we recommend only reading if you’ve seen the complete second season. As is often the case with TV shows, many of these locations appear in multiple episodes, so we’ll cover each location by where they first appear.
Episode One – “The Western Book of the Dead”
The season begins with Detective Ray Velcoro, played by Colin Farrell, dropping his son off at school.
LOCATION: 2125 Lincoln Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
The Black Rose bar, where Ray frequently meets Frank Semyon, played by Vince Vaughn, over the course of the series is located in Vernon. It is mostly seen from interior views in the show, but the building is not actually a bar. It is a private building closed to the public and it is unclear if the interiors were actually filmed here or elsewhere. The exterior is seen a few times in the show as well, however. Frank gives Ray info on who assaulted his ex-wife, leading Ray to seek revenge on the assailant.
LOCATION: 2465 E 53rd St, Vernon, CA 90058
The establishing shots of the fictional city of Vinci were shot around Vernon.
LOCATION: Seen from the parking lot behind 3666 S Soto St, Vernon, CA 90058
The casino where Frank works could be found in Gardena. The actual casino has since closed down.
LOCATION: 1045 Rosecrans Ave, Gardena, CA 90247
Detective Ani Bezzerides, played by Rachel McAdams, runs an eviction raid on this home, which is located in Santa Paula, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 593 Orcutt Rd, Santa Paula, CA 93060
Ray’s house can be found in Vernon. It is located right next to City Hall, also seen in the show.
LOCATION: 4322 Furlong Pl, Vernon, CA 90058
Bezzerides follows a lead on a woman to the Panticapaeum Institute, a spiritual retreat run by her father. These scenes were filmed at Wayfarers Chapel in Ranchos Palos Verdes. The same location was featured in the 1980s comedy “Innerspace.”
LOCATION: 5755 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Here are the stairs from which the detectives approach.
The chapel is a very scenic place to visit, offering views overlooking the ocean.
The California Highway Patrol Station where Highway Patrol officer Paul Woodrugh, played by Taylor Kitsch, works could be found in Hawthorne. It was a real police building, also featured in the TV series “True Blood” and the film “Zodiac.” The building has since been demolished. Here is the area where it formerly stood.
LOCATION: 4440 W 126th St, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (now demolished)
Ray parks outside of this apartment building, where he plans to attack the man he believes raped his ex-wife Gena.
LOCATION: 15464 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
The apartment where he stages the attack is located across the street.
LOCATION: 15445 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Ray visits this house at night, where a boy who has been bullying his son lives. Ray beats the boy’s father in front of him at the front door, as a warning to stop bullying.
LOCATION: 19825 Needles St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Bezzerides gets escorted out of a casino when she receives a call about a new case.
LOCATION: 6580 Auto Center Dr, Ventura, CA 93003
Woodrugh discovers the body of Ben Caspere sitting on a picnic table at Point Magu Rock, overlooking the ocean. Detectives Ray Velcoro and Ani Bezzerides are called to the scene, where the three officers meet and the stage is set for the case. There are no picnic tables at the actual location, but it is a popular scenic overlook.
LOCATION: Point Magu Rock, 799 Pacific Coast Hwy, NAS Point Mugu, CA 93042
Episode Two – “Night Finds You”
Ray visits the city of Vinci, where he sees kids playing in the toxic water draining into this river channel. In the same area, he meets with Frank. The drainage hole was a visual effect added by the show.
LOCATION: Near 2715 E Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Woodrugh visits his mother at this trailer park.
LOCATION: 4456 Naval Air Rd, Oxnard, CA 93033
A brief transition shot is shown of these train tracks in Vinci.
LOCATION: Near 2552 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Ray visits this shopping plaza to see his son, but is instead greeted by his ex-wife Gena. Angry over Ray’s violent assault on the bully’s father, Gena tells him she will be petitioning for sole custody. The scene was filmed at the Northridge Mall. It’s a large place, so we’ve provided GPS coordinates below to the specific parking lot.
LOCATION: 9301 Tampa Ave, Northridge, CA 91324 (GPS coordinates: 34.240655, -118.556896)
After some men attack a man on the street, Frank pretends to be a bystander, before threatening the man himself. This scene was filmed near the same freeway overpass seen in the films “Heat” and “Scarface.”
LOCATION: Near 749 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Ray and Bezzerides visit the clinic of Ben Caspere’s doctor. These scenes were filmed at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley. The property regularly hosts weddings and special events. It is otherwise a private estate, only allowing guests by appointment. The only road leading to the ranch is typically gated shut with no trespassing signs. The property has also appeared in Oliver Stone’s “Savages,” “Jobs” starring Ashton Kutcher and in the TV series “Too Old To Die Young.”
LOCATION: 2940 Kuehner Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93063
Frank visits the mayor at the Vinci City Hall. The opposite side of the building is where Ray’s house can be found.
LOCATION: 4305 S Santa Fe Ave, Vernon, CA 90058
Episode Three – “Maybe Tomorrow”
Bezzerides and Woodrugh visit the house of the mayor of Vinci, which can be found in Beverly Hills.
LOCATION: 1091 Laurel Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Ray and Bezzerides follow up on a lead when their car is set on fire under this freeway overpass.
LOCATION: 11502 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061
Episode Four – “Down Will Come”
Woodrugh is unexpectedly confronted by the press in front of this hotel.
LOCATION: 7023 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Frank pays a visit to this apartment, where he informs the owner he is now 40% partner of the property. The apartment complex is seen from the interior courtyard in the show. The apartment next door was also featured in the film “Collateral.”
LOCATION: 1029 S Union Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Woodrugh’s girlfriend informs him she’s pregnant at this restaurant.
LOCATION: 2601 S Soto St, Vernon, CA 90058
Woodrugh locates a stolen watch at this pawn shop.
LOCATION: 5901 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
After Bezzerides find out she has a sexual misconduct complaint filed against her, she has an argument with her partner outside the police department. The same location was featured in the film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” This building has since been demolished. It formerly stood at 333 N Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301.
The pawn shop lead brings the detectives to a suspect. While the cops are watching the area ahead of their raid, workers file into this building.
LOCATION: 615 S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Protesters gather in front of this building.
LOCATION: 560 S Mission Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Bezzerides and her team approach past this building to begin the raid.
LOCATION: 607 S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
A shootout ensues from this building, with a large explosion on the top floor.
LOCATION: 621 S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Ray and Woodrugh make it through the gunfire over to this door at foot of the building.
They then cross these stairs in front in pursuit of the suspects in a vehicle.
The suspect vehicle then crashes into a bus at this intersection, where another shootout ensues.
LOCATION: Jesse St / S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Episode Five – “Other Lives”
Burdened by financial issues, Frank is forced to move into a more modest home.
LOCATION: 1400 N Spaulding Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Bezzerides meets the woman she ran a raid on in the first episode at this hotel. While speaking to her, she obtains information on a private party.
LOCATION: 401 S Westlake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Ray follows a group of prostitutes to a nondescript building. He parks in front of this building.
LOCATION: 1951 Staunton Ave, Vernon, CA 90058
He sees the prostitutes enter into this building.
LOCATION: 2001 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90058 (seen from E 20th St)
Frank has a business meeting, where a man offers him a deal to own some land again, if Frank can locate a hard drive owned by Ben Caspere. The location is next to Union Station and the establishing shot shows Union Station, then pans slightly toward the building to the right, where the meeting takes place.
LOCATION: 800 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, panning towards 700 Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Ray meets his ex-wife Gena at this scenic area overlooking Dodger Stadium and Downtown Los Angeles. His wife informs him her rapist was captured and it wasn’t the man Ray believed it was, therefore the information Ray had was incorrect. This area is the Elysian Park Helipad. There is parking nearby and a path that leads up directly to this area. It is not a difficult walk to reach it. This area is located close to where a dream sequence in “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” was shot.
LOCATION: Elysian Park Helipad, Solano Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (GPS coordinates: 34.082766, -118.236997)
Bezzerides and Woodrugh follow a lead in the Caspere case to a lodge in the woods. Known as the Harwood Lodge, it can be fount in Mt. Baldy, about 50 miles away from Los Angeles. There is a dirt road that leads up to the lodge, which is sometimes best reached by walking, depending on weather conditions.
LOCATION: 6700 Mt Baldy Rd, Mt Baldy, CA 91759
Bezzerides notices birds circling in the air in the woods nearby, leading them to the discovery of another crime scene.
Episode Six – “Church in Ruins”
Frank and his crew arrive at this home in search of a prostitute. Instead, he finds out the home belongs to the Mexicans criminals seen previously in the show, when Frank refused to form a partnership with them. Frank now renegotiates.
LOCATION: 1521 Colton St, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (seen from Lake Shore Terrace)
After the Mexicans put Frank in touch with the woman he’s been searching for, he arranges to meet her at this location, only to discover her dead body there. The Mexicans have killed her as retribution against Frank for not accepting their initial terms.
LOCATION: 2901 Fruitland Ave, Vernon, CA 90058 (seen from E 50th St)
Episode Seven – “Black Maps and Motel Rooms”
After Ray and Woodrugh rescue Bezzerides from a party in which she was drugged and attacked, the three stay at this motel in Mt. Baldy, located not far from the cabin seen in episode six.
LOCATION: 6867 Mt Baldy Rd, Mt Baldy, CA 91759
Woodrugh searches police records at the LAPD building in Downtown Los Angeles.
LOCATION: 100 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Woodrugh goes to meet a man who is blackmailing him at the Hall of Records. It turns out to be a set-up.
LOCATION: 320 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (seen from N Hill St)
Woodrugh is shot at the steps of old Los Angeles Police Department in Downtown Los Angeles, which has since been demolished. The same building was featured in the film “Inherent Vice.”
LOCATION: 150 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (now demolished)
Episode Eight – “Omega Station”
Frank sends his wife Jordan, played by Kelly Reilly, away at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center. The same location was featured in such films as “Rain Man” and “Memoirs of an Invisible Man.”
LOCATION: 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Jordon refuses to leave until Frank finally persuades her.
Ray and Bezzerides enter this home and discover a lot of evidence about the case, as well as the fact that Laura and Leonard Osterman were behind the attack on Caspere.
LOCATION: 1000 El Mirador Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815
Bezzerides sends Laura Osterman away on a bus at this station. The real location is not a bus station at all, rather a boarding terminal for cruise ships in San Pedro.
LOCATION: 100 Swinford St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Frank makes his way to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center to meet the corrupt cops under the agreed plan of exchanging incriminating evidence in his possession.
LOCATION: 2626 E Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Ray makes his way to the upper level inside the building.
Leonard Osterman then attacks one of the men and a shootout begins.
Ray parks at this intersection to see his son one last time, only to discover a tracking device on his vehicle. The intersection really is located next to the school, seen in the first episode.
LOCATION: Lincoln Ave / Apple Ave, Torrance, CA 90501
The Mexican criminals kidnap Frank at this intersection.
LOCATION: E 16th St / Hooper Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021
They proceed onto the freeway here.
LOCATION: E 17th St / Naomi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Bezzerides escapes to what is supposedly Venezuela. In reality, the scenes were shot in Downtown Los Angeles, with a lot of set decoration and some visual effects to fill the city backdrop.
LOCATION: E 11th St / Wall St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
There remain dozens more locations we did not document from the second season. Some are minor, others are major, but not easily visible for photography. Los Angeles is a constantly changing city and just a few short years later, several locations already no longer exist. We’ve tried to document as any as we could here. If you do plan to visit the season 2 filming locations, it requires a lot of time and distance, so do your research and allow yourself many days to navigate it all.
Related articles: True Detective (Season 1)
Too Old To Die Young
“Too Old to Die Young” from director Nicolas Winding Refn is, depending on how you look at it, either a TV series or a long film. Refn himself prefers to view it as the latter. Most of the production took place around the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, with some additional filming in New Mexico. Here we’ll cover the locations episode by episode. Some locations of course appear over multiple episodes. This article contains many spoilers for the show, so please do not proceed unless you’ve seen it in it’s entirety.
Volume 1 – “The Devil”
The first episode opens with Martin Jones, played by Miles Teller and his partner Larry, played by Lance Gross, standing in front of this mural along the side of a taco restaurant in Studio City.
LOCATION: 11401 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91602
Here is a wider view of the side of the building. The same building has appeared in the films “People Like Us” and “Up In Smoke.”
Also seen in the opening scene is this sports bar, located directly next to the taco restaurant.
LOCATION: 11411 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91602
Unbeknownst to Martin and Larry, they are being watched from across the street by Jesus, played by Augusto Aguilera.
Martin and Larry pull over a young woman in the parking lot of a largely abandoned shopping plaza in North Hollywood known as the Valley Plaza. The area is a popular filming location, having also recently appeared in “Captain Marvel.” The Blockbuster Video store where Carol Danvers first arrives is one of the store fronts in the background.
LOCATION: Near the intersection of Sylvian St / Vantage Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91606 (directly across from 12200 Sylvan St, North Hollywood, CA 91606)
The police car is parked in the area to the left near the tree.
After taking money from the girl they’ve pulled over, they let her go and Larry walks over towards a restaurant called “The Lone Drifter.” This is not a real establishment, rather a vacant building dressed up by the production. It too was seen in “Captain Marvel,” dressed as a music venue called “The Slow Club,” where Carol makes a call at a payphone.
Jesus is parked just beside the building, where he approaches and shoots Larry. The fire hydrant to the right is where Larry’s cell phone is recovered.
LOCATION: 2124 Sylvan St, North Hollywood, CA 91606
Martin returns fire on Jesus with the Regency Valley Plaza theater seen in the background.
After the shooting, Jesus escapes driving down Sylvian St and turning right onto Laurel Canyon Blvd. Martin calls in the shooting and surprisingly states the actual location of the scene to dispatch, rather than a fictionalized address, which is a somewhat rare occurrence in film and television.
The police station where Martin works, seen frequently throughout the show, is the Sunkist Headquarters building in Sherman Oaks. It is seen mostly from interior views in the show.
LOCATION: 14130 Riverside Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
The building faces the 101 freeway and Westfield shopping mall, both of which are seen through the windows in various scenes.
Not far from the police station, Martin parks here and walks to a payphone to call Damian, played by Babs Olusanmokun. This area is the rear parking lot behind a shoe repair and dry cleaners, looking out over a gas station and bank building. There is no actual payphone there.
LOCATION: 13644 Riverside Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (rear parking lot)
Damian runs his operation out of an ice skating rink in Van Nuys. The location appears many times in the show, from a variety of angles both from the interior and exterior. Here is the front entrance.
LOCATION: 14318 Calvert St, Van Nuys, CA 91401
In one scene, Martin is seen approaching past this sign.
The parking lot is featured in several scenes. First, Martin meets Damian to say he only wants to kill those who have committed horrible acts. In later episodes, Damian slices fruit with a sword and a would-be assassin named Gameboy watches as Damian and his crew perform a peculiar dance to “Ten Commandments” by Prince Buster.
Here is the corner where Devante, Jaime and Gameboy all stake out Damian’s ice rink.
LOCATION: Calvert St / Tyrone Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Gameboy mistakenly takes out the wrong man, killing Celestino. He attempts to speed off, but Damian returns fire and kills him in the street.
Martin’s apartment can be found in Sherman Oaks.
LOCATION: 14426 Addison St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Janey, played by Nell Tiger Free, lives with her father Theo, played by Stephen Baldwin at this home. The distinctive, eye shaped front window was created by the production and does not exist at the real home.
LOCATION: 1623 N Benton Way, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Later, when Martin returns home with Janey, Damian and his crew are waiting on this street corner, where they violently persuade Martin to become a hitman for them.
LOCATION: Addison St / Tilden Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Martin pays a visit to Amanda’s apartment in North Hollywood to pay her money.
LOCATION: 6837 Fulton Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91605
As Martin goes to perform the hit ordered by Damian, he parks at this liquor store.
LOCATION: 12500 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91604
His target is a man inside this auto shop.
LOCATION: 4350 Whitsett Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
Once inside, he finds the man nude on a couch and the two engage in a physical battle before Martin gets the upper hand.
Volume 2 – “The Lovers”
Don Ricardo’s estate, where much of episode 2 takes place, is the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley. The property regularly hosts weddings and special events. It is otherwise a private estate, however, only allowing guests by appointment. The only road leading to the ranch is typically gated shut with no trespassing signs, making it unfortunately closed to the public. The property has also appeared in Oliver Stone’s “Savages,” “Jobs” starring Ashton Kutcher and in the second season of “True Detective.”
LOCATION: 2940 Kuehner Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93063
Volume 3 – “The Hermit”
In episode 3, the character of Viggo, played by John Hawkes, is introduced. As he is transporting a dead body in his trunk, he suddenly runs out of gas. He pulls over to this alley in Van Nuys.
LOCATION: 14524 Hamlin St, Van Nuys, CA 91411
Not thinking clearly, Viggo locks himself out of his car. In the neighboring parking lot, gunshots suddenly ring out as an unrelated crime takes place. Viggo decides to escape on foot, leaving the key with his fingerprint inside the car. The next morning Martin arrives and discovers the key, putting him on the trail of Viggo.
LOCATION: 6417 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401 (rear parking lot)
Diana, played by Jena Malone, orchestrates Viggo’s targets and regularly meets with him at the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center. The pool has a picturesque mountain range spanning the backdrop. It is depicted as quiet and isolated in the show, but in reality, it’s a popular spot for families to visit.
LOCATION: 11798 Foothill Blvd, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
The slide at the pool is also seen in a later episode when the two once again meet up and talk.
Martin visits the family of an abused boy to gather more information on Viggo.
LOCATION: 6616 Langdon Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Janey forces a bartender to serve her a drink despite knowing she is underage. Most of the scene is out of focus, but when she exits the building, it is revealed to be a bar inside Highland Park Bowl.
LOCATION: 5621 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Here is a view of the full exterior, although it is never seen from this angle in the show.
Janey then walks over to meet her father at an art gallery. This is geographically accurate, as the location really is just a few doors down from the bar. It is seen only from interior views in the scene. This same building has appeared in the film “Lights Out,” as well as the TV shows “Leverage” and “Battle Creek.”
LOCATION: 5601 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Martin finally tracks down Viggo and follows him to his mother’s house in Sylmar.
LOCATION: 11370 Clybourn Ave, Sylmar, CA 91342
Martin then follows Viggo to the Northridge Fashion Center, which leads him to Diana. Viggo is seen driving up this ramp. To access the exact area seen in the film, you need to go to Nordhoff St and turn into the lot near Sears. The ramp is on the left and will take you to the upper lot where the scene was shot.
LOCATION: 9301 Tampa Ave, Northridge, CA 91324
Viggo parks along the wall on the right, while Diana parks beside the lamppost in the foreground. Martin photographs them from afar, looking at this angle.
Martin is told to meet Damian at a strip mall near the house. Damian gives him a key to enter the house of his next target. The plaza can be found in Studio City.
LOCATION: 11308 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Martin meets with Viggo at the Olympic Coffee Shop in Sylmar. The two discuss what it feels like to kill. The same coffee shop has appeared in the films “Over The Top,” “Memento” and “Every Which Way But Loose,” as well as such TV series as “Bosch” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Across the street is another notable filming location, the motel from “The Addams Family.”
LOCATION: 12192 San Fernando Rd, Sylmar, CA 91342
Volume 4 – “The Tower”
Martin’s next target is a Korean man that he tracks down at this burger restaurant in Burbank.
LOCATION: 2320 W Victory Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506
Martin follows the man and he pulls over here to eat a burger. As Martin pulls the gun, he finds himself conflicted about whether the man really deserves death and decides to find an alternate solution. Once again, the route they drive is geographically accurate and just a short distance from the burger restaurant.
LOCATION: 2301 W Victory Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506
Volume 5 – “The Fool”
Episode 5 was filmed on location in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We do not yet have specific location information at this time.
Volume 6 – “The High Priestess”
Back in the Valley, Alfonso attempts to get in the good graces of Jesus by ordering a hit on Damian. He visits Devante at this auto shop in Van Nuys and hires him to perform the hit for $6,000.
LOCATION: 14101 Oxnard St, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Devante then outsources the job to Jaime for $2,000, who in turn outsources the hit to a junkie named Gameboy for $200 and some crystal meth. Gameboy stops by this apartment and does some drugs, tearing the photo of his target in two in the process and mixing up Damian with Celestino. The address is on Bakman Ave in North Hollywood, but the view seen in the show is actually the back side of the building, on an unnamed road next to the electrical towers.
LOCATION: 6607 Bakman Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91606 (rear side of the building on an unnamed road)
Gameboy is then seen passing the electrical towers and turning down Kittridge St to go kill Damian. Things do not go as planned.
Volume 7 – “The Magician”
Janey’s father Theo, played by William Baldwin, takes Martin to a screening room, where he plays a scene of a show within a show. The scene is very meta, mimicking the scene from episode 1 where Martin and Larry pull over a woman. This was filmed at an auto shop very close to the location of the final scene in the show.
LOCATION: 5547 Satsuma Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601
After Viggo helps Martin dispose of a body, Martin asks him to pull over as he vomits.
LOCATION: 8981 Bradley Ave, Sun Valley, CA 91352
Volume 8 – “The Hanged Man”
Martin and Viggo’s next target takes them to an abandoned shopping mall. This is 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,” “John Dies At the End,” and “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” as well as the TV series “Westworld.” The building is closed to the public and regularly patrolled by security, so unless you have permission from the city or someone filming, it is trespassing to enter the grounds. It is a popular spot for abandon building enthusiasts, however, and quite a few people have managed to get inside over the years.
LOCATION: 12124 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (closed to the public)
The High Priestess of Death executes everyone in sight at the Sierra Pelona Motel in Santa Clarita. The motel was also used in “The Grifters,” the 2002 Britney Spears film “Crossroads” and the TV series “Westworld.” The motel is also located very close to the restaurant from “Duel.” The phone booth was not a prop and really exists at the motel.
LOCATION: 12117 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Most of the killings take place in front of rooms 3 and 4.
Volume 9 – “The Empress”
In the penultimate episode, Diana has a vision which changes her eyes. She visits a mysterious woman to explain her vision and fix her eyes. All of the decor seen in the front of the shop is real and was not a flourish of the production. This location is right across the street from the scene in episode 1 where Martin and Larry pull over the young woman.
LOCATION: 6316 Laurel Canyon Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606
Diana makes her way out to the back of the building to speak to the woman.
Volume 10 – “The World”
In the final episode, Yuritza makes her presence known as the High Priestess of Death. She sits at the corner of Satsuma Ave and Cumpston St. This is on the same street as the show within a show that Theo plays for Martin in his screening room.
LOCATION: Satsuma Ave / Cumpston St, North Hollywood, CA 91601
The final scenes were filmed at the Limelight West, an event space in North Hollywood.
LOCATION: 5453 Satsuma Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601
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Superbad (2007)
The 2007 comedy “Superbad” shot all around Southern California, including the San Fernando Valley, El Segundo, Culver City and more. The high school scenes were filmed at El Segundo High School.
LOCATION: 640 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245
Here is the front entrance of the school, also seen in the film. The same high school has been used in many films, including “WarGames,” “Role Models” and “The Babysitter.”
The “Good Shopper” supermarket where Seth, played by Jonah Hill, attempts to steal alcohol, only to back out after visions of being murdered, was filmed at Jon’s Market in Glendale.
LOCATION: 1717 W Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201
The liquor store where “McLovin” attempts to buy alcohol, only to wind up caught in the middle of a robbery, was filmed at a real liquor store, also located in Glendale. The scene where Seth gets hit by a car was also filmed in this same parking lot.
LOCATION: 1700 Victory Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201
The party house where Evan and Seth try yet again to steal alcohol can be found in Northridge. It’s located on the same street as the house from another Seth Rogen film, “Knocked Up.”
LOCATION: 17711 Community St, Northridge, CA 91325
Bailey’s Bar and Grill, where the cops take McLovin, was actually the Buggy Whip restaurant in Westchester. It was seen in several other films, including “Blow,” “The Doors” and “Date Night.” Unfortunately, the restaurant closed in 2013 and was demolished in 2017. It could be found at 7420 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
Film Oblivion 