Pasadena

GLOW

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The TV series “GLOW” tells the real life story of a 1980s women’s wrestling promotion called the “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.”  The show, starring Alison Brie, was primarily set around the San Fernando Valley in Southern California for the first two seasons, before shifting to Las Vegas for the third season.

The exterior of the gym where the ladies train can be found at the San Fernando Masonic Lodge.  The angle shown is from the back of the building.  There is a gate on the front side preventing vehicle access to this area.  There is also fencing along the back.  However, there is an alley running behind the property, allowing for views of the location.  The interior of the gym was a set built on a sound stage.

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LOCATION: 1112 N Maclay Ave, San Fernando, CA 91340

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The diner the girls frequent is Cadillac Jack’s in Sun Valley.  It is no longer an active restaurant establishment, instead it is used solely as a filming location or event space.  The building is actually part of the same property as the hotel used in the show and located directly beside it.  The restaurant has been used in countless productions, including “Grease 2,” “The Whole Ten Yards,” the TV shows “Vanderpump Rules,” “MacGuyver” and dozens more.  It has also been featured in many music videos, such as CeeLo Green’s “Forget You” and Mandy Moore’s “Candy.”

It should be noted that this location, including the hotel, has gained reputation in recent years for disliking unsolicited visitation.  Cones block off most of the entrances.  Due to the filming history, as well as the unique look of the property, it often attracts interest from the general public.  We had no issues when we visited, but there are numerous comments online from others with more unpleasant experiences.   If you do visit, keep in mind that they have apparently become sensitive about the issue and be careful not to trespass.

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LOCATION: 9457 San Fernando Rd, Sun Valley, CA 91352

The girls attend a party at the house of the producer Bash.  This was filmed at the Circles on the Point mansion in Malibu.  The 1994 film Bruce Willis film “Color Of Night” also filmed here, as well as the TV series “Jean-Claude Van Johnson.”

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LOCATION: 29377 Cliffside Dr, Malibu, CA 90265

The Dusty Spur motel where the girls reside is actually the Pink Motel in Sun Valley.  It’s part of the same property as the diner on the show and sits directly beside it.  It is not an operational motel, rather a set used for filming or special events.  As mentioned earlier, according to many online comments, the property is not receptive to public visitation these days, preferring only professional clients.  The motel property has been featured in countless productions, including “The House Bunny” and “Drive” (interiors only), as well as the TV shows “Westworld,” “Dexter” and “The O.C.”

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LOCATION: 9457 San Fernando Rd, Sun Valley, CA 91352

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The gang tries to secure sponsorship from Patio Town.  This was filmed at the back entrance of an actual patio store in Studio City.

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LOCATION: 11055 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

The girls celebrate securing sponsorship by grabbing some burgers at Foster’s Freeze.  The same location was used in “Pulp Fiction,” whenever Butch crosses paths with Marsellus and gets into a car collision.

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LOCATION: 2760 Fletcher Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Carmen’s house, where they wrestle in the back yard, can be found in the Pico Union neighborhood of Los Angeles.

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LOCATION: 1234 Fedora St, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Seeking additional funding, the girls attend a fundraiser at Bash’s mother’s house.  The home, found in Pasadena, was also famously used in the sitcom “Benson,” as well as in the films “American Gigolo” and “Monster-In-Law.”

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LOCATION: 1365 S Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Matilda (1996)

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The Wormwood house from the 1996 Danny DeVito directed film Matilda can be found in Whittier, California.  The house and especially the yard have changed a bit from how they appeared on screen, but there is still some resemblance.

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LOCATION: 15811 Youngwood Dr, Whittier, CA 90603

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Trunchbull’s house 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 “Catch Me If You Can,” “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)

Ghost Dad (1990)

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The house from the 1990 Bill Cosby comedy “Ghost Dad” can be found in South Pasadena, California.  Located on Bushnell Ave, the road is famous for many iconic movie homes, from such films as “Back To The Future” and “Teen Wolf.”

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LOCATION: 1621 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Elliot works at the Eastern Columbia Building in Downtown Los Angeles. The same building has appeared in the films “Predator 2,” “(500) Days Of Summer,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “The Last Hour” and more.

LOCATION: 849 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Elliot rides in a taxi cab than nearly crashes into a train in Port Hueneme, California, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The same intersection and train tracks also appear in the film “Back To The Future Part III.”

LOCATION: S Ventura Rd / Shoreview Dr, Port Hueneme, CA 93041

To see our “Ghost Dad” location page, click here.

Twins (1988)

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In the 1988 Ivan Reitman comedy “Twins,” Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger play two long-lost brothers who reconnect. The film was shot in California, New Mexico and Texas. Julius (Schwarzenegger) and Vincent (DeVito) first encounter each other in front of the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, although they don’t realize it. The theater has appeared in countless films, such as “Valley Girl,” “Rush Hour,” “Calendar Girl,” “The Aviator,” “Iron Man 3” and many more.

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LOCATION: 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Julius visits an orphanage seeking information on Vincent. The actual building isn’t an orphanage, rather an apartment building. This same building has appeared in the films ”The Cable Guy,” “American Pie 2,” “Changeling,” “Annabelle: Creation,” “Ouija,” “Oujia: Origin of Evil,” “The Ring 2,” “Puppet Master II,” “Truth or Dare,” “Where Sleeping Dogs Lie,” “Species III” and many more. It has also appeared in numerous TV shows, such as “Westworld,” “You,” “American Crime Story,” “Teen Wolf,” “Bosch: Legacy” and more.

LOCATION: 306 Loma Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Julius bails Vincent out of jail from this police station, located in Van Nuys. While the entrance seen in the film faces Erwin St, it is a section only accessible to pedestrian traffic. The same building appeared in another Arnold Schwarzenegger film, “Kindergarten Cop.”

LOCATION: 14400 Erwin St, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Vincent’s office can be found in Hollywood at the Hollywood First National Bank Building. The same building appeared in the films “The Nice Guys,” “The Retrievers” and “The Atomic City,” as well as briefly appearing in the background in “Reservoir Dogs.”

LOCATION: 6777 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Webster, played by Marshall Bell, goes to meet his clients at the Japanese Garden of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, after a car he was supposed to pick up isn’t in a parking garage.  The location has been used in countless TV shows and films, notably serving as the “Starfleet Academy” in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.”  Other TV shows to film there include the original “Knight Rider,” “Murder She Wrote” and the original “Charmed.”  Films such as “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Bio-Dome,” “Ghost In The Machine,” “Rising Sun,” “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “Nowhere,” “Zoombies,” “Cyber Tracker” and “Most Wanted” also filmed at the location.

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LOCATION: 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406

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Vincent lives at this Santa Monica house.  The house has since been remodeled from how it appeared in the film, but does still bear some resemblance.

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LOCATION: 323 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Julius walks up this Pasadena driveway in search of their father.

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LOCATION: 1126 Hillcrest Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Vincent and Julius embark on a trip to New Mexico, accompanied by Linda (Chloe Webb) and Marnie (Kelly Preston). They are seen crossing the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in El Prado, New Mexico. The bridge is far removed from most tourist destinations, requiring hours of driving through mountains and winding terrain to reach it. Once you’re there, however, it’s instantly recognizable. The same bridge appeared in the films “Natural Born Killers,” “She’s Having A Baby,” “This Must Be The Place,” “Wild Hogs,” “Vacation,” “Paul,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “The Signal,” “Catchfire” and “White Sands.” It gets extremely windy on this bridge, so much so, you can feel the vibration on the bridge as you stand on it.

LOCATION: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, US-64, El Prado, NM 87529

At the end of the film, Vincent and Julius pose for family photos in front of the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. It has appeared in many other films, including “The Prestige,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Beautiful” and “Destroyer,” as well as such TV shows as “Alias,” “CSI: NY” and the TV series adaptation of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” It also famously served as an inspiration to Walt Disney in his decision to create Disneyland.

LOCATION: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

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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.

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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.

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LOCATION: 1940 Moore Way, Ontario, CA 91761

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

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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.

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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.”

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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

American Pie (1999)

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The house from the 1999 comedy “American Pie” can be found in Long Beach, California.  In the film, Jim, played by Jason Biggs, makes a pact with his friends to lose their virginity.  Jim lives with his family at this home, where many famous scenes take place, including a memorable encounter with a sexy foreign exchange student, played by Shannon Elizabeth, as well as the infamous pie scene.

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LOCATION: 4153 Cedar Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

The house where Michelle, played by Alyson Hannigan, lives can also be found on the same road.

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LOCATION: 3925 Cedar Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

Kevin’s home can be found in Pasadena.

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LOCATION: 3689 San Pasqual St, Pasadena, CA 91107

The high school used in the film is Millikan High School in Long Beach.

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LOCATION: 2800 Snowden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815

The boys frequent this restaurant, located in Monrovia.

LOCATION: 402 S Myrtle Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016

The exterior of Stifler’s house can also be found in Pasadena.

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LOCATION: 3644 Lombardy Rd, Pasadena, CA 91107

The interiors of Stifler’s house, however, used this house in Altadena.  The house has been used in many productions, including “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Bye Bye Love,” “American Pie 2,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Cheaper By The Dozen,” “Crazy On The Outside” and “I Know Who Killed Me,” as well as such TV shows as “The Mentalist,” “This Is Us,” “7th Heaven,” “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Desperate Housewives” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

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LOCATION: 1090 Rubio St, Altadena, CA 91001

Related articles: American Pie 2 (2001)

Benson

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“Benson,” a spin-off of the television series “Soap,” about a butler becoming the Governor’s “Director of Household Affairs,” ran from 1979 until 1986.  The Governor’s house from the show can be found perched atop a hill in Pasadena, California and is much larger than you might expect.  The same house was featured on an episode of the TV series “GLOW,” as well as in the films “American Gigolo” and “Monster-In-Law.”

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LOCATION: 1365 S Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106