Bobby (2006)

February 16, 2022October 27, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2006 drama “Bobby,” about the day of the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, filmed at the former Ambassador Hotel, where the real assassination took place. The film was notable for being the last production to shoot at the Ambassador, before it was demolished. Demolition had actually already begun at the time of filming, but many parts of the hotel had not yet been destroyed yet. So the production filmed in areas they could at the real hotel, then used multiple other locations to stand in as well.

The Ambassador was a staple of film and television, appearing in such films as “The Graduate,” “Forrest Gump,” “True Romance,” “Seven,” “Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas,” “True Lies,” “L.A. Story,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Mask” and dozens more. After closing for good in 1989, the Ambassedor was used primarily for filming throughout the 1990s. The film crews were apparently not always considerate of the property, leaving it in poor condition after wrapping. Eventually the hotel was in such disrepair, despite a long struggle to preserve the property, it was eventually settled upon to be demolished. Only this post and statue from the original building remain at the location.

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

Many more locations were used to composite the hotel, including the MacArthur in Los Angeles, formerly known as the Park Plaza Hotel. No longer a functioning hotel, the MacArthur today serves primarily as a property for hosting filming and special events. However, it is under renovation with apparent plans to open a portion up once again as a hotel in 2022. The interior stood in for portions of the lobby of the Ambassador. It has been featured in many films, such as “Wild At Heart,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Drive,” “Gangster Squad,” “Tango & Cash,” “The Hidden” and many more.

LOCATION: 607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

The Castle Green Apartments in Pasadena stood in for the hotels gardens area. Castle Green has likewise been featured in countless films, such as “The Little Rascals,” “True Romance,” “The Sting,” “Wild At Heart,” “Deja Vu,” “Sneakers,” “Bugsy,” “The Last Samurai,” “Puppet Master” and many more.

LOCATION: 99 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

Transformers (2007)

March 16, 2020December 13, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 2007 film “Transformers,” Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky. The Witwicky residence can be found in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

LOCATION: 2187 W 24th St, Los Angeles, CA 90018

The car lot where Sam shops for cars with his dad can be found in Altadena. It was actually a composite of two locations on opposite sides of the street from one another. The location at 2012 Lake Ave still stands, but the other location at 2000 Lake Ave has since been demolished.

LOCATION: 2012 Lake Ave, Altadena, CA 91001

Bobby Bolivia, played by Bernie Mac, points down the street to where his mother lives.

Bumblebee gives himself an updated look inside the Second Street Tunnel in Downtown L.A. This is a popular filming location, appearing in such films as “Kill Bill,” “Demolition Man,” “Blade Runner,” “Con Air,” “Independence Day” and many more.

LOCATION: 620 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The police station seen in the film can be found in Highland Park. The building is no longer an active police station and operates today as a police museum. The building has been featured in countless films, including “Clerks 2,” “Gangster Squad” and “National Security,” as well as the TV series “Twin Peaks: The Return.”

LOCATION: 6043 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Sam and Mikaela, played by Megan Fox, watch a meteor shower at the iconic Griffith Observatory. The location is another staple of film, appearing in such movies as “Rebel Without A Cause,” “La La Land,” “The Terminator” and dozens more.

LOCATION: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sam and Mikaela are taken into custody near this railway bridge, only for the Transformers to rescue them.

LOCATION: N Henry Ford Ave / Pier A Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90744

Sam and Mikaela are taken to the Hoover Dam in Nevada, which houses Megatron inside a bunker.

LOCATION: Hoover Dam, Boulder City, NV 89005

Ironhide lands in the pool of the Byrdview house in Chatsworth (also known as the Farralone Estate and Fox House). It has appeared in many films, including “Swordfish,” “Lords Of Dogtown,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” “The Salton Sea,” “Bewitched,” “Tomcats” and “Dreamgirls.” It has also appeared in such TV series as “Six Feet Under,” “Mad Men,” “Californication,” “The Last Man on Earth,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Aquarius,” “Moonlight” and “Good Girls Revolt.”

LOCATION: 9361 Farralone Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311

A full scale Optimus Prime truck used in the film could be seen on display in the prop room at Paramount Studios.

LOCATION: 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Also on display was a full scale Bumblebee.

Disturbia (2007)

August 16, 2018October 15, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2007 film “Disturbia” was loosely inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.” In the film, several homes next to each other were all featured in the film. Kale, played by Shia LaBeouf, lives at this house in Whittier, California, where he comes to believe his neighbor is a killer.