Warner Bros Ranch

The Monster Squad (1987)

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The cult 1980s film “The Monster Squad” shot mostly on studio lots, but there are a couple real world locations.  The school the boys attend is the Richland Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles.

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LOCATION: 11562 Richland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064

One of those more memorable locations was the house of the “Scary German Guy.”  It could be found in Santa Monica, but as is often the case around Southern California, new owners came along, demolished the property and built a more modern house in it’s place. Here is what it looks like now.

LOCATION: 229 12th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (now demolished)

Sean’s house was a facade, located on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank.  This studio lot was separate from the main Warner backlot and was not open to public tours.  The same house was used in the 1970s TV series “The Partridge Family.” The entire ranch was demolished in 2023, with sound stages taking over the space.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 (demolished)

The climactic battle against the monsters was filmed on the main Warner backlot, which is of course open to tours.  The boys make their way to this church, which was also seen in another 1980s horror classic, “The Lost Boys.”

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

Here is a wider view of the town square, which was also famously used as the fictional town of “Stars Hollow” in the TV show “Gilmore Girls.”

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Dracula stands in front of this house, which is another facade on the Warner lot.  The same home was seen in “Gremlins” and “Deadly Friend,” as well as the TV series “Growing Pains” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”

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Seeing the locations of “The Monster Squad” is a tricky proposition, as it involves a mixture of studio and real world locations, not all of which we covered here.  Whether you’re a nostalgic fan from the film’s initial release, or a new fan just discovering it for the first time, “The Monster Squad” continues to have an undeniable cult following.

American Beauty (1999)

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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, lived at this house, the exterior of which was located on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank, California.  The ranch was a small lot located apart from the main studio lot, and not open to public tours.  The entire ranch was demolished in 2023, with sound stages taking over the space. The house was also well known for having been used as the Griswold home in 1989’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”  It also appeared in “WandaVision,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Small Soldiers,” “Pleasantville” and more.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 (demolished)

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 was the exterior of the Colonel’s house.  This house was most well known for being Danny Glover’s home in the “Lethal Weapon” films.  Known as the Lindsay house, it also appeared in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “WandaVision,” The Three Stooges serials, “Pushing Daisies,” “The Middle” and many more. This set has also since been demolished.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 (demolished)

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 was 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 were located, it really felt like you’re standing in a real neighborhood.  It’s only when you approach up close that the facades began to show. This set has likewise since been demolished.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 (demolished)

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

Friends

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The opening to the hit show “Friends” was not filmed in New York, but rather in Burbank, California.  The fountain seen in the show was located on “Park Blvd” at the Warner Bros. Ranch, a small property that sat off-site from the main Warner Bros. Studios lot.  The ranch was not open to public visitation.  The entire ranch was demolished in 2023, with sound stages taking over the space. However, the fountain was relocated to the Embassy Court of the main Warner Bros studio lot. Here is how it originally appeared at the ranch.

LOCATION: 411 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505 (demolished), relocated to 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

What is open to the public is a recreation of the “Central Perk” cafe, which can be found on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour over at the main lot.

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LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

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Some autographed scripts can also be found on display on the Warner Brothers Studio Tour.