Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [108]
You may recognize the Venice Boardwalk from countless shows (eg the opening of Three’s Company) but far more humdrum parts of the region are used most often. The number of car chases filmed in and around the workaday environs of Ventura Blvd and Burbank are incalculable, until you note the proximity of Universal Studios and Warner Bros, two of the biggest TV-show producers.
Some LA locations have achieved their own fame through one or several shows. The websites www.tvacres.com and www.seeing-stars.com list oodles of locations in and around LA, but here are a few iconic places you can visit:
Brady Bunch House (Map; 11222 Dilling St, Studio City) The bland home of the classic 1970s sitcom family. Although it was prominent in the opening, nothing was actually shot here, leaving Bobby, Cindy and the rest to cavort on Astroturf on a Paramount sound stage. Note that the current owner has added a fence in front to keep warped fans from peeking in the windows in hopes of seeing Marcia in the shower or something.
Torrance High School (Map; 2200 W Carson St, Torrance) Buffy Anne Summers (aka Buffy the Vampire Slayer) took on the evil subjects of algebra, calculus and chemistry during her day job as a student at Sunnydale High School, set here. The school also did a star turn as West Beverly High in Beverly Hills 90210.
Alias Apartment Building (Map; 1731 N Sycamore Ave, Hollywood) Only on TV would a grad student live in a posh vintage Hollywood apartment like this. OK, it’s Jennifer Garner and the student thing is only a cover for her role fighting evil-doers on the ABC series that ran from 2001 to 2006.
Shooters (Map; 6810 Melrose Ave, Hollywood) Hangout for the ever-scheming, ever-copulating gang of Melrose Place, this real-life restaurant (named Fellini’s) was used for exterior shots. The namesake courtyard apartment building at the center of the intrigue is at 4616 Greenwood Ave in Los Feliz.
Also worth checking out, and appearing elsewhere in the book:
LA City Hall Dragnet, Daily Planet in the TV version of Superman
Bronson Caves Lone Ranger, Bat Cave in the TV Batman, countless alien landscapes on Star Trek and bandit hideouts on Bonanza
Will Rogers State Beach Baywatch
Paradise Cove Rockford Files
Malibu Creek State Park M*A*S*H
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ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN
Overlooking the Arroyo Seco from its ridge-top perch is this world-renowned arts campus (Map; 626-396-2200, tour reservations 626-396-2373; www.artcenter.edu; 1700 Lida St). Free tours are offered during the school year at 2pm Monday to Friday; reservations are required. To see what students and alumni have been up to, check out the latest exhibit at the Williamson Gallery (www.artcenter.edu/Williamson; admission free; noon-5pm Tue-Sun, to 9pm Fri).
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CALTECH)
With 31 Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni, it’s no surprise that Caltech (Map; 626-395-6327; www.caltech.edu; 551 S Hill Ave; ) is regarded with awe in academic circles. Earthquake studies were essentially pioneered here in the 1920s with the inventions of the seismograph and the Richter scale, and to this day Caltech scientists are usually the first experts to be consulted whenever a shaker strikes.
The hallowed campus is dotted with century-old buildings and shady old trees. Free student-led tours ( 626-395-6341; 11:15am year-round, 2:15pm Mar, Apr, Jul & Aug) depart from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 355 S Holliston. Alternatively, pick up a self-guided tour booklet at the office or download one from the website.
Caltech also operates the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL; Map; 818-354-0012; www.jpl.nasa.gov; 4800 Oak Grove Dr), NASA’s main center for robotic exploration of the solar system, about 3.5 miles north of campus. It’s possible to visit JPL during public lectures