Hollywood on the Big Screen
Tag: Entertainment
Look familiar? Many Hollywood business district locales have been the star in films over the years. Here are some Tinsel Town favorites.
Musso & Frank Grill's iconic neon sign on Hollywood Boulevard. (Photo by Gary Leonard)
Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood
In last year’s multiple-Academy Award nominee and Best Supporting Actor winner for Brad Pitt, Musso & Frank’s was the spot where Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio met up with Al Pacino for a drink in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Ocean’s Eleven (2001), and scenes from Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003) were also filmed here. Swingers (1996), Hitchcock (2012), and Rules Don't Apply (2016) also shot tasty scenes here; as did AMC’s Mad Men, and Carrie Bradshaw in HBO’s Sex and the City. Also worth noting: Charlie Chaplin lunched here.
The Cinerama Dome, now part of the Arclight Hollywood Cinemas. (Photo by Howard Wise)
Cinerama Dome
6360 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood also used this classic spot, now a part of Arclight Hollywood. Frost/Nixon showed up here as well.
TCL Chinese Theatre in 2017. (Courtesy photo)
TCL Chinese Theater
6923 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Depicted as Grauman’s Chinese, OUTIH also used this beloved spot. When the TCL actually was Grauman's Chinese Theatre, it served as a setting for both Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Blazing Saddles (1974). Later, Mighty Joe Young also rampaged here; Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop showed up at the location, too. The Aviator also flew in. A full bevy of films picked this popular location including Forrest Gump (1994), Zombieland (2009), and Speed (1994). Iron Man 3 also joined in the fun in 2013.
The historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. (photo by Gary Leonard)
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
This iconic, Spanish Mission style hotel – with touches of Art Deco mixed in - was home to a bevy of film shoots including DiCaprio starrer Catch Me If You Can (2002) in 2002, American Crime Story filming, which began in 2016; and 2000’s rock n’ roll coming of age classic Almost Famous. Lucifer also stalked these halls. Also filmed here: Hancock; the 2008-era television version of 90210; Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and Hardcore. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) and Internal Affairs (1990) were among the myriad of additional films shot on the luxe premises.
Hollywood and Highland intersection, with the mall at the right. (Photo by Howard Wise)
Hollywood & Highland Center
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Hancock visited the mall; the underground metro stop was filmed in chase scenes for The Italian Job in 2003. Interesting fact: the mall’s design was based on the set of Baylon used in the 1916 film Intolerance.
The stretch of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Vine includes hidden gems like Artisan's Patio, pictured here. (Photo by Howard Wise)
Hollywood Boulevard – east of Highland, west of Vine
The 2006 comedy, Borat, and 2001’s Mulholland Drive, both took advantage of the boulevard.
Crossroads of the World, known as "America's first outdoor shopping mall." (Courtesy photo)
Crossroads of the World
6671 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
L.A. Confidential secured this kitschy, highly recognizable spot in 1997, as did Indecent Proposal (1993). Argo, from 2012 also filmed stateside sequences here.
The Folic Room, next door to the Pantages Theatre. (Courtesy photo)
Frolic Room
6245 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
LA Confidential also frolicked here, as did Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 1974’s A Woman Under the Influence, and the television series Columbo and Bosch.
The Hollywood Pantages Theatre, near the intersection of Hollywood and Vine. (Photo by Howard Wise)
Pantages Theatre
6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
The Aviator, Black Dahlia, Paparazzi all made their appearance in this classic theater. The Bodyguard, Ed Wood, The Jazz Singer, Friends with Benefits, and Batman Forever also used the location, either its exterior as in the case of Ed Wood, or the interior –standing in as the Ritz Gotham Hotel in Batman Forever. It was the site of the Academy Awards in the film The Bodyguard.
The Hollywood Loews Hotel. (Courtesy Photo)
Loew’s Hotel
1755 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood
Brendan Fraser checked into this spot after being rescued from his bomb shelter home in the 1999 comedy, Blast from the Past. Britney Spears shot a music video here, for the song “Everytime.” Other film projects shot here include Yes Man (2008); 1999’s Don’t Tell Mom, the Babysitter’s Dead; and with a fake downtown skyline in the suite windows, it was featured in the Tom Cruise/Jamie Foxx starrer Collateral, as well.
Residential Locations
Sunset Boulevard (1950) apartment building, 1851 N. Ivar St., Hollywood
Halloween (1978) private home, 1537 Orange Grove Ave., Hollywood
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) private home, 1428 Genesee Ave., Hollywood
The Aviator, private home, 211 Muirfield Road
The Day After Tomorrow (2004) Yucca St. and Vine St., Hollywood
Genie Davis is a multi-published novelist and journalist, and produced screen and television writer. Passionate about everything-Los Angeles, you can see her work in the arts on her own www.diversionsLA.com.