Category Archives: Location Sleuth

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Yamashiro

Posted on September 30, 2019 by lmharnisch

Photo: A postcard of the Bernheimer house, listed on EBay at $6. Note: This is an encore post from 2011. In Japanese, Yamashiro means castle on the hill. Standing in its original 1914 location, Yamashiro restaurant, the elegant dowager at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Location Sleuth, Mary Mallory | Tagged | Leave a comment

Downtown Los Angeles, 1950: ‘The Underworld Story’ Part 3

Posted on June 24, 2019 by lmharnisch

Here’s another sequence from “The Underworld Story” filmed in downtown Los Angeles. The camera is across Spring Street, opposite City Hall. Downtown L.A. in ‘Underworld Story’ Part 1 | Part 2

Posted in Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Long Beach: Cyclone Racer in ‘Half Angel,’ Part 3

Posted on April 24, 2019 by lmharnisch

In this sequence, our romantic leads dash out of the Cyclone Racer.

Posted in 1951, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Long Beach: Cyclone Racer in ‘Half Angel,’ Part 2

Posted on April 23, 2019 by lmharnisch

Cut to Cyclone Racer, which closed in 1968. Our romantic leads go for a ride on a roller coaster, being 1950s symbolism at its best. The bored operator is Edwin Max. The sign in the background appears to say: “Hold … Continue reading →

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Long Beach: Cyclone Racer in ‘Half Angel,’ Part 1

Posted on April 22, 2019 by lmharnisch

Here’s the Cyclone Racer sequence in “Half Angel,” last week’s mystery movie, that begins about the 32-minute mark. Joseph Cotten and Loretta Young are promenading along what is probably a Twentieth Century-Fox set, judging by the lighting. Editing by Robert … Continue reading →

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Location Sleuth: ‘Double Indemnity’

Posted on November 3, 2018 by lmharnisch

Update: This is a post from 2006. The location was identified by Crime Buddy Nathan Marsak as Olive Street, with Philharmonic Auditorium and Pershing Square in the background. Here’s a frame grab from the opening shots of “Double Indemnity.” According … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Architecture, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, Olive, Parks | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Brand Library

Posted on October 2, 2017 by lmharnisch

“Aerodrome Replacing Country-House Garage,” Illustrated London News, Oct. 29, 1921, Courtesy of Mary Mallory   Note: This is an encore post from 2012 Unique thematic architectural homes stand out all around the Los Angeles area, like Yamashiro and Frank Lloyd … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood Heights, Libraries, Location Sleuth, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Becomes New York: ‘Three on a Match’ (1932)

Posted on November 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

After I posted a photo of Ann Dvorak’s Duesenberg in the 1932 film “Three on a Match,” John Bengtson noted that the school scenes were filmed at Los Angeles High School on Fort Moore Hill. “Three on a Match” is, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932, Architecture, Downtown, Education, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, New York | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: TCM Movie Location Bus Tour Cruises Los Angeles

Posted on March 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Over the decades, motion picture producers have unknowingly documented historic and outstanding architecture surrounding Hollywood and Los Angeles while filming their movies. These visual representations often stand as the only documentation of long-gone buildings, residences and businesses, a celebration … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Location Sleuth, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

L.A. Becomes N.Y.

Posted on November 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dear New Yorkers: You love to make fun of us, but here we are at Spring and 5th last night, watering down the street for yet another production set in your fair city but filmed in downtown Los Angeles. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Pan-Pacific Auditorium — Hollywood Magic

Posted on June 8, 2013 by lmharnisch

I was watching “Johnny Eager” the other night and spotted this. Did they actually use the Pan-Pacific Auditorium?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Harold Lloyd on Location: Santa Fe Station

Posted on May 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

John Bengston emailed the other day to mention his research on Harold Lloyd’s filming locations in conjunction with the recent Lloyd festival on TCM. John pointed out that “Safety Last” and “Cops” used the same alley. I DVR’d just about … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, Architecture, Location Sleuth, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Brand Library

Posted on September 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

“Aerodrome Replacing Country-House Garage,” Illustrated London News, Oct. 29, 1921, Courtesy of Mary Mallory Unique thematic architectural homes stand out all around the Los Angeles area, like Yamashiro and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Barnsdall, Freeman, and Storer residences, just to name … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood Heights, Libraries, Location Sleuth, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Movieland Architectural Mystery — Solved

Posted on February 17, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Brain Trust has solved the mystery of the department store used in “The Public Enemy.” Thanks to Craig Deco, Lee Rivas and Nathan Marask! Here are our young ruffians (Frank Coghlan Jr. and Frankie Darro) sliding down the escalator … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Interior Design, Location Sleuth | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

I was watching this movie the other night and thought: “Hey! Wait a minute. That’s…..” The film shouldn’t be too hard to identify. But the location …  hmmmmmm. As I often say, living in Los Angeles is like living in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , | 28 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on December 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 1206 N. Kingsley Drive via Google’s Street View. I was watching a certain film the other day and what should flash by but a California driver’s license. Google would reveal the answer, so the character’s name has been snipped. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth | Tagged , , | 27 Comments

Location Sleuth – ‘Between Midnight and Dawn’

Posted on December 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Hey, it’s the Florentine Gardens! Here it is via Google’s Street View. I was watching the 1950 Columbia film “Between Midnight and Dawn” and several locations caught my eye. The first one is an aerial view during the credits that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950, Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth | Tagged , | 7 Comments

W.C. Fields and the Los Angeles Public Library — Mystery Photo

Posted on November 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Last night, I was watching “The Bank Dick,” as I have  many times before, but this was the first with my new plasma TV, so I was much more aware of the detail. I spotted a photo of what looked … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Location Sleuth, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Location Sleuth: Lasky Mesa

Posted on August 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Charge of the Light Brigade,” filmed at Lasky Mesa. James Curtis’ interview with Dick Lane touched on a filming location known as Lasky Mesa. Films shot there include “Rose of the Rancho” 1914, “The Thundering Herd” (1925), “The Charge … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Location Sleuth, Parks, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Location Sleuth: ‘Crime Wave’

Posted on August 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

Back in 2008, Scott of Tropico Station decided to revisit Glendale locations used in “Crime Wave.” Voila! Photo 1: “Crime Wave.” Photo 2: San Fernando road looking north. Credit: Tropico Station.

Posted in Architecture, Film, History, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, Photography | Tagged , , | 9 Comments