A random selection from the site

  • The “Beaches” Mansion

    The “Beaches” Mansion

    ‘ One location that I have been asked about repeatedly ever since I first started my blog almost four years ago (and I CANNOT even believe that it has been that long!!!) is the large Tudor-style mansion where Hillary Whitney Essex (aka Barbara Hershey) lived in the 1988 tearjerker Beaches.  And while it had long…

  • Our Wedding Photographer – Rob Greer

    Our Wedding Photographer – Rob Greer

    ‘ Deciding the order in which to publish the various blog posts that I am planning to write about the different movie/filming location elements of my wedding has proved to be a bit of a challenge for me.  Today’s entry was originally going to be about our invitations, but then I realized that I can’t…

  • Halloween at Dick Van Dyke’s House

    Halloween at Dick Van Dyke’s House

    ‘ While doing research on the Strode House from Halloween a couple of weeks back, I came across a blog post about the extravagant yard haunt that actor Dick Van Dyke hosts every Halloween at his home in Malibu.  And while you wouldn’t think it would be possible, being that I have lived in Southern…

  • Whitey Bulger’s Former Apartment

    Whitey Bulger’s Former Apartment

    ‘ It is finally that time of year again – October 1st, the start of my Haunted Hollywood postings.  And I could not be more excited, so let’s get to it!  The October 2013 issue of Los Angeles magazine featured an absolutely enthralling article about the arrest of the infamous Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger. …

  • Harris’ House from “L.A. Story”

    Another L.A. Story location that production designer Lawrence Miller talked about in “The L.A. of L.A. Story” featurette included on the 1991 comedy’s 15th Anniversary Edition DVD was the Spanish-style dwelling where wacky weatherman Harris K. Telemacher (Steve Martin) lived.  And even though the address of the home had been listed on the L.A. Story…

  • Caffe’ Opera – aka Dog Years Diner from “American Pie”

    Caffe’ Opera – aka Dog Years Diner from “American Pie”

    ‘ Shortly after selling their house a few months back, my parents moved into an apartment building in Old Town Monrovia.  Since that time, they have become regular patrons of their new favorite restaurant, Caffe’ Opera – the very spot that stood in for Dog Years Diner, the supposed Grand Rapids, Michigan-area hangout of Jim…

  • The “Ghost Dad” House

    The “Ghost Dad” House

    ‘ Long before I ever moved to Southern California, I purchased the Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book and was absolutely mesmerized by what I found inside.  One whole chapter of the tome is dedicated to filming locations in Pasadena and its environs and when my family and I did relocate to the Crown City in 2000,…

  • John Marshall High School

    John Marshall High School

    ‘ Last week, Mike (from MovieShotsLA) and I hit up John Marshall High School in Los Feliz for a little stalking of one of Los Angeles’”‘”‘ most oft filmed high schools. Mike had made an appointment to tour the school with Marshall’”‘”‘s resident historian, Joanna, who has been teaching at Marshall for over 30 years.…

  • Spencer’s House and Barn from “Pretty Little Liars”

    Spencer’s House and Barn from “Pretty Little Liars”

    ‘ Though all of the homes featured on Pretty Little Liars are pretty darn amazing design-wise, my personal favorite, hands-down, is the farm-like residence where Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario) and her family live.  So when I began tracking down the locales used in the pilot, which was shot in Vancouver, Spencer’s pad was at the…

  • Birthday Visit to L.A.

    Birthday Visit to L.A.

    ‘ I am heading to L.A. this week to meet up with my good friends Kim and Lavonna who are visiting from Ohio.  (That’s us, along with Pinky Lovejoy, of the Thinking Pink blog, at Ellen two years ago.)  We have about a million fun things planned (hello Disneyland!) and I am extra excited because…