13. The Disco - Boogie Nights (1997)
In the film: 'Hot Traxx' Disco, home of hedonism, roller-whoring and ambitious young busboys like Dirk Diggler, waiting for a chance to grab their big break in Hollywood.
The Google view: Head to the dusty intersection in Reseda, California now and you’ll find the Iglesia Cristiana Nuevo Empezar – a Latino church which probably offers a bit less in the way of casual sex and coke.
14. Donnie's School - Donnie Darko (2001)
In the film: Donnie's school, as introduced by a breathtaking montage of wailing Simple Minds, warping slow/fast time and woozy camera zooms.
The Google view: Loyola High School in Los Angeles, which was so perfectly suited to the film's '80s feel that it's almost surprising to find out that it's still there now and hasn't been hacked to bits by souvenir hunters.
Next: The Graduate, Home Alone
Comments
BenCh
May 21st 2009, 16:10
nice feature
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SCQ47
May 22nd 2009, 3:49
Thanks for the feature. My only question is why you went with the liquor store instead of the bowling alley from Big Lebowski. I'll be visiting most of these spots next week.
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avoidz
May 24th 2009, 9:00
The E.T. house makes a brief appearance in the Charlie's Angels movie. Drew Barrymore's character rolls down a hill naked and drops into the backyard, to the surprise of two boys. (An E.T. poster can be seen above the television they are playing a game on.)
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leeloo77
May 27th 2009, 17:30
Its not Simple Minds playing in the scene you brought up for 'Donnie Darko' it is Tears for Fears.
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torsloke
May 27th 2009, 18:55
@SCQ47 - it's because the dear departed Hollywood Star Lanes was torn down and is now an elementary or middle school. Hollywood Star Lanes also appears in the eminently less watchable Family Man. I used to bowl in a league there during the filming of both movies. It was the best bowling alley, only made better by its connection to the Dude. It is sorely missed. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=5201+Santa+Monica+Blvd+Los+Angeles,+CA+90038&sll=34.092313,-118.303442&sspn=0.008565,0.019312&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=34.090803,-118.303227&spn=0.008565,0.019312&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=34.090806,-118.303341&panoid=J1ohxfaq4z5TCFzefSZY6w&cbp=12,45.9,,0,4
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mattrix33
Jun 9th 2009, 21:25
Cool feature. I live in Bristol and didn`t even know that the Grovsner Hotel had even been in a film
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dalebiskit
Oct 12th 2009, 14:56
I made a pilgrimage to the manhattan spot but couldn't get very close to recreating the shot so I assumed that they'd built over it. I hate it when I'm right.
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sforsythe
Dec 23rd 2009, 5:39
During the short time I was living in Manhattan, I went to find the spot as the Queensboro bridge was only a few blocks away. The bench is in fact still there, and it's an awesome sight to see. Just follow 58th street ALL the way to the east until it ends, and you will find it. The google maps shot was taken from FDR drive. A road that runs beneath where the bench is.
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