Whitley Heights 101

Filmed in Whitley Heights

Since the 1920s, several films have been filmed in Whitley Heights, some even on the property of some of the residences. The films, range from dramas to comedies, even a serial movie about Hollywood. The following is a list that starts with the oldest film to the most recent.

1. Fast Work (1930)

Fast Work is a 19 minute film short produced by Hal Roach Studios which starred Charley Chase and June Marlowe. The comedy centers around the main character who mistakes an escaped lunatic for the father of a girl he is interested in. The scene below is in front of Havenhurst Apartments at the corner of Whitley Avenue and Franklin Avenue. The short was also filmed at the Hal Roach Studios, 8722 Washington Blvd, Culver City and the Segundo Guasti Mansion, 3500 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles.

2. Now, Voyager (1942)

Now, Voyager is a drama which premiered in 1942 starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, and Claude Rains. The film was a the biggest box office hit of Bette Davis’ career and tells the story of a spinster who has been controlled by her wealthy mother until she goes to a sanitarium and gets some help. The majority of the movie was filmed at the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios located at 4000 Warner Blvd. and on location in Big Bear, Laguna Beach, Lake Arrowhead, and Whitley Heights. After viewing the film several times, the Whitley Heights seen is (probably) on the patio of the residence located at 6621 Whitley Terrace (see below). The filming production used the backdrop of an ocean behind the patio.

3. The Way We Were (1973)

“The Way We Were” starred Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand was a drama about a couple with differing social beliefs who marry, find out that friendship and physical attraction is not enough to overcome a relationship. Below, the top of Whitley Avenue can be seen as Katie is saying goodbye to her friend and is leaving in her car. While Streisand was a nominee for best actress in 1974, the film won for “Best Music, Original Song”.

4. The Day of the Locust (1975)

“The Day of the Locust” premiered in 1975 by Paramount Pictures and starred Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, and Burgess Meredith. The story takes place in 1930s Hollywood and is about a film art director who is in awe with his neighbor, an aspiring actress who uses men for financial gain and lives with her alcoholic father, played by Burgess Meredith. The end of the film is quite alarming as it shows Donald Sutherland’s character stomping on a child actor-as it exposes the Hollywood system of corruption, greed and evil.

Burgess Meredith’s character is a peddler and tries to sell a potion up in Whitley Heights. His neighbor drives him up Whitley Avenue and drops him off at the intersection of Whitley Avenue (above) and Whitley Terrace as the car drives west on Whitley Terrace. Burgess visits three homes in the heights. First, 2073 Grace Avenue, then 6735 Wedgwood Drive house finally 6717 Whitley Terrace.

5. Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

“Won Ton Ton” premiered in 1976 by Paramount Pictures and is a comedy about an aspiring actress who moves to Hollywood but a dog that follows her becomes the real star. Stars and cameos included: Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr, Bruce Dern, Art Carney, Ricardo Montablan, Ethel Merman, Joan Blondell, Dorothy Lamour, Nancy Walker, Johnny Weissmuller, Ann Miller, Tab Hunter, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Peter Lawford, and Milton Berle. The movie is filmed on the Paramount lot and throughout Los Angeles, including one scene in Whitley Heights. In the Whitley Heights scene, a tour bus is driving up Milner Road to where Whitley Terrace meets and then crashes on that corner.

6. Hail, Caeser!

Warner Brother’s “Hail, Caesar!” starred Josh Brolin and George Clooney and follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), a Hollywood fixer for Capitol Pictures in the 1950s, who cleans up and solves problems for big names and stars in the industry. In once scene, a chauffeur is waiting by his car at the intersection of Grace Avenue and Whitley Avenue.

7. Bling Ring (2013)

Written and directed By Sofia Coppola in 2013, this is the second “Bling Ring” film produced. The first, in 2011, starred Elvis’ Austin Butler and premiered on Lifetime television. Both films, inspired by actual events, centers around a group of fame-obsessed teenagers who use the internet to track celebrities’ whereabouts in order to rob their homes. Celebrities they stole from included; Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Audrina Patridge, Brian Austin Green & Megan Fox, Orlando Bloom & Miranda Kerr, and Rachel Bilson. On scene was filmed in Whitley Heights at the intersection of Whitley Terrace and Bonair Place in the evening.

8. Netflix’s “Hollywood”

Netflix aired a 7 episode series about a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War 2 Hollywood trying to make it big in the film industry, no matter the cost. “Hollywood” aired in 2020. In the first episode, the inside of Anna May Wong’s living room was filmed from the El Cabrillo, using the1832 Grace Avenue townhome. There are other films and television shows filmed at the El Cabrillo including; HBO’s remake of Perry Mason, 911, Chuck, “Stalker” starring Dylan McDermott, “Til there was You” and “LA Story”.

For the main character’s apartment, the facade of the La Leyenda Apartments, 1737 Whitley Avenue was used.

There are others, I am sure. I just have not found them yet. Do you know off any?