The films of Hollywood have taken us around the world and to new places in time. However, there are many interesting film locations right here in LA. Yes, LA is overused in countless films, TV shows- you name it. The more intriguing part is that several locations in LA are not what they seem.

Our class so far has visited some very iconic and informative places, and passed many more on our joyous car rides in LA traffic. For example, yesterday we went to Union Station (built in 1939), a very beautiful building, that has a very large open space to the left just as you go through the main entrance. This spacious room is decorated just like the rest of the station, but has doors that almost look like they are from 50 years ago. Across from the doors is a very long ticket counter made of dark wood. The counter also looks like it is from a previous era.

On one of our car rides today we passed the recognizable Johnnie’s Coffee Shop Restaurant, a “googie-style” architecture restaurant from the mid-century. The restaurant looks like it’s full of nostalgia and delicious, typical diner food.

Here’s the spoiler – these are spaces that do not function in the way they seem. The intriguing massive room in Union Station is blocked off from entry, teasing passersby with its grandeur, and is currently mostly used for filming. Sadly, as Corrina mentioned in her previous post, Johnnie’s is not a place where you can go an eat. It is now just a facade and a film set. Many – I mean many – movies have been filmed there.

Here is a link to a website that shows six locations in Hollywood that have been re-used many times and some are now used only for movies: http://www.cracked.com/article_20173_6-places-youll-recognize-from-background-every-movie.html

And here is a link of a mash up of the various scenes shot at the Quality Cafe, another restaurant place now only used for filming: http://gawker.com/5609169/movie-scenes-from-quality-cafe-a-skilled-mash-up

Also worth mentioning, we have meet some incredible people who have been willing to share some of their time with us and answer our eager questions. This morning we went to the Hollywood Heritage Museum and met George. He knows a lot about film and is more than willing to share. George works as a drapery man for film and TV productions. He told us stories of working on sets and how the need for people who have drapery expertise is becoming less and less of a necessity. George had a lot to say but there is one thing he said that stood out. He repeated a few times that you have to “adapt or die.” While that is a scary thought, it makes sense. For any career, you have to be able to adapt to whatever is thrown your way or success will not come easily.