1912, D.W. Griffith filmed this movie on the grounds of the Fenyes Estate (now the Pasadena Museum of History) at 470 West Walnut. The film  was listed in the Fenyes diaries as "The Queen's Necklace." However, Griffith's biography lists no such film.  It is very possible that they changed the name of the film once it was released.  Research is on-going by the Pasadena Museum of History to identify the actual film name.

1918, Production of a Tom Mix movie called "Western Life" was
also at the Fenyes Mansion.

Photos courtesy of the Pasadena Museum of History,
626-577-1660.

By 1985, Pasadena was hosting approximately 125 productions a year. A boom in production and marketing by the Pasadena Film Office   brought that total to 564 productions in 1996. Since 1912, the following productions filmed at some of Pasadena’s most beautiful locations:

Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" - Pasadena City Hall was featured as Hinkle's palace.

"Gone with the Wind" (1939) - Arroyo Boulevard & Arroyo Terrace (where the Busch Gardens used to be). - Vivien Leigh’s & Clark Gable’s house was located here in the movie. The house was torn down a few years after the release of the movie.

"It Happened One Night" (1934) - at the Busch Gardens - Arroyo Boulevard & Arroyo Terrace starring Clark Gable

"Adventures of Robin Hood"(1938) - Arroyo Boulevard & Arroyo Terrace (where the Busch Gardens used to be). Starring Erroll Flynn, Olivia De Havilland, Basil Rathbone

"The Batman T.V. Series (1960’s)" - Wayne Manor is at 380 South San Rafael Avenue (also featured in "Dead Again")

"Being There" - Peter Sellar’s house was at 470 West Walnut

"Body Heat" (1981) - Filmed in a building near Fair Oaks and Raymond Ave

"Paper Moon" - scenes in Kendall alley

"The Sting" - this famous Robert Redford/Paul Newman picture was shot in various locations around Pasadena

"Chinatown" - was shot at a property on South Oakland Avenue

both "Back to the Future" movies - the Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland Place

"Bugsy" - Castle Green Apartments at 99 S. Raymond, served as the Hotel de Nacional

"Father of the Bride I & II" - 843 S. El Molino, Steve Martin’s house was shot in Pasadena

"The Player" - Robert Altman’s highly acclaimed film was shot at the old Pasadena Police station which was torn down.  The Holly Street Apartments (at Holly and Arroyo Parkway) are now located in this area.    Pasadena police officers served as  extras in the film.

"Devil in a Blue Dress" & "Lost World: Jurassic Park" - were both featured at the Mayfield Girl’s School, 500 Bellefontaine

"Pulp Fiction" - shot in Pasadena in Kendall Alley and the exterior of the Raymond Theatre.

"Spinal Tap" - shot at the Raymond Theatre at the corner of Raymond & Holly.

"Star Trek: Generations" (the movie) - 465 South Grand Avenue

"The Beverly Hillbillies" (movie - 1993) - 1284 South Oakland Avenue

"Beverly Hills Cop" - City Hall, Caltech Athenaeum

"The Body Guard" music video - also shot at the Raymond Theatre with  Whitney Houston

"Being John Malkovich" - Colorado Street Bridge

"The Other Sister" - All Saints Church, 132 North Euclid Street

"Cruel Intentions" - All Saints Church, 132 North Euclid Street

"Magnolia" - Colorado Blvd. from Rosemead Blvd. to San Gabriel Blvd.

"Pleasantville" - Rose City High School

"Liar, Liar" - San Rafael Elementary School

"Scream 2" - 350 South Grand Avenue; Green between Los Robles and El Molino

"X-Files: Fight the Future" (movie) - 380 South San Rafael, 551 S Hill Avenue

"Rush Hour" - 380 South San Rafael Avenue

"How Stella Got Her Groove Back" - 1182 Elizabeth Avenue

"Armageddon" - 1177 Hillcrest Avenue

"Cable Guy" - 33 East Green Street

"That Thing You Do" - 445 Prospect Square, 490 Prospect Blvd.

"Bye, Bye Love" - 1575 East Mountain

"Unstrung Heros" - 237 West State Street

"Idle Hands" - 78 North Marengo, Jackson Street

"If These Walls Could Talk 2" (television special) - 3360 East Foothill Blvd.

"An American President" - Elks Lodge at 300 West Colorado Blvd.

"Legally Blonde" - Caltech

"The Man Who Wasn't There" - North Chester between Orange Grove and Mountain

"Enough" - 445 Prospect Square, 860 East Colorado Blvd.

"Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" - Mayfield School, 500 Bellefontaine

"Topper" - with Cary Grant - 380 S San Rafael Avenue

"Just Married" - Church of the Angels at 1100 Avenue 64 was the church where Ashton Kutcher's charater got married.

"Seabiscuit" - San Rafael Bridge

"The Italian Job" - 295 North San Rafael Avenue, mansion of Ed Norton's character 

"Catch Me If You Can" - 3077 East California Blvd.

"Kill Bill" - 2632 East Washington Blvd. (formerly St. Luke's Hospital)

"The Haunted Mansion" - 1480 North Michigan Avenue

'Enemy of the State', 'Traffic', and 'Swordfish.' Many television shows have also used the Cravens Estate (430 Madeline Drive, home of the American Red Cross)for interior and exterior shooting including ABC's 'The Practice,' CBS's 'Murder She Wrote,' CBS's 'Judging Amy,' NBC's 'The Lyon's Den,' and Fox Television's 'Beverly Hills 90210.'


TELEVISION
"Pasadena" (television series) - various locations in Old Pasadena, Hillcrest Avenue, Colorado Street Bridge, St. John, Pasadena Avenue, Bungalow Heaven

"West Wing" (television series) - Episode "The Butterball Hotline" (number 8 of Season 3) - Caltech served as the Italian Embassy

"J.A.G. " (television series)  - J.A.G. headquarters is the American Red Cross Building at 400 Madeline Drive

"Judging Amy" (television series) - Rose City High School among many other locations

"C.S.I." (television series) - Pasadena City Hall Mayor's Office featured as Congressman's office in Season 2 - Episode 11.

"Boston Public" (television series) - Rose City High School

"Beverly Hills 90210" (television series) - the Equator Coffee house- 22 Mills Place, appeared from time to time in various episodes.

"X-Files" (television series): Episode "Rush" (number 6 of Season 7) was filmed at   Rose City High School. Episode "Invocation" (number 6 of Season 8) was filmed at Victory Park for the carnival scene. Episode "Hollywood A.D." (number 18 of Season 7) was filmed at St. Andrew's, 311 North Raymond Avenue. Episode "Hellbound" (number 4 of Season 9) was filmed at Church of Angels, 1100 Avenue 64.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (television series - episode "Who Are You?") - Church of the Angels, 1100 Avenue 64.  During Season 5, the Castle Green was established as Glory's apartment.

"The Rat Pack" (the Kennedy's house) miniseries on HBO

"Alias" - Colorado Street Bridge, 99 South Raymond (Castle Green)

Other television series that have filmed various locations in Pasadena:  Providence, Murder, She Wrote, Ally McBeal, Titans, Any Day Now, Party of Five, the Wonder Years, V.I.P., Gideon's Crossing

FOR ADDITIONAL FILMS SHOT IN PASADENA & WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY, Check out the Internet Movie Database.

Do you know of any notable productions we may have missed? E-mail us with your information about Pasadena filming history. We'll include it in our next update.