Saturday, May 9, 2015

Jim Rockford and the "Paramount House"


In The Rockford Files season 2 episode, "In Hazard," Jim Rockford (James Garner) discovers a body inside the garage of a suburban house. The home just happens to be the former "Paramount House" which used to be located on Universal Studios Colonial Street backlot and was originally constructed for the film The Desperate Hours (1955) starring Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March. Below is a comparison of the Paramount House as seen in The Rockford Files episode and in The Desperate Hours.

The "Paramount House" in The Rockford Files.


The house looks mostly the same except for in The Rockford Files episode there is the addition of a lower roof. What I find most interesting is seeing how the tree in the front lawn has grown in 20 + years between Desperate Hours and Rockford Files. The tree trunk and branches still maintain the same shape, but by the time of the Rockford Files the tree is much larger and fuller.

Monday, February 9, 2015

tick...tick...tick... (1970) - Film Locations



Jim Brown, a football star turned actor, is the lead in ...tick...tick...tick (1970), a drama about racial relations in a small town in Mississippi. The film is similar in some ways to, In the Heat of the Night (1967), starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, but lacks the depth and punch of that earlier film. 

The story is set in the American South, but the movie was actually filmed in the small Northern California town of Colusa. Here are some of the Colusa, California filming locations.

Click images to enlarge.

Colusa Police Department, 260 6th Street

260 6th Street, Colusa, California

Above is the Colusa Police Department building located at 260 Sixth St which also is used as a police department in the film. In the screenshot we see actor George Kennedy approaching the stairs of the police department. Although the building is still used as a police department today, it was originally built as a Carnegie library in 1906. It was one of 13 Carnegie libraries built in the Sacramento Valley during 1903-17.

Below are two views looking up the street from the police department building. The first view is looking towards 210 Sixth St. and the second is looking at the lot next door to the police department.

210 6th Street, Colusa, Ca.

210 6th Street, Colusa, Ca.

The parking lot next to Colusa Police Department.

The parking lot next to Colusa Police Department.

George Kennedy, one of the police officers, lives in a home located at what is now 659 Jay Street in Colusa, California. The below views show comparisons of the homes across the street at 644 Jay Street, the home at what is now 659 Jay Street, and the home next door. The property next door to Kennedy's house has since been razed and replaced by a new building.

George Kennedy with 644 Jay Street in background.

644 Jay Street, Colusa, Ca.

George Kennedy's home at what is now 659 Jay Street.

659 Jay Street, now the site of Steidlmayer Leo Law Office.

The property next door to the Kennedy house.

The property next door to the Kennedy house appears to have been replaced by an apartment building.

Below, is a comparison of the First Christian Church located at 725 Jay Street, just up the street from Kennedy's home. 

First Christian Church, 725 Jay Street

First Christian Church, 725 Jay Street

Jay Street at 7th Street

Jay Street at 7th Street

Below is a view of actor Fredric March with the Colusa Hall of Records building located in the background, just across the street from the Colusa Police Department.

Hall of Records in background from Colusa Police Department.

Hall of Records building across from Colusa Police Department.

Looking towards the Federal Land Bank Association, Jay Street at 6th Street

Looking towards the Federal Land Bank Association, Jay Street at 6th Street

Market Street at 5th Street

Market Street at 5th Street

Jim Brown walks along 6th Street at Market Street.

6th Street at Market Street.

The finale of the film takes place on a bridge leading out of town. I believe the location is the River Road bridge near B Street.

River Road bridge near B Street.

River Road near B Street.

...tick...tick...tick also stars George Kennedy and Fredric March. It was directed by James Lee Barrett. The film is available on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Rockford Files - Film Locations - Donut Prince in Burbank


While watching the Season 2 episode of THE ROCKFORD FILES, The Girl in The Bay City Boys Club (1975), I was surprised to spot the Donut Prince, in Burbank, California. I knew the Donut Prince sign was old, but I never thought the place was serving up fresh pastries in the early 1970s when Jim Rockford (James Garner) would be driving by in his gold Pontiac Firebird Esprit. I've been making trips to Donut Prince for the last 10 years (fortunately my waistline doesn't show it), so when I caught a glimpse of the unique neon yellow sign it stood out immediately.

Click images to enlarge.

James Garner on Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA

Donut Prince sign hidden just behind the trees. Olive Ave, Burbank.

The Donut Prince is located at 1721 W. Olive Avenue, Burbank, California. Just behind the Donut Prince is a McDonald's which is also still in business. The Safeway that can be seen just before the Donut Prince was later a Von's grocery store and then a few years ago it was changed into a CVS Pharmacy.

In the comparison below we can see that on the opposite side of the street there is a liquor store and a bank. Today there are still a bank and liquor store at these locations but not the same bank and liquor store from the date of the Rockford Files screenshot.

Garner looks into his mirror while passing the Safeway on Olive Ave.

The Safeway is now a CVS Pharmacy. Olive Ave, Burbank.

The Donut Prince has been used a few times as a filming location (Larry Crowne, T.J. Hooker) and is also popular with celebrities. Pictures of stars who have dined there adorn the walls. George Lopez apparently is an especially big fan of the place. Even though the place is a donut shop, I primarily go for the hot ham and cheese croissants. 

This episode of the Rockford Files includes many other Valley locations, including the Burbank YMCA, and a North Hollywood Jack-in-the-Box and Bob's Big Boy. Check out this Rockford Files website for additional locations.


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