Variety's Spooky List of 21 Los Angeles Film and TV Horror Sites

My colleague Pat Saperstein has put together another great L.A.-centric list of locations in Los Angeles — and this time it's horror-themed. She writes:

From “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” to “Halloween” and “Poltergeist,” Hollywood productions have found plenty of spooky locations to shoot iconic scare fare.

From everytown U.S.A. suburban houses to creepy desert gas stations and ominous cemetery gates, you don’t have to venture far outside the city to find just about any kind of location a horror film could need. Of course, some of the scariest movies take place in some of the most placid suburban settings.

Go here for her full list of 21 locations, which features:

"American Horror Story" Murder House (1120 Westchester Place, Los Angeles)
"Cabin Fever" - Bronson Caves (3200 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles)
"Charmed" House (1329 Carroll Ave., Los Angeles)
"The Convent" Sorority House (2218 South Harvard St., Los Angeles)
"Ghoulies" - Wattles Mansion (1824 N. Curson Ave., Hollywood)
"Halloween" – The Myers House (1000 Mission St., South Pasadena)
"Halloween" – Laurie’s House (1115 Oxley St., South Pasadena)
"Halloween" – The Hedge (1019 and 1025 Montrose Ave., South Pasadena)
"Halloween II" – Haddonfield Town Square (51 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre)
"Halloween III: Season of the Witch" - The Buccaneer (70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre)
"A Nightmare on Elm Street" House (1428 N. Genessee Ave., West Hollywood)
"A Nightmare on Elm Street" - John Marshall High School (3939 Tracy St., Los Angeles)
"A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors" - Royce Hall (10745 Dickson Ct, Los Angeles)
"The People Under the Stairs" House (2215 South Harvard Blvd., Los Angeles)
"Phantasm" – Mortuary Gates (5400 N. Lake Ave., Altadena)
"Poltergeist" House (4267 Roxbury St., Simi Valley)
"Poltergeist II: The Other Side" House (1589 Homewood Drive, Altadena, Calif.)
"Prince of Darkness" Church (120 Judge John Aiso St, Los Angeles)
"The Ring" House (413 S. McCadden Place, Los Angeles)
"Scream 2" - Rialto Theater (1023 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena)
"Thriller" House (1345 Carroll Ave., Los Angeles)

[Photo: Michael Buckner/Variety]

FREE L.A.: Halloween Road Comes to Heritage Square, Via Freeform

They do enjoy Halloween on the Freeform channel, which programs the entire month of October with spooky favorites like "Hocus Pocus," "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Ghostbusters." The network has also held a pop-up, Instagram-friendly Halloween space in Los Angeles in recent years; but in 2020, due to the pandemic, Freeform has gone the drive-thru route.

And it's much fun! Located in Heritage Square — home to the collection of classic Victorian homes and buildings that were saved during the demolition of downtown's original Bunker Hill neighborhood — the "Freeform Halloween Road" celebrates some of those movies mentioned above, including a "Hocus Pocus" dance number, a "Ghostbusters" Stay Puft marshmallow man and a "Nightmare Before Christmas"-themed prize station. There's also a few trick-or-treat stops along the way, and plenty of interaction from the actors decked out in spooky gear. Some pics:



































Yep, there's even a photo opp in the car. “Freeform’s Halloween Road,” continues through October 5 and it's free! You just have to register here. Freeform's month-long Halloween programming can be found every night on the network.

FREE LA: 'The Elevated Eye' Photography Exhibit at Forest Lawn

Glendale's Forest Lawn Museum is back with a new exhibit that is definitely worth checking out: "The Elevated Eye" features photography of cityscapes, landmarks, the earth and more as taken by planes, drones, spaceships and other aerial means. The photos span centuries, and include some classic overhead shots of Los Angeles.

As always, the Forest Lawn Museum is free, and a unique stop, located high up on a hill, allowing for great views of downtown Glendale.



More info:

The exhibition examines the history of aerial photography, from its origins in the nineteenth century to the boundary-pushing technologies of the twenty-first century. It assembles nearly 150 images and 14 minutes of video, as well as satellite models and drones. The exhibition includes photographs from Forest Lawn Museum’s permanent collection that have never been displayed as well as works from the Getty Research Institute; Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens; and the Special Collections of Los Angeles Public Library. The Elevated Eye: Aerial Photography Past and Present also features the work of David Maisel, a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow in the Creative Arts; Jenny Odell, a multi-disciplinary artist and writer; and photographer Lane Barden, whose work traces major corridors of Los Angeles from above. The exhibition includes more than twenty images and mesmerizing video footage by the drone pilot and photographer Chen Ming. Moving beyond the stratosphere, The Elevated Eye features historical images from NASA as well as the work of Erwan Rivault (@earthfromsatellites), a French geographer who uses data from European Space Agency satellites to create stunning images of natural wonders on the Earth’s surface.

"The Elevated Eye: Aerial Photography Past and Present" will be open to the public from October 10, 2019 through March 8, 2020 at Forest Lawn Museum, Forest Lawn-Glendale, 1712 S. Glendale Avenue.

Free L.A.: National Geographic Women of Vision Exhibit at Forest Lawn Glendale

I've written before about how the Forest Lawn Glendale museum is one of the city's great secrets: A free museum exhibit that rotates a few times of year, always offering something unique. The best part: It's free. And even beyond the exhibit inside the museum, the views from the top of Forest Lawn Glendale are great as well.

The latest exhibit, "National Geographic Women of Vision," features stunning photography from around the world, as shot by some of the magazine's most celebrated female photographers.

Here are some details from the site: "Featuring nearly 100 photographs, Women of Vision includes moving depictions of far-flung cultures; compelling illustrations of conceptual topics, such as memory and teenage brain chemistry; and arresting images of social issues, such as child marriage and twenty-first-century slavery. In addition, the exhibition demonstrates how National Geographic magazine picture editors work closely with the photographers to select images and tell stories. Video vignettes present first-person accounts that reveal the photographers’ individual styles, passions, and approaches to their craft."

"Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment" will be open to the public from December 11, 2018 through April 7, 2019 at the Forest Lawn Museum, Forest Lawn-Glendale, 1712 S. Glendale Avenue, Glendale.

Free L.A.: Powering the Tesla Coil at Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory is forever a favorite to spend a Saturday morning — although the parking situation has changed quite a bit over the years. On this morning, we parked in a designated lot next to the Greek Theatre and then walked up the hill. (It was probably about a 20 minute hike.) There are also buses, but require exact change — which we didn't have. (It's a long time now since parking was free at the Observatory itself; and even nearby, parking is no longer allowed on the street.)

This time out, the Blogger Kid 2.0 was especially excited to see the Tesla Coil and its electric shocks. Back in the day, an Observatory staffer would pass around a light bulb and audiences would watch it light up. Now, the Tesla Coil is safely inside a Faraday cage.

As always, the other treat up at the Observatory: The view.

FREE L.A.: 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Serves Up Free Pastrami Sandwiches at Canter's Deli

Amazon Prime Video's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is back for a second season, and to promote the Emmy-winning show's return, Amazon is passing out free sandwiches at Canter's Deli. From December 9 through 15, 50 free "The Maisel" sandwiches will be passed out every day starting at 11 a.m. ("and while supplies last").

"The Maisel" is made with pastrami, salami, coleslaw, and special sauce on rye bread. I can't imagine it quite matches Langer's pastrami sandwich over in MacArthur Park... but hey, free sandwich!

Free L.A.: How to Get Free Cocoa For Kids at In-N-Out

A reminder: On rainy days, In-N-Out Burger gives out free hot cocoa to the kids. (Or perhaps if you look like a kid.) Go forth!

FREE L.A.: "David Bowie: Among the Mexican Masters" at the Forest Lawn Museum

Forest Lawn's free museum in Glendale seems to always be showcasing some interesting exhibits, from Lego creations to stylized motorcycles to Tiki culture.

Most recently, there's a reason why Blogger Kid 2.0 has been suddenly asking me about David Bowie, and requesting that I play some Bowie tunes in the car. We visited the opening party a few weeks ago for "David Bowie: Among the Mexican Masters," a display of photos, taken by Fernando Aceves, during Bowie’s only visit to Mexico City 20 years ago.

"David Bowie: Among the Mexican Masters" continues until June 15. It's a nice tribute to Bowie, who died last year, and a good reason to make the trip to the top of the Forest Lawn hill in Glendale. Great views of the city also awaits. Some pics from the exhibit launch:

Forest Lawn Museum - Glendale
Open every day except Mondays
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission and parking are free