Filming Locations

[TJP]

# 3.10 "The Locket":

The hotel on Bali (in the center of the clip) is actually established by a stock shot of the Hotel Victoria Gran Meliá at Avinguda de Gabriel Roca, 33 in 07014 Palma, Majorca / Spain.


No idea what happened to the elaborate prop gate of the Carrington Mansion from the pilot.
This gate to the Carrington Mansion is the actual gate of Arden Villa, 1145 Arden Road, Pasadena, CA. The set decorators covered the stucco columns with faux brick though.


The second establishing shot of the Bali hotel (night) is from a different pace I have not identified yet:

 

[Karin Schill]

Thank you so much for taking on Dynasty's locations. I have enjoyed reading your other location shooting threads about Knots Landing and Dallas. @TJP
You must have a lot of production documents to be able to identify this much. How many times have you visited LA?
Also have you ever lived there for some period of time?

You seem really familiar with the area.

Thank you also to @GillesDenver for providing additional info about some filming locations. It's fascinating the details that you both provide about the filming locations.

As far as I know I have only visited one Dynasty filming location and that is the Filoli mansion. I saw a house on the garden that I thought might have been Alexis studio but it didn't quite look right. I now understand why.

Also hilarious how they used stock photos from Spain to represent Bali. It's not even in the same part of the world!

 

[TJP]

# 3.11 "The Search":

The hospital in Borneo is the westernmost wing of the three-winged building on Bonsall Avenue on the northern (old) lot of the Veteran Affairs campus on Wilshire Boulevard. The approximate GPS coordinates for the building are 34°03'37.7"N 118°27'50.9"W. The exterior shot was photographed in northern direction with building 205 in the background.


Not exactly sure where they filmed the psychic's house (Malibu as per superimposed caption). I think it is Malibu, indeed, maybe along Malibu Colony Drive, but the house does not look familiar to me.

 

[TJP]

Thank you so much for taking on Dynasty's locations. I have enjoyed reading your other location shooting threads about Knots Landing and Dallas. @TJP
You must have a lot of production documents to be able to identify this much. How many times have you visited LA?
Also have you ever lived there for some period of time?

You seem really familiar with the area

Thanks. As you probably know, my main focus is and will always be "Falcon Crest", but I love cross-referencing other shows (especially those I liked to watch, too, back in the day) for filming locations, shared props and other production-related stuff.

I must say I only have production documents from "Falcon Crest", but not from any of the others. However, when I did some on-site research at various U.S. libraries, I stumbled upon other shows' production papers here and there, of course. I wished I had made photocopies of materials from other shows, too, but in pre-smart phone times, I needed to make sure my baggage didn't become too heavy.

Anyway, much of my knowledge comes from cross-referencing many TV shows and from my countless trips to L.A. over the last 25+ years. I never lived there for a longer period of time unless you count my many extended vacations as "living". But I have a good eye for architecture. Also, once you begin to think like a location manager and know the — let's say — 1,500 "standard" locations within the 30-mile studio zone, it's not so complicated to identify these places. My personal photos from my stays in L.A. contain thousands of location pictures that are well cataloged and support my memory, and Google Street View is helpful, too, when I have an idea or memory I want to verify.

 

[Karin Schill]

Thanks for answering my questions @TJP
How cool that you were able to gather info at the US libraries. I hadn't even thought about it.

Right you wouldn't want to pay extra weight at the airline. I remember once when my bag was too heavy and I was flying home from the US I had to pull on a pair of extra jeans above my leggings and an extra knitted sweater too to be able to take some weight off it!

Good point about how the location manager would want to find some locations close to the studios.

Now when you mention it I do remember seeing a location thread over at the Falcon Crest forum too. But I only glanced at it briefly since it's been a long time since I've watched Falcon Crest properly I don't remember the details anymore. Just the main plotpoints and characters.

 

[TJP]

Now when you mention it I do remember seeing a location thread over at the Falcon Crest forum too. But I only glanced at it briefly since it's been a long time since I've watched Falcon Crest properly I don't remember the details anymore. Just the main plotpoints and characters.

I must admit I haven't posted many "Falcon Crest" locations in the forum since we have published detailed episodic information in our "Show - Episodes - Analysis & Interpretation - Behind the Scenes" section of falconcrest.org. However, when I'm done with "Dynasty" (and maybe "The Colbys") here, I might challenge you all and ask for help in identifying the "unidentifiable" locations of "Falcon Crest" (mostly establishing shots). It might be worth giving it a try, and there seem to be some avid location hunters here who share my investigative passion.

 

[Karin Schill]

You know that's one of the things that's so great about this forum, that it allows fans to meet likeminded people who shares your interests.
So yes I definitely think you should try to do that and maybe someone will solve it for you.

 

[TJP]

# 3.12 "Samantha":

The memorial service for Steven:
Exterior shots were made at the First Congregational Church at 540 South Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, CA:


I have no idea why they filmed the interiors at a different church — Immanuel Presbyterian Church at 3300 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA:


I'm not entirely sure if the drill site where Blake frantically goes to after Steven's memorial service is the same location as in season 1 (the Lankershim drill site was located on the Newhall Onion Filed of the Newhall Land and Farming Co. on Pico Canyon Road, Newhall, CA).


I have no idea where the very old, grainy establishing shot of the street comes from right before the scene with Sammy Jo at the gas station. But judging from the car models, it certainly from the 1960's or so.

The gas station doesn't ring a bell with me, but there a street sign in the background, which is not really legible though. Any ideas anyone?


As a side note, I was surprised to see in this episode that apparently a second unit was sent to Filoli to take some updated establishing shots with a few of the newer picture cars (Krystle's silver Rolls, Jeff' s car, etc.). I wonder why they didn't at least send one or two cast members up there to shoot at least one or two scenes since part of the crew was there anyway.

 

[TJP]

3.13 "Danny":

More questions than answers for this episode, I'm afraid.

Although I was in Singapore before, I can't place the establishing shot. The building on the right has a lettering saying "United Overseas Bank Building", which does not match the current UOB Plaza in Singapore, but the stock shot is apparently quite old. I'm sure people who are more familiar with Singapore than me might identify the historic building with the Ionic columns.


Another location I can't identify is the establishing shot for Steven's hospital. I'm pretty sure this is not Singapore. It sort of reminds me of the architecture of the old Daniel Freeman Hospital in Inglewood, CA (which no longer exists), but I doubt it's the right place. Any ideas anyone?

 

[GillesDenver]

The hospital is definitely not from Singapore. It was used latter in the show for american locations.

 

[TJP]

3.14 "Madness":

Just as a side note: From Adam's inter-office memo to Jeff, we learn that Colbyco's (fictional) address is 100 Colby Square, Denver, CO 80221.
Strangely enough, they didn't cover the real 1801 street number on the Colbyco building, which creates a mismatch.

No new locations this episode.

 

[TJP]

The hospital is definitely not from Singapore. It was used latter in the show for american locations.

So maybe it would make sense to do a historic research on the demolished Daniel Freeman Hospital. The architecture is reminiscent of it, I think.

 

[TJP]

Update on # 3.13:

I found this picture on the web concerning the first establishing shot of Singapore:


The Chartered Bank is the cute historic building with the Ionic pilasters in the background of the establishing clip I added to my original post about # 3.13. It was demolished in 1981 when new skyscrapers were built on Raffles Place.

The United Overseas Bank Building from the establishing shot still exists. It is the older one of the two towers, but it got a facelift in the 1990's.

 

[Karin Schill]

# 3.12 "Samantha":

As a side note, I was surprised to see in this episode that apparently a second unit was sent to Filoli to take some updated establishing shots with a few of the newer picture cars (Krystle's silver Rolls, Jeff' s car, etc.). I wonder why they didn't at least send one or two cast members up there to shoot at least one or two scenes since part of the crew was there anyway.

That is a really good point. It's a shame the cast didn't do more shooting at Filoli as the mansion is beautiful.

Also I think it's a shame they demolished the historical building in Singapore. I quite like the archietecture of old buildings so I am not that fond of them being replaced with modern skyscrapers.

 

[TJP]

# 3.15 "Two Flights to Haiti":

The establishing shot (licensed stock footage) of the hotel in Port-au Prince / Haiti comes from the Tower Isle Hotel (nowadays Couples Tower Isle), Ocho Rios, Jamaica.


As for the interiors, I can't tell. My first thought when I saw the brick walls and the red leather booths was the Smokehouse in Toluca Lake / Burbank, across from Warner Bros. on Barham Boulevard. I've been there with my contacts at Warners quite a few times during the time when I had the privilege to work at the WB archives (I was invited by WB to consult on the "Falcon Crest" DVD release with them and had the pleasure of viewing 25,000+ slides to single out suitable ones for the DVD packaging among other things). The Smokehouse was our unofficial commissary when we didn't have lunch in the actual studio commissary. But I think the location just shares a similarity with the Smokehouse and is not the place.

The establishing shot of the restaurant where Kirby and Adam are having dinner looks familiar, too, but I can't place it either.

 

[Karin Schill]

Wow! That is so cool that you worked at the WB archives. Talk about a dream job.
Just too bad that all of Falcon Crest wasn't available on DVD. Do you know if Warner Brothers have any plans of releasing more seasons?

 

[GillesDenver]

For the hotel, I think it might be a hotel in Marina del Rey, especially since an outdoor scene was obviously shot there in the next episode (still with Fallon and Mark).

 

[TJP]

Wow! That is so cool that you worked at the WB archives. Talk about a dream job.
Just too bad that all of Falcon Crest wasn't available on DVD. Do you know if Warner Brothers have any plans of releasing more seasons?

Yes, it was a blast, and I feel very fortunate that WB has acknowledged our efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of "Falcon Crest" . We are really thankful for this unique collaboration.

Everything we officially know about the future of the "Falcon Crest" release is in the DVD section of falconcrest.org.
Unfortunately, there has been a lot of turmoil at WB over the last few years since AT&T bought the company. Executives have been rotating, department heads have been made redundant, and the Warner Archive Collection has become a very small group of employees due to budget constraints. It's an uncertain future for physical media in general. While the DVD status of "Knots Landing" is canceled, and "Dallas" may even get a re-release on Blu-ray, the "Falcon Crest" DVD release has never been officially canceled, but simply put on hold. WB's picture remastering of season 4 (and beyond) is still categorized as "in the works". There are signals, however, that the remastering will be used for WB's new streaming service, HBO Max, rather than for physical discs, but the discs have not been officially discontinued. From what we know, WB is planning to gradually release the complete Lorimar library to HBO Max, but we have not been informed about the exact time frame for the U.S. market yet, let alone for Europe. The European market for HBO Max is difficult because WB needs to terminate their licensing contracts with other companies first until they can release their own products on their own streaming service over here. It's a contractual matter. This is the reason why HBO Max has been (or is being about to be) established in a few European countries while it will take some more time to get to other European countries.

 

[TJP]

# 3.16 "The Mirror":

Off topic: It took me a while to get used to the new Steven when I first watched the series, and as much as I like Jack Coleman's performances in other rôles (like the deliciously rotten Senator Bracken on "Castle"), I always thought Al Corley gave a much more-dimensional aspect to the part of Steven. It's probably not fair to blame the actor, though, because it was certainly more a result of the material that was handed to the actors.
What I always found odd, however, is the difference in the two actors' heights. IMDb lists Jack Coleman as 6' 2½" (1.89 m) and Al Corley as 6' 2" (1.88 m), but Jack Coleman looks a lot taller to me. Is it only me, or do you also think he appears to be taller?

GillesDenver —
You might have a point concerning the interiors of the Haiti hotel in # 3.15. It's probably worth looking for a place in Marina Del Rey. (But it doesn't seem to be the old Don the Beachcomber, which was a heavily filmed location in the 1970's and 80's).

Marina Del Rey is, in fact, the hotel location for the breakfast scene with Fallon and Mark. I think this was filmed at the Marina Del Rey Hotel at 13534 Bali Way, Marina Del Rey, CA.

 

[TJP]

# 3.17 "Battle Lines":

Not 100 % sure, but I think the airport building is what the Sawyer Building at Warner Hollywood Studios (The Lot) looked like in the 1980's before it was remodeled.


Not exactly location-related, but Alexis' office and Jeff's office at Colbyco are apparently the very same set, just redressed.