Star Wars trek: Los Angeles - 2000 and 2001

In 2000 and 2001 I tried tracking down various locations in the Los Angeles area that had anything to do with Star Wars. Over the previous couple of years I had read several books on George Lucas and the making of the movies. In each I highlighted references to specific locations when they were mentioned. This was my attempt to try to find all of those places. Read More Fox Studios pictures Los Angeles pictures USC pictures

My first outing was in 2000 to the lot of 20th Century Fox Studios. There is a large mural of the Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader lightsaber battle covering the entire side of one of the studio buildings. They don’t give tours here so I wasn’t able to get too close but it is still very clear from outside the gate. I went to see a taping of an episode of Dharma and Greg the next year and was guided right by the mural on the way to the show but cameras weren’t allowed in so I couldn’t get a close-up shot that day.

In March of 2003 I had a lot of free time on my hands so I planned a couple of days finding things on my list around LA. There isn’t much to say about any of these locations really. I just got on my motorcycle and rode around trying to find everything. I wasn’t able to get to the footprints at the Mann Chinese theater since they were setting up for a premiere later that night. At USC I went to the admissions office and signed up for the official tour but you should just be able to go straight to the school of cinema if you want. When I visited the original ILM building in Van Nuys, the address number from Star Wars Insider didn’t match the building I found, but I did talk to someone there who was sure that it was the right one. Most of the following locations were taken from many sources including Empire Building, Star Wars Insider, The Making of ROTJ, Skywalking, Biography of George Lucas, The Art of Special Effects, and others. Also for some of these places, I’m not 100% sure I found the right place so if you see anything that is wrong, please let me know.

Los Angeles   
ILM's original headquarters: 6846 Valjean ave, Van Nuys

UPDATE: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences screened Star Wars with cast and crew in attendance at their "Great To Be Nominated" series. In the transcript available on starwars.com it shows Grant McCune saying the ILM location was at 6842 Valjean. My original notes had 6842 also but I changed it after talking to someone in the 6846 building who was sure of it being the correct location.

Star Wars mural - 20th Century Fox Studios: 10201 Pico blvd.

American Graffiti - Flash Cadillac band from school dance scene - "George Lucas and Francis Coppola, the producer, came to our sound check at the Whisky-a-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip."
Whisky A Go Go, 8901 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069

SW4 - casting performed at an office at the Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood
SW6 - looping performed with the principal actors at Goldwyn Sudios
Samuel Goldwyn CO, 10203 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90067

The Lot (Cantina pickup scenes) 1041 North Formsoa Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Another friend of mine later told me that the actual location for the Cantina pickup scenes is on La Brea Blvd in a small, run-down sound stage. In Hollywood

SW4 - Death Star Explosion filmed at a sound stage called Producers Studios
(Now named Raleigh Studios) 650 North Bronson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004

SW4 - "The screening of Star Wars for cast and crew came three weeks later, on May 21”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

Restaurant Lucas liked near the Chinese Theater
Hamburger Hamlet, 6914 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028

The Academy Awards where Star Wars won 5 in April 1978 Star Wars won 5 Oscars
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Lucasfilms first offices: 3900/ 3855 Lankershim blvd. - Across the street from the Lankershim entrance of Universal Studios will soon be the Redline subway station, which is the former site of the Egg Factory office building.

"The Star Wars office moved across the road from Universal to a small office on Riverside Drive in North Hollywood."

World Premiere of the Star Wars Special Editions
Mann Village, Bruin And Regent Theatre, 961 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
 
USC - University of Southern California School of Cinema
George Lucas Instructional Building
Marcia Lucas Post-Production Building
Steven Spielberg Music Scoring Stage

During his time at USC Lucas rented a three story wood frame house on Portola Drive, in the hills above Beverly Hills

Stars and footprints
Chinese Theatre: 6925 Hollywood blvd. look for cement footprints of George Lucas, Harrison Ford, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Darth Vader

Richard Dreyfuss 7021 Hollywood Blvd.
Harrison Ford: 6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Alec Guinness: 1559 Vine Street
Samuel L. Jackson: 7018 Hollywood Blvd.
Denis Muren: 6764 Hollywood blvd.
Haskell Wexler: 7070 Hollywood Blvd.
Billy Dee Williams: 1521 Vine Street
Ron Howard: 6838 Hollywood Blvd.
Harrison Ford (silent film actor): 6665 Hollywood blvd.