Around The World In 80 Waves

I get out of bed with every intention of going surfing but it is a grey, wet and generally uninspiring day in LA so after failing to be impressed by the surf available at several beaches that I check out I decide not to go surfing and instead drive around town looking for film locations. This is far from a comprehensive list but I see where scenes from the following films were shot:

• The Graduate (1967)
• Diamonds are Forever (1971)
• Blazing Saddles (1974)
• Chinatown (1974)
• Earthquake (1974)
• Grease (1978)
• Heaven Can Wait (1978)
• Up in Smoke (1978)
• Airplane! (1980)
• Blade Runner (1982)
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
• The Terminator (1984)
• Lethal Weapon (1987)
• Colors (1988)
• Die Hard (1988)
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
• Point Break (1991)
• Reservoir Dogs (1992)
• White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
• Falling Down (1993)
• Pulp Fiction (1994)
• Speed (1994)
• Heat (1995)
• L.A. Confidential (1997)
• American History X (1998)
• Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)
• The Aviator (2004)
• Fast & Furious (2009)

I then spend hours on two grail quests. First trying to find the site of The Beach Boys’ childhood home in the Hawthorne area of town. I eventually find it, but am quite surprised at just how far it is from the sea. The house was actually domolished to make room for a freeway, but a monument including this placque stands as close to the original location as possible without being in the fast lane.

Next it is over to Beverley Hills to see if I can get into the Playboy Mansion. No luck here but I do find it after purchasing a DIY stalker kit/ celebrity homes map from the tourist shop. These are the gates and I certainly didn’t get any nearer despite ringing the bell. The second word was ‘off’. You can figure out the rest.

At the end of the day I am tired, but have been all over town and seen so much. However despite asking everywhere including Mr Lee’s laundry in Chinatown I am somewhat disappointed not to be able to make contact with The A-Team through the Los Angeles underworld.