Smith's Union Bar

[waverly2211]

The "time capsule" is a very good point. For instance I'm not really interested in finding a filming location featured in the new Five-0 or new MPI (even though I love Hawaiian locales) because I know it'll look exactly as I saw it on the show. Provided that no CGI was used to enhance/add/remove things (that's why I HATE CGI). But something that was filmed 40 years ago or more is bound to have changed some. That's why it's so "special" to be able to stand in the same spot where something was filmed 50 years ago. That's half a century ago! Even more special if the locale hasn't changed much at all and still looks largely the same. You really do get transported back in time as the nostalgia comes rushing back. Something that was filmed 50 years ago vs. 2 years ago. Of course it also helps a great deal when it's a show that you absolutely LOVE vs. one that you don't care about.
For instance in 2008 I stayed at the Aston Waikiki Beachside hotel (not to be confused with the larger Aston Waikiki Beach hotel closer to Diamond Head) which is now permanently closed. It must have been one of the original hotels in Waikiki which is dwarfed by all the high-rise hotels surrounding it (including the Hyatt Regency to the left). Anyway I stayed in this hotel and then was pleasantly surprised when I watched the Five-O pilot episode "Cocoon" from 1968 and saw McGarrett in his Mercury drive down Kalakaua right past "my hotel". I noticed that there was no other hotel next to it that was taller than "my hotel". This hotel WAS the high-rise of 1968! But today it's barely noticeable amid all the high-rises surrounding it. Things like that is what fascinate me. Seeing "my hotel" where I stayed in 2008 and then seeing it looking exactly the same in 1968, 40 years earlier. Great stuff!

I understand this sentiment exactly. I love to find places around the LA area that were featured in some of my favorite shows from the past. There are so many because the industry is based here, but I look for locations from older films and series, and when I visit today it’s cool to see the changes.
Visiting Bronson Canyon and seeing where TV’s Batcave exit was located was fun. I also found the High Court Tower from The Long Goodbye, and the church from The Graduate, which ended up being near my sister’s house, no where near Hollywood! I’d course the Santa Monica Pier and Union Station have been used many times, but it’s fun to see how they have changed.
Perhaps my all time favorite happened just recently when a friend of mine’s wife showed me the interior of the Bradbury Building where she now works. It’s not open to the public. The exterior is unassuming, but the interior is iconic, having been used in Blade Runner, The Artist, and a favorite of mine, the film noir classic Double Idemnity.

Ah, Bronson Canyon. Seen in so many TV westerns, especially my favorite - BONANZA. Also the Bradbury Bldg. I've heard of it. In fact not too long ago I saw the noir classic D.O.A. (1950) and the finale took place inside that building. Like you say, it's very unique. Has a somewhat futuristic look to it. Hence the filming of BLADE RUNNER there. And yes I remember seeing it in DOUBLE INDEMNITY too. Great film!

Hi Guys,
The Bradbury is one of the all time great 'sets' in TV/movie history.
It was used to such effect it was almost another character in the legendary Outer Limits episode "Demon With a Glass Hand" that is rated in the top 100 of the best TV episodes ever made.
You are cheating yourself if you have never seen it.
Season six of 77 Sunset Strip was set in the Bradbury Building and opened with a montage there.
Oddly, though the address of the PI's office had changed to the Bradbury(and the cast all purged except for Zimbalist ) the series was still called 77 Sunset Strip.
Pahonu, I am so envious of your tour of those various locations. Especially Bronson Canyon. Good for you.

Hey Dobie,
I do feel fortunate to be so close to all these places so loved by movie and TV fans. It’s a fun little hobby of mine to visit these spots, especially the more obscure or hard to recognize locations. My wife is less into the old films and TV series, but she’s really into music. We had a fun day exploring Laurel Canyon last summer and some of the spots frequented in the 60’s by musicians like Byrds, The Mamas and the Papas, Joni Mitchell, and The Doors. It’s kind of similar, I think. We stopped at a little store where Cass Elliot lived in the basement at one point?!?!?

Canyon Country Store been many a times and also of note, Jim Morrison's former house is right around the corner next to the cleaners.

[Pahonu]

I understand this sentiment exactly. I love to find places around the LA area that were featured in some of my favorite shows from the past. There are so many because the industry is based here, but I look for locations from older films and series, and when I visit today it’s cool to see the changes.
Visiting Bronson Canyon and seeing where TV’s Batcave exit was located was fun. I also found the High Court Tower from The Long Goodbye, and the church from The Graduate, which ended up being near my sister’s house, no where near Hollywood! I’d course the Santa Monica Pier and Union Station have been used many times, but it’s fun to see how they have changed.
Perhaps my all time favorite happened just recently when a friend of mine’s wife showed me the interior of the Bradbury Building where she now works. It’s not open to the public. The exterior is unassuming, but the interior is iconic, having been used in Blade Runner, The Artist, and a favorite of mine, the film noir classic Double Idemnity.

Ah, Bronson Canyon. Seen in so many TV westerns, especially my favorite - BONANZA. Also the Bradbury Bldg. I've heard of it. In fact not too long ago I saw the noir classic D.O.A. (1950) and the finale took place inside that building. Like you say, it's very unique. Has a somewhat futuristic look to it. Hence the filming of BLADE RUNNER there. And yes I remember seeing it in DOUBLE INDEMNITY too. Great film!

Hi Guys,
The Bradbury is one of the all time great 'sets' in TV/movie history.
It was used to such effect it was almost another character in the legendary Outer Limits episode "Demon With a Glass Hand" that is rated in the top 100 of the best TV episodes ever made.
You are cheating yourself if you have never seen it.
Season six of 77 Sunset Strip was set in the Bradbury Building and opened with a montage there.
Oddly, though the address of the PI's office had changed to the Bradbury(and the cast all purged except for Zimbalist ) the series was still called 77 Sunset Strip.
Pahonu, I am so envious of your tour of those various locations. Especially Bronson Canyon. Good for you.

Hey Dobie,
I do feel fortunate to be so close to all these places so loved by movie and TV fans. It’s a fun little hobby of mine to visit these spots, especially the more obscure or hard to recognize locations. My wife is less into the old films and TV series, but she’s really into music. We had a fun day exploring Laurel Canyon last summer and some of the spots frequented in the 60’s by musicians like Byrds, The Mamas and the Papas, Joni Mitchell, and The Doors. It’s kind of similar, I think. We stopped at a little store where Cass Elliot lived in the basement at one point?!?!?

Canyon Country Store been many a times and also of note, Jim Morrison's former house is right around the corner next to the cleaners.

Yes! Thanks for the tip.

[Mark de Croix]

Chinatown,Smiths's Union Bar, USS Arizona and Lauren Bruner...

Not MPI related but interesting..

https://youtu.be/DEI2Yzb3QOY

https://youtu.be/Wt3D6vACM2M

https://youtu.be/Ko0QBUqs1BE

More on Chinatown..

https://youtu.be/CpphYRbp1UM

Final Lauren Bruner story..

https://youtu.be/xTsbWMO_nR8

Sam,

So cool, man, thanx for posting the Smith's vid. Don't we all dream of the unvarnished Hawaii back in the day. Sadly Lauren has passed but it's great he was a direct link through the bar to those days. Do you know his background? Was he originally from Hawaii? I imagine not a few ex-military relocated there after their previous stint there. BTW, did you catch in the background of the Smith's vid, the 40s' cartoon figure of a sailor exposing the tit of a local beauty? Pretty risque for those days.

[Sam]

Chinatown,Smiths's Union Bar, USS Arizona and Lauren Bruner...

Not MPI related but interesting..

https://youtu.be/DEI2Yzb3QOY

https://youtu.be/Wt3D6vACM2M

https://youtu.be/Ko0QBUqs1BE

More on Chinatown..

https://youtu.be/CpphYRbp1UM

Final Lauren Bruner story..

https://youtu.be/xTsbWMO_nR8

Sam,

So cool, man, thanx for posting the Smith's vid. Don't we all dream of the unvarnished Hawaii back in the day. Sadly Lauren has passed but it's great he was a direct link through the bar to those days. Do you know his background? Was he originally from Hawaii? I imagine not a few ex-military relocated there after their previous stint there. BTW, did you catch in the background of the Smith's vid, the 40s' cartoon figure of a sailor exposing the tit of a local beauty? Pretty risque for those days.

Hey Mark,

Brunner wasn't from Hawaii and didn't relocate there.He did however try to return yearly..

Click last link from my post for more info...Missed the tit pic...

[Mark de Croix]

Chinatown,Smiths's Union Bar, USS Arizona and Lauren Bruner...

Not MPI related but interesting..

https://youtu.be/DEI2Yzb3QOY

https://youtu.be/Wt3D6vACM2M

https://youtu.be/Ko0QBUqs1BE

More on Chinatown..

https://youtu.be/CpphYRbp1UM

Final Lauren Bruner story..

https://youtu.be/xTsbWMO_nR8

Sam,

So cool, man, thanx for posting the Smith's vid. Don't we all dream of the unvarnished Hawaii back in the day. Sadly Lauren has passed but it's great he was a direct link through the bar to those days. Do you know his background? Was he originally from Hawaii? I imagine not a few ex-military relocated there after their previous stint there. BTW, did you catch in the background of the Smith's vid, the 40s' cartoon figure of a sailor exposing the tit of a local beauty? Pretty risque for those days.

Hey Mark,

Brunner wasn't from Hawaii and didn't relocate there.He did however try to return yearly..

Click last link from my post for more info...Missed the tit pic...

About the pic: the interesting thing is by "cleaning" it up you will see that the cartoon shows a nipple, very notable for the time period. Consider the use of the pastie and why. It must have been a great bar in its time not to say it isn't now. I'm heartened that the bar functions also as a monument to the souls who were lost in the Arizona (the bar seems to have name list and such).