As well as destroying thousands of homes and taking at least seven lives, the Los Angeles fires have wiped out some notable Hollywood landmarks, including the filming locations for well-known movies and TV shows.
While there had been earlier fears the Hollywood Hills fire would affect such famed spots as Hollywood Bowl, the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, they have not been damaged.
Top left: Living room inside Will Rogers’ ranch house. Top right: Living room after the fire. Left middle: Exterior of ranch home. Bottom row: Exterior of the stables before and after the fire.Credit: California State Parks
But among the buildings either damaged or destroyed is Palisades Charter High School, which normally has 3000 students. It has been a filming location for the 1970s horror movie Carrie, the Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis movie Freaky Friday, the Kirsten Dunst film Crazy/Beautiful, the Anne Hathaway-starring Havoc, TV series Teen Wolf and American Vandal and the music video for Olivia Rodrigo’s good 4 u.
The Palisades Fire also destroyed Hollywood star, newspaper columnist and radio personality Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House. Set on 75 hectares overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it had 31 rooms, corrals, a stable, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course and hiking trails.
Palisades Charter High School after the fire. It was a filming location for the 1970s horror movie Carrie, the Lindsay Lohan-Jamie Lee Curtis movie Freaky Friday, TV series Teen Wolf and the music video for Olivia Rodrigo’s good 4 u.Credit: Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Rogers, whose more than 70 films spanned both the silent and “talkies” eras, would ride horses and practise roping at the ranch before his death in 1935. After his widow, Betty Rogers, gave the property to the state, it became a state park that featured in the Barbra Streisand film Funny Lady.
The Palisades fire also destroyed the Topanga Ranch Motel, an uninhabited 30-room motel built by publisher William Randolph Hearst that had been due for restoration. It has featured in the TV series Mannix and Remington Steele as well as the Judd Nelson-Ally Sheedy movie Blue City and Bridget Fonda movie Leather Jackets.
Palisades Charter High School and, top, and how it looked in Freaky Friday.
“California State Parks mourns the loss of these treasured natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” California State Parks director Armando Quintero said.
