A movie. That nobody dared to see. Olivia Newton-John was hoping to strike gold twice by starring in another musical. She portrayed a muse of Olympus who is sent to earth to inspire a down-on-his-luck artist. Unfortunately what resulted was the cinematic turd that is Xanadu. It belongs on the DVD shelf next to Showgirls and Sleepaway Camp in the so-bad-it's-good section. The soundtrack, however, is pretty awesome. 1 side ELO, 1 side ON-J, one song ELO & ON-J. OMG!
Location: Club Xanadu
Address: 7600 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA Club Xanadu was formerly known at The Pan Pacific Auditorium. It burned down in 1989 and was rebuilt in 2002 including one of the old towers...
If you ever visited Disney's MGM/Hollywood Studios, you'll notice the ticket entrance is modeled after the Pan Pacific Auditorium...
Location: The Mural
Address: Dudley Avenue at Speedway, Venice, CA
The mural was actually painted on a fake wall...
This location was also seen when Joey breakdances on Gimme A Break! (1981-1987)
Location: Muses Running
Address: Universal Studios Backlot - New York Street, Universal City, CA
Location: The Muse's Stairs
Address: Figueroa Street & 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA
Location: Keira Kisses Sonny
Address: Palisades Park, Santa Monica, CA
Location: Sonny Arrives At Work
Address: 1040 N Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, CA
Location: Sonny Meets Danny
Address: 35000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
Location: The Pier
Address: 23000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CAParking was a problem on this beautiful day so I didn't actually get on the pier this time around...
Location: Sonny Hitches A Ride
Address: Main Street & Hill Street, Santa Monica, CA
Location: Platinum Palace
Address: 240 S San Fernando Boulevard, Burbank, CAUntil recently I had no idea one of my old apartment buildings was the former site of the record store...
Interestingly enough, there was a hair salon called Xanadu in the city I grew up in. On my last trip home, it was still there!
Location Visited: November 2003, March 2016, October 2016, October 2018
is the mural still there in Venice ? I mean, from your photos it looks like the whole building it was painted on might be gone
ReplyDeleteI don't believe there was ever a building there. I think production had built a wall and then the mural was a digital effect.
Deletethank you!
ReplyDeleteThe "Platinum Palace" in Burbank was a former Ralph's grocery store. To the left of the frame you can see a bit of the "Golden Mall" pedestrian mall walkway that existed there from about 1967-1989. The Promenade (built in 1985), now known as "Avalon Burbank" apartments occupies the site.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. I called The Promenade/Avalon home for a few years. It wasn't long ago I realized it was former site of The Platinum Palace.
DeleteVery surprised the hairdressers could legally use that sign...
ReplyDeleteYeah, so was I. Love Soul Kiss btw.
DeleteThanks for doing this, it's cool to see the pictures
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thanks for visiting!
Deletemy wife and I were 8 years old when Xanadu came out. We both saw it about 6-7 times at the same movie theater as kids. We started living together 30 years ago after our first date. Our first apartment was right next to the Dudley filming location in venice and we went to the market there [or used to be] every day for years. She worked right on Main street for years next to that filming location I had no idea this whole time. We still quote this movie and songs to each other occasionally. THANK YOU for posting this.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Great story!
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