Hi everyone:
I'm new in this forum, but have been enjoying reading particularly this thread for a while. So many amazing posts and great historic photos of L.A.! I came here because my interest in researching filming locations aroused my general interest in L.A. history.
It may be slightly off topic, but I thought some of you true L.A. historians might be able to help me, particularly after I read we have some ex-Lorimar employees here! I am doing a filming location research about "Falcon Crest", which was produced by Lorimar in the 1980's. I am the president of falconcrest.org, the organization preserving the show's cultural heritage; we maintain the show's website as well as the network of cast, crew and staff members and the fan club.
In a 1986 episode, the series featured a bank somewhere in Greater L.A. I am attaching a few screen grabs. The columns seem to be Corinthian décor, and there seem to be murals (or huge paintings?) in the foyer. Please also note that, from the entrance, there are a few stairs down from the street level when you enter the building. Also, there are a few more steps from the anteroom down to the huge bank foyer.
My first guess was it might be the Farmers and Merchants Bank on 401 South Main Street, but that isn't the case. Neither is it the heavily filmed old Bank of America at 650 South Spring Street.
Just as a side note, I do know that the first twelve episodes per season were usually filmed on location in Napa, Sonoma and San Francisco, but I ruled out that possibility for this bank. Having researched various production documents, I know the bank scene was filmed in L.A., but unfortunately the papers I have don't give away the exact location.
Can anyone help me identify this, please?
Thanks a lot -- and please keep up this excellent thread,
THOMAS
All screen captures © 1986 Lorimar (now Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.):