Rockford Files Locations

Rockford Files Locations

Written by Jim Suva

 In July 2011, Pat McKinney and I started to find the locations, that were used on The Rockford Files.  Below are some of the locations we found, plus we will be adding more locations as we find them.

Here is the original location of Jim Rockford's trailer in the parking lot by the Malibu Pier on Pacific Coast Highway.

The first two pictures are from the show.  Last two are 2011.

       

First picture below is Lankershim Blvd. in 2011.  A number of scenes of Jim driving down this street have been used. The second picture is St Charles Boromeo.  The inside of the church was used while filming "Find Me If You Can".  The church is located on the corner of Moorpark and Lankershim Blvd.

    

"The Real Easy Red Dog"  First picture is from the episode.  It shows the Services entrance to Bob Ruehman Pontiac in 1975. The next picture is of the dealership today.  It now sells BMW's.  The third picture is the house where Stefanie Powers character lived in 1975 and the fourth is 2011.

       

Jim entering the house and the side view of 4265 Denny Ave. North Hollywood.

    

"The Trees, the Bees, and T.T. Flowers"  The church is located on the corner of Cahuenga and Whipple in Toluca Lake.  The first two picture are from 1976.  The third picture was taken 2011.

        

"Beamers Last Case"  This is Tony's Body Shop located at 10953 Blix Street in North Hollywood.  First picture is from 1977 and the next two are 2011.

    

Here is Jack Kelly's characters home at 4365 Forman, Toluca Lake.  First picture is the gate to the property in 1977.  The next picture is the gate 2011.  Third picture is the driveway 1977.  Fourth is the driveway 2011.

      

"Hotel of Fear"  Here is the Mob Bosses Nova's house located at 4256 Navajo, Toluca Lake.  First two pictures are from 1977 and the last two are 2011. 

    

"Rosendahl and Gilda Stern are Dead"  The intersection is at Cahuenga and Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake.  This is where Abe Vigoda and Robert Loggia's characters met.  The first two pictures are from 1978 and the last two are from 2011.

      

This is Rocky's House located at 3654 Lankershim Blvd., Studio City.  The house has had an addition built on the front of house.  It now has a row of trees in front.

       

This is Bob Morse's Beach Cafe, Paradise Cove.  It use to be called the Sandcastle.  It has changed quite a bit over the last few years.  Jim Rockford's trailer use to be parked in the parking lot.    That part of the  parking lot is now a sandy beach with tables.  Below are pictures of Paradise Cove, July 13, 2011.

    

    

Updated July 2012:  "Gearjammers"episode.  Here is the Gearjammer bar, which is located at 28434 Roadside Dr. Agoura Hills, CA.

        

Here is the home used in "A Bad Deal In The Valley".  It is located at 4312 Hunt Club Lane, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

       

This is the intersection of Sarah St. and Ledge Ave. in North Hollywood.  It was used in "Sticks And Stones May Break Your Bones, But Waterbury Will Bury You".

    

Here is the home used several times in the series.  "Profit And Loss","The Trouble With Warren", "The Deep Blue Sleep" located at the corner of Belair Drive and Amapola Lane in Belair.  The third picture is from "Profit and Loss" episode.  The fourth picture is Tom Martin's Firebird sitting where Jim, parked his Firebird. This picture was taken in 2014 by Tom.

   

Here is the Green Spot Motel, 16937 C St  Victorville, CA 92395.  It was used in the pilot "Backlash Of The Hunter".  Photo by Steve Reich 2013.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge used in "Gear Jammers Part 2".  These photos are by Tom Martin 2014.  His 1975 Rockford Files Firebird replica is in some of these pictures.

     

The first two pictures are of the Best Western Hotel from  "Tall Woman in Red Wagon" episode.  The third and fourth pictures is where Rockford backs into Stoners car.   Photos by Pat McKinney 2013.

        

The Buena Vista Inn from the episode "Sleight Of Hand". It is located in  Thousand Oaks, CA.  Photos by Pat McKinney 2013.

     

Here is the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes.  It was used in the episode "2 Into 5.56 Won't Go" from 1975.  The first picture is from the show.  The second picture is what it looks like today.  Tom Martin 2014, took these pictures and included the last picture of his 75 Firebird at the location.

 

From "Gear Jammers". The La Paz Liquor at 4101 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505.  First picture is from the series and the other two are from Tom Martin taken in 2014.

    

"Gearjammers"  Pat McKinney sent in these pictures in.  1st picture is from the episode and the 2nd and 3rd are from 2014.  Victory Auto Body & Paint Inc is located at 4220 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505.

  

From "Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs" episode.  This is the Martin/Baja Cantina located in  Marina Del Rey, CA. The first picture is from the episode. The second picture is what it looks like today, with Tom Martin's 1975 Firebird parked in front.

  

From:  "Drought At Indianhead River".  Pat McKinney located at the Veterans Facility Campus 16111 Plummer St., in North Hills, CA 91343 used in .  (The building is actually located close to the intersection of Woodley Ave. and Lessan St.)  He took some wonderful pictures of the Facility below marked 2014.

 1976

     

 

2014

     

From: "Quickie Nirvana".  Pat McKinney found this location at Latigo Canyon about 1/4 mile north of Pacific Coast Highway.  The two pictures below mark 2014 were taken by Pat McKinney.

1977

   

2014
 

From: "Say Goodbye to Jennifer".   The first picture was taken in 1975.  The second picture with Tom Martin's 1975 Firebird from 2014.  Picture taken by Tom Martin.

    

"The Deuce"  Pat McKinney took this picture of here is The Ramp in 2014.  Located at the 5 Freeway and Hollywood Way.

  

From "Gearjammers".  The first 2 pictures are from the episode (1975).  The last two pictures are by Pat McKinney (2014).  This location is at Olive St and at the end of Flower.

    

From: "Italian Bird Fiasco".  The Sportsmen's Lodge, 12825 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604.  Pat McKinney sent in these pictures.  The first 2 are from the episode and the last 2 are today 2014.

      

From: "The Battle Of Canoga Park".  Chalco's Motorcycle shop located at 1329 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505.  The 1st picture is from the epsiode in 1977.  The 2nd and 3rd pictures were taken by Pat McKinney in 2014.

    

From "Charlie Harris At Large".   This is Alfred Bannister's House.  It is located at Mulholland and Las Virgenes Rd.  It is now the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy.  The 1st two pictures are from 1975's episode.  The 3rd and 4th pictures were taken by Pat McKinney in 2014.

     

From: " Charlie Harris at Large".  Here is the gas station that Linda Bannister goes to to get a taxi cab.  This Gas Station is located on Las Virgenes Rd just north of Agoura Rd. 

1975

     

 Pictures by Pat McKinney in 2014.

     

From: "Sticks And Stones May Break Your Bones, But Waterbury Will Bury You".  This apartment complex is located at 23923 DeVille Way, Malibu, CA.   Pictures by Pat McKinney.

1977

     

2014

   

This is the Malibu Coast  Animal Hospital located at 23431 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA.  Pictures by Pat McKinney.

1977

   
2014

 

From: "Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die".  This is the Malibu Court House at 23541 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA.  Pictures by Pat McKinney.

1979

   
2014

 

From: "Queen Of Peru", episode.  This is the Mailbu Beach RV Parl located at 25801 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265.  The 1st picture is from the episode in 1977 and the 2nd picture was taken by Pat McKinney in 2014.

  

From the episode :"Return to the 38th Parallel " this was the Repose Mortuary. It's located in the Paradise Cove Trailer Park.  The 1st two pictures are from the episode in 1976.  The 3rd picture by Pat McKinney in 2014.

   

"The Four Pound Brick" episode.  This is Kate Banning's house.  Located at 2627 N. Commonwealth Ave.,  Los Angeles, CA 90027 .  This was sent in by Brian Bernsen.  The 1st picture is from the series taken in 1974.  The second was taken from Google Maps 10/15.

   

"No Fault Affair", episode.  This is Rita's apartment located at 216 East Valencia, Burbank, CA.  These pictures were sent to me by Brian Bernsen.  The first picture is from the episode in 1979.  The second picture is Brian's Firebird parked in front of the same building in 2015.

  

"The Paper Palace", episode.   This the Canadian American Trading Company located at 500 East Olive, Burbank, CA.  Brian Bernsen sent me these pictures.  The first picture is from the episode in 1978 and the second is Brian's Firebird in front of the same building in 2015.

  

Here is the house used in "Rock 'N' Roll Will Never Die".  It is located at  3945 Ridgemont Dr., Malibu, CA 90265.  First picture below is from 1979 and the second and third are from 7/17/17.

    

 

From: "Blessing In Disguise", movie.corner of Bali Way and Admiralty Way in Marina Del Ray, CA.  First picture back in 1995 and the second picture is February 2017.

 


 
We hope you enjoyed these pictures.  It is always nice to see what the locations look like today.  Special thank you to Pat McKinney, Steve Reich, Tom Martin and Brian Bernsen, who found and photographed these locations, that I am sharing with you today!

 

If anyone in the Los Angeles are knows of any other Rockford filming locations, please send me pictures and information to: [email protected].  Thank you.

Comments

[Beatrix Duggan]

I am amazed that you have been able to do all of this. This is great history & invaluable to the Rockford files. Nice photography too!

[Bill Anderson]

Jim,

I'm drawing from memory, but I think your address for Rocky's address is slightly wrong. It's a different street in the area.

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

Your right Lankershim Blvd., Studio City. Thanks Bill. It has been corrected.

[Jody Vogelaar]

Hi Jim - I stumbled on your blog as I owned the home at 4265 Denny Ave from 2005-2010. We knew it was in The Rockford Files, but didn't know which season or episode to look for! Thx...now we do... and after doing an image search on the episode, I was further shocked to see that we painted the interior in 2005 to exactly the same color as shown in the episode!

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

Jody,

Nice to hear from you. It is a small world. Cool that you painted the interior the same color without knowing it. Good story. Very nice house. At least now you know for sure, which episode your house was in.

Thanks, Jim

[B P]

Jim, great blog! I'm wondering if you can tell me which RF episode features a scene shot at Orofino's Restaurant parking lot on Las Virgenes Rd. in Calabasas? One day in 1976 or '77 (?) a friend and I were out driving around and we spotted lights, cameras, and crew in the parking lot of Orofino's, so we parked the car and went over to see what was being shot. We immediately recognized Jim Rockford's Firebird, then noticed James Garner and Stuart Margolin standing nearby. No one told us to leave, so we stood there for about an hour watching "Jim" and "Angel" do several takes of a scene! I remember they came out of the building having a very animated discussion, they got into the car, where they exchange a few more words, then Jim quickly puts the car in reverse and pulls out. End of scene. I'd love to know which episode that scene appears in.

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

I have sent you message to my friend Rob Howe. He is an expert when it comes to the episodes. My guess could be "Joey Blue Eyes", but I am not sure. I will let you know what Rob comes up with.

[B P]

Thanks for the quick reply & for passing along my question to Rob. Based on your suggestion, I watched "Joey Blue Eyes" and I can see how you would conclude that may have been the episode in question. Unfortunately, it isn't. I've watched all of the episodes in seasons 2, 3, and 5 (I own the DVDs), always with my eyes open for the scene I witnessed them filming so long ago. No luck. I just ordered the DVDs of Rockford Files season 4, which I suspect may be the most likely place I'll finally see that scene. I'm enjoying the search, but I wouldn't mind if you guys figure it out before I do. Thanks again for your help!

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

My friend Chris Turko thinks it is "Drought at Indianhead River" Episode.

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

My friend Chris Turko thinks it is Drought at Indianhead River Episode.

 

Let me know if it is.

 

Thanks,

Jim

[B P]

OMG! -- I just watched "Drought at Indianhead River". Your friend Chris Turko is 100% correct! That is definitely the episode that has the scene I got to watch them shoot (purely by chance) back in 1976. I don't know how I missed it when I first watched it. It's fun to know that I was standing with the crew about 25 feet away from "Jim" and "Angel" when that scene was shot. I'm so glad you guys were able to solve that mystery for me. Thank you Jim and Chris!

-- Brad

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

Brad,

We are very happy to help. Glad it was the right episode. My friend Pat told me that location is now La Paz Mexican resturant.

Thanks,
Jim

[Chris Turko]

Glad to help guys. What a moment to remember Brad. The original restaurant apparently burnt down in 1986.

[B P]

I knew Orofino's was no longer there, but I didn't know it had burned down. That whole area has been developed significantly since 1976. I figured they tore down Orofino's to build houses or something. I was surprised to learn (from you guys) that there's another restaurant at the same address.

I'm thrilled that I was lucky enough to happen upon them shooting a scene from what I now consider my favorite TV show of all time. We were just a couple of bored teenagers driving aimlessly when we came upon the set. I remember being pretty excited at the time that the scene we were witnessing included "Angel", since he has always been my favorite recurring supporting character. What a weasel!

Thanks again Jim and Chris!

[Justa Thought]

Huge fan of Rockford! On many shows it shows his trailer parked in a lot just north of the pier - do you have pics of that location?

Also, I want one of those Rockford tee shirts - where do I get one??

I like the research you've done.

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

Thanks. The first two pictures are of that parking lot by the Malibu Pier. Pat McKinney has the t-shirts and caps. Email him at [email protected]

Jim

[Thenextfiftyyears.blogspot.com]

Great blog! Do you know what is the building next to Jim's trailer at Paradise Cove - the one with the cupola?

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

There is only 2 buildings near where the trailer sat. The closest is building with the washrooms for the beach and the other is the Beach Cafe.

[Berman9696]

Jim,

Thanks for all of the great pictures and it defenetely a great trip back down memory lane with the scenes from The Rockford Files. I always wanted to come out to California and do the same thing you've done by visiting all of the different shooting locations. Thank you Jim, and also thanks to Pat too!!!

[Dave E.]

Great stuff! I'm still a big fan of the show.

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

Thank you. I am glad you like the blog.

Jim

[sir michael]

Jim, I just discovered your blog. Most interesting. I'm a film student. I have created a TV documentary (possibly airing on E in 2014) entitled "On Location" where I take viewers all around L.A. and Hollywood to various neighborhoods where major feature films and some older TV series were shot. The also takes viewers to other local attractions such as celebrity restaurants, night club music venues, film studios, and exploring Malibu, Griffith Park, and Mulholland at night. Last week, for the first time, I visited that section of the PCH around the Malibu Pier, and concluded that Jim Rockford's first trailer was indeed parked at the far end of that parking lot. My question to you is,,,,Weren't there several early episodes where viewers could get glimpses of some of those businesses across the street - businesses that were there in 1974 and that are still there today? The Jack N' the Box? The Malibu Inn, The Surf Shack? Thanks, Jim. I look forward to reply.

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

The building across the street from the Malibu Pier location, I believe is a new building. here is an excellent blog dealing with more Rockford Files locations.http://therockfordfilestv.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-rockford-files-dexter-crisis.html

Thanks,
Jim

[Sheridanclan10]

I love this blog. I was wondering if anyone knows the location (I assume former location) of T.T. Flowers house (Freedom)?

[Jim Suva and The Suva Files]

I have checked with a few of my friends, no one knows that location information.

Sorry, Jim