MovieChat Forums > Hot Rods to Hell (1967) Discussion > Where is the Arena?

Where is the Arena?

posted 12 years ago by mamamute
10 replies | jump to latest

We may have found the Arena site. Here is the link to a club member page that shows and discusses pictures at the present site against stills from the movie. The remains of the motel, Arena, Steak Ranch as a large vacant pad look to be at Calabasas, California north of the 101 freeway just about to the west end of Ventura Blvd.

http://al7ls.tripod.com/arenalocation.htm

The radio club will have a special event this coming January (2013) near Wilsona Gardens. There is a link to the announcement on the arenalocation.htm page. A lot of fun. Soon though, hope to have some pictures of the filming sites at Antelope Valley. (It's reported from Edwards AFB members that Charlies is now a taco shop.) We want to find where Duke made out with Gloria at those rocks and setup at least near there for the event, otherwise we will be outside the south Edwards AFB gate.

But take a look at the Arena page. I am not hopeful about the Duke and Gloria site which may be completely built over by Lake Los Angeles from what I hear. In a way I feel sad about the Arena being gone and looks to be soon built over too. I know I'm a drag I know I know I know but "We'll be at the Arena tonight - everything will look different to me then - you'll see - everybody will be turned on!"

[–] alls-4 12 years ago

I looked at your club's page and good job. I think you all have got it right, finally. I will be in the area in about a month and will check it out on my way through Calabasas on the 101. If I can take some pictures I will email them all to your webmaster address that is shown on the special event page.

I had thought the Arena was possibly along the old Sierra Highway near Saugus, but nothing that I could see there really fit any of the movie Arena scenes. Especially the hill in back of the Arena covered with wild Oaks, not very becoming to Antelope Valley or Saugus in the wild.

Thanks for the effort. I like the page for the special event and the link to "What About Barney?"

[–] mamamute 12 years ago

Thanks Al, I will let you know. One of the guys from Edwards said he found and took pictures of the Gloria and Duke make out filming site. They lined things up on Piute Mesa that was in the background of Ernie when he was told to get lost. Said he will get this up this weekend. Let me know here what you think when you do see the post.

[–] Avenger69 12 years ago

Looks like you got it. Everything lines up, especially the hills in the background. I had thought it was further west in Agoura Hills (due to the hill lines, the freeway in the background, etc.), but I think you're right on the Calabasas angle.

Added to the "filming locations."

"It's people..."

[–] Bdeezine 11 years ago

I always thought the Duke and Gloria makeout scene looked like Vasquez Rocks off of the 14 freeway.

"Sit down Mr. Muckle, honey."

[–] Avenger69 11 years ago

It's actually very near the Wilsona Gardens location, east of Palmdale. The topography looks similar to Vasquez Rocks.

"It's people..."

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Avenger69 9 years ago

I did some more research (several years after the original posting) and can confirm that the former location of the "Arena" / "Billingsley's Steak Ranch" is 4919 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA.

I located a newspaper article announcing its opening in February, 1957:

http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30294207/

The address listed in the article was 26300 Ventura Boulevard, Calabasas, CA, right where the link the OP provided said it was, however, I visited a great web site with historic aerial photos (www.historicaerials.com), and when I put in the address and selected the year 1967, there was nothing there.

There is another article I found that listed the "Steak Ranch" as being on the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Malibu Canyon (now called Las Virgenes in the section by Highway 101), so I searched over in that direction (about two miles west of the previously listed 26300 Ventura Address), and lo and behold, there it was.

Go to historic aerials.com, and enter the address 4919 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA, select the year 1967, and you can clearly see the location.

It was't where I thought it would have been, but it's pretty clear to me it's the Arena.

[–] fullerplast 9 years ago

Avenger - Do you happen to be one of the two guys I sent this info to a few weeks ago? If not, then we apparently came about this revelation at the same time! I wrote a whole dissertation on it with pics, newspaper clips and old maps, proof beyond any doubt that this is the actual Arena location.

If you are one of those guys I sent it to and chose not to share the credit, well I can't be mad at you. After all, any guy that loves HRTH as much as I do can't be all bad.

But you see, I didn't know it... Until you YOUNG PUNKS MADE ME KNOW IT!!!

[–] fullerplast 9 years ago

Oh... also meant to add that this location was used in the pilot episode of "Highway Patrol" in 1955. The 101 was not a true freeway then (semi-limited access, not built to interstate standards), but everything lines up, including the sign for the restaurant that says "Golden Pheasant". It's clearly the exact same sign as Billingsley's Steak Ranch shown behind the Arena in the "famous" shot of Tom and Lank in HRTH.

Here's the clip, the entire final scene is in the Arena parking lot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8DlX7_WcCA

Filming location, 26300 Ventura Fwy, Calabasas, CA:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0766863/

Better slow down, Peg... that could be a tire.

[–] Avenger69 9 years ago

Ha! How is that for timing? No, I'm not one of the guys you sent the information to, but nice to know there are other fans of this "so bad it's good" classic.

I was just revisiting the film, and re reading the "where is the Arena" topic, and basically started diving in to it again. At least you can narrow it down to the exact spot now. Mission completed!

How did you find the "Highway Patrol" clip?