Bat Locations - "Smack in the Middle" Burning Car Scene

[Yellow Oval]

Is not the Century Plaza Hotel the building in the background when the 4 Gotham police officers take off their hats to salute the Batcopter flying overhead at the beginning of the '66 movie?

[A. Pennyworth]

..

[Scott Sebring]

Is not the Century Plaza Hotel the building in the background when the 4 Gotham police officers take off their hats to salute the Batcopter flying overhead at the beginning of the '66 movie?

Yep! Good eye! As A. Pennyworth's screen grab shows, they are walking on the main drag called "Avenue of the Stars." When one gets the lay of the land of Century City back in the day, all kinds of Bat locations start to jump out. As a bit of more trivia, if they police kept walking in that direction, in a block or so they would arrive at the United Worlds building from the movie. Holy stitch in my side!

[Ben Bentley]

There was a similar book done many years ago showing the original shooting locations for The Three Stooges shorts in the 30s and 40s-- it was given to me as a gift and I really enjoyed it-- I took it with me on a visit to California and had fun one day checking out those locations, some of which were also where the Batman serials were filmed, since those too were from Columbia Pictures Short Subject division.

I think the idea for this book is a winner.

Thanks, Andy! That's exactly what we'd like it to be, we'd love for people to be able to take it with them to check out the locations in person should they wish, as well as enjoy at home and just revel in some real-world Bat-Trivia.

[High C]

Scott, great job narrating the BTS footage. I suppose that lane was closed so that they could shoot the scene?

I'm trying to remember--isn't there an establishing shot for an ep in which the Batmobile is going someplace and those curved hotel towers are in the background? Does anyone recall that?

[Ben Bentley]

Scott, great job narrating the BTS footage. I suppose that lane was closed so that they could shoot the scene?

I'm trying to remember--isn't there an establishing shot for an ep in which the Batmobile is going someplace and those curved hotel towers are in the background? Does anyone recall that?

Is this the shot you're thinking of? If so, this is indeed Century City (with Stage 19 on the Fox lot in clear view), but the buildings in the rear are actually a matte painting.

This shot also gets flopped during the chase sequence in "The Joker's Hard Times"

In "Caught In The Spider's Den" we get to see the driving sequence without the matte painting.

[A. Pennyworth]

Scott, great job narrating the BTS footage. I suppose that lane was closed so that they could shoot the scene?

I'm trying to remember--isn't there an establishing shot for an ep in which the Batmobile is going someplace and those curved hotel towers are in the background? Does anyone recall that?

Is this the shot you're thinking of? If so, this is indeed Century City (with Stage 19 on the Fox lot in clear view), but the buildings in the rear are actually a matte painting.

Batman S02E38 - The Joker's Hard Times - 1014.jpg

This shot also gets flopped during the chase sequence in "The Joker's Hard Times"

Batman S02E38 - The Joker's Hard Times - 1023.jpg

In "Caught In The Spider's Den" we get to see the driving sequence without the matte painting.

Batman S02E56 - Caught in the Spider's Den - 2244.jpg

Well that is a level of detail I don't think I would have ever noticed, especially the background! Very nice finds and comparison photos. --john

[Ben Bentley]

Scott, great job narrating the BTS footage. I suppose that lane was closed so that they could shoot the scene?

I'm trying to remember--isn't there an establishing shot for an ep in which the Batmobile is going someplace and those curved hotel towers are in the background? Does anyone recall that?

Is this the shot you're thinking of? If so, this is indeed Century City (with Stage 19 on the Fox lot in clear view), but the buildings in the rear are actually a matte painting.

Batman S02E38 - The Joker's Hard Times - 1014.jpg

This shot also gets flopped during the chase sequence in "The Joker's Hard Times"

Batman S02E38 - The Joker's Hard Times - 1023.jpg

In "Caught In The Spider's Den" we get to see the driving sequence without the matte painting.

Batman S02E56 - Caught in the Spider's Den - 2244.jpg

Well that is a level of detail I don't think I would have ever noticed, especially the background! Very nice finds and comparison photos. --john

Scott and I are truly diseased when it comes to researching this stuff! We're actually painstakingly trying to figure out the side street that Parachute Pickup van emerges from as I type this...

[Scott Sebring]

Scott, great job narrating the BTS footage.

Thank buddy!

I'm trying to remember--isn't there an establishing shot for an ep in which the Batmobile is going someplace and those curved hotel towers are in the background? Does anyone recall that?

Ben answered most of that for you.
Although...
Century Plaza Hotel can be seen here between the chutes while they Bat-turn on "Avenue of the Stars."
Once again, once you get use to the lay of the land you can't help but notice afterwards.

This shot below was done on a cross street called "Empyrean Way" facing towards "Avenue of the Stars" and the Fox lot with Stage 19 facing. And as Ben said, Matte painting for the rest of the "city"

And because I can't help it.

[Therin of Andor]

This is such a cool thread! Thank you!

[Therin of Andor]

There was a similar book done many years ago showing the original shooting locations for The Three Stooges shorts in the 30s and 40s-- it was given to me as a gift and I really enjoyed it-- I took it with me on a visit to California and had fun one day checking out those locations, some of which were also where the Batman serials were filmed, since those too were from Columbia Pictures Short Subject division.

There were several editions of a guide book for New Zealand locations for "The Lord of the Rings", and another for "The Hobbit".

One of the things I did in San Francisco last visit was finding many of the locations used in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home", and I made a little reenactment video with my toy travel buddies.

A Batman location I intended to get to (several times) was Gotham City Historical and Art Museum, as featured in "The Ogg Couple" episode. I guess it wasn't anticipated that the "Los Angeles County" signage would be so clearly visible on future tech like Blu-Ray.


Gotham City Historical and Art Museum blooper by Ian McLean, on Flickr

[Ben Bentley]

There was a similar book done many years ago showing the original shooting locations for The Three Stooges shorts in the 30s and 40s-- it was given to me as a gift and I really enjoyed it-- I took it with me on a visit to California and had fun one day checking out those locations, some of which were also where the Batman serials were filmed, since those too were from Columbia Pictures Short Subject division.

A Batman location I intended to get to (several times) was Gotham City Historical and Art Museum, as featured in "The Ogg Couple" episode. I guess it wasn't anticipated that the "Los Angeles County" signage would be so clearly visible on future tech like Blu-Ray.


Gotham City Historical and Art Museum blooper by Ian McLean, on Flickr

Do you still plan to make it out to California? If we don't have the book readily available by then let me know and i'll do my best to help you with any/all Bat-Locations you might like to try and identify.

[Therin of Andor]

Do you still plan to make it out to California? If we don't have the book readily available by then let me know and i'll do my best to help you with any/all Bat-Locations you might like to try and identify.

Covid-restrictions willing, of course! Have previously managed to do Gotham City Police Headquarters and the Batcave.


Ian at Gotham City Police Headquarters, 2013 by Ian McLean, on Flickr


Ian the tourist at Bronson Canyon by Ian McLean, on Flickr

[Jimmy L. 66]

Here's a link to that time BEN generously shared the announcement and some info on the book that he and Scott are laboring away at- "Greetings From Gotham Cities," I believe?



Please feel free to give me a shout next time you fellows are checking out some sites, I'd love to drive up and join you, or just say hello.

[Ben Bentley]

Here's a link to that time BEN generously shared the announcement and some info on the book that he and Scott are laboring away at- "Greetings From Gotham Cities," I believe?



Please feel free to give me a shout next time you fellows are checking out some sites, I'd love to drive up and join you, or just say hello.

Sounds good to me Jimbo! It would be great to catch up with you soon, locations or no locations, let's maybe have lunch!