Sunday, August 27, 2023

I want to explore more filming locations - PLEASE HELP US- Financially Help This Rockford Files Blog With A One Time Donation Please

Jan 2024
Please donate I will be flying out to L.A. CA in 2024 - All donations are deeply appreciated 


I want to come out to Los Angeles this fall to see and investigate filming locations of the Rockford Files - 
If you can please donate to help with the expenses

I would also like to place memorial wall markers at the original Rockford Files filming locations still present in the area.

Thank You    Bill Kazupski


May 24th 2023
Big Thank You To Alexander M
for his generous donation!!!!!
check out this website


Big Thank You To
the newest donor JONATHON G!!!!!!
Michael G &
Vahram K
two of my most recent donors!

Please help us meet our financial goal in 2023
Either through PayPal or ZELLE
Every little bit helps!

Or you can mail it it!

Bill Kazupski
10801 S Pulaski Road #6
Chicago, IL 60655-3931



ZELLE

Zelle a donation to 312 714 9412

William Kazupski  - Thank You 


PAYPAL

Paypal a one time donation to

 Kazupski2015@GMAIL.com


Thanking you in advance for your generosity in helping the blog~  

Friday, June 2, 2023

The Rockford Files - EPISODES: Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die: Part 1 & 2 (1979) Filming Locations: Castle Kashan 23800 Malibu Crest Drive Malibu, CA, Sovereign Hotel, Santa Monica, CA, Villa Cinzano Restaurant / Villa Terranza Restaurant on Sunland Blvd.

ABOVE PHOTO: WOW WOW WOW Marcia Strassman in that dress is smoking hot! She played reporter Whitney Cox.
 
Marcia Strassman close-up in the Rockford Files TV Show, episode  Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die: Part 1 & 2 (1979)
as Whitney Cox.
 
ABOVE PHOTO: Michael Champion played the
cool Dwight Deleau.
 
ABOVE PHOTO: James Garner's own brother Jack Garner played Capt. McEnroe.
Jack Garner played many different roles on the Rockford Files over the years.
Sadly Jack Garner passed away in 2011.
 
 
 ABOVE PHOTO: Kristoffer Tabori and Lenny Baker played rock and rollers.
 
ABOVE PHOTO: James Garner went undercover as Jimmy Joe Meeker.
Very cute Marion Yue played an Asian Country & Western Singer named Chiyoko Takao.
Jesse Dizon played Jerry Ito. 
 
 ABOVE PHOTO: A face seen over and over again in so many shows, Stanley Brock played mobbed up wiseguy Bernie Seldon.
 
ABOVE PHOTO: The Bronx Greek, George Loros played his 4th role on the Rockford Files as Eddie Lo Presti. In this episode Eddie fell head over heels for Marcia Strassman who played a reporter named Whitney Cox.
Hey Eddie... Here's a secret, I DID TOO!
 
 ABOVE PHOTO: Alan Chappuis and Jean-Paul Vignon play mobbed up brothers.
 
 ABOVE PHOTO: Another beautiful actress was squeezed into this Rockford Files episode, Leigh Christian played the blonde sexy bimbo Diane Bjornstrom.
 
 
 ABOVE TWO PHOTOS: I love when the Rockford Files makes it easy for me to figure out a filming location.
Jim Rockford picks up a Western Union Telegram with the actual address of this location.
Castle Kashan 23800 Malibu Crest Drive Malibu, CA
It was destroyed by a fire in 2007.
 
Castle Kashan and Malibu Presbyterian Church fall victim to flames.
By Larry Gordon, Ann Brenoff and Jack Leonard, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers 
October 22, 2007
Two of Malibu's most prominent and beloved landmarks -- one a palace of secular dreams and the other a center of religious devotion -- were destroyed Sunday.

Lost to the flames was the Castle Kashan, the fairy-tale-like structure that stood for 30 years atop a Malibu hill, recognizable from below by its turrets and round towers. Also ravaged was Malibu Presbyterian Church, a high-steepled place of prayer and community action that had barely escaped destruction in the November 1993 infernos, which burned more than 300 homes in Malibu, Topanga and Calabasas.

The castle, filled with paintings and Elvis Presley memorabilia, was one of several homes of socialite-philanthropist Lilly Lawrence, known as "Princess Lilly." Castle Kashan was named after the village of her father, Reza Fallah, a former Iranian oil minister under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

About 6:30 a.m., Lawrence and a house guest were trapped inside her sprawling home, but they managed to escape.

Wearing a bathrobe, slippers and oversized sunglasses, Lawrence returned later to survey the wreckage and retrieve some belongings and emerged about 1:40 p.m. with friends carrying shopping bags. She thanked firefighters who remained outside battling the blaze.

"My possessions don't possess me. My house does not possess me," she told them. "I'm thinking about our boys in Iraq. I'm thinking about you boys." 

Earlier this year, the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom castle overlooking Malibu Lagoon was listed for sale at $17 million. The 10,500-square-foot compound was in escrow briefly -- "for a minute" -- at an undisclosed price before Lawrence canceled the sale, she said Sunday. Lawrence said might consider rebuilding: "I'm keeping an open mind."

The mansion was built in 1978 by a doctor, Thomas Hodges. Lawrence bought it in 1998 and spent a considerable fortune on remodeling. Television shows such as "The Rockford Files" were shot there and the castle was available to rent for weddings amid its romantic archways and lion sculptures. 

Lost in the fire were many works of art, family heirlooms, Faberge eggs and museum-worthy collections. Lawrence's library included signed photos from U.S. presidents.

Firefighters were able to rescue a few paintings, including one believed to be a portrait of Lawrence's father, and piled some furniture and mementos in a dry fountain outside the house. Included was a snapshot of a woman shaking hands with President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The castle's staircase was red-carpeted and a Cinderella-like glass slipper was kept on a step, attesting to Lawrence's humor and style.

An incongruous feature was the rock 'n' roll room that Lawrence, a die-hard Elvis fan, had decorated with the couch-like seat from a 1959 Cadillac and a "Gates of Graceland" mural. Lawrence said among the few things she grabbed during her evacuation were Presley's Army fatigues, which she bought many years ago from Graceland.
 
ABOVE PHOTO: Not the first time this hotel building was used on the Rockford Files. The Sovereign Hotel in Santa Monica, CA
 
 ABOVE PHOTO: Does anybody know if this was the old Villa Cinzano Restaurant (Villa Terranza Restaurant) on Sunland Blvd? Please let me know.
 
 ABOVE PHOTO: This residence location has been identified (06/02/2023) 3947 Ridgemont Drive, Malibu, CA 90265

Thanks to the blog viewer who posted this info
 
 
 
ABOVE THREE PHOTOS: Unknown building which was suppose to be a courthouse. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks!
WE HAVE AN ANSWER:
Malibu Civic Center. 23541 Civic Center Way
Thank you to the alert viewer who left us this information.
 
 ABOVE PHOTO 1: Jan Teige and Laura Teige in the Rockford Files as the twin roller skaters in episode: Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die (1979)
 
ABOVE PHOTO 2: Jan Teige and Laura Teige in the Rockford Files as the twin roller skaters in episode: Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die (1979)
 
 ABOVE PHOTO 3: Jan Teige and Laura Teige in the Rockford Files as the twin roller skaters in episode: Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die (1979)
 
ABOVE PHOTO 4: Jan Teige and Laura Teige in the Rockford Files as the twin roller skaters in episode: Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die (1979)

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

The Rockford Files - Episode: Just Another Polish Wedding (1977) The Crystal Palace in Covina California, Nazi Bar, Kifune Restaurant & Sushi Bar, 405 W Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292

I worked on identifying this filming location for a while. I was finally able to identified it after writing to a few of the actors who played Nazis in this episode. One of the actors, who wishes to remain anonymous, clued me in to the actual location. 
 
Jim Rockford's old parole agent, Marcus Aurelius "Gabby" Hayes played by Louis Gossett Jr., has become a private detective and also with "Gabby" is muscle man / enforcer Gandolph Fitch, played by Iaac Hayes...
This so called "clue" leads these two characters to the Crystal Palace in Covina, CA.
It turns out that this location was NOT in Covina but in Venice, California.



ABOVE TWO PHOTOS: Marcus Aurelius "Gabby" Hayes & Gandolph Fitch arrive at the Crystal Palace Lounge.



ABOVE PHOTO: Actor in the Nazi uniform is Actor and Stuntman Ted White

ABOVE THREE PHOTOS: To the surprise of Marcus Aurelius "Gabby" Hayes & Gandolph Fitch the Crystal Palace Lounge is a private Nazi club. The big bartender was played by actor Dennis Burkley who we lost in 2013.

ABOVE PHOTO: The Crystal Palace Lounge is now the Kifune Sushi Bar in Venice California located at 405 W Washington Blvd, Venice, CA - You can still see the "A" frame roof entrance way today.

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

The Rockford Files - Episode: Aura Lee, Farewell (1975) Filming Location: Oscar's Restaurant

Brian from FaceBook - Brian's Rockford Files has some great updates and photos on this episode.

Brian's Main Page For The Rockford Files Is

This episode featured many great actors/actresses.
 Above Photo: The "Bionic Woman" Lindsay Wagner makes her second appearance in The Rockford Files as bikini shop owner Sara Butler.
 Above Photo: A very young and beautiful Melissa Green plays the role of Aura Lee.
 Above Photo: The woman in the black and white checkered coat is actress Linda Dano, her current photo is shown in the bottom right corner of this image. Linda played Senator Evan Murdock's wife. The woman interviewing her is real life news reporter Kelly Lange. The late great Robert Webber can be seen standing in front of Jim Rockford, Webber played California State Senator Evan Murdock. 
 Above Photo:
Date of Birth1 January 1948Brooklyn, New York, USA
Birth NameThomas Scott

Mini Bio (1)


Tom Scott was a predominantly a '70s African-American lead and supporting actor who appeared sporadically on television and in films beginning in the late 1960s. His first Hollywood appearance was as a student on "The Patty Duke Show" in 1964, He made appearances, mostly in guest spots on such popular TV shows as "Sanford and Son", "Marcus Welby, M.D.", and "Quincy M.E". His last Hollywood appearance was in a 1999 low-budget science-fiction thriller entitled "Age to Age".
played the motel manager, Ralph Salisbury.

 Above Photo: Actor Greg Mullavey played the seedy con-artist Dirk Schaffer very well... You got to love that slick 1970's outfit he is sporting in this scene. 
 Above Photo: Veteran character actor Henry Slate played the crusty restaurant owner Oscar. Henry sadly passed away in 1996 at the age of 86. 
 Above Photo: Bill Mumy who became famous as young Will Robinson in the TV series "Lost in Space" played the painter/artist Trask. Along with his most impressive list of television/film credits, Bill is also a very talented well-known musician, songwriter, recording artist, as well as writer. He plays guitar, bass, keyboards, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, percussion and sings. He has released three solo CDs, 1997's "Dying To Be Heard", 1999's "In The Current" and the 2000 release of his third solo album, "Pandora's Box". All three released on Renaissance Records.

10/11/2022 Update: 
Oscars was the Corral Cantina and was located at PCH and Corral Canyon Road. It is now the Calamigos Beach Club Restaurant which still incorporates some of the original "Oscars" restaurant structure. See photos on my Facebook page: Brian's Rockford Files

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3106069382739325&type=3


Oscar's Restaurant Update: I received the following information from Melissa Greene who played Aura Lee (As seen in the above photo) - She currently writes on FaceBook - Write From The Heart (Is her page)
Hello William - Oscar's was on the Pacific Coast Highway, on the right as you were heading north from the point where Sunset Blvd meets the Pacific Coast Highway. I'm not sure if that was the real name or not. The Sea Shore restaurant, shown in a few of your shots may very well have been right there at the end of Sunset Blvd., where it meets Pacific Coast Highway. If so, Oscar's was located across the street from a 50s style motel  - now gone, I'm sure - where the two highways intersected. That's where Robert Webber and I shot the montage of our  dinner and drinks preceding our "one night stand." The car accident scene was shot on a street on the Pepperdine College Campus in Malibu.

THANK YOU MELISSA GREENE FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN REPONSING TO OUR REQUESTED INFORMATION! 

UPDATE: May 11, 2018: 

On May 10, 2018, I received a phone call from Gary J. Moreno. Mr. Moreno worked on the original Rockford Files TV series – listed by IMDB.com in the following fields: Set Decorator | Art Department | Special Effects. I recent wrote him in an attempt to ascertain any additional information about Oscar’s restaurant.  


Since this episode was filmed over 40 years, I knew, at best this was a shot in a dark. I can hardly remember what I did last year, let alone almost ½ a century ago. Mr. Moreno was able to remember a few things about the Oscar’s filming location. First that Oscar’s was not the real name of the restaurant but a fictitious name for the purpose of filming. Mr. Moreno also confirmed what was previously stated to our blog by actress Melissa Greene who played Aura Lee. Specifically that the Oscar’s location was located north of Sunset Blvd. on Pacific Coast Highway. Oscar’s was located just north of a real restaurant shown in this episode called Sea Shore Inn restaurant – which in 2018 is named Gladstone's


17300 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. 

Mr. Moreno, and rightfully so, could not recall the real name of the restaurant called Oscar’s in this episode.  He also confirmed it was on the Oceanside of Pacific Coast Highway, directly across the street from an old roadside motel that is no longer in existence (Non-Oceanside of PCH).    

Thank you Mr. Moreno for your gracious phone call and information…… 

OK, enough with the actors/actresses in this episode. Here is what we need help identifying. It's a little grill called Oscar's in this episode. Not sure if that was the real name of the restaurant or not. It appears to be along the Pacific Coast Highway in 1975. The above two images show the building.
Anybody have any idea where this place is or was located?

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

The Rockford Files - The Countess - James Garner as Jim Rockford - Tribute to Dick Gautier (Oct 30, 1931 to Jan 13, 2017) - Susan Strasberg (May 22, 1938 - Jan 21, 1999) - Dick Gautier (Oct 30, 1931 to Jan 13, 2017) - Todd Martin (FEB 11, 1927 - IMDB list him as alive today) - Actor Tom Atkins (Nov 13, 1935) - Jean Le Bouvier (Aug 19, 1920 - Apr 06, 1983) - Melvin F. Allen (Nov 23, 1933 - Sep 01, 1992) - Gretchen Corbett (Aug 13, 1945) - Harold J. Stone (Mar 03, 1913 to Nov 18, 2005) - Joe Santos (Jun 09, 1931 to Mar 18, 2016) - James Cromwell (Jan 27, 1940) - Art Lund (Apr 01.1915 to May 31, 1990) - Frederick "Fred" Fitz Apking (Nov 12, 1927 to Aug 25, 2006) - William Bryant (Jan 31, 1924 to Jun 26, 2001)

Below Images: The late Susan Strasberg (May 22, 1938 - Jan 21, 1999) played the very beautiful & sexy Deborah Ryder a.k.a. The Countess 













Below Images: We just lost actor Dick Gautier (Oct 30, 1931 to Jan 13, 2017) played the mobbed up villain Carl Brego.  U.S. Navy Veteran.

 They must of had a no belly button showing rule based on high he is wearing his pants




Below Images: 31626 Sea Level Drive, Malibu CA - This residence has since been torn down and replaced with a much larger home.





Below Images: Actor Todd Martin (FEB 11, 1927 - IMDB list him as alive today) played the motorcycle cop that "busted" Jim Rockford.

Below Images: Actor Tom Atkins (Nov 13, 1935) played the tough Lt Axel Diel 

Below Image: Actress Jean Le Bouvier (Aug 19, 1920 - Apr 06, 1983) played a party goer.

Below Image: Melvin F. Allen (Nov 23, 1933 - Sep 01, 1992) played the smooth operating cab driver.

These unaccredited actors played an old couple on the beach who witness the murder of Carl Brego.


Below Images: Jim Rockford's old flame and attorney Beth Davenport played by the beautiful Gretchen Corbett (Aug 13, 1945) Gretchen Corbett is one of a few surviving original cast members of the Rockford Files.

Above Image:  North Hollywood High School was used as a police station in this episode, located at Magnolia Blvd & Colfax Ave, Los Angeles, California


Below Image: The late great Harold J. Stone (Mar 03, 1913 to Nov 18, 2005) played the Godfather, Mr. Sorrell.

The late actor Joe Santos (Jun 09, 1931 to Mar 18, 2016) played Rockford's good buddy Sgt Dennis Becker.

Below Images: The late great James Garner as Jim Rockford. Look at some of that high tech 1970's gear! James Garner is a Korean War veteran with 2 Purple Hearts along with other awards/medals.





Below Image: Actor James Cromwell (Jan 27, 1940) played Terry the lucky tennis instructor for Susan Strasberg

Below Image: The late Art Lund (Apr 01.1915 to May 31, 1990) played Mike Ryder (Susan Strasberg's Husband) who ends up dying at the end of this episode.





Above Photo: Only the first few Rockford Files episodes has Rockford's trailer actually on Pacific Coast Highway next to the long gone Tonga Lei famous Malibu restaurant nightclub. See the sign above the trailer.



 ABOVE PHOTO: Left - Frederick "Fred" Fitz Apking (Nov 12, 1927 to Aug 25, 2006) Far Right -  William Bryant (Jan 31, 1924 to Jun 26, 2001) played two mob thugs




Above Image: The Jack In The Box and Malibu Inn restaurants on Pacific Coast Highway