When the dark comedy "Numbers" hits the big screen, millions of viewers will believe the story unfolds in Harrisburg, PA, but local folks will know that they're really seeing a stretch of Huntington Drive in Arcadia.
Recent changes in the scope of motion picture and television filming at the Arboretum has caused some residents to question the productions' use of the facility.
Featured articles on Seabiscuit include quotes from the book, readers remembering the horse, locals used as extras in the filming of the movie at Santa Anita Park, silver lined hooves on display at the California the Thoroughbred Association's library, information on Gary Stevens, and interviews with author Laura Hillenbrand.
Universal Studios will use Santa Anita Park for five weeks of filming for the movie "Seabiscuit." An open casting call will select thousands of extras to be used when shooting begins in November.
One of the houses on the north cove of the lake at the Arboretum which was built for the filming of the movie "Road to Singapore," starring Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, and Bob Hope. The house is up on stilts in the lake. The movie was filmed in 1940.
1. Little Red Depot has many names. Arcadia Tribune August 3, 1936. 2. Arcadia at top. Arcadia Tribune. April 20, 1939. 3. Films available. Arcadia Public Library A.V. Dept. film list; local films. 4. Moving pictures shot at Arboretum. List of movies from 1937-1942 from Rancho Santa Anita …
1. Little Red Depot has many names. Arcadia Tribune August 3, 1936.
2. Arcadia at top. Arcadia Tribune. April 20, 1939.
3. Films available. Arcadia Public Library A.V. Dept. film list; local films.
4. Moving pictures shot at Arboretum. List of movies from 1937-1942 from Rancho Santa Anita scrapbook #5 (June 1940-May 1941).
5. Heart of a Race Tout. Packet regarding search for the film shot at Baldwin's race track in 1909.
6. Film on library brings U.S. notice. Arcadia Tribune April 23, 1962.
7. Arcadia:Thoroughbred Town. Arcadia Tribune. February 1964.
8. From Tarzan to Fantasy Island - they're all filmed at Arboretum. Arcadia Tribune September 17, 1978.
9. List received from Historical Section of Arboretum August 1979.
(MISSING 9/2002)
10. This company's next picture - the first complete story film to be made in Los Angeles - was entitled "The Heart of a race tout." Page copied from book, "Early film making in L.A., by Charles G. Clarke, 1976.
11. Movies filmed at Arboretum. Paper written by Janet Christensen, March 25, 1977.
12. Photocopied pages from, "The Motion picture stunt pilots and Hollywood's classic aviation movies, " by H. Hugh Wynne. Discusses aviation films filmed in Arcadia.
13. Los Angeles State and County Arboretum Movie Locations. List of movies 1936-1984 that were shot on location at the Arboretum. Includes names of actors/actresses and some photos.
14. "The Return of Seabiscuit" by William Nack. Sports Illustrated, August 4, 2003, p. 58-61. (Magazine and color photocopy)
15. Cinema producers rediscover ideal locations near home. California terrain duplicates every land on earth and Rancho Santa Anita is a favorite location. Sunday Times, February 6, 1938. Copied from Rancho Santa Anita Scrapbook #1, April 1936 - January 1, 1939, Arcadia Historical Society.
16. Paramount Studios shooting an outdoor location scene on Rancho Santa Anita for a Bing Crosby picture, "Paris Honeymoon." Arcadia Tribune, June 17, 1938. Copied from Rancho Santa Anita Scrapbook #1, April 1936 - January 1, 1939, Arcadia Historical Society.
17. A Ritz brother while on location with a 20th Century Fox company unit at Rancho Santa Anita shooting scenes for "Straight, Place and Show" contemplates purchasing a stable of horses. Arcadia Tribune, June 24, 1938. Copied from Rancho Santa Anita Scrapbook #1, April 1936 - January 1, 1939, Arcadia Historical Society.
18. Only the films could think of this. The Paramount location company while working on Bing Crosby's "Paris Honeymoon" brought a flowering apple tree to Rancho Santa Anita. Arcadia Tribune, June 18, 1938. Copied from Rancho Santa Anita Scrapbook #1, April 1936 - January 1, 1939, Arcadia Historical Society.
19. Boris Karloff on location at Rancho Santa Anita for picture scenes in "Devil's Island." Arcadia Tribune, July 20, 1938. Copied from Rancho Santa Anita Scrapbook #1, April 1936 - January 1, 1939, Arcadia Historical Society.
20. Newspaper employees watching the filming of Boris Karloff's "Devil's Island" laughed their heads off! Arcadia Tribune, July 1938. Copied from Rancho Santa Anita Scrapbook #1, April 1936 - January 1, 1939, Arcadia Historical Society.
21. Memo by Don Penman dated November 16, 1999 re: recommendation to approve request from Paramount Pictures to close portions of Huntington Drive for the film production of "Numbers."
22. Article about "Attack of the Giant Leeches" filmed at the Arboretum, by Paul Parla, 1995. Issue 20 of Scary Monsters Magazine.
23. Santa Anita Depot in Disney movie "Saving Mr. Banks" about P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins. March 13, 2014 retrieved from www.arcadiasbest.com.
Three men are standing on a small boat during filming of a movie at the Arboretum. Handwritten note states,"John Payne in Enchanted Voyage - July, 1945 - Rancho Santa Anita."
Huntington Drive looking west from near intersection of First Avenue. On NW corner is vine-covered City Hall. Open roadster has just made a left turn and is going south on First. There is a moving picture theater mid-way along street on south side with large banner advertising Charles Laughton Film. This photo belongs to the Huntington Library. It is shown here for research only.
Photo taken from above Huntington Drive looking NE at the block between Santa Anita and First Avenue. Only the Music Mart shows clearly enough to identify.
