The high school where Brian De Palma brought Stephen King’s Carrie to life, Will Rogers’ ranch house and a motel owned by William Randolph Hearst are among some of the famous structures that have been damaged or destroyed by the California wildfires.
Los Angeles is a town full of landmarks, thanks to its co-starring role in more than a century of filmed entertainment. Some famous spots such as the Hollywood Bowl, the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held — initially seemed imperilled by the Hollywood Hills fire, yet remained at least largely unharmed. But the fires have taken a toll on some familiar sites.
– Palisades Charter High School
There was “significant damage” to Palisades Charter High School, though the main campus building stands. Founded in 1961 and built for a reported six million dollars (£4.9 million), the high school currently serves some 3,000 students throughout the Los Angeles area, though they were not in session this week.
Famous credits: De Palma’s 1976 adaptation of Carrie, starring Sissy Spacek as the outcast teenager, is perhaps “Pali High’s” most recognisable credit. It has also featured in the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday, with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, the Kirsten Dunst movie Crazy/Beautiful, the Anne Hathaway film Havoc, the television series Teen Wolf and American Vandal and the music video for Olivia Rodrigo’s good 4 u.
Notable alumni include filmmaker JJ Abrams, actors Jennifer Jason Leigh and Forest Whitaker, musician will.i.am, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Will.i.am was a pupil at Palisades Charter High School (Yui Mok/PA)
– Will Rogers’ ranch house
Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House, a property dating back to the 1920s, was completely destroyed in the Palisades Fire. Built on 186 acres in the Pacific Palisades area, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it had 31 rooms, corrals, a stable, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course and hiking trails.
It was where the actor (once one of the highest paid) and radio personality would ride horses and practise roping before his death in 1935.
His widow, Betty Rogers, gave the property to the state in 1944 and it became a historic state park.
Famous credits: The state park was featured in the 1975 Barbra Streisand sequel Funny Lady.
Inside the Will Rogers’ property (Alamy/PA)
– Topanga Ranch Motel
The Palisades Fire also destroyed the Topanga Ranch Motel, a 30-room, bungalow-style motel built by William Randolph Hearst in 1929.
The property had been uninhabited and deteriorating for nearly 20 years, but there were plans for a restoration and reopening in the works.
Famous credits: It featured in the 1970s television series Mannix as well as an episode of Remington Steele, the 1986 Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy movie Blue City and the 1991 Bridget Fonda movie Leather Jackets.
– Reel Inn Malibu
This seafood shack on the Pacific Coast Highway and across the road from Topanga Beach State Park opened in 1986 and burned to the ground in the fire.
In an Instagram post, the owners wrote that they were not sure what would remain of the beloved spot.
“Hopefully the state parks will let us rebuild when the dust settles,” Teddy and Andy Leonard wrote.
Famous credits: It has been featured on shows including Man vs Food and The Chew and counted the likes of Cindy Crawford, Paris Hilton and Jerry Seinfeld as fans of its fried seafood fare. It also featured briefly in 24.
– The Bunny Museum
A quirky Los Angeles-area oddity, The Bunny Museum, located in Altadena and dedicated to all things bunny rabbit, was also destroyed.
The museum had all sorts of bunny-themed items, from Trix boxes and bottles of Nesquik, Bugs Bunny paraphernalia and magazine covers of performer Bad Bunny. There was also a Chamber of Hop Horrors detailing the historical abuse of bunnies that had an age requirement: 13 and over.
Famous credits: It made the Guinness Book of World Records, and had been featured in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, the Smithsonian Magazine and an episode of Visiting… With Huell Howser.”
Firefighters work a hydrant in front of the burning Bunny Museum (Chris Pizzello/AP)
– Hacks mansion
The 1915 Spanish colonial revival mansion that was Deborah Vance’s Los Angeles home in the HBO series Hacks was located in Altadena and fell victim to the Eaton fire. According to the trade publication Deadline, only the facade remains.
Famous credits: It was the “side mansion” belonging to Jean Smart’s character in Hacks. According to reports, it will be seen in the fourth season.
– The Andrew McNally House
The Queen Anne-style mansion in Altadena that dated back to 1887 and was commissioned for wealthy map-maker Andrew McNally was lost in the Eaton Fire.
Designed by architect Frederick L Roehrig, the house had nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, seven fireplaces, a distinctive bell-shaped turret (that had a view of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Pacific Ocean) and a wrap-around porch.
It was adorned with hand-carved woodwork, stained glass windows and included an opulent Turkish Room decorated with Moorish influences. The grounds also had an aviary. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Famous credits: The 2001 Whoopi Goldberg and Jada Pinkett Smith movie Kingdom Come.