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South Pasadena CA Is Often A Stand In For Small Town America

By
Industry Observer CalDRE #01165532

 

 

 

South Pasadena CA Is Often A Stand In For Small Town America



South Pasadena Small Town America With its many tree-lined streets of character homes and interesting mix of small businesses, South Pasadena, California reminds many of an idyllic example of Small Town America.

 

So it makes sense that South Pas(as many  locals call their hometown) is often the choice to play Anywhere USA in movies, on television and in advertising.   

 

It’s actually quite a common occurrence.

 

So you will see trucks with film crews often on city streets or behind businesses. Canopies on front lawns of homes are used for catering for cast and crew.

 

Lights - Cameras - Lots of Action

 

South Pasadena Real Estate - South PasMaybe you will see, as a client of mine relocating from the East Coast, and ask why there were circa 1960 Boston police cars lined up by Garfield House(a stately home once owned by former First Lady Lucretia Garfield). Yes, it was a film crew and it’s pretty common in South Pasadena.

 

So, if you are in South Pas and you see a lot of unusual activity in front of a store or snow on the ground in front of that house on a residential  street even though it is Southern California and the middle of July -- it’s likely because of filming.  The local South Pasadena Review weekly newspaper reports what is being(or has been) filmed in the city.    

 

If you are ready to set the stage and make South Pas your home -- contact me for your South Pasadena real estate needs.   I can be reached at 818.516.4393 cell.


South Pasadena CA Is Often A Stand In For Small Town America

Posted by

Michael Jacobs

 

CalBRE # 01165532

P. O. Box 587

Pasadena, CA 91102

Call/Text:  818.516.4393

mtj916@gmail.com

 

 

Comments (25)

Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Michael Jacobs I can see why they would film in your area, South Pasadena provides a ton of opportunities to the film industry

Dec 17, 2014 04:43 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Oh What fun it is to live in Pasadena Michael Jacobs . I do love LA it is a beautiful and exciting City . You are the agent in the know when looking to but or sell - The agent to call

Dec 17, 2014 04:47 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Michael,

Ah, the LA lifestyle.  I agree with your description of South Pasadena.  On Homewood Drive just below our hill, this street has a house that has been in Toyota, Insurance, and other commercials.  It is the quintessential American home, all except for the pricetag.

When we saw the bodies carried out of OJ's ex wife's home on our way to work, we both separately thought as we each drove to the office, that a movie was being made on Bundy Drive...Sometimes, what you see is real life.  A

Dec 17, 2014 04:57 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Michael Jacobs , if you only knew...

Dec 17, 2014 05:01 AM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Thanks for the eye opening education Michael Jacobs. Interesting information on South Pasadena, California

Dec 17, 2014 05:05 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Michael Jacobs Hey that's really cool.  Maybe you can stop next time and see if they need an extra or two.  That would be fun to be in the movies!!!!  And I could say I knew you when......

Dec 17, 2014 05:11 AM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

I love driving through those 'small town areas' we have locally.  Almost every time I'm near Pasadena I take time to enjoy the tree line streets that suburbia has to offer- no surprise that filmmakers do the same.

Dec 17, 2014 06:52 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Michael-What happens in South Pasadena stays in South Pasadena or does it.

Dec 17, 2014 06:53 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Good evening Michael, I really had no idea that Pasadena had such a small town vibe to it - but what a fabulous place to live in and to film in.  What movie will they make next?

Dec 17, 2014 11:11 AM
Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale TahoeLauraRealEstate.com
Coldwell Banker Realty, Tahoe City, CA (530) 414-1260 - Tahoe City, CA
Tahoe Real Estate Agent Helping Buyers and Sellers

Michael Jacobs -  South Pasadena is beautiful and it's what we all hope our own home towns would look like.  I can see why it is so popular with the movie industry!

Dec 17, 2014 11:46 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Michael, a friend of mine just came back from a business trip in LA. He is an artist and web developer and works for me part time. He does my web sites and all their updates. Sunday he was working at the crib (we do 2 hours every Sunday together besides the other stuff he does during the week) and I asked him how the trip was.

He said he was in this little town that was so cute and laid back sort of like Evanston but warmer. He said he loved visiting Pasadena for the first time. Said this town was really special.

Dec 17, 2014 01:17 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Dick Greenberg - let me know when you are coming and you'll get the tour.

Jon Kolsky - SoCal offers so many different locales that are ideal for filming -- Long Beach, too - right?

Hannah Williams - Pasadena and South Pasadena are two separate but adjacent cities -- Pasadena is much larger but also filled with many beautiful buildings and lots of filming and photography takes place there as well.   Beautiful tree-lined streets do create a nice ambiance that seems almost Norman Rockwell-like.

Alexandra Ron & Alexandra Seigel - yes Santa Barbara County real estate price tags are anything but typical small town America -- there are quite a few different homes that have made a healthy sum of income from those filming rights(or even having their yards used for catering purposes).   And you're unfortunately correct that the horrors of real life almost seems like a scene out of a movie -- very sad.

Beth Atalay - I'm sure you have stories...

Dec 17, 2014 01:30 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

John McCormack - thanks very much.

Belinda Spillman -- not likely to be discovered -- as you know, I avoid the camera.  LOL

John Meussner - there are a couple of historic districts that solicit the industry for filming and South Pas among other cities also has a film liaison.

Sharon Lee -- hmm, not sure --- that's definitely the slogan for Las Vegas not sure if that would fly in South Pasadena

Dec 17, 2014 01:34 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Joanna Cohlan - Pasadena is a much larger city than South Pasadena(about 137,000 versus about 26,000) and while both have a certain ambiance, South Pas is a different place and a different approach to living.  Both nice but different.

When filming movies in any city, you typically don't know the name because they are given "code" or "working titles"(for lack of knowing the right technical name) but I've seen many area cities in the movies, on television(series, specials and commercials) as well as advertising.   It's fun.

Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale www.TahoeLauraLuxuryHomes.com - you live, play and sell in one of the most beautiful spots in our country(if not the world) and there are many places we have each visited and/or lived that are very special in their own unique way.

Noah Seidenberg - I've been to Evanston(although many years ago) and I also loved the city.  Your friend was probably in the Old Pasadena and adjacent areas which has a more urban feel to the city -- shopping, dining, museums, entertainment and of course, people watching.   Pasadena is larger than Evanston in population( about 76K, right vs est 137K) but I can see some comparisons...both are very special with lots of great architecture and culture. Thanks for sharing your friend's impressions.   Hopefully one day you can see Southern California especially when the weather is a bit more frightful in Evanston.  

Dec 17, 2014 01:51 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Michael,

Your passion for South Pasadena CA comes through loud and clear! Thank you for another post that endears your part of world to us all!

Dec 17, 2014 09:53 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Thank you, Dorie Dillard - I appreciate your kind comment.  Each of the cities and communities in our area have something just a bit different to offer the people who live and visit them.  

Dec 17, 2014 11:37 PM
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Michael Jacobs ~ "yes" LB is a favorite for film's... Ferris Buller's home is a LB home....

Dec 18, 2014 05:58 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

From what you have described it sounds like a lovely town and one that would be easy to fall in love with. 

Dec 18, 2014 06:44 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Jon Kolsky - very cool of you to share the Ferris Bueller "home".    I read that the modern home featured in the movie sold this year in Chicago.

Debbie Reynolds - South Pasadena is a popular choice for many -- convenient location, well-regarded schools, many character homes, tree-lined streets and a small town appeal...a good combination, right?

Dec 18, 2014 10:06 AM
Potranco Realty
Potranco Realty - San Antonio, TX
"Sold with Potranco Realty"

Michael, I'm sure many love living in South Pasadena to experience the film crews, great schools and other Pasadena amenities. Thanks for sharing

Dec 18, 2014 07:26 PM