Torrance in the Movies!
Aside from the fantastic weather, abundant sunlight and, at the time, relatively cheap land, one of the Southland’s biggest draws for the budding film industry was the varied scenery. An early producer once said “any place in the world” is within fifty miles of Pacific Palisades. The bluffs of Palos Verdes has filled in for places as varied as the English coast, Spanish Main and medieval Europe. The Verdugo Hills has even been other planets in many a Star Trek episode. Torrance, too, has starred in countless productions lending its factories, streets and airport to serve as places from Hawaii (“Hawaiian Paradise” with Elvis) to Yoyodyne Propulsion (“Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension”). “We are in the movies now!” trumpeted the Torrance Herald of December 3rd, 1931. Local “director-actor-host” and owner of the local Hotel Royal, Keith Daniels, wanted to record the plight of seasonal workers in the politically incorrect titled work, “Fruit Tramp.” This was to be an “all-talkie, all Torrance” production with a major western and movie about the steel industry following. “Fruit Tramps” even with Torrance’s “packing houses, acres of vegetables, and business life” did not do well, and we didn’t hear much more from the director-actor-host.
Torrance Herald, 12/3/1931
One of the first films shot in the City, just one year after incorporation (1922), was the mysterious “The Torrance Movie.” This was an early example of film promotion, meant to showcase the City, its industry and the advantages of removing your business to the “Model Industrial City.” The film had a limited release to the local Kiwanis, Optimist and Rotary clubs of the Southland. In the cleverly titled film, “City of Torrance: The City of Industrial Opportunity” (1953), the Torrance Herald asked citizens to come out and be a part of the filming. Traffic was literally stopped to make this promotional film. The factories of Torrance have been a backdrop for many early productions. In 1923, Universal Pictures used the Hendrie Tire factory for various scenes. Torrance also made an appearance as a “wild west boom town” which turned “Redondo Beach Road” (Torrance Blvd.) into a place of oil derricks (already there), salons and gambling houses (not present in dry Torrance of the times). Even Batman — no, not Adam West — but Bob Lowery as the capped crusader foiled “The Wizard” in his efforts to blow up U.S. Steel. The serialized Batman (1949) was strictly a low budget affair. The Batmobile was a stock 1949 Mercury. Adam West’s Batman did save Torrance Beach from the Joker in the 1967 “Surf’s Up! Joker’s Under!” Both the Jokermobile and Batmobile of the latter show looked great parked at the end of the strand next to the old snack shack.
Torrance Press, 12/10/1953
Our malls and residential areas have eclipsed the factories as favored locations. Torrance continues to be a popular film location, so much so that there is even a Special Events and Filming Office to help with the permitting and coordination of filming in town. Who knows what places Torrance will represent on-screen next?