Our Moonlighting Pilot Tour by Joy Chodan
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Our Moonlighting Pilot Tour By Joy Chodan array of blue, California architecture, terra cotta was turquoise, and gold. used extensively in monumental proj- Just to know that ects of the early 20th century due to this was the actual the unavailability of local marble or clock tower we granite. The terra cotta has withstood were admiring the decades, but not so the gothic- was very moving influenced clock (which once chimed and nostalgic. But the quarter hours) or the neon orna- it was very unfor- ment — neither work. The building's tunate to see this vertical emphasis is accentuated by special gem sur- deeply recessed bands of paired win- rounded in such a dows and spandrels with copper pan- run down area. To els separated by vertical columns. The When you think of locations in the our surprise the building was only view- façade is decorated with a wealth of Moonlighting Pilot, what’s the first thing able on two sides. The other two were just motifs - sunburst patterns, geometric that springs to mind? Chances are it’s the plain and dulled out. When we peeked shapes, zigzags, chevrons and stylized hotel where David goes to convince inside, we saw there was nothing. The animal and plant forms. The building Maddie not to close the agency and the building is just a shell of what it once was. is capped with a four-sided clock clock tower where Maddie and David tower emblazoned with the name uncover the diamonds. Surprisingly, both The Eastern Columbia Building, now Eastern in neon and crowned with a landmarks are not very far away from a historical landmark of Los Angeles, central smokestack surrounded by each other in downtown LA. Diana, was designed by Claud Beelman, and four stylized flying buttresses. Christie, and I were fortunate to visit the opened on September 12th, 1930 after Originally, the central main entrance Westin Bonaventure Hotel and the Eastern just nine short months of construction. had a spectacular recessed two-story Columbia Building on February 12th, Built of steel reinforced concrete 2005. and clad in glossy turquoise terra cotta trimmed with deep blue and ChristieChristie andand II triedtried toto tracetrace thethe We were determined to find these two gold terra cotta, designed as the new samesame footstepsfootsteps BruceBruce andand CybillCybill made at the elevator. very special symbols that started Maddie headquarters of the Eastern made at the elevator. and David’s adventure. Our first stop was Outfitting Company, Columbia the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Outfitting Company, furniture and Unfortunately, the famous elevators clothing stores, were originally a would not take us to the LA Prime restau- department store. Located in the rant on the 35th floor until 4:30pm. And Broadway Theater and Commercial so we were off to find the clock tower. I District, the Eastern Columbia had remembered from the pilot that the Building is thirteen stories high, and location to the clock tower was mentioned was one of the largest buildings con- by Maddie as the North West corner of structed in downtown Los 9th and Broadway. The further we Angeles until after WWII. walked towards our destination the worse our surroundings got. The neighborhood The magnificent green and gold was dirty, loud, and anything but friendly. façade is especially dear to Los Diana was the first to see the very edge of Angeles Art Deco fans because it the building. We were thrilled to finally is made of terra cotta. Though see it with our own eyes, a magnificent not exclusive to Southern 41 Summer 2005 • Volume 3 - Issue 1 Moonlighting Pilot Tour Cont’d vestibule adorned with a blue and gold revolving cocktail lounge terra cotta sunburst. The vestibule led to that provides a 360 degree a pedestrian retail arcade running panoramic view of L.A. The through the center of the building. Bonaventure is the largest hotel in Los Angeles, with However, the future looks optimistic for 1368 rooms (468 more rooms Eastern Columbia building, the Los than any other hotel in Angeles Times has reported that there are Downtown Los Angeles). plans to repair the building to be suitable for offices and condominiums. New Finally it was time to go up amenities would include a rooftop gym, a to the restaurant. When we pool and cabanas. Such features echo the got there we were unpleasant- luxuries found in the building in 1930, ly told that we could only when self-made merchant Adolph walk around the revolving Sieroty opened the opulent retail and part of the lounge, the office tower. He installed a model bunga- BonaVista, which was one low and recreation area on the roof of his flight down.. Although a mag- combined department stores, the Eastern nificent view, it was obvious and Columbia Outfitting companies. We that this could not have possi- can all hope that our beloved clock tower bly been where the scene in will be standing as bright and beautiful the pilot was shot. We head- for a long time to come. ed back upstairs to the 35th floor and found the elevators After taking several pictures of the build- and the coat check counter ing, we quickly returned to the Westin where Maddie and David Bonaventure Hotel. Still early, we walked went. From what we could around taking in the architecture of this tell, there were several eleva- TheThe EasternEastern BuildingBuilding NOWNOW famous hotel. There are several elevators tor shots edited in the scenes. all color coded. The elevator that we took Also, the coat check was to the 35th floor was red. However in the really a bar set up to look The Eastern Building THEN pilot, the elevators are not lit by different like a coat check in the pilot. colors. The hotel has not only been used Frustrated and curious, I to film scenes from the Moonlighting wanted to see the rest of the pilot, but also for many of Hollywood’s restaurant so Diana suggest- hit movies such as 1982 sci-fi epic Blade ed that I quickly walk Runner, (starring Harrison Ford), the through. Quiet, elegant, and 1998 Oscar-winning drama Rain Man, set up for dinner, it looked (with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise), exactly the same with tables just to name a few. It is located in the cen- set along side the huge win- ter of the downtown financial district, dows. I knew immediately amid Los Angeles' cultural and shopping that this was indeed where venues. Known as a city-within-a-city, Bruce and Cybill shot the the Westin Bonaventure Hotel was restaurant scene 20 years designed by John Portman and opened in ago. Once again I felt 1978. The four cylinders that flank the moved by the nostalgia of it central cylinder are made of mirrored all and was happy to know glass and contain luxury rooms and that both locations after 20 suites. Inside of the square base of the years are still here to visit building can be found reflecting pools, and enjoy. glass elevators that climb the sides, and eight levels of shops and restaurants. A restaurant on the 35th floor boasts a 42 Summer 2005 • Volume 3 - Issue 1.