Bradbury Building in Film & Television

"(500) Days of Summer" (image: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

With both major film and television studios located in California, it would be no doubt that many sites in Los Angeles would become practical sets for filming. This includes the Bradbury Building in Downtown Los Angeles.

The 2009 release "(500) Days of Summer" made use of many places in Downtown. The sweet ending where Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is interviewing for a job and after finally letting go of Summer (Zooey Deschanel) meets Autumn (Minka Kelly) was filmed at the Bradbury and clearly features the building's unique architectural interior.

"Blade Runner" with the Bradbury exterior (left) (image: WB)

The cult favorite "Blade Runner" (1982) starring Harrison Ford features a futuristic Los Angeles in 2019. The Bradbury building's exterior and interior are featured within the film.

"Blade Runner" with Bradbury interior (image: WB)

"Pushing Daisies" (image: ABC)

Although not filmed at the Bradbury, the ABC television series "Pushing Daisies" even found the building inspirational for the quirky look of its sets. The hallway balconies of the apartment building where Ned (Lee Pace) & Chuck (Anna Friel) and Olive (Kristen Chenoweth) live makes use of the Bradbury's iron columns and decorative railings.

The building even was transplanted to New York City to become the School for the Performing Arts in the opening credits of the NBC television series "Fame" which premiered in 1982. A faux subway entrance was placed across the street of the Bradbury and the building's name over the arched entrance was replaced with a sign for 'School of the Arts'.

"Fame" (1982) television series (image: NBC)