| Given its many appearances in popular television | | | | Observatory as the filming location for Rebel Without |
| programs and well-known Hollywood films, a | | | | A Cause, the classic James Dean movie. Other |
| 4,200-acre plot in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los | | | | cameo appearances include The Terminator, The |
| Angeles, California, certainly ranks as one of America's | | | | Rocketeer, Bowfinger, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, |
| better known urban parks. Called Griffith Park, this | | | | and Transformers. A two-part Star Trek: Voyager |
| sweeping urban retreat is a Los Angeles gem that's | | | | episode called "Future's End" also made ample use of |
| home to attractions that include an observatory, zoo, | | | | the Observatory and nearby property, along with a |
| golf courses, an outdoor theater, and hiking and | | | | quirky appearance as Rain Robinson by Sarah |
| equestrian trails. | | | | Silverman. |
| Originally an ostrich farm started by Griffith J. Griffith in | | | | While this writer is partial to the Observatory because |
| 1882 on ranch property nestled at the eastern end of | | | | of frequent childhood visits to its planetarium, |
| the Santa Monica mountain range, today's Griffith Park | | | | stargazing is by no means the only attraction at Griffith |
| bears little resemblance to this now distant ancestor. | | | | Park. The Park is also home to the Los Angeles Zoo, |
| Before his death, Griffith, a Los Angeles property | | | | frequent outdoor concerts held at the park's Greek |
| developer, set the stage for today's Park by a | | | | amphitheater, and the Museum of the American West. |
| generous donation of most of the Park's current | | | | Two 18-hole golf courses, a baseball field, basketball |
| acreage, along with a trust fund to be used for | | | | and tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool and miles |
| developing the site. Other donations and the purchase | | | | of footpaths and horse trails make the Park a favorite |
| of additional land by the City of Los Angeles have | | | | destination for the residents of America's second |
| made the Park what it is today. | | | | largest city. |
| Residents and non-residents alike often experience a | | | | A so-called Master Plan covering the future |
| feeling of eerie familiarity when visiting the Park for the | | | | development of Griffith Park is currently under the |
| first time, a feeling often triggered by the domed | | | | tutelage of the Los Angeles Department of |
| structure of the Griffith Observatory. The Observatory | | | | Recreation and Parks. The plan, which calls for ongoing |
| boasts a commanding view from its perch high atop | | | | commercialization of the Park, is opposed by groups |
| the south slope of Mount Hollywood not only of the | | | | like Save Griffith Park, a cooperative effort supported |
| nighttime stars high over L.A., but also of the entire Los | | | | by the Los Feliz Improvement Association, the Sierra |
| Angeles River Basin, including downtown L.A., nearby | | | | Club, the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, the |
| Hollywood, and somewhat farther afield, the blue | | | | Oaks Homeowners Association, Equestrian Trails, Inc., |
| Pacific Ocean. | | | | and worried residents of Los Angeles. |
| The Observatory's skydome location has resulted in a | | | | Matt Paolini is a senior researcher for CityBook, the |
| number of uncredited but noteworthy appearances for | | | | family-safe Los Angeles yellow pages, which carries |
| the L.A. landmark in movies and television. Readers | | | | an extensive directory on Los Angeles clubs parks. |
| with a touch of gray at the temples will recognize the | | | | |