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