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