Does anyone know where they shot the exterior shots of the Commerce Bank? I have googled and looked but can't find any information.

I don't know, but since they only showed just the front entrance, I'd say it was probably just a set on a soundstage in the same studio where all the interior scenes were filmed.

I think that is true later in the series but they definitely had a real life building in the begginning as I specifically remember seeing traffic in a background street when they pull up to the bank.... I will keep a look out and reference the episode if i can find it again..

I live in LA and was by General Service Studios (now it is called Hollywood Center Studios) where the show was filmed a few weeks ago. Adjacent to the studio is an elementary school building which looked to be built in the early 1960s. I wondered if that building had ever been used in any of the shows filmed at Hollywood Center in the 1960s and I came across this post and I am thinking, the school actually looks a little like the bank. I will have to go back, take a pic and post it and see what you think.

Good idea Ethel.

I looked on google street view around the entire block where hollywood centers studio is and didn't see a building that I thought matched. I'm headed to LA in a couple weeks and would really like to find it. Who knows though if it even still exists or exists with the same look it had in the 60's. If you really pay attention to the bank facade in the show, it was really very non descript, the only thing that was identifying about it was the fire hydrant connections (i think four) on the right side of the door.

As anyone noticed The Playboy Mansion on "The Beverly Hillbillies"? The Widow Fenwick uses the Playboy Mansion only seen from the front gate.

Weeeeeeeeell doggies!!!!!:wave:

Yes I noticed that several months ago. In fact I got the address from the show as they had it on the gate house and the street curb i think and went to google maps and I kept coming up with the playboy mansion with a similar address. I was pretty sure that was it, thanks for confirming!!!

Wow, I'll have to go back and watch that episode again.

If I recall correctly the best shot of the building occurs during the episodes where Drysdale wants to bulldoze Mammonth Studios and Hedda Hopper is against it. In the "news report at the begaining of the episode...its been years now but I believe the camera pans up and reveals the bank building is a high rise. Look for it.

Good catch I will have to do that. As a matter of fact maybe I can get screenshots to post and maybe we can figure it out as a group. I believe the episode you reference is in season three and I think that comes out in Feb so will be able to get real good screen shots when I buy the season.

Well during the 1st and second seasons at least, when the Clampett truck is pulling up to the bank you can see other buildings in the background and other traffic. It has to be a real building I'd say.

I definitely agree with you comedyfreak. I even tried to contact Stephen Cox as he would be one of the definitive resouces on the show (author of The Beverly Hillbillies book) and see if he could tell us where the bank was located because I really wanted to locate it while I was in California this past summer. I was unsuccessful in being able to locate or contact him even through his publisher (no response at all). Ha ha...sometimes i think i take my interest in this show a bit far, but it's just a hobby... right everyone?? I'm looking for a little reassurance that i'm not crazy here...hahaha

Hey, you're right on this one...I'm the same way when it comes to the Warner Ranch, as I'm becoming obsessed with the Bewitched block. :D

Well it looks like i may be returning to Los Angeles in a few weeks.. has anyone found any other info on the commerce bank exterior filming location? Also is anyone that is out there interested in hanging out and hitting some of the beverly hillbillies film sites and/or warner ranch?

I wish I could go, I'd love to hang out in the area.

I wish I could go, I'd love to hang out in the area.

well come on down, let me know if you really want to.

Which dates are you going to be there?

Does anyone know where they shot the exterior shots of the Commerce Bank? I have googled and looked but can't find any information.


It took me awhile to figure this one out, but the building is located at 5055 Wilshire Blvd. My first clue was the fact that during those "Clampetts drive towards the bank" b&w scenes there are reflections of hanging, triangular flags seen in the building windows reflections. They are the kind of (colorful) flags a car dealership would drape across phone poles to mark/highlight their car lot. This led me to deduce that something like a car dealership was across the street.

My first big break came in "Clampett City General Store" (s3sp3) when there's a 'pan-down' shot of the building. This gave me a clear view of the architecture of the 2nd - 8th floor, which is unlike the marble-looking 1st floor.

My next big break occurred during "Brewster's Honeymoon" (s3ep24). At the beginning of the scene where Jethro picks up the newlyweds from LAX and drives them to the mansion there's an opening shot of Wilshire Blvd. In that quick shot, you can clearly see the street sign "5000 Wilshire Blvd." Imagine my delight when I saw a VERY familiar-looking building in the background. From there is was a simple search on Google Maps to confirm the street address.

Although the look of the first 1st floor has been modified since the 1960's, there still is a car dealership across the street (Beverly Hills BMW). Let's hope the beatnik's "Parthenon West" is still in the basement. LOL!

DoubleNaught, I live in LA and read your post a week or so ago and drove by the building you mentioned. I do believe you are correct. It is 5055 Wilshire Blvd. Great eye and great catch!

The building currently houses talent agencies, as well the offices for the Hollywood Reporter magazine. Accordingly to online sources, the building was built in 1948 but renovated and expanded in 1992, so it does look different on the outside following its renovations, but the marble sure looks the same.

I live in LA and was by General Service Studios (now it is called Hollywood Center Studios) where the show was filmed a few weeks ago. Adjacent to the studio is an elementary school building which looked to be built in the early 1960s. I wondered if that building had ever been used in any of the shows filmed at Hollywood Center in the 1960s and I came across this post and I am thinking, the school actually looks a little like the bank. I will have to go back, take a pic and post it and see what you think.

Ethel get lost?;)

DoubleNaught, I live in LA and read your post a week or so ago and drove by the building you mentioned. I do believe you are correct. It is 5055 Wilshire Blvd. Great eye and great catch!

The building currently houses talent agencies, as well the offices for the Hollywood Reporter magazine. Accordingly to online sources, the building was built in 1948 but renovated and expanded in 1992, so it does look different on the outside following its renovations, but the marble sure looks the same.


Dear lucy&viv fan,

Thank you very much for taking the time to actually drive by the building to double-check my findings. As someone who lives a few time-zones to the east, it sure is nice to have a fan take an actual look at the place.

One of these days I'll actually get out to the L.A. area to see the sights. In fact, that was the motivation for looking for the "Commerce Bank's'" filming location - to add to my growing list of things to see.

(Very) Partial list so far:
1) The Beverly Hillbillies mansion (duh!)
2) The Drysdales mansion (duh! again)
3) Have coffee at Pat & Lorraine's (and insist the waitress call me "Mr. Pink" just to see the relief in her face when I actually tip her. LOL)
4) Play a game of catch at Mason Field - the "Bad News Bears" ballpark (maybe rent a motorcycle too and see if I can get away with riding on the field)
5) Sneak into the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel and reenact RFK's assassination by spilling ketchup on my chest (but probably need to plan to visit the LA jail afterwards. But hey, lots of history there too!)
6) Having heard that the "Big W" palm trees from "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" have died off and now it's more like a "Big I", try and sneak onto the property to plant some new ones (for future generations of fans) :)
7) Lay a wreath in front of "True Romance" room at the Safari Inn in honor of James Gandolfini (a very sincere RIP) since this is where he "died" first. Also, before going there, I'll arrange to be sprayed by a skunk and ask for a room to shower off in (Partridge Family fans will get this reference, although the Safari was renamed "Sunshine Motor Inn" for the episode.)

Anyway, Thanks a million for checking out the building - you've made my day! When/if I ever get to L.A., it might be fun to stand outside the building with a carnation in my lapel to see if any women recognize me as a "sophisticated international playboy." (note to self - remember to bring the same kind of candy that worked for Jethro and Bo Short.)

Ethel get lost?;)

Ethel was "lost" the minute she met Lucy Ricardo. Taken from a "non-sitcom", serious perspective, that was a bad, dangerous combination that was destined for either jail or a mental facility.

Fun as it was to watch, imagine their antics in the real-world. I, for one applaud Ethel for leaving insanity of her marriage to Fred, changing her name to "Vivian Bagley/Bunson" and moving away to Danfield, NY. Tragically however, the "psycho Svengali" that is Lucy Ricardo followed poor Ethel, divorced, changed her name, and sucked "Vivian" into another round of insanity. No offence to the price-less treasure that is Lucille Ball, but honestly, take a clue and leave poor "Vivian" alone!

Anyway, that how I like to watch "The Lucy Show" - a series of psycho-traumatic misadventures spurned on by one friends desire to drag her into insane misadventures. And, the fact that Lucy then moves to Los Angeles further harassed Vivian (this time as Vivian Jones) is, in my opinion just, pure evil.

So, to fully answer your question, I dare say that "Ethel" is somewhere in hiding from that psychopathic red-head. ;)

DoubleNaughtSpy you ARE the one!! You have accomplished what no other person including Beverly Hillbillies historian Steve Cox even knew (I finally got a chance to ask him). I did google street view and was so thrilled.. am transmitting this information to Steve and am looking forward to visiting the site when I get to Los Angeles soon! Woohoo!!!

A photo, courtesy of google street view!

I live in LA and was by General Service Studios (now it is called Hollywood Center Studios) where the show was filmed a few weeks ago. Adjacent to the studio is an elementary school building which looked to be built in the early 1960s. I wondered if that building had ever been used in any of the shows filmed at Hollywood Center in the 1960s and I came across this post and I am thinking, the school actually looks a little like the bank. I will have to go back, take a pic and post it and see what you think.

The area around Hollywood Center (that was once General Service) is located at 1040 N. Las Palmas Hollywood. You can go on Google Maps and see the area around there has been renovated. I don't believe the building you mentioned is there anymore, unless it has been heavily remodeled on the outside. Are you talking about the corner of Romaine & Las Palmas? The Photoken building on the north side? The elementary school was built long after the 1960s. That is probably barely 20 years old.

Quoting myself from my July 7 2013 IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055662/locations) submission.

5055 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA
(exterior: S Citrus Ave side entrance, as Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills)
One of my hobbies is to find filming locations especially 1970s cop shows. I couldn't believe no one was able to find the bank location to this very popular 1960s sitcom, and one of my faves to boot.

I only used The Clampetts in Court episode (#1.32) for visual clues.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/uploads/8496/bank-wilshire.JPG
There's a few references in the series that the bank is on Wilshire Blvd. In this pic you see part of a Wilshire sign in the window reflection over the front door.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/uploads/8496/bank-flags.JPG
There's small flags in the reflection over the front door, guessed possibly a cinema, gas station, and with the 99 cent sign a possible discount store.

After looking at different old aerials of Wilshire Blvd, I GUESSED WRONG!!! that the building was demolished, but did find it eventually, the hard way...

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/uploads/8496/4-bank-parking-building.JPG

I found the house in the background! then everything else was revealed.

Milburn broke the bank with his embezzlements, ponzu schemes and fraud and eventually ran off with his lover Jane Hathaway to Paraguay.

A photo, courtesy of google street view!

Wow!

Great detective work...

Google identifies the address and building as being on 5055 Wilshire Boulevard.

I just found these pics.