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Colonial Street

Coordinates: 34°08′21″N 118°20′43″W / 34.139062°N 118.345349°W / 34.139062; -118.345349
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Corner House (1936)

Colonial Street is one of the backlot street sets at the Universal Studios Lot in Universal City, California. The street set has a long history, spanning over 60 years of movies and television. From 2004 to 2012, it was used in the filming of the TV series Desperate Housewives, in which the street was known as Wisteria Lane. After the production of Desperate Housewives ended, the street underwent a small makeover to remove the essence of Wisteria Lane, so that it could be used in other productions. As of May 2012, most of the iconic white fencing and wisteria has been removed. Colonial Street has since been used for the NBC comedy About a Boy and the NBC series Telenovela, featuring Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria.

History

Drew House (1977)
Chicken Ranch (1982)

Colonial Street has its origins in 1946 when a few homes were built at Stage 12 at Universal Studios for the motion-picture So Goes My Love. After the movie, the sets were placed in storage. In 1950, the homes along with other sets built from stock units were moved outdoors to the north edge of the backlot (formerly River Road), and was named Colonial Street after "Colonial Mansion" (demolished in 2005 for the second season of Desperate Housewives), the first home on the street. The year 1964 saw the opening of Universal Studios Hollywood and Colonial Street (along with the Psycho house) was a popular attraction. In 1981, Colonial Street was moved to its current location at the other side of the backlot. Not all of the buildings were moved to the new Colonial Street, with some of them becoming part of Industrial Street, now known as Elm Street.

In 1988, Colonial Street was overhauled for Tom Hanks comedy The 'Burbs. The old Leave It to Beaver home was removed, as large homes were required for the movie.[a] Following the movie, the homes were rearranged again so Circle Drive was connected once again.[b] In 1996, a new Leave it to Beaver house was built for the 1997 movie (called the Morrison Home), replacing homes that were built for The 'Burbs movie. Also during this time, the Providence home was built (called the Klopeck House Building). Colonial Street remained unchanged until 2004, when Desperate Housewives used the street for its series production, giving it the name Wisteria Lane. The homes were freshly painted with bright pastel colors and refurbished.

The house where the Desperate Housewives character Betty Applewhite lived during the second season was strictly avoided by the Desperate Housewives film crew during season one. This was due to the fact that it was considered to be too recognizable as the main setting of The Munsters. Following the decision to introduce the Applewhites, and having them live in the Munster home, the house was completely remodeled.[1]

In 2005, for the second season of Desperate Housewives, the street went through some heavy changes. During the first season only one part of the street had been seen on the show — the cul-de-sac at the end of the street, known as 'Circle Drive' among film crews,[2] had been left out. Now, the majority of the buildings and facades in this part of the street was either heavily remodeled or removed. Among the most noticeable changes were the removals of a church facade, seen on Murder She Wrote, in order to make room for Edie's house,[3] and of the so-called Colonial Mansion, which was replaced by a park.[4]

Wisteria Lane

Main article: Wisteria Lane
Colonial Street as "Wisteria Lane" on the ABC show Desperate Housewives (2006)

Wisteria Lane is a fictional street, appearing in the American television series Desperate Housewives. The street is located in the city of Fairview, in the fictional Eagle State.[5] Its appearance reflects the stereotypical view of American suburbia: perfectly manicured lawns, rows of comfortable houses and white picket fences. It is the main setting of the show, and it includes the homes of its four leading women - Bree, Gabrielle, Susan, and Lynette - as well as most of the show's other main characters. As of the sixth season, the residents of eleven houses on Wisteria Lane have been established in the show.

Buildings

Colonial Street
Building Number Image Name Lifespan Productions
Non Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives
Address Families
BLDG #1 Delta House[6]
(originally Keller house) 		1950–present[7] 4347 Wisteria Lane[8] Ida Greenberg (?–2008)
Karen McCluskey (2008)
Mitzi Kinsky (2014–present)
BLDG #2 Allison Home[9] 1946–present 4349 Wisteria Lane Gabrielle Solis (2003–2018)
Carlos Solis (2003–2006 and 2008–2018)
BLDG #3 Munster Home[1]
(originally Maxim house)[1] 		1946–present 4351 Wisteria Lane[11] Mullin family (?-2005)
Betty Applewhite (2005–2006)
Alma Hodge (2007)
Hunter/McDermott (2007–present)
BLDG #4 Johnson Home[12] 1955–present 4353 Wisteria Lane Susan Mayer (1992–2015 and 2016-2017)
Paul Young (2015-2016)
BLDG #5 Dana Home[13] 1941–present[14] 4355 Wisteria Lane Scavo family (1998–2017)
BLDG #6 McCluskey Home 2007–present[15] 4358 Wisteria Lane[16] Karen McCluskey (1964–2017)
BLDG #7 Walter's House Around 1987–present 4356 Wisteria Lane Lilian Simms (?–2004)
Katherine Davis (1994–1995)
Mike Delfino (2004–2007)
Carlos Solis (2006–2007)
Katherine Mayfair (2007–2015)
Felicia Tilman (2016)
Ben Faulkner (2016-2017)
BLDG #8 The Klopeck House[17] around 1999–present 4354 Wisteria Lane Van de Kamp/Hodge family (1994–2019) (House modified since the Burbs)
BLDG #9 Leave It To Beaver House[18] 1996–present 4352 Wisteria Lane Young family (1990–2006)
Shepherd family (2006)
Bolen family (2014-2015)
BLDG #10 Cromwell Home 4350 Wisteria Lane Martha Huber (?-2004)
Felicia Tilman (2004–06)
Alex Cominis (2014-2016) & Andrew Van de Kamp (2014-present)
BLDG #11 Drew House 1977–present 4346 Wisteria Lane[19] Rose Kemper (?-2014) on 5.20
BLDG #12 Corner House 1936–present 4346 Wisteria Lane Mona Clarke (used as a security house to prevent unauthorised access to the street.)
BLDG #13

Seven Gables House in Colonial Street, film set at Universal Studios, Hollywood.

Seven Gables 1940–present 4344 Wisteria Lane Unknown Occupants
BLDG #14 Chicken Ranch 1982–present 4345 Wisteria Lane Has only been seen once throughout the entire series.
Circle Drive (the end of Colonial Street with the cul-de-sac)
BLDG #1

Colonial Mansion in Colonial Street, film set at Universal Studios, Hollywood.

Colonial Mansion 1927–2005
  • Area was not seen until season two (2005) when the house was already gone for the show's expansion
Park 2005–present Vacant lot
  • Wasn't built until season two (2005) of Desperate Housewives
  • has been a park since season two of Desperate Housewives (2005)
BLDG #2

Church in end of Colonial Street, film set at Universal Studios, Hollywood.

Church 1964–2005
  • Area was not seen until season two (2005) when the church was already gone for the show's expansion
Edie Britt's Home 2005–present
  • Wasn't built until season two (2005) of Desperate Housewives
 4362 Wisteria Lane[5]
BLDGS #3, 4,
5, 6 		School Facades
Store Facades 		unknown-2005 Not known
  • Area was not seen until season two (2005) when the facades were already gone for the show's expansion
Buble House 2005–present
  • Wasn't built until season two (2005) of Desperate Housewives
 4360 Wisteria Lane
  • an unnamed woman, played by an uncredited extra, in episode 4.02
  • Mr. Scully (?-2015) on 7.09

Productions

Several TV series and motion pictures have been filmed on Colonial Street, including:

In addition, some music videos have used the street to shoot scenes:[22]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ see a 1988 map here
  2. ^ see a 1989-1996 map here
  3. ^ Known as the "Harvey House" for most of its history, the elements of this house had been replicated many times by Universal Studios. This allowed for quick construction of a cheap facade with high-quality design characteristics, when a production needed one. Elements of the "Harvey House" stock unit was used for the construction of the Bates House for the 1960 film Psycho, which has led many to assume that the "Psycho House" was erected on Colonial Street. The Bates House was erected on a hill off Laramie Street, a "Wild West" backlot street far to the south on the Universal lot.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - Building #3: "The Munsters" house, Retrieved August 3, 2007
  2. ^ TheStudioTour.com - Colonial Street & Circle Drive Layout 1989-1996 Retrieved August 16, 2007
  3. ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street/Circle Drive - The Church, Retrieved August 3, 2007
  4. ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Mansion, Retrieved August 16, 2007
  5. ^ a b Episode 2.21 - I Know Things Now
  6. ^ a b c d e f g TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #1 - Delta House, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  7. ^ http://www.thestudiotour.com/wp/studios/universal-studios-hollywood/backlot/current-backlot-sets/colonial-street-wisteria-lane/colonial-street-delta-house/
  8. ^ Episode 3.06 - Sweetheart, I Have to Confess
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #2 - Allison Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  10. ^ Rebello, Stephen (2012). Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho'. Berkeley, Calif.: Soft Skull Press. pp. 83–85. ISBN 9781593765118.
  11. ^ Alfre Woodard has a secret, USA Today, 29 September 2005
  12. ^ a b c d e f g TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #4 - Johnson Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  13. ^ a b c d e TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #5 - Dana Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  14. ^ http://www.thestudiotour.com/wp/studios/universal-studios-hollywood/backlot/current-backlot-sets/colonial-street-wisteria-lane/colonial-street-the-thrill-of-it-all-house/
  15. ^ new house old one destroyed in a Tornado that brings death to 'Desperate Housewives'; writers strike adds to the suspense - Associated Press, November 30, 2007
  16. ^ Episode 1.14 - Love is in the Air
  17. ^ a b c TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Providence (1999 - 2002) The Burbs (1987), Retrieved August 19, 2007
  18. ^ a b c TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: "Leave it to Beaver" house, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  19. ^ https://www.flickr.com/photos/universalstonecutter/4446544561/in/photostream
  20. ^ Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 227.
  21. ^ Sandler 2006, p. 168.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - 1989-1996, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  23. ^ a b c d e TheStudioTour.com: The Chicken Ranch, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  24. ^ a b TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Mansion, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  25. ^ TheStudioTour.com: Building #12 - Corner House, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  26. ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - Building #3: "The Munsters" house, Retrieved August 19, 2007
  27. ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street / Circle Drive: Church, Retrieved August 19, 2007

Bibliography

Maps

Homes

Movies

General

34°08′21″N 118°20′43″W / 34.139062°N 118.345349°W / 34.139062; -118.345349

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