Griffith Park in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
James Dean
1931 - 1955
Griffith Observatory
Key scenes from the classic motion picture "Rebel Without a Cause" were filmed at the Griffith Observatory in Spring 1955. Although many movies have been filmed at Griffith Observatory, "Rebel Without a Cause" was the first to portray the Observatory as what it is, and to contribute positively to the Observatory's international reputation. This monument acknowledges Griffith Observatory's long and continuous involvement with Hollywood film production by remembering the young star of that motion picture.
James Dean 1931-1955
This is not a monument to a rebel, those were only roles he played. James Dean was an American original who on a basis of high school honors and a period of five years time rose to the very pinnacle of the theatrical profession, and through the magic of motion pictures lives on in legend.
Presented in 1988 by the artist Kenneth Kendall who sculpted it in 1955-1956 at the request of James Dean and dedicates it to his memory.
It ended with his body changed to light,
A star burns forever in that sky.
"The Flight of Quetzalcoatl" Aztec Poem
Erected 1988. (Marker Number 168.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.
Location. 34° 7.113′ N, 118° 18.039′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Griffith Park. Marker can be reached from Observatory Road near Vermont Canyon Road. On the grounds of the Griffith Observatory. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles CA 90027, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Greek Theatre (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ennis House (approx. half a mile away); Los Feliz Heights Steps (approx. half a mile away); Blackburn Residence (approx. half a mile away); Lovell House (approx. Ύ mile away); Taggart House (approx. Ύ mile away); A Gabrielino Indian Site (approx. Ύ mile away); Jacobson House (approx. Ύ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
More about this marker. The Griffith Observatory, built in 1935, is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 168, designated in 1976.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - James Dean Memorial located in San Luis Obispo County
Also see . . .
1. James Dean. Internet Movie Database (Submitted on June 24, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
2. James Dean, From Wikipedia. He was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (Submitted on June 24, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
1. Griffith Observatory
The observatory was featured in a number of scenes in the James Dean film Rebel Without a Cause; a bust of James Dean was subsequently placed on the observatory grounds. It has appeared in several movies:
Rebel without a Cause
The Terminator (revisited as a ruin in 2009's Terminator Salvation)
Dragnet (1987)
The Rocketeer
The End of Violence
Midnight Madness
Bowfinger
Flesh Gordon
War of the Colossal Beast
The People vs. Larry Flint
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
House on Haunted Hill (1999 remake)
Queen of the Damned
Transformers (2007 live-action film)
Yes Man
Earth Girls Are Easy
The Observatory has appeared in episodes of the following TV shows:
24 (Day 1 3:00pm-4:00pm; aired on March 19, 2002)
Adventures of Superman (first episode, as Jor-El's laboratory on Superman's home planet Krypton; some other episodes, as the Metropolis observatory.)
Angel (episode "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been," with Angel wearing a red jacket in homage to James Dean's Rebel Without a Cause character).
Beverly Hills, 90210 ("Rebel with a Cause", episode 13)
CHiPs
Danny Phantom (The Amity Park Observatory modeled on The Griffith Observatory.)
MacGyver (pilot episode)
Mission: Impossible (opening pilot episode)
Moonlight
Quantum Leap (Goodbye Norma Jean)
Remington Steele
Rocky Jones, Space Ranger
Star Trek: Voyager (two-part episode "Future's End")
The Man from U.N.C.L.E
The New Adventures of Wonder Woman between 1977 and 1979.
The Simpsons (duplicated as Springfield Observatory)
The Wonder Years.
Other media:
Filming location for the music video "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul starring Keanu Reeves and directed by Stefan Wόrnitzer. The video was based on Rebel Without a Cause.
— Submitted June 24, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,871 times since then and 145 times this year. Last updated on March 3, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 20, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4, 5. submitted on September 30, 2012, by Volker Schmidt of Albstadt, Germany. 6, 7. submitted on January 20, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8. submitted on May 7, 2011, by Volker Schmidt of Albstadt, Germany. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.