The Donut Hole in La Puente is one of Southern California’s best-known examples of programme architecture. Located at 15300 Amar Road, the shop is built around two giant doughnuts with a drive-through lane passing through them, making it one of the most recognisable roadside landmarks in the Los Angeles area. The surviving La Puente location dates from the late 1960s and is the best-known remnant of the old Donut Hole chain.
The Donut Hole has appeared in Moving Violations (1985), Dragnet (1987), and Calendar Girl (1993). In all three films, it is used as a distinctive Southern California roadside location, instantly recognisable because of its giant doughnut façades and drive-through tunnel.
In Moving Violations (1985), The Donut Hole appears in the sequence in which Chief Fromm’s car is damaged at the site. The film makes direct use of the location, and its exaggerated design fits the broad comic style of the scene.
In Dragnet (1987), The Donut Hole is seen in the opening part of the film. Its appearance is brief, but it helps establish the Los Angeles setting through one of the city’s most unusual roadside landmarks.
In Calendar Girl (1993), The Donut Hole appears when the three boys stop there during their journey. The location is used as part of the film’s Southern California travel setting, with the drive-through doughnut structure making it immediately identifiable.
Moving Violations (1985)
Moving Violations
Moving Violations was filmed in and around Los Angeles, and the production used a spread of Southern California locations rather than one suburban setting.
Puente Hills Mall
Puente Hills Mall is best known from Back to the Future (1985), where it appears as Twin Pines Mall and later Lone Pine Mall, where the parking place is used.
Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary
Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary has appeared in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Ordinary Miracles, What Just Happened, True Blood and Star Trek.
Whittier High School
Whittier High School is best known from "Back to the Future" (1985) and "Back to the Future Part II" (1989), where it appears as Hill Valley High School.
Hotel Saddleback
Hotel Saddleback is best known from National Lampoon’s Vacation, where is was used for the hotel pool scene with Clark Griswold and the woman in the Ferrari.
Fox Theater Pomona
Fox Theater Pomona appears in The Office (2005–2013), where it is used as a cinema in the seventh-season episode «Goodbye, Michael» (2011).
Michael Myers’ House
Michael Myers’ House appears in Halloween (1978). The building is one of the most important locations in the film and is used for the 1963 opening murder.
Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery
Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery has appeared in Seinfeld (1989–1998), End of Days (1999), Six Feet Under (2001–2005), A Lot Like Love (2005) and many more.
Edmund A. Gray Co.
Edmund A. Gray Co. has appeared in A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) and Veronica Mars (2014).
Occidental College
Occidental College is in Pat and Mike, Midnight Madness, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Real Genius, Beverly Hills, 90210, Clueless and many more.