"The Holiday"

Eli Wallach, playing a famed Hollywood screenwriter, walks into the lobby with Kate Winslett for a Writers Guild of America West career tribute near the end of the Nancy Meyers film "The Holiday" (Columbia, 2006). The venue is Thorne Hall at Occidental College in Eagle Rock. 

 

Kate plays a very unhappy London magazine writer who switches houses for two weeks with equally unhappy L.A. film trailer producer Cameron Diaz. Romance and complications ensue. Also featured are Jude Law, Jack Black, Rufus Sewell, Edward Burns, Miffy Englefield, Emma Pritchard and Shannyn Sossamon. The cinematography was by Dean Cundey.

 

Another lobby shot. Thanks to Lindsay Blake for identifying the location in a post on her I Am Not a Stalker blog. She notes that the 792 seat venue, opened in 1938, was designed by Myron Hunt and H.C. Chambers, the team that also designed the Pasadena Library. Her page also has a fine rundown of other films and TV shows that have used Thorne Hall as a location.  

Hunt and Chambers also designed the Vine St./Ricardo Montalban Theatre and Hunt by himself was the architect of the Ambassador Hotel and its Ambassador Theatre. See the listing about Hunt on the Pacific Coast Architecture Database. 

 

A look down the aisle. Eli's character figured only a few people would show up.

 

Eli and Kate head down the aisle. There's no balcony at Thorne Hall. 

 

A look to the stage. 

 

Eli says he's overwhelmed. Especially about the fact that he could hop up the stairs.

Other locations used by the film are discussed on many sites including Los Angeles Magazine, Locations Hub, Metro and Almost Ginger.

On IMDb: "The Holiday"

 

The exterior of Thorne Hall, which we don't see in the film. It's a shot from a 2023 ABC News story about Occidental College ending legacy admissions. 

 

 

 

A view to the stage. Photo: Lindsay Blake - I Am Not a Stalker

 

The rear of the house. Photo: Lindsay Blake - I Am Not a Stalker. Thanks!