Colonial Street

Corner House (1936)

Colonial Street is one of the backlot street sets at Universal Studios Hollywood. 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 was subsequently 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.^{[lower-alpha 1]} Following the movie, the homes were rearranged again so Circle Drive was connected once again.^{[lower-alpha 2]} 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 colours 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

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]	1955–present	The Desperate Hours[6] (1955) Lucas Tanner[6] (1974–75) Delta House[6] (1979) The 'Burbs (1989)	4347 Wisteria Lane[7]	Ida Greenberg (?–2008) Karen McCluskey (2008) Mitzi Kinsky (2014–present)
BLDG #2		Allison Home[8]	1946–present	So Goes My Love[8] (1946) Harvey[8] (1950)[lower-alpha 3] The Ghost and Mr. Chicken[8] (1966) Delta House[8] (1979) The 'Burbs (1989) Mockingbird Lane[8] (2012)	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	So Goes My Love[1] (1946) The Munsters[1] (1964–1966) The 'Burbs[1] (1989)	4351 Wisteria Lane[10]	Mullin family (?-2005)
						Betty Applewhite (2005–2006)
						Alma Hodge (2007)
						Hunter/McDermott (2007–present)
BLDG #4		Johnson Home[11]	1977–present	"All that heaven Allows" (1955) Ron's Barn : Rock Hudson The Hardy Boys[11] (1977–79) The Burbs (1989) The New Lassie[11] (1989) Deep Impact[11] (2003)	4353 Wisteria Lane	Susan Mayer (1992–2015 and 2016-2017) Paul Young (2015-2016)
BLDG #5		Dana Home[12]	1951–present	Bedtime for Bonzo[12] (1951) The Thrill of It All[12] (1963) The 'Burbs (1989)	4355 Wisteria Lane	Scavo family (1998–2017)
BLDG #6		McCluskey Home	2007–present [13]	The Little Rascals Save the Day(2014) About a Boy(2014–2015)	4358 Wisteria Lane[14]	Karen McCluskey (1964–2017)
BLDG #7		Walter's House	Around 1987–present	The Burbs (1989) Ace Hardware Commercial (2013–Present) About a Boy(2014–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 [15]	around 1999–present	The 'Burbs (1989) Providence[15] (1999–2002),	4354 Wisteria Lane	Van de Kamp/Hodge family (1994–2019) (House modified since the Burbs)
BLDG #9		Morrison Home[16]	1996–present	Leave it to Beaver[16] (1997)	4352 Wisteria Lane	Young family (1990–2006)
						Shepherd family (2006)
						Bolen family (2014-2015)
BLDG #10		Cromwell Home		One Desire (1955) Cromwell House Dragnet TV Series Adam 12 TV series The Car (1977) The 'Burbs (1989)	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	The Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977–78) The 'Burbs (1989)	4346 Wisteria Lane[17]	Rose Kemper (?-2014) on 5.20
BLDG #12		Corner House	1936–present	Three Smart Girls (1936) The Chase (1966) 100 Men and a Girl (1937) Matlock (1986–1995) Mockingbird Lane The 'Burbs (1989)	4346 Wisteria Lane	Mona Clarke (used as a security house to prevent unauthorised access to the street.)
BLDG #13		Seven Gables	1940–present	The House of the Seven Gables[18][19] (1940)	4344 Wisteria Lane	Unknown Occupants
BLDG #14		Chicken Ranch	1982–present	Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) Father's Day (1997) The Visitor (1997) House of 1000 Corpses (2000) Ghost Whisperer (2005) Mockingbird Lane(2012) About a Boy(2014–2015)	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	1927–2005	Uncle Tom's Cabin (1927) Written on the Wind (1956) Casper (1995)	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	1964–2005	The Munsters (1964) Murder, She Wrote (1984)	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]	Edie Britt (2004–2008 and 2013-2014) Renee Perry (2015-)
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:

• About a Boy (2014–2015)
• Baby Daddy (Season 03, Episode 21)
• Bedtime for Bonzo ^[12]
• Beethoven ^[20]
• Best Little Whorehouse in Texas ^[21]
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer ^[20]
• The 'Burbs ^[20]
• Casper 1997 prequel ^[22]
• Deep Impact ^[11]
• Delta House ^[6]
• The Desperate Hours ^[6]
• Desperate Housewives ^[20] (2004-2012)
• Father's Day ^[21]
• The Ghost and Mr. Chicken ^[8]
• Ghost Whisperer ^[21]
• Gremlins ^[20]
• The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries ^[11]
• Harvey ^[8]
• House of 1000 Corpses ^[21]
• Kicking and Screaming ^[20]
• The Ladykillers (the 2004 remake) ^[20]
• Leave It to Beaver (the original series) ^[20]
• Leave It to Beaver (the 1997 remake) ^[16]
• Lucas Tanner ^[6]
• Mockingbird Lane (2012)
• Marcus Welby, M.D.
• Matlock ^[23]
• The Munsters ^[24]
• Murder She Wrote ^[25]
• The New Lassie ^[11]
• Providence ^[15]
• Psycho (the 1998 remake) ^[20]
• The Shaggy Dog (1959 movie and 1994 TV movie remake)
• Sliders
• So Goes My Love ^[8]
• Telenovela (2015-)
• The Thrill of It All ^[12]
• The Visitor (1997 TV movie) ^[21]
• Written on the Wind ^[22]

In addition, some music videos have used the street to shoot scenes:^[20]\

• Melanie B. - For Once in My Life
• Smash Mouth - All Star
• The Offspring - Why Don't You Get a Job?
• Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
• Diddy featuring Black Rob & Mark Curry - Bad Boy for Life
• Boxcar Racer - There Is
• Michael Bublé - It's a Beautiful Day
• Bring Me the Horizon - Follow You

See also

• Wisteria Lane
• RKO Forty Acres
• Courthouse Square

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.^[9]

References

1. 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. Episode 2.21 - I Know Things Now
6. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #1 - Delta House, Retrieved August 19, 2007
7. Episode 3.06 - Sweetheart, I Have to Confess
8. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #2 - Allison Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
9. Rebello, Stephen (2012). Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho'. Berkeley, Calif.: Soft Skull Press. pp. 83–85. ISBN 9781593765118.
10. Alfre Woodard has a secret, USA Today, 29 September 2005
11. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #4 - Johnson Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
12. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #5 - Dana Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
13. 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
14. Episode 1.14 - Love is in the Air
15. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Providence (1999 - 2002) The Burbs (1987), Retrieved August 19, 2007
16. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: "Leave it to Beaver" house, Retrieved August 19, 2007
17. http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalstonecutter/4446544561/in/photostream
18. Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 227.
19. Sandler 2006, p. 168.
20. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - 1989-1996, Retrieved August 19, 2007
21. TheStudioTour.com: The Chicken Ranch, Retrieved August 19, 2007
22. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Mansion, Retrieved August 19, 2007
23. TheStudioTour.com: Building #12 - Corner House, Retrieved August 19, 2007
24. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - Building #3: "The Munsters" house, Retrieved August 19, 2007
25. TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street / Circle Drive: Church, Retrieved August 19, 2007

Bibliography

• Sandler, Corey (2006). Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Other Major Southern California Attractions Including Disney's California Adventure. Guilford, Conn.: Globe Pequot. ISBN 9780762738724.
• Weaver, Tom; Brunas, Brunas; Brunas, John (2007). Universal Horrors: The Studio's Classic Films, 1931-1946. Jefferson, N.C.: Mcfarland & Co. ISBN 9780786491506.

External links

• Media related to Colonial Street at Wikimedia Commons

Maps

• 1988 map of Colonial Street during the filming of the 'Burbs)
• 1989-1996 map of Colonial Street (hi-res version but church facade cut off)
• Overview photo of Colonial Street in 2004, before Colonial Mansion, the Church facade, and School and Stores facades were removed for Season Two of Desperate Housewives

Homes

• Building #1 - Delta House
• Building #2 - Allison Home
• Building #3 - Munsters House (originally known as the Maxim house)
• Building #4 - Johnson Home
• Building #5 - Dana Home
• Colonial Mansion
• Church (Facade was removed in 2005 to build Desperate Housewive character Edie Britt's house)
• Building #11 - Drew House
• Building #12 - Corner House
• Building #13 - Seven Gables
• Building #14 - Chicken Ranch Building

Movies

• 1950 to 1955
• 1955 to 1980
• 1981 to 1988
• 1988 to 2004
• 2008 to 2009

Coordinates: 34°08′21″N 118°20′43″W / 34.139062°N 118.345349°W