Clueless has reached the age of majority--it was released 18 years ago this past week, in a time when it really did (as Dan Hedaya's character argues) take 20 minutes to get anywhere in LA. That time has now roughly doubled, but Clueless endures, not just as a portrait of a certain class at a certain time (heroine Cher totally has a loqued-out Jeep), but also of Los Angeles in the mid-nineties, with its indoor malls, nouveau megamansions, Valley tract house parties, and "everywhere you go has valet." (Incidentally, director Amy Heckerling is totally the Jane Austen of Southern California in the late twentieth century--she also directed Fast Times at Ridgemont High.) Now, here, for you: a map guide to Clueless.
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The Ultimate Clueless Map Guide to Los Angeles
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Cher's House
Horrifyingly, Cher's "classic" house, with columns dating all the way back to 1972, is not in Beverly Hills or even on the Westside. It's in Encino. This is one of the few totally appropriate times to be like "as if!"
Di's House
We first meet Dionne outside her house (actually in Beverly Hills, so we can all sleep well tonight) in her truly terrible shopping-with-Dr.-Seuss hat. At least she didn't skin a collie to make her bag.
Stop sign
Cher totally paused.
Occidental/Bronson Alcott High
Exteriors of Bronson Alcott High were shot at Occidental. FYI, loadies hang on the grassy knoll.
Grant High School/Bronson Alcott High
Grant provided interiors for Bronson Alcott High—where Cher argues for violence in TV shows, organizes Pismo Beach disaster relief, and hooks Miss Geist up with Mr. Hall. This is a really good school.
Westside Pavilion
Cher's sanctuary, a place she can gather her thoughts and regain her strength (but only the exterior).
Beverly Center/Westside Pavilion
In reality, the Contempo Casuals at which Cher does not at all get buyers' remorse was in the Beverly Center.
Val party house
The party where Tai got knocked out and Murray shaved his head was not in Kuwait, it was in Granada Hills. No way Cher could get home to Beverly Hills in 20 minutes, but Encino—maybe.
Circus Liquor
Dudes: never ditch your date in a liquor store parking lot because she won't put out. But we'd like to hope that muggers in the gentrifying NoHo Arts District are more conversant in totally important designers like Azzedine Alaia these days.
Weingart Hall/Heather's dorm
Josh's lame date Heather does not remember Mel Gibson accurately, so she doesn't know that it's that Polonius guy who says "to thine own self be true."
Westfield Fashion Square/Westside Pavilion
Tai has a near-death experience at the Fashion Square when a couple of total Barneys dangle her over a railing.
Electric Fountain
Here's a sad thought: were Clueless to be made today, a similar "I just realized I'm in love with my ex-step-brother" scene requiring choreographed waterworks would probably be shot at The Grove.
Shoreline Village/Travis's skateboarding competition
Sober and motivated Travis wins Tai's heart with his dope skateboarding moves at Shoreline Village.
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