Wisteria Lane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wisteria Lane is a fictional street, appearing in the American television series Desperate Housewives. The set used for the street is Colonial Street on the Universal Studios backlot outside Los Angeles.
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[edit] Premise within the show
Wisteria Lane is located in the city of Fairview, in the fictional Eagle State.[1] Its appearance reflects an upper-middle-class version of 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 five leading women - Bree, Gabrielle, Susan, Lynette and Edie - as well as most of the show's other main characters. As of the fourth season, the residents of eleven houses on Wisteria Lane have been established in the show. The street may be named from the wisteria vine, which becomes tangled and interwoven, much like the story arcs within the show. The name may also come from the fact that 'wisteria' semi-rhymes with 'mystery', referring to the show's plots in obvious ways.
[edit] The setting
The street known as Wisteria Lane in the show is located on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood. It is referred to by film crews as Colonial Street, and has been used for several motion pictures and television shows, starting with the 1946 movie So Goes My Love at what is now the Solis home (at 4349 Wisteria Lane).[2] The houses seen on Desperate Housewives have been featured in several productions, prior to the Desperate Housewives. Colonial Street has also been seen in several other productions, including, among others, the original Leave It to Beaver series, Gremlins, The 'Burbs, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.[3]
The house where the character Betty Applewhite lived during the second season was strictly avoided by the Desperate Housewives filming crew during season one. This was due to the fact that it was considered to be too recognized since being the main setting of The Munsters. Following the decision to introduce the Applewhites, and having them living in the Munster home, the house was completely remodeled.[4]
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,[5] had been left out. Now the majority of the buildings and facades is this part of the street was either heavily remodelled 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,[6] and of the so-called Colonial Mansion, which was replaced by a park.[7]
Currently Colonial Street - including Circle Drive - has sixteen main buildings, with three of them located outside the Desperate Housewives filming area. The house closest to the settings, located next to what's called 4348 Wisteria Lane within the show, is being used by guards to stop any unauthorised access to "Wisteria Lane".[8]
[edit] Overview of the street
The following Wisteria Lane overview is based upon details and maps given within the show as well as Universal Studios' official website - see below for further details.
[edit] Residents
These are the known residents of Wisteria Lane, covering episodes 1.01-4.05. Note that no residents of 4348 (Drew House) and 4360 Wisteria Lane have been mentioned, although an unnamed woman, played by an uncredited extra, is seen living in no. 4360 in episode 4.02.
Image | Address | Former name (Pre-series) |
Family | Residents | Past Productions |
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4347 Wisteria Lane[9] | Delta House[10] | Greenberg | Ida Greenberg (entire series)and Karen McCluskey(after tornado) | ||
4349 Wisteria Lane | Allison Home[11] | Solis' | Gabrielle Solis (entire series) Carlos Solis (entire series) Xiao-Mei (mid season 2 to early season 3) Yao Lin (season one) |
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4350 Wisteria Lane | The Car | Huber | Martha Huber (early season 1) | ||
Tilman | Felicia Tilman (mid season 1 and season 2) | ||||
4351 Wisteria Lane[12] | Munster Home[13] (originally Maxim house)[13] |
Mullins | Mr & Mrs Edwin Mullins (most of season 1) | ||
Applewhites | Betty Applewhite (end of season 1 and entire season 2) Matthew Applewhite (end of season 1 and entire season 2) Caleb Applewhite (end of season 1 and entire season 2) |
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Hodge | Alma Hodge (mid season 3) | ||||
Hunter/McDermott | Bob Hunter (season 4 and on) Lee McDermott(season 4 and on) |
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4352 Wisteria Lane | Morrison Home[14] | Youngs | Mary Alice Young (kills herself in the pilot episode) Paul Young (seasons 1 and 2) Zach Young (seasons 1 and 2) |
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Shepherds | Arthur Shepherd (mid season 3) Rebecca Shepherd (mid season 3) |
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4353 Wisteria Lane | Johnson Home[15] | Mayers/Delfinos | Karl Mayer (pre-series) Susan Mayer (entire series) Julie Mayer (entire series) Mike Delfino (end of season 3 and on) |
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4354 Wisteria Lane | The Klopeck House Building[16] | Van de Kamps/Hodges | Bree Hodge (entire series) Rex Van de Kamp (season 1) Andrew Van de Kamp (season 1 to mid season 4) Danielle Van de Kamp (season 1 to mid season 4) Orson Hodge (season 3 and on) Gloria Hodge (mid season 3) Benjamin Hodge (season 4) |
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4355 Wisteria Lane | Dana Home[17] | Scavos | Lynette Scavo (entire series) Tom Scavo (entire series) Porter Scavo (entire series) Preston Scavo (entire series) Parker Scavo (entire series) Penny Scavo (entire series) Kayla Huntington (mid season 3 and on) Stella Wingfield (end of season 3 and mid season 4) |
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4356 Wisteria Lane | Walter's House | Delfino | Mike Delfino (season 1 to end of season 3) |
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Solis | Carlos Solis (most of season 3) | ||||
Mayfairs | Katherine Mayfair (season 4) Adam Mayfair (season 4) Dylan Mayfair (season 4) |
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4358 Wisteria Lane[18] | Not named | McCluskey | Karen McCluskey (entire series) | ||
4362 Wisteria Lane[19] | Church (removed) | Britt | Edie Britt (entire series) Karl Mayer (season 2) Austin McCann (first half of season 3) Travers McLain (mid season 3) Carlos Solis (end of season 3 to mid season 4) |
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[edit] Changes
Before the large changes to the set after Season One, 4360 and 4362 Wisteria Lane, as well as the park, situated around the cul-de-sac, were not shown.
Where 4360 Wisteria Lane was built, was formerly store facades and a school facade. At 4362, Edie Britt's home, was originally a church facade that was removed. That church was seen Murder, She Wrote (1984) as "Cabot Cove's community church". Where the park is now (see map), was previously a relatively larger home, "Colonial Mansion."
[edit] The Tornado
Due to the Tornado most of the street was destroyed. Up to Episode Sunday the wreckage were taken away and till the season finale there were constructions works all over the street.
[edit] Unseen Houses
There are two more buildings left of 4348 Wisteria Lane (Drew House), "Corner House" first and then "Seven Gables", which have been repainted and refurbished after season one, but no one has been shown living there as of yet. The one immediately to the left of 4348 Wisteria Lane (Drew House), Corner House, is where a Desperate Housewive security guard is stationed, restricting unauthorised access to the set (Wisteria Lane).
Also behind 4347 (Delta House) and 4349 (Allison Home) atop a hill is a relatively large "Chicken Ranch" house, which has never been shown on the show.
[edit] Official maps
[edit] The 1989-1996 Colonial Street map
The official website of Universal Studios Hollywood presents a map of Colonial Street, as it looked between 1989 and 1996. [20] Besides the changes made during the first year of Desperate Housewives, the main difference between this map and the current look of the street is that the houses known in Desperate Housewives as 4352 Wisteria Lane and 4354 Wisteria Lane (Mary Alice's and Bree's houses) replaced two older buildings in 1996.[21]
Another map, showing the street during the same era, but with higher resolution can be viewed here, along with an air photo taken in 2004.
[edit] Mike's map
In episode two of Desperate Housewives, Ah, But Underneath, a map of the street and details about its residents is seen in one of Mike's lockers. This map confirms the location of Susan's, Lynette's, Gabrielle's, Bree's, Mary Alice's, Mike's and Martha Huber's houses, as well as the existence of one house between Susan's and Gabrielle's, one house beyond Gabrielle's and one house beyond Mike's. However, it doesn't cover the part of the street that include the house on the far side of Martha Huber's house, nor the buildings around the cul-de-sac, which wasn't included in the show's setting at the time. With two exceptions, all ten houses have the same number as otherwise stated in the series.
There are some differences between Mike's map and the established version:
- Although most house numbers are the same as otherwise stated, there are two exceptions: The house between Susan's and Gabrielle's houses (later known as the Applewhite house) is noted as 4354, and Bree's house is said to be 4359. Generally these houses are shown to be 4351 and 4354 Wisteria Lane, respectively, with Mike's map being the only exception.
- The residents of the house between the houses of Gabrielle and of Susan are said to be Trent and Debra Nelson, although the Mullins is mentioned in the dialogue earlier in the same episode. This is the only time the Nelson's names has occurred in the series.
- The resident of 4347 Wisteria Lane is not said to be Ida Greenberg - this character is not introduced until episode five, Come In, Stranger. Instead there are two other names noted, but too blurry to be read.
- Also to be noted is that Lynette's daughter Penny is called Daisy on the map.
In addition, although the camera briefly passes by 4358 Wisteria Lane - the house that (starting with episode 14, Love is in the Air) would be known as Karen McCluskey's home - it turns away before any names are shown.
[edit] The "Behind Closed Doors" map
A map of Wisteria Lane is also included in the official season one companion book, Desperate Housewives: Behind Closed Doors, published in 2005. This map doesn't show the house numbers but confirms the existence and location of most Wisteria Lane houses to appear on the show. The exceptions are the three buildings beyond Karen McCluskey's house, which weren't added to the shows filming location until season two. Also - while most of the houses on the map are labeled "The Scavo House", "The Young House" etc., the houses now known as the McCluskey house, the Greenberg house and 4348 Wisteria Lane, is left without any description.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Episode 2.21 - I Know Things Now
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - History, Retrieved August 3, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - 1989-1996, Retrieved August 3, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - Building #3: "The Munsters" house, Retrieved August 3, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com - Colonial Street & Circle Drive Layout 1989-1996 Retrieved August 16, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street/Circle Drive - The Church, Retrieved August 3, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Mansion, Retrieved August 16, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - Building #12: Corner House, Retrieved August 3, 2007
- ^ Episode 3.06 - Sweetheart, I Have to Confess
- ^ a b c d TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #1 - Delta House, Retrieved August 19, 2007
- ^ a b c d e TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #2 - Allison Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
- ^ Alfre Woodard has a secret, USA Today, 29 September 2005
- ^ a b c d TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - Building #3: "The Munsters" house, Retrieved August 3, 2007
- ^ a b TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: "Leave it to Beaver" house, Retrieved August 19, 2007
- ^ a b c d TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #4 - Johnson Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
- ^ a b TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Providence (1999 - 2002), Retrieved August 19, 2007
- ^ a b c TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street: Building #5 - Dana Home, Retrieved August 19, 2007
- ^ Episode 1.14 - Love is in the Air
- ^ Episode 2.21 - I Know Things Now
- ^ TheStudioTour.com - Colonial Street & Circle Drive Layout 1989-1996 Retrieved August 16, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - History, Retrieved August 3, 2007
[edit] External links
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)
Colonial Street Movies
- "Has Anybody Seen My Gal" (1950) set #21 replaced by the Paramount House in 1955
- "Harvey" (1950) Dowd Home
- "A&C Meet the Keystone Kops" (1955) set #21
- "Desperate Hours" (1955) - paramount house
- "All That Heaven Allows" (1955) Ron's Barn- Building #6
- "Ron's Barn" home of Rock Hudson (1955)
- "All I Desire" (1955) building #5
- "One Desire" (1955) building #10
- "Katie Did it" (1955) building # 13
- " Shaggy Dog" (1959)
- " Shaggy Dog" (1959) future home of the Beaver TV Show
- " Shaggy Dog" (1959)
- " Shaggy Dog" (1959)
- "Psycho" series of Houses"
- " Another Park of the Forest" (1948) sound stage set moved to backlot- Hubbard Home - The Milkman - TV Bachelor Father
- "River Lady" (1948 Morrison Home
- "So Goes My Love (1946) sound stage sets move to backlot
- Allison home- So Goes My Love (1946) - "Munsters TV - Harvey (1950)
- "The Burbs" (1989) Morrison Home - Tom Hanks Home - replaced by a replica of the Beaver House
- " All My Sons (1948) - sound stage set moved to backlot - kellar home - desperate hours - delta house
- " Colonial Street Tour Guide Map" 1981
- " Colonial Street History 1950 to 1981
- " Colonial Street River Road 1950 to 1981
- " Circle Drive" - the corner house - Matlock House
- "Circle Drive"- 1950 construction
- "Circle Drive"- 1950 construction
- " Colonial Mansion - location 1927 to 1950
- "Corner House (1950)
- - archive clip from the "Backlot Murders"
- Colonial Street ( original built in 1950 -
- moved in 1981 to new location on the Universal backlot)
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