 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (January 2009) |
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.
Contents |
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 suburb: 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 - Gabrielle, Bree, Susan and Lynette - 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 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 many 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] Other film and television productions in which 'Colonial Street' has featured include 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 because it was considered to be too recognizable 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 in this part of the street were 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] In the Film Beethovan's 3rd (2000) The street can clearly be seen with the shops and the Church still in place around 'Circle Drive'. The shot begins in circle drive at the shops then Mrs McCluskeys, Lynettes, Katherines, Brees, Susans, Mary Alices, Bettys and Gabys are also in shot. Showing all the houses in place. The shot then continues into Gabys driveway and then down the rest of the street.
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 unauthorized access to "Wisteria Lane".[8]
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.
Residents
These are the current known residents of Wisteria Lane, covering episodes [(Pilot)(1.01)]-[(If It's Only In Your Head) (5.24)]. Note that no residents of 4348 (Drew House) and 4360 Wisteria Lane have been mentioned, although an unnamed woman, played by an uncredited [(actor)], is seen living in no. 4360 in episode 4.02. Also in Season 2, there is a black haired woman living here. In Season 3, there is a blonde haired cheating housewife here. In season 5 there is a flashback set in the late 90's or early 2000s where you see a woman named Helen and her husband, Ed, who most likely lived in Gabbys home 4349 Wisteria Lane.
| Image | Address | Former name (Pre-series) |
Family | Residents | Past Productions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
4347 Wisteria Lane[9] | Delta House[10]
Kellar Home |
Greenberg | Ida Greenberg (pre series and until mid season 4) |
|
| McCluskey | Karen McCluskey (mid season 4 to end of season 4)
Mona Clark (Post season 4 - present) |
||||
 |
4349 Wisteria Lane | Allison Home[11]
Dowd Home |
Solis | Gabrielle Solis (pre and entire series) Carlos Solis (pre series and until end of season 2 and since mid season 4) Yao Lin (first half of season 1) Xiao-Mei (mid season 2 to early season 3) Juanita Solis (since season 5) Celia Solis (since season 5) Ana Solis (since end of season 5) |
|
 |
4350 Wisteria Lane | Cromwell Home or Pink Palace
Dragnet House |
Huber | Martha Huber (pre series and early season 1) |
|
| Tilman | Felicia Tilman (mid season 1 and season 2) | ||||
| Adams | Unnamed (seasons 4 and 5) | ||||
| Cominis/Van de Kamp | Alex Cominis (since mid season 5) Andrew Van de Kamp (since mid season 5) |
||||
 |
4351 Wisteria Lane[12] | Munster Home[4] (originally Maxim house)[4] |
Mullins | Mr & Mrs Mullins (pre series and until end 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) |
||||
| Hodge | Alma Hodge (mid season 3) | ||||
| Hunter/McDermott | Bob Hunter (since early season 4) Lee McDermott (since early season 4) |
||||
 |
4352 Wisteria Lane | Morrison Home[13] | Youngs | Mary Alice Young (pre series until she killed herself in the pilot episode) Paul Young (pre series and until end of season 2) Zach Young (pre series and until end of season 2) |
|
| Shepherds | Arthur Shepherd (mid season 3) Rebecca Shepherd (Mid season 3) |
||||
| Hudson | Mrs. Hudson (unseen character early season 5) | ||||
| Delfino | Mike Delfino (mid season 5) | ||||
| Bolens | Angie Bolen (Since season 6) Nick Bolen (Since season 6) Danny Bolen (Since season 6) |
||||
 |
4353 Wisteria Lane | Ron's Barn
Johnson Home[14] |
Mayers/Delfinos | Karl Mayer (pre-series) Susan Mayer (pre series and entire series) Julie Mayer (pre series and entire series with the exception of season 5) Mike Delfino (season 4 and 6) Sophie Bremmer (mid season 1 to end of season 1) Maynard "M.J." Delfino (since end of season 4) |
|
 |
4354 Wisteria Lane | Klopek Home | Van de Kamps/Hodges | Bree Hodge (pre and entire series) Rex Van de Kamp (pre series and until end of season 1) Andrew Van de Kamp (pre series and until mid season 4) Danielle Van de Kamp (pre series and until mid season 4) Orson Hodge (since early season 3) Gloria Hodge (mid season 3) Benjamin Hodge (mid and late season 4) |
|
 |
4355 Wisteria Lane | Dana Home[16] | Scavos | Lynette Scavo (pre and entire series) Tom Scavo (pre and entire series) Porter Scavo (pre and entire series) Preston Scavo (pre and entire series) Parker Scavo (pre and entire series) Penny Scavo (pre and entire series) Kayla Huntington (mid season 3 to end of season 4) Stella Wingfield (end of season 3 to mid season 4) |
|
 |
4356 Wisteria Lane | Walter's House - "The Burbs" | Delfino/Solis | Mike Delfino (season 1 to end of season 3) Carlos Solis (most of season 3) |
|
| Mayfair/Delfino | Lillian Simms (pre series and season 4) Katherine Mayfair (pre series and since season 4) Adam Mayfair (first half of season 4) Dylan Mayfair (season 4) Mike Delfino (second half of season 5) |
||||
 |
4358 Wisteria Lane[17] | Not named
replaced McCluskey home destroyed in tornado House facade dated back to the silent era -Uncle Toms' cabin |
McCluskey | Karen McCluskey (entire series) | |
 |
4362 Wisteria Lane[1] | "Not named" | Britt/Williams | Edie Britt (pre series and until late season 4 and season 5) Umberto Roswell (pre series) Karl Mayer (Season 2) Austin McCann (Season 3) Travers McLain (Season 3) Carlos Solis (late season 3 until mid season 4) Raymond (5 years between season 4 and 5) Dave Williams (Season 5) Lance and Stephanie (Season 6) |
|
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 façades and a school façade. At 4362, Edie Britt's home, was originally a church façade that was removed. That church was seen in 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." In season 1 Susan Mayer burns down Edie Britt's house and there are changes to the kitchen and exterior.
Before the start of Season 4, Mike's old house is completely remodelled. The walls around the staircase have been torn down to open up the ground floor completely. Both the upstairs and downstairs are re-wallpapered with bright reds and pastel colours. After the tornado in "Something's Coming", Karen McCluskey's home was completely destroyed. A replacement blue house has been constructed in time for the fifth season. This house has a working 2nd floor. In addition to this, the former residence of Mary Alice Young has been painted green. Bree's garage has been reconverted into her and Katherine's test kitchen. The ground floor contains the kitchen and the top floor contains their offices. Also in season five 4350, the former home of Martha Huber and Felicia Tilman (which now belongs to Andrew Van de Kamp) has been painted a pale yellow - green colour.
Unseen Houses
There are two more buildings left of 4348 Wisteria Lane, '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 ( Deanna Durbin), is where a Desperate Housewives security guard is stationed, restricting unauthorized access to the set. In the 2nd Season episode "Color and Light", the residents of these houses are revealed. In 4348, we are told Sacha Eden and her son live here, In 4346, we are told Sharon Chazin and her son live here, and in 4344, we are told Lisa Seadmen and her son live here. In Season 3, there is an unnamed man living in 4348. The hallway is painted green. In Season Five, 4348 is inhabited by Gloria LeRoy's character Rose, whom Orson tries to rob before being thrown out onto the street.
Also behind 4347 and 4349 atop a hill is a relatively large 'Chicken Ranch' house, which has never been shown on the show.
Colonial Street Changes
Wisteria lane was created by making changing to a version of Colonial Street built in 1981 on the studiotour called "Any Town USA" with Rock Husdon's Circle Drive. The 1981 version of Colonial Street was built over top of the former Laramie street , Bates motel and Psycho House areas. The original Colonial Street of (1950 to 1980) was located next to the Los Angles river channel. Today that "River Road" location contains Production Bungalows. Colonial Street (1950-1955) version as an extension of the New England Street (1948 - 1949). note: Past Productions -Moives listed before 1981 were used the River Road version of Colonial Street next to the Los Angeles river channel
Official maps
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. [18] 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.[19]
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.
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.
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.
See also
References
- ^ a b 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
- ^ a b c d e 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 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ TheStudioTour.com - Colonial Street & Circle Drive Layout 1989-1996 Retrieved August 16, 2007
- ^ TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street - History, Retrieved August 3, 2007
External links
- 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
- Universal Archive Collection: Universal Studios Art Department documents: "Update materials"
- Ron's Barn - Blueprint - "All that Heaven Allows" (1955)
- Crowell - (Pink Place) House - Blueprint " One Desire" (1955) - The Car
- Kellar House - Blueprint - "All My Sons" (1948) sound stage 12 set
- Hubbart House - Blueprint - "Another Part Of the Forest" (1948)- photo - sound stage 12 set
- Corner House - Deanna Durbin - Blueprint - Nice Girl (1941)
- Allison - Dowd - Harvey House Blueprint - photo - sound stage 12 set
- Maxum - Munster House -Blueprint - photo - sound stage 12 set
- Paramount House - Desperate Hours - Leave it to Beaver- Marcus Welby M.D. - Blueprint
- Klopek Home - photos - "The Burbs" (1989)
- Psycho House- Blueprint - "Universal Experience Display"
- "Changes to the location of Colonial Street "- site plans - blueprints
- Update shows - Corrections to the labels on the 1981 site map from Universal Operation Website
- Blueprints - documents on private flickr Albums - Universal Stonecutter - Colonial Street
|
||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
