Recently while in California, I hunted down some of the locations from my favorite film and lived a dream to visit the holy grail of cinema, the Big W, and to discover whatever may remain of it.
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May 12, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Haven’t you done one of these before? Maybe it was just pictures. I do remember something about it.
May 12, 2011 at 3:01 pm
this is sweet! i love ur location hunts! keep up the great work James!!
May 12, 2011 at 3:06 pm
I thought your favorite movie was “Be Kind Rewind”. It seems to suit y
May 12, 2011 at 3:07 pm
ou better.
(sry, comment got cut off)
May 12, 2011 at 3:07 pm
My grandfather (who recently died) used to watch this movie with me. Thanks for the location hunts behind the fond memories.
May 12, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Your location hunts are really awesome. Thanks for making this video. I can’t imagine how excited your fans were to invite you to see the Big W. I know I’d shit my pants with the awesomeness of it all.
May 12, 2011 at 3:37 pm
waitwaitwaitwaitwai…. you have a wife.? ! omg i dont think it is mentioned anywhere.
May 12, 2011 at 3:46 pm
awesome man. fun watch.
May 12, 2011 at 3:47 pm
by the way, when you said the owners of the property were fans…did you mean of Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World? or of you yourself? because the latter would be quite an honor i’m sure!
May 12, 2011 at 3:50 pm
This movie should be on Blu-Ray! Who’s with me?
May 12, 2011 at 4:16 pm
@Ed Ground
Yeah, it was just pictures before. This was a new trip.
@Basalisk
Be Kind Rewind is a personal film to me too, yes. Mad Mad World has been my favorite since I was about 5 years old.
@TerrifyerX07
They were fans of AVGN surprisingly. That’s what I meant, but I always suck at explaining myself without a script. I always manage to leave something out, but I guess I was trying to be humble about it too.
@Allen Lucas
It should be re-released on Blu-Ray, yes, for many reasons. The newest release of the DVD omits all the bonus features, the documentary, the deleted scenes… all gone! There is an older DVD that has it but is out of print now. The big dream would be for all the lost footage to be found and restored to the way it was seen at it’s original 70mm premiere.
May 12, 2011 at 4:23 pm
James, that was awesome. It’s amazing how few people really do the work to see their favorite locations in real life but you make the effort and put it out there for us to see. You’re a true fan of film and I appreciate that there are others out there as fanatical about movies as me!
May 12, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Wow, that’s cool! I’m happy you found what you were looking for, more or less. And creds to the nice fans who let you in to film and take pictures! Did you ring the door and they recognized you or what?
One last thing, there is a charm in phone-videos, and I know a lot of us don’t mind one bit, it’s just fun to see your adventures.
May 12, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@ghostie: then you’ve never watched the comments below any of the cinemassacre videos. As soon as a girl is involved everyone wants to know if it might be Mrs Rolfe.
And great documentary James as always.
May 12, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Your Married ?
May 12, 2011 at 4:58 pm
That was awesome. You really had me going with the stump at the end, what an unexpected happy ending oO
Keep doing what you’re doing, James, it always makes my day when I see a cinemassacre update.
May 12, 2011 at 5:00 pm
I haven’t watched the film in a long, long time, but I did watch that episode of The Simpsons awhile ago that parodied some of the film. Still, it was still interesting to see what state everything is in now, so thanks for another cool video.
May 12, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Freaking epic James, good thing they were fans! You should send them a DVD for letting you film there.
May 12, 2011 at 5:16 pm
You say that this movie has been your favorite since you were 5.
When I was 5 there was only 1 TV network that I had access to in my country. It sucked and still sucks now 10 years later. I wish I had my favorite movie when I was 5.
Very nice video. Every single video on this site is gold.
May 12, 2011 at 5:17 pm
That was awesome, James. After I had watched your top 30 all time movies, I definately watched it’s a mad mad mad mad world. I was hoping you’d find it still in tact. Too bad the big W is gone (for the most of it). There is a guy on youtube who had done filming locations of my childhood tv series involving a clown and acrobat (Bassie & Adriaan). It was really amazing to see all the locations today.
I know what it feels like standing somewhere that has played a part in history. Old buildings, like in Berlin made me feel the need to touch it. Are you still around in California? If so I wonder if you’re doing even more movie location shots.
I wonder if you’ve ever been to europe. But then again, the usa is so immense that for most americans that’s the world.
May 12, 2011 at 5:18 pm
@FreddynotKrueger
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you saw the use of a phone-cam as a style and charm rather than a shortcoming.
The owners invited me. I was very lucky, they knew I was a fan of the movie and reached out. I brought autographs and a DVD, yep.
And yes, I’m married.
May 12, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Cool. I love this movie. Lots of great cameos and lots of destruction and mishaps. I give it 5 giant Zs out of 5.
May 12, 2011 at 5:23 pm
*W
May 12, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Wow, thats the first time you acknowledged that your married as far as I know. Maybe now the rumors can be put to bed. Anyway, its funny how no matter what you do, you’ll always be tied to AVGN one way or another lol.
May 12, 2011 at 5:37 pm
that was excellent james i can see your enjoying your free. time
May 12, 2011 at 5:43 pm
But I have a question, what part of the W was that little peace of trunk from the right edge or from the middle part pointing up right
May 12, 2011 at 5:50 pm
I have to admit that iPhone cameras don’t look too bad, way better than a regular cell-phone camera. You did a good job putting this together and I’m glad to see that you had a blast finding these locations. I always appreciate you sharing your expriences with us, as some of us may never get around to see some of this stuff, which is really cool and awesome to see up close, it’s like being on the set of your all-time favorite movie. You can just imagine yourself interacting with all the characters and props in the movie. Hopefully, someday, I’ll be able to scout out a few film locations. And you might hate me for saying this, but I’ve never seen ‘It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World’, but I want to, since your love for films is so contagious, it’s not even funny. It’s got my mind shifted off of video-games and more onto movies, which I’ve always been a big fan of too. Thanks again, James. Keep at it, you always make some cool videos to watch.
May 12, 2011 at 6:06 pm
You saw The Big 4? Shit man, that’s so awesome…
May 12, 2011 at 6:27 pm
@RobotX2311: It looks to me based on the video that the remaining stump is from the tree farthest to the right, it’s about the right angle, a bit steeper than the other one leaning that direction and it seemed like it would be closer to the trees behind it than the other one, although in all this time they could be in a totally different place, and likely entirely different trees.
May 12, 2011 at 6:30 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever seen better work done by using an Iphone, this was amazing. After I watched your top 30 movies a while back I decided I had to see this movie at some point. Fortunately a buddy had it on DVD and we watched it. I absoloutely loved the movie and laughed so hard at it’s delicate sense of humour and slapstick. Watching the location guide, especially edited this way just enhanced that great memory. I hope they decide to put your little video on every new version release of this movie into the Extras, so in conclusion: Great work, keep it up.
May 12, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Damn James,
Always having fun :-p
Lucky Fuck
May 12, 2011 at 6:34 pm
One of my top movies since I was a little kid. I always enjoy when you bring it up.
My father and I would watch it every New Years day, and the rest of the year too, but especially every New Years. A great film with great memories.
May 12, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Congratulations, The reason I admire ALL of your videos is because you do what you love, and thanks to you I bought the movie Its a Mad mad mad world.
“It just went Saling right out there” jajaja, Smiler Grogan would have been proud of you
May 12, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Hey James,
That is amazing i wish i could come. and not to be a pest or anything but i’d really like to see what your wife looks like.
May 12, 2011 at 7:24 pm
I’ve loved that film since forever. I still drag out my extended VHS version and watch it from time to time. VHS sure looks great in 720p. Not.
May 12, 2011 at 7:28 pm
they don’t make comedies as this one anymore, the movie has so much…charm, it’s awesome you actually get to go to exact locations—wait what? wife??!— There’s a Mrs Rolfe??? when did James get married??? !! guess i gotta check my twitter more often. wow did anyone else know?
May 12, 2011 at 7:30 pm
wasn’t sure if you get asked this a lot, but since you’ve mentioned that you were married, does your wife help with any of your regular videos at all, like act or anything? or does she prefer to stay behind the camera if anything?
May 12, 2011 at 7:31 pm
wicked’
Happy for ya’ James.
May 12, 2011 at 7:48 pm
hahahha the owners happen to be fans? man that is so godamn cool, fuck yeah nerd you rock man
May 12, 2011 at 8:12 pm
You gotta let your fans know where you’re going! If you like zoos and are in the Palm Desert area again, I could get you behind the scenes at The Living Desert. Or I could just buy you a beer somewhere.
May 12, 2011 at 8:25 pm
You were at The Big 4 concert too?!!
Dang man, it’s a shame that I didn’t see ya there! I woulda bought you a $7 slice of spicy pizza, haha!!
May 12, 2011 at 8:48 pm
I haven’t seen IAMMMMW in like forever, and as far as I could remember it was a madcap road picture, like Cannonball Run. But according to Wikipedia it starred Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Ethel Merman, Jimmy Durante, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Winters, Jim Backus, and Peter Falk, and there were appearances by Jack Benny, Norman Fell, Don Knotts, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Carl Reiner. It’s almost unexplainable how good of a cast this would have been back then, it’s like Who Framed Roger Rabbit but with live-action stars instead of cartoon stars.
May 12, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Congrats, rolfe. I know how small dreams come true can feel.
May 12, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Awww, you made a little friend lol.
I didn’t know you had a wife
May 12, 2011 at 9:26 pm
James i just shit out all of my organs after eating some chipotle but theres a treasure burried deep in the heart of unionville pa under a giant cock in the middle of doucy fields national park you cant miss it it’s by the old burned town tavern gods speed mr nerd and dont eat mexican food
May 12, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Wow that was really cool. Sometimes, I have more of an appreciation for the ‘shot-on-the-spot’ videos than the scripted ones. They have more meaning, and I know that this one had a lot of meaning to you. Someday, I wish to visit the filming locations of my favorite movies.
May 12, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Man this stuff is all right by my place. So cool! I should really go check it out. I bet there are so many movie scenes I could visit like this in West LA….
May 12, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Kitty cat helped lead you to the forward slash. Don’t forget to thank the cat.
May 12, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Totally loved the video James! Great job and thank you for sharing that with us!!!
You lucky bastard!
May 12, 2011 at 9:43 pm
you finally fulfilled your childhood dream of getting to the big ‘W’ and now there’s a reliable source
May 12, 2011 at 10:17 pm
It’s pretty neat how everything works together in such a mysterious way. You have a favorite movie growing up. You also have a love for making movies which no doubt must have had some inspiration from that movie. It’s almost as if that W was calling out to you to come find it, and it wouldn’t even be possible if you hadn’t become a filmmaker, and that might not have happened if it were not for the movie.
May 12, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Who wants to bet that he was in California to set up the AVGN Movie with a production company?
May 12, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Been a fan of this movie since my dad showed it to me when I was little. Great detective work James cant wait for the AVGN movie keep up the great work.
May 12, 2011 at 10:53 pm
“I’m here in San Pedrooo”. LOL at how out-of-town people mispronounce our place names. Bless you James, you are effing awesome though!
Btw, it’s not “The Pacific Coast Highway”, it’s just “PCH”. For next time you’re out here. ; )
May 12, 2011 at 11:16 pm
That is so cool James! I too enoyed that film. It’s awesome that you got to go check out what’s left of the stump, and solve that mystery.
May 12, 2011 at 11:23 pm
I noticed that the information about the palm stump was there on Wikipedialong before this video, so you’ve really proven this fact to be true
May 12, 2011 at 11:28 pm
Very nice James. Became a fan of this movie last year when I caught it on AMC with a friend who had seen it before.
Glad to see some of the three is left I guess? I guess the owners before the current ones didn’t understand the meaning by the W trees, or they could have overgrown and collapsed, oh well.
And was that car following you the entire time while you were on the property?
May 12, 2011 at 11:38 pm
you are Awesome James
May 12, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Pretty sweet trip, James.
May 13, 2011 at 12:11 am
Was never really a big fan of this movie but that sure was a fun video.
May 13, 2011 at 12:31 am
I cited the mad mad mad mad world article on wikipedia for the big w with a link to the video
May 13, 2011 at 1:02 am
Dammit, James, I approve. I’m glad you got to do what you friggin’ wanted to.
May 13, 2011 at 1:20 am
I wounder if nowadays where people who knew this movie, instead of looking for treasure at the “W” would instead Leave something behind? You know, something to say. “I was Here” (Aside from the use of Grafite of course lol) Maybe the Cat tried to tell you where the W was at? Also it kinda looks like one of your other 2 cats back at your place….you Bring your Cat along?
May 13, 2011 at 1:29 am
THATS SAD!
They Cut,s “Big W”
May 13, 2011 at 1:56 am
Should have let me know :p I live 10mins from Peck Park! Next time you’re around, let’s chill. I’ll bring the brews. Great review. One of my favorite movies as well. Did you see the 124214345 cats at “Pet” Peck Park?
May 13, 2011 at 2:22 am
Always like these videos. I’ll need to check out the movie when I have a nice chunk of time for it since it’s a long movie. Wonder if James will do one for a movie he hated. Might be entertaining.
May 13, 2011 at 3:00 am
Dude, its pretty awesome you were around my area. There’s a place around San Pedro called Sunken City. Ive been wanting to check it out for a while now. I think you were close to it. Also Next time you’re in the South Bay, Make sure you check out the Ferris Beuller House in Long Beach. Its a area called Bixby Knolls.
May 13, 2011 at 3:18 am
Even though it was primitive, this video had a lot of atmosphere – finding that car wreck was a really cool and eerie moment! I love how the big W has become a little comma, even though it makes me a bit sad too, haha.
May 13, 2011 at 5:03 am
Really amazing how overwhelmed you were, James. It sounded like you were almost crying when you said you were inside the gate.
May 13, 2011 at 5:40 am
It was fun to see this movie is your all time favorite in your movie count down. I love it! As a kid I must have watched it once a month for 3 years, I don’t know. And now this! I can imagine your excitement discovering the sites and the palm tree stump… should have a star on Hollywood Blvd. lol! Great hunt and the iphone movie quality… not that bad!
May 13, 2011 at 7:35 am
Wow, your movie location hunts are so fun to watch. I see why James loves this movie so much, lots of great comedy actors all on a treasure hunt, not being serious and just having a great time.
May 13, 2011 at 7:51 am
DOPE!!!
May 13, 2011 at 8:43 am
This was awesome
May 13, 2011 at 9:00 am
WOW just awesome James.
May 13, 2011 at 9:11 am
By the way, perhaps they tried to pull the stunt off with another car that’s now laying there. Perhaps it didn’t crash good enough and they decided to use a different car. xD
May 13, 2011 at 9:16 am
Not my favorite, but one of my favorite movies off all-time
actually i made a list and this came on #14
great video loved it!
May 13, 2011 at 9:21 am
http://www.somethingawful.com/d/photoshop-phriday/games-honest-names2.php?page=1
May 13, 2011 at 11:56 am
And I hope you had some Old Fashioneds
May 13, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I have not seen the movie, but I get the impression that the movie “Rat Race” borrowed a lot of ideas from it.
Must have been a lot of fun tracking down those locations.
May 13, 2011 at 1:12 pm
dreams can become true huh?^^ nice job
May 13, 2011 at 1:21 pm
It was one of my favorites when I was a young kid.. I am sorry too hear that your legs were hurting from the a concert, but like my father always said too me.. “You’ll live”..
May 13, 2011 at 1:47 pm
oh hell yeah james said he saw the big 4, Fuck yeah ANTHRAX, MEGADETH,SLAYER, and metallica is not so great. but still fuck yeah i have the blue ray
May 13, 2011 at 2:00 pm
i love that movie, its long but god is it so fucking funny
May 13, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Hey James when you’re pointing out the old tree stump, there is a dog taking a shit in the background.lol
May 13, 2011 at 2:46 pm
OMG!!! what a great video!!!! i Loved it ;D!!!
May 13, 2011 at 3:17 pm
That video made me smile
So awesome!
May 13, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Really really nice documentary! I liked that!
May 13, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Looks like the wikipedia can be updated now, to state that there is but a scant stump remaining of the four palm trees.
May 13, 2011 at 5:19 pm
I saw the movie when you mentioned it in your favorite movie video, but can’t say i like it very much, too much talk and not so much funny stuff going round…I had more fun with its (kinda) remake, Rat Race, but that probably is because my two heroes, Rowan Atkinson and John Cleese were it in.
May 13, 2011 at 5:28 pm
James you’re the freakin’ BEST for doing this vid, it was awesome! I love that movie so much so it was great to see something dedicated to it.
Also, that cat was adorable haha.
May 13, 2011 at 7:57 pm
I haven’t actually seen the movie. But I can still feel a sense of epicness over these places. I believe it was the well done narration.
May 13, 2011 at 8:31 pm
I loved it! You are a badass James for solving the mystery of the giant “W”
May 13, 2011 at 9:33 pm
That’s pretty damn cool that the owners were fans. Shit, James, you got it made.
May 13, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Great video, James. I watched this movie about a year ago and it became an instant favorite
May 13, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Actually there is one prior mention of Jame’s wife that I know of. In the making of video for the 2008 AVGN vs. NC fight, Doug says that she had to tie his tie for him. So him being married isn’t a recent development or anything.
The place where the gas station was looks kinda like the gated community where my uncle has a condo. It’s somewhere in Palm Dessert but I can’t remember the address. Anyway, I know I’ve been on Route 74 as well as by the ramp.
May 14, 2011 at 1:16 am
You have some fun adventures it seems.
May 14, 2011 at 11:40 am
Califooornia!
Awesome James!
May 14, 2011 at 11:55 am
The owners of the property are fans of the Nerd? That’s awesome!!!
May 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm
You got to see the Big 4? Sweet.
May 14, 2011 at 6:16 pm
James, you sure do like cats.
May 14, 2011 at 8:16 pm
And so, James and Kitty drove off into the sunset!
The End.
May 14, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Meow.
May 14, 2011 at 9:41 pm
NICE YOU WENT TO THE BIG 4 im glad youre a big thrash fan as well
May 14, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I watched your video on friday. Shortly afterwards I decided to pop in the dvd of It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World and watched it with my mom. We had so much fun watching and it has now become one of my very favorite movies. Thank you for getting me hooked on such a great movie!
May 14, 2011 at 10:46 pm
james damn if i had not known you where in san pedro . I would have asked you for an autograph. lol
May 15, 2011 at 3:32 am
Haha, for some reason I really love the last scene of this where he finds the stump. Why? It’s all about:
James: !!! *God like Moment*
Cat: Oh hai,
May 15, 2011 at 3:32 am
You said you’d just been to see the big 4….you lucky bastard.
May 15, 2011 at 12:39 pm
I never even knew James was married! LOL
May 15, 2011 at 2:31 pm
You know it’s a little sad that you excused yourself for the poor quality production due to using an iphone, but I think it was actually better than usual, minus the wind that wasn’t cut.
You should consider a new camera, lol. And tell your wife I also thank her, because I love this movie soooo much.
May 15, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Great video James, I love this movie and grew up watching it. It’s great to see all the sites where it was filmed. I only wish you could have found the spot where they shot the fight between Milton Berle and Terry Thomas (the English guy) after they crash the car. Still, it was a great video, thanks for putting it together.
May 15, 2011 at 4:44 pm
It’s funny, but I probably wouldn’t have cared much about this movie and someone hunting for shoot locations. But you somehow made the journey entertaining. Thanks for the video!
May 16, 2011 at 7:59 am
Awesome, James. I love this movie so much and it was really cool to see what the locations look like today. Life is kinda cool sometimes.
May 16, 2011 at 8:16 am
I was at the big 4 concert too. Too bad I didn’t see you there. I bet you had VIP tickets, right.
May 16, 2011 at 12:31 pm
I’ve never seen the movie. But this is a really nice video on the locations. Congratulations for founding the remains of the big W!
May 16, 2011 at 2:31 pm
“The owners happen to be fans.”
Man you are an internet star!
May 16, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Amen….indeed for the find!…Amen!!!! ((-:
May 16, 2011 at 2:50 pm
You just slapped a big smile on my face. I’ve never even seen the movie but you make these great videos that somehow make me even care haha
May 18, 2011 at 5:25 am
The picture of James, the stump and the cat is priceless. xD
February 17, 2012 at 12:38 am
lol yeah._
May 18, 2011 at 12:53 pm
hahahahah LOOK!!!! ITS A BIG….SLANTED STUMP!!!
May 18, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Hello James,
Long time fan, first comment. This location hunt was definitely my favorite by far, great work.
If you dont mind me asking and if you could get back to me on this one. What is the song that plays at 11:03?
Thanks.
May 22, 2011 at 5:59 am
its so awesome i got goose bumps
May 25, 2011 at 5:05 pm
YOU FINALLY GET TO SEE THE “Slash (punctuation) Stump” ^_^ me thinks James.