This weekend Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu is throwing a party. The iconic beach, which has been the setting for some of LA’s most recognizable beach scenes, is turning 60. Who knew “Beach Blanket Bingo” had anything in common with “The Karate Kid,” much less “The Usual Suspects”?
On Friday evening and all-day into night on Saturday, preservationists, historians, location scouts and film buffs will take over the place to celebrate its anniversary. Leo Carrillo, the actor and conservationist for which the park is named, died in 1961.
Historian Harry Medved will be there. He knows all about this stretch of scenic beach and talked to us about the starring role the beach has played in many classic films. We talked to him about it today:
And if you need a visual reminder, here are some of the most memorable movies shot at Leo Carrillo, beginning with this compilation film, “Leo Carrillo State Park in the Movies”:
Gidget (1959)
Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
Beach Girls and the Monster (1965)
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
Grease (1978)
The Karate Kid (1984)
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)