| San Luis Obispo County has been the background for several movies throughout the years.
The tradition started in 1923 with the epic Charlton Heston film The Ten Commandments, which was shot in part at the Guadalupe-Nipomo dunes. Several smaller movies were also filmed throughout the years, but in recent times some of the biggest stars of the time have filmed in the area.
- Rick Moranis of Honey I Shrunk the Kids fame came to San Luis Obispo in 1994 for Little Giants.
- In 1998, Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon reprised their famous roles of Oscar and Felix in the Odd Couple II, which was filmed partly in Los Osos.
- Sandra Bullock also filmed much of the movie Murder by Numbers in SLO and Morro Bay.
- Most recently, Lindsay Lohan was spotted around downtown San Luis Obispo in early 2007, filming the movie I Know Who Killed Me. Several landmarks of the area, such as the Fremont Theatre and the San Luis Obispo High School stadium, are featured prominently in the movie.
- Finally, our current governor and former Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger was even shown strutting his stuff around San Luis and San Simeon in the 1985 movie Commando!
Car Commercials
Because of the hilly landscapes and windy roads, San Luis Obispo County is often the site of several national car commercials during the middle of January through March.
Famous Cal Poly Alumni
Cal Poly has had a varied and interesting assortment of alumni throughout the years. Commentator John Madden used to play football for the university, and famed shortstop Ozzie Smith began his career on the Cal Poly baseball field. Perhaps most bizarrely, “Weird Al” Yankovic began his university career as a Communications major, before learning of his unique talent of parodying songs!
Other Interesting Facts
The city of San Luis Obispo was the last city in America to have a gas lamp lighter on its payroll after electric lamps became the standard!
The Motel Inn of San Luis Obispo, established in 1925, was the first motel in America and coined the now-common term “motel.” The Apple Farm Inn now sits on the same property. |
Fun Facts
