Post #676120 by congawa on Tue, Apr 30, 2013 2:44 PM

I'm reviving this thread because I've discovered the partial answer to this question, which would be the full answer as far as film location fans would be concerned--but not Tikiphiles.

Fortunately, a Knight Rider Forum found the answer last year. The A-frame building is the Tennessee Gin & Cotton Company (House of the Rising Sun is a sign added for the TV episode) at the southwest corner of Ventura Blvd. at Corbin Ave., Woodland Hills, which apparently existed under that banner from 1972 until it burned down in 1985 (a gas station is now on the site).

http://knightrideronline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1060&t=17509

To quote from posted "1982" on this forum:

"Now for the “House of the Rising Sun” location. I first remember the location site during filming 10 years before “Knight of the Phoenix”. In the mid 70’s it was a popular disco hangout called the “Tennessee Gin & Cotton Co.” that lasted until 1985 when it burned down. You may be able to make out their logo sign hanging from the rafter of the A-frame. The location was at the east end of the Corbin Village Shopping Center; southwest corner of Ventura Blvd and Corbin Ave, in Woodland Hills (roughly 19700 Ventura Blvd.)

"Below is their logo sign and site pictures from 1972 and 1980. “Tennessee Gin & Cotton Co.” aka “House of the Rising Sun” is in the center of each picture. About the only remaining signs left are the parking lot lights and retaining wall at the tree line."

You can also see on page 1 of this thread (pages 2 & 3 mostly dissect the Comtron location--which was elsewhere) confirmation that the bar interior was the genuine interior, not a studio set.

"1982" also posts: "For a comparison between then and today, there is one way that I know of. Back in the early to mid 1970’s, there was a TV show called Cannon, starring William Conrad. In a 1972 episode called “Murder by Moonlight” the script lists a scene at Ventura Blvd and Corbin Ave. If someone has the show on DVD, it should show the location. It should be a “bus” scene with Conrad as a passenger. A set of screen shots should do it." So there might or might be answers in the Cannon episode.

I've found a number of articles and posts via Google about the Tennessee Gin & Cotton Co. that go back to the 70's, and evidence that this was quite a notorious "meet market" in its day.

However, none of this answers the burning question: "What was this before 1972?", because it is almost certainly Tiki in origin. The Aku Aku Motel was down the street, but not adjacent. So it might be time to start looking through your matchbook collections for something in the 19700 block of Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA, for the answer.

Caltiki Brent