Unseen James Dean’s Apartment Revealed! Exclusive Access on New Warner Bros TCM Tour!

Last year, Warner Bros. Studio Tour revamped its offerings with new interactive exhibits that highlighted recent company milestones, including exhibits dedicated to the DC Comics and “Harry Potter” franchises.

This week, the renowned Studio Tour in Burbank, California, is shifting its focus to its historical roots.

Warner Bros. is extending a new tour, branded under Turner Classic Movies (TCM), opening up previously restricted areas of its studio lot to guests. The expanded tour includes vintage animation buildings, a mini rose garden, and an apartment that once served as James Dean’s home. The tram ride, which is about 30 minutes longer than the conventional tour, offers an in-depth look at the studio’s rich history and iconic films such as “Casablanca,” “My Fair Lady,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Auntie Mame,” and many others.

Brad Taylor, a 15-year veteran tour guide at Warner Bros., remarked that the TCM tour provides an opportunity for guides to interact more with visitors, sharing their passion for cinema.

He said, “We get to talk to the guests and really hang out with people who have the same passion that we do. It’s just the look on their faces when they realize ‘Casablanca’ filmed here, or James Dean stood right here.”

The TCM tour’s launch coincides with the network’s 30th anniversary and comes nearly a year after TCM fans were alarmed by the news of potential layoffs at the network, including some top executives. After the news received national attention, Warner Bros. reversed critical cuts and reassured fans that TCM would continue to be managed with the utmost respect.

TCM network hosts, including Eddie Muller, Jacqueline Stewart, Ben Mankiewicz, Alicia Malone, and Dave Karger, have filmed new segments for the tour. The tour will include a visit to the Property House, an area not covered by the standard tour. This space houses materials for full sets, including a complete Oval Office setup. However, the focus will be on classic items, such as a throne from the Errol Flynn pirate film “Captain Blood.”

Danny Kahn, vice president-general manager of the studio tour, stated that visitors had frequently requested a deeper look into the studio’s animation history over the years. As a result, the TCM tour will take guests for the first time to an area of the lot formerly known as “Termite Terrace,” which housed the animation department from 1955 to 1964. Kahn mentioned that animation legend Chuck Jones had an office there in the 1990s, even after Warner Bros. moved the animation production elsewhere.

Another unique stop on the tour is the exterior of the Dean apartment. Back when Dean lived there during the filming of “East of Eden,” the apartment was across the street from the lot, above a drugstore. However, the studio’s expansion over the years means that the area is now part of Warner Bros. property.

Kahn commented, “They rented the apartment for him. I believe it was an effort to keep an eye on him and keep him nearby.”

The tour will also provide guests with a glimpse into the lives of studio executives, as they will have the chance to walk around a rose garden. The well-kept area once had a tennis court and personal screening rooms for studio bigwigs like Jack Warner. Kahn noted that many of the structures date back to the 1920s and are still in use today.

The TCM tour will also include staples of the traditional tour, such as a trip around the backlot city streets, a visit to the “Friends” set and cafe, and recent additions showcasing the studio’s modern franchise films. The tour, which includes a pre-tour reception with drinks and pastries, is expected to last around 3½ hours. The first TCM-branded tour is set for Wednesday, with daily departures thereafter. Adult tickets are priced at $95, but Southern California residents can avail a discount and get tickets for $75.

Kahn concluded, “It feels so good to have TCM here. People understand that the TCM brand is synonymous with classic film.”