I always play tourist in my own town. Never was that more the case then when I resided in Pasadena. The area is so chock-full of notable locales, though, that sometimes it takes a newcomer to point them out. My friend Kim recently embarked upon her first visit to Crown City (it was socially-distanced, of course!) and in poring through the Facebook photos she posted that day, I was pleasantly surprised to see pics of the Howard Motor Company Building! Though Kim took note of the gorgeous structure immediately upon passing it, I drove by daily while living in Pasadena and even once witnessed The Mentalist filming on the premises, but somehow never dedicated a post to the place! So to the top of my To-Stalk List it went and I headed over there shortly thereafter.
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The Howard Motor Company Building was designed in 1927 by the Austin Company of California architecture firm.
The Spanish Colonial Revival-style structure served as an automobile showroom for the dealership through 1938, at which time the Busch-Morgan Motor Company moved in.
The stunning building continued to operate as a car gallery through at least 1996.
The ornate edifice, with its spectacular California Churrigueresque detailing, was intended to attract passersby traveling along the popular Route 66, get them to stop, and hopefully buy a new car. The concept certainly worked on my friend Kim who immediately pulled over to get a better look at the place.
The Howard Motor Company Building is easily one of Pasadena’s most beautiful structures.
The interior is just as incredible as the exterior!
Sadly, the property, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, has been tenantless for pretty much as long as I remember, though it sometimes houses a Spirit Halloween store in the Fall.
The long-term vacancy left it open for the filming of The Mentalist in November 2009. My dad and I happened to be driving by when the shoot was being set up and, of course, stopped to watch.
Though I don’t have any photos from that day, we were invited inside to take a peek at the space with all of its glorious set dressing and, let me tell you, the Howard Motor Company Building was definitely ready for its close-up!
In the episode, Season 2’s “Redline,” which aired in February 2010, the site portrayed the supposed Marin County Zenith Motors showroom, where Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) and the CBI team investigated the murder of a woman found stuffed inside the trunk of a car. The program showcased both the exterior . . .
. . . and interior of the space to spectacular effect!
With the red carpeting, extensive foliage and up-lighting, the episode really gives us an idea of what the building must have looked like back in its heyday.
Big THANK YOU to my friend Kim for reminding me of this location! 🙂
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Until next time, Happy Stalking! 
Stalk It: The Howard Motor Company Building, from the “Redline” episode of The Mentalist, is located at 1285 East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena.