Los Angeles Center Studios, California

The old Unocal building escaped the implosion that it once was destined for, because of its use as a filming location. The 12-story building, which looms above the freeway just north of downtown, was the headquarters for worldwide operations of Unocal for almost 40 years, built by the company in 1957. In 1995, Unocal moved its headquarters to El Segundo, leaving the building to developers who considered demolishing it and building a new tower on the site. The building soon began serving the film industry as a shooting location, which used the lobby, board rooms, offices, and the elegant executive offices on the top floor. As redevelopment plans faltered, the location management company Hollywood Locations (which represents many downtown filming locations), along with other partners, created a studio on the property. Called Los Angeles Center Studios, it is the first movie studio to be built in the downtown area since the 1920's. In the 1997 film The Game, the glossy black lobby of the Unocal building serves as the headquarters for the mysterious virtual reality company, Consumer Recreational Services, which torments the Michael Douglas character throughout the film.