Is Coolsville in California?

[wileyk209]

I noticed that in "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo," "What's New Scooby-Doo" and the DC comics, the Mystery Inc. gang's hometown of Coolsville must be located somewhere in mid -to- southern California. I mean, we never see Shaggy wear a long-sleeved shirt when they are there, or Daphne and Velma wearing long pants. Coolsville has a beach seen a few times, and any time snow is shown it's outside of Coolsville in some way. In "Snow Place Like Home," I don't think the exact location of the Snowy Mountain Lodge is revealed, so it may very well be in a state north of California, or it could even be somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. And then in "A Scooby-Doo Christmas," the gang goes to New England (though the actual state isn't mentionedi IIRC.) And in "A Scooby-Doo Valentine," it looked more like spring instead of winter (no snow anywhere, no winter clothes, fully leaved trees) which seems to suggest even more that Coolsville may be in a warm part of California.
And we know Crystal Cove in "Scooby-Doo: Mystery incorporated" is in California, so I'm pretty sure that Coolsville also is, given how Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Bros. Animation were/are also based in California.

Just an observation I noticed.

[Doo]

In The Mystery Begins, Fred mentions it's in Ohio.

[Dog Ranger]

From what I've gathered, at least going by the original SDWAY, the gang's hometown (which was unnamed until APNSD named it Coolsville and that stuck for following incarnations barring SDMI) does indeed seem to be set in southern California. This was the location in the original "Mysteries Five" premise, Laguna Beach specifically (got this from an old Scooby website). Southern California is geographically diverse, accounting for the places the gang visits (beaches, forests, swamps, snowy mountains, etc.) all being within driving distance from one another.

I think the idea of them living in Ohio came from the live action films, which ultimately are different from the animated material but were used a lot in fanfics since that was the only time they gave an official answer as to where Coolsville is. But it's been a while since I've seen the theatrical films, so I can't remember if they did that but I know the latter two stated that. If the original films didn't state it, I assume fans assumed Ohio since there is a village there named Coolsville and the latter movies went with that.

[somebody-doo]

Feb 13, 2017 23:05:48 GMT -5 Dog Ranger said:

From what I've gathered, at least going by the original SDWAY, the gang's hometown (which was unnamed until APNSD named it Coolsville and that stuck for following incarnations barring SDMI) does indeed seem to be set in southern California. This was the location in the original "Mysteries Five" premise, Laguna Beach specifically (got this from an old Scooby website). Southern California is geographically diverse, accounting for the places the gang visits (beaches, forests, swamps, snowy mountains, etc.) all being within driving distance from one another.

I think the idea of them living in Ohio came from the live action films, which ultimately are different from the animated material but were used a lot in fanfics since that was the only time they gave an official answer as to where Coolsville is. But it's been a while since I've seen the theatrical films, so I can't remember if they did that but I know the latter two stated that. If the original films didn't state it, I assume fans assumed Ohio since there is a village there named Coolsville and the latter movies went with that.

Cool to read the original concept! I've actually been to the places mentioned there. I've never been to a swamp in Southern California, but I have ve been to a beach, a forest, a city, and a mountain all in the same day out here before.

[Ark]

Feb 13, 2017 23:05:48 GMT -5 Dog Ranger said:

From what I've gathered, at least going by the original SDWAY, the gang's hometown (which was unnamed until APNSD named it Coolsville and that stuck for following incarnations barring SDMI) does indeed seem to be set in southern California. This was the location in the original "Mysteries Five" premise, Laguna Beach specifically (got this from an old Scooby website). Southern California is geographically diverse, accounting for the places the gang visits (beaches, forests, swamps, snowy mountains, etc.) all being within driving distance from one another.

I think the idea of them living in Ohio came from the live action films, which ultimately are different from the animated material but were used a lot in fanfics since that was the only time they gave an official answer as to where Coolsville is. But it's been a while since I've seen the theatrical films, so I can't remember if they did that but I know the latter two stated that. If the original films didn't state it, I assume fans assumed Ohio since there is a village there named Coolsville and the latter movies went with that.

Very informative!! Thank you. I agree with California.

[Toki]

I always was in the Ohio camp myself. Though I thought there was more instances in the original SDWAY that supported it. But it's been a long time, and I would have to go back and look for them. Also, it always felt more like a more eastern/midwestern feel, for a lot of the areas they were in. Rather then on the coast. But maybe that is just me. And well, they did travel the world. Hard to narrow them down to a specific location if you just look at the mysteries.

Though for more information about classic Mystery's Five stuff, Velmadinkley.com has this article about it.

velmadinkley.com/old.html

Which includes original sketches! Showing Velma without her glasses and looking more like an art student and Fred with Red hair.

[Ark]

Very interesting sketches and storyboards! Thanks for sharing!

[Soupperson]

Feb 13, 2017 23:05:48 GMT -5 Dog Ranger said:

From what I've gathered, at least going by the original SDWAY, the gang's hometown (which was unnamed until APNSD named it Coolsville and that stuck for following incarnations barring SDMI) does indeed seem to be set in southern California. This was the location in the original "Mysteries Five" premise, Laguna Beach specifically (got this from an old Scooby website). Southern California is geographically diverse, accounting for the places the gang visits (beaches, forests, swamps, snowy mountains, etc.) all being within driving distance from one another.

Shaggy', Scooby's and Daphne's hometown in The New Scooby Doo Movies it's revealed that Velma only moved recently.

As for California v Ohio, I think California is more likely as the creators are from there themselves.

[scoobnick]

I tend to think its California, much more diverse geographically than Ohio, not to mention, much bigger in area, so more areas to explore

[ahkyahnan]

Never quite understood where Ohio came from. I live just a few miles from the OH border and there's not too many areas that look much like the cartoons, the early ones at least.

For example they're often at the beach, and Ohio doesn't have any beaches, unless they're near Cleveland and the Great Lakes.

Based on the original SDWAY? I've always pictured either the North East coast around Maine, or the North West coast around Washington. It could also be Southern California, but it seemed even at the beach there was an overcast, kinda cool temperature look.

Actually though, I don't think you can really narrow it down, because the visual references they used in episodes where the Gang just seems to be hanging out in their hometown, drew from a diverse range of familiar "classic" imagery that suggested too many locations.

So I guess you can really pick whatever fits best to you.

Mark

[Ark]

The gang does go to Seattle a few times in The Scooby Doo Show. Demon Shark and the Steaming Demons.

[Soupperson]

Apr 12, 2017 10:16:33 GMT -5 scoobnick said:

much bigger in area, so more areas to explore

So more places to meddle

[shaggy]

Feb 13, 2017 23:05:48 GMT -5 Dog Ranger said:

From what I've gathered, at least going by the original SDWAY, the gang's hometown (which was unnamed until APNSD named it Coolsville and that stuck for following incarnations barring SDMI) does indeed seem to be set in southern California. This was the location in the original "Mysteries Five" premise, Laguna Beach specifically (got this from an old Scooby website). Southern California is geographically diverse, accounting for the places the gang visits (beaches, forests, swamps, snowy mountains, etc.) all being within driving distance from one another.

I think the idea of them living in Ohio came from the live action films, which ultimately are different from the animated material but were used a lot in fanfics since that was the only time they gave an official answer as to where Coolsville is. But it's been a while since I've seen the theatrical films, so I can't remember if they did that but I know the latter two stated that. If the original films didn't state it, I assume fans assumed Ohio since there is a village there named Coolsville and the latter movies went with that.

I don't think this is accurate. I've been to Laguna Beach many times and even worked there for a Summer, and it's nothing like the cartoon. Granted, I was never there during the 60's and 70's, so maybe it has changed, but even just the natural shapes of the area and whatnot do not resemble it.

I think Newport Beach or Corona del Mar seem more like it. But even then, there aren't really beaches, swamps, snowy mountains around. And certainly no farms with barns (The Creeper Episode).

I've always thought that Coolsville was on the East Coast, towards the middle. I dunno though. It's always been geographically ambiguous.

[Dog Ranger]

Laguna Beach was only stated as the location for the "Mysteries Five" show, this could have been changed in SDWAY to somewhere less specific in that case.

[shaggy]

Apr 29, 2017 21:52:27 GMT -5 Dog Ranger said:

Laguna Beach was only stated as the location for the "Mysteries Five" show, this could have been changed in SDWAY to somewhere less specific in that case.

What is Mysteries Five?