Filming Locations Then and Now Quick Preview Videos

Cannon - Dead Pigeon (1971): A Trip To The Beach

In 1971, a new TV detective show hit the airwaves starring William Conrad as Private Investigator Frank Cannon. The series was action-packed and filmed all over the Los Angeles area, thus giving us a great historical record of mid-century LA.

In this episode from Season 1, Dead Pigeon, the filming locations included several coastal sites, including Marina del Rey and the famous Santa Monica Pier.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Charlie's Angels - Angels On The Street (1979): Tough Times In Culver City

In 1979, the hit TV series Charlie's Angels filmed the episode Angels On The Street almost entirely on location in the historic downtown core of Culver City. Because this episode features so many rare location shots, we have dedicated four separate then and now filming locations videos to this single 1970s time capsule.

During this era, Downtown Culver City was in a period of decline. While many of the landmarks made famous in the 1920s and 30s by Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang / The Little Rascals are visible, they appear in a state of decay. These filming locations tours provide a vivid contrast between the abandonment of the late 70s and the vibrant, redeveloped Culver City of the 21st century.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Charlie's Angels - Target Angels (1976): Beverly Hills HQ, Mid-Century Apartment Buildings And A Historic Filming Location From The 1920s

The 1976 episode Target Angels from the hit TV series Charlie's Angels features an extensive tour of the West Side of Los Angeles.

This then and now filming locations video identifies the iconic Angels’ Headquarters in Beverly Hills and a historic apartment building located directly adjacent to the 20th Century Fox Studios lot.

For fans of classic comedy, this episode offers a special treat: a 1976 look at the legendary filming location intersection of Motor Avenue and Woodbine Street in the Palms neighborhood. This is the same intersection that served as a filming location in the classic 1929 Our Gang / The Little Rascals movie Bouncing Babies.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

CHiPs - Moving Violation (1977): Traces of The Pacific Electric Railway In Culver City

While the TV series CHiPs filmed all over Southern California, the 1977 episode Moving Violation created a fascinating time capsule of the "lost" transit history in Culver City.

This Quick Preview then and now filming locations video identifies rare remnants of the Pacific Electric Railway tracks that once defined the Culver Blvd landscape.

The tour begins with Ponch and Jon at the intersection of Culver Blvd and Madison Avenue. Visible in the 1977 pavement are the same railroad tracks that once transported passengers from Downtown Los Angeles to Playa del Rey. Our journey concludes on Madison Avenue in front of the historic apartment building at 4016 Madison Avenue, which remains remarkably unchanged since it was captured on film nearly 50 years ago.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

CHiPs - Return Of The Turks (1978): Culver City In Decline And The 21st Century Revival - Then And Now

In the 1978 episode Return of the Turks, the hit TV series CHiPs filmed a high-speed chase through the heart of Downtown Culver City. This episode serves as a remarkable 50-year time capsule, revisiting many of the same filming locations used by Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang in the 1920s and 30s.

This Quick Preview then and now filming locations video illustrates the dramatic transformation of Washington Blvd from a busy 1970s thoroughfare to today’s pedestrian-friendly mall.

Our tour also features the historic Culver Hotel which in 1978 offered cheap apartments at daily, weekly and monthly rates.

The filming locations tour wraps up with a visit to the same alley next to the Citizen Building that Our Gang / The Little Rascals ran down in 1933 in their movie The Kid From Borneo.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Emergency! - Nagging Suspicion (1974): The Fire Station Home Of Squad 51 - Filming Location Then And Now

The hit 1970s TV series Emergency! filmed extensively across Los Angeles, and this Quick Preview then and now filming locations video of the 1974 episode Nagging Suspicion perfectly captures the show's geographic diversity.

Our tour begins in Carson, California, at the legendary LACoFD Station 127—the real-world home of the famous Squad 51. The station remains a fully functioning facility and a major tourist attraction and the surrounding area has remained remarkably preserved since 1974.

The journey then moves north to Studio City, just over the hill from Hollywood. We visit the historic building at 11502 Ventura Blvd, which served as a prominent backdrop in this episode. Although the structure has undergone minor remodeling, it remains easily recognizable to fans on an in-person filming locations tour.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Hunter - Any Second Now (1987): Downtown Culver City Hits Rock Bottom - And Comes Back.

The popular 1980s police drama Hunter utilized the "seedy" side of Los Angeles for its location shoots, and the 1987 episode Any Second Now provides a startling time capsule of Downtown Culver City at its lowest point. This Quick Preview of our then and now filming locations video tours the area during a year of significant urban decay and transition.

The centerpiece of this tour is the Adams Hotel, which once anchored north side of the block of Main Street between Washington Blvd and Culver Blvd, directly opposite the Culver Hotel.

While this landmark was a staple in 1920s and 30s comedies by Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang / The Little Rascals, the 1987 footage reveals a block mostly demolished and waiting for redevelopment.

This filming locations tour concludes with a chase scene ending in the historic alleyway made famous in the 1929 Laurel and Hardy film Liberty—showing the site before it was transformed into the modern Culver Steps development.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986): A Rarely Used Section Of Culver City As Filming Location - Then And Now

In keeping with the cop show genre's tradition, the hit 1980s TV series Hunter (starring Fred Dryer) utilized extensive on-location filming throughout Los Angeles. The 1986 episode Scrap Metal is a standout for location hunters, featuring numerous Culver City filming locations and additional scenes shot in the heart of Hollywood.

Because of the high volume of real-world landmarks featured in this episode, we have created four then and now filming location preview videos for you to explore.

The first Quick Preview filming locations then and now video explores the northeast section of Culver City along Washington Blvd. This specific area was a rare choice for Hollywood productions, making this 1986 footage a unique historical time capsule. While the original buildings seen in the episode remain standing today, you will see how the neighborhood has been revitalized and "spruced up" over the decades.

Part 1 of this filming locations tour concludes in the residential neighborhood centered on Jacob Street. Much like the commercial scenes, this street has remained virtually unchanged since Stepfanie Kramer and Fred Dryer filmed here in 1986, offering a perfect then and now comparison for fans and urban explorers.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986): On The Hard Streets Of Hollywood - Filming Location - Then And Now

For the second of our four Quick Preview filming locations then and now videos for the Hunter TV episode Scrap Metal, we journey to the heart of Hollywood, specifically the iconic intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Avenue.

In this scene, Stepfanie Kramer’s character, McCall, goes undercover to obtain crucial information to help crack the case she and Hunter (Fred Dryer) are working on. The footage features an incredible night view of the Hollywood First National Building. Built in 1928, this Gothic-inspired skyscraper towers over the historic intersection—almost stealing the scene from the actors!

This 1986 time capsule offers a rare look at the neon-lit grit of 80s Hollywood, providing a perfect then and now comparison with the tourist hub we see there today.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986): INSIDE The Historic Culver Hotel During Its Darkest Days And 21st Century Rebirth

Continuing our tour of the real-world filming locations used in the 1986 episode Scrap Metal from the TV series Hunter, we journey to Downtown Culver City and the landmark Culver Hotel.

While many productions have utilized the exterior of this historic site, this 1986 footage is a rare gem: It is the only TV episode or movie known to have filmed inside the Culver Hotel lobby during that era. At the time of filming, the hotel had been converted into low-cost apartments with daily, weekly, and monthly rates. As you will see in this then and now filming location comparison, the 1980s lobby required very little set dressing to look "seedy."

We wrap up this part of our filming locations tour by showcasing the hotel’s massive mid-2010s renovation, which restored this Culver City landmark to its original 1924 architectural splendor.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986): What Came Before Culver Steps In Downtown Culver City - Filming Location Then And Now

The final part of our Quick Preview filming locations video tour for the 1986 Hunter episode Scrap Metal takes us to the historic heart of Culver City's Main Street, just steps away from the Culver Hotel.

This part of our tour spotlights a lost piece of Hollywood history: the Adams Hotel. Once a primary Culver City landmark, the Adams Hotel stood on the north side of Main Street between Culver Blvd and Washington Blvd and served as a backdrop for dozens of movies and TV episodes showcased on this website, including Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang / The Little Rascals, and even the TV series Charlie’s Angels and CHiPs.

By the time Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer filmed their shootout here in 1986, the area was about to hit rock bottom. Sadly, this local landmark was demolished in the 1990s.

In this then and now video comparison, you will see how the massive Culver Steps development has completely replaced the site where classic cinema history was once made.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

I Dream of Jeannie - Battle Of Waikiki (1968): Ilikai Hotel Honolulu Filming Location - Then And Now

During the 1968 season of the classic TV series I Dream of Jeannie, the production traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii to film two iconic episodes. This fan-favorite, Battle of Waikiki, features Jeannie summoning King Kamehameha, the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The episode shows us his hilarious and bewildered reactions to the bustling landscape of mid-20th-century Honolulu.

The Ilikai Hotel Filming Location

In this filming locations then and now preview, we journey to the historic Ilikai Hotel. While it is famous as a recurring backdrop for "homegrown" hits like Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., it served as a primary setting for the King’s visit in this Jeannie episode.

One of the most memorable scenes features the King discovering a fountain on the hotel grounds, exclaiming in wonder that "the rain is going up!" While the area has seen some architectural and landscaping updates over the decades, this Honolulu filming location remains easily recognizable today.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

I Dream of Jeannie - Battle Of Waikiki (1968): Iolani Palace Honolulu Filming Location - Then And Now

This is the second of two Quick Preview Videos here on the website for the classic I Dream of Jeannie episode, Battle of Waikiki. In this segment, we focus on the historic Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii, a landmark that has served as a backdrop for some of the most popular TV series of the 20th century.

While Iolani Palace is famous for appearing dozens of times as the headquarters in the original Hawaii Five-O TV series during the 1960s, and more recently in the 2009 film Princess Kaiulani, its role in I Dream of Jeannie remains a fan favorite.

On this filming locations then and now tour, you will see how this royal site has been beautifully maintained through the decades. It remains virtually unchanged since 1968, when Jeannie, Major Nelson, and Major Healy visited the grounds.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Starsky and Hutch - Long Walk Down A Short Dirt Road (1977)

Like many iconic cop shows of the mid-20th century, the Starsky and Hutch TV series utilized the streets in and around Los Angeles as filming locations to create an authentic atmosphere. Today, these episodes serve as a remarkable visual time capsule of the region as it appeared in the 1970s.

Downtown Culver City In Decline - The Filming Location Then

The 1977 episode Long Walk Down A Short Dirt Road is particularly notable for its scenes filmed directly across Washington Blvd from the landmark Culver Hotel in Culver City, California.

On this filming locations tour, you will notice a striking detail: By 1977, the hotel and its surrounding downtown core had begun to look dilapidated. This is a stark contrast to those movies by Laurel and Hardy, The Taxi Boys, Charley Chase and others made here during the "Golden Age" of Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s.

Downtown Culver City Resurrected - The Filming Location Now

The present-day view is much less depressing. The mega-development Culver Steps now dominates this block as well as the refurbished and renovated Culver Hotel. Downtown Culver City has come back to life!

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Star Trek - Arena (1968): Where No Man Has Gone Before - Except It HAS Been Used As A Filming Location For Years!

In the classic 1967 Star Trek: The Original Series episode Arena, the U.S.S. Enterprise pursues a hostile alien spaceship operated by the Gorn. The chase leads them to a solar system inhabited by the Metrons, a peaceful race that halts the violence and beams Captain Kirk and the Gorn Captain to a desolate planet to settle their dispute in hand-to-hand combat.

If ever there was a historic, iconic filming location, this is it. For this filming locations then and now video, we travel to the legendary Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in Agua Dulce, California. Located about an hour north of Downtown Los Angeles, this site is a "holy grail" for fans of Star Trek, classic westerns, and cinema history.

The jagged, prehistoric rock formations provided the perfect otherworldly backdrop for Kirk’s battle. In this then and now filming locations tour, you can take a virtual journey to the exact spot where TV history was made. You’ll see that these rocks are virtually the same as they were when they served as an alien planet filming location in 1967.

The Sopranos - Made In America - Phil Gets Whacked (2007): Sleepy New Jersey Filming Location That Hasn't Changed At All

The legendary HBO series The Sopranos was famous for its authentic atmosphere, achieved through extensive on-location filming across the New York City and nearby New Jersey areas. In the series finale, Made in America, one of the show's most shocking moments takes place when rival mob boss Phil Leotardo is "whacked" at a suburban gas station.

This scene was filmed at a real-world gas station in Morris Plains, NJ. Located at the busy intersection of Routes 10 and 202, this site has become a must-visit landmark for fans of the series.

Two Personal Connections With This Scene

• My old neighborhood: This scene was filmed about a mile from where I grew up and seeing your old neighborhood on TV is quite a surreal experience!
• The actor who played Phil Leotardo: Frank Vincent had several memorable movie roles prior to landing the role of Phil Leotardo on The Sopranos. We had a great afternoon talking about all things northern New Jersey and, of all things, jazz and big band music.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

In this Quick Preview Filming Locations Video tour, we revisit the exact spot where the Lupertazzi family head met his end. The gas station hasn't changed much at all over the years, and the surrounding properties visible in the scene are very much the same as well.

The Twilight Zone - You Drive (1964): Quiet Neighborhood In Culver City Is IN The Twilight Zone!

The Twilight Zone called the sprawling MGM Studios its production home, and the series primarily relied on the studio's vast backlot sets for outdoor scenes. It was rare for an episode to venture out for real-world location filming, making the 1964 episode You Drive a fascinating exception.

Filmed almost entirely on location, this episode showcases the Culver City neighborhood surrounding Carlson Park, located just across Culver Blvd from the historic MGM Studios lot.

Typical Suburban Neighborhood as Filming Location

Unlike many other Los Angeles area neighborhoods, this one has largely avoided the trend of historic homes being demolished for new construction, leaving the 1964 filming sites perfectly preserved.

• Carlson Park: The site of today's park was originally an auto speedway, hosting car races on its circular track starting in 1924.
• Neighborhood Construction Delayed: Due to the Great Depression, housing construction in the Carlson Park area didn't really get going until the very late 1930s / early 1940s. Many of these original homes are still standing today.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

In this Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video, we take a tour of the Carlson Park neighborhood. As you'll see in the video, both the park and the surrounding homes have remained virtually unchanged for over 60 years!

Boyz II Men - Motownphilly (Music Video) (1991): The Philadelphia Filming Locations Then And Now

In the summer of 1991, the airwaves were dominated by one sound: The debut song of Boyz II Men. You couldn't turn on the radio or watch MTV without seeing the high-energy music video for their song Motownphilly. As the breakout single that propelled the group to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the video did more than just launch a career — it put the "Philly Sound" back on the global map.

An Early 1990s Time Capsule of Philadelphia

The Motownphilly music video was filmed on location throughout the band's hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today, the footage serves as a valuable visual time capsule of the city's architecture and street life during the late 20th century. Filming locations included:

• Penn's Landing: On the Delaware River offering great views of the city and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
• Geno's Steaks: A Philadelphia institution, started in 1966 and still serving up famous Philly cheesesteaks.
• The Academy at Palumbo: Located on the southwest corner of South 11th Street and Catherine Street.

Start Your Tour of the Motownphilly Filming Locations

In this Quick Preview Video of our complete filming locations then and now tour, we revisit the iconic Philly spots featured in the music video. From Penn's Landing on the shores of the Delaware River to Geno's Steaks, you'll see how much the city has transformed - and stayed the same - since 1991.

Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (Music Video) (1983): A Tour Of The Northern New Jersey Filming Locations

The 1983 music video for the Cyndi Lauper song Time After Time is more than just a pop masterpiece; it is a beautiful cinematic journey through Northern New Jersey.

Rustic Northwest New Jersey As Filming Location

Filmed primarily on location in the towns of Wharton and Morristown, the video captures the authentic, small-town atmosphere that perfectly complements the song's emotional depth.

• Downtown Wharton: A driving scene through the downtown district of town shows off the sleepy atmosphere that persists to this day. And each building seen in this part of the music video is still standing today.
• Cyndi's "Home" In The Video: The unassuming house featured in the video still stands today, with very few changes to the exterior.
• The Morristown Train Station: A landmark that has stood since 1913, both the exterior and interior look exactly the same today as they did in 1983.

Time Sometimes Does Stand Still

Watch this Quick Preview Filming Locations Video to journey back in time to see these filming locations then and now.

Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen (Music Video) (1982): London Filming Locations Then And Now

People either love this song or hate it, but there's no question that the 1982 music video for the Dexys Midnight Runners song Come On Eileen is a fascinating time capsule of early 1980s London.

In this filming locations then and now Quick Preview video, we journey to the heart of South London to explore the streets around West Square. This filming locations video takes you on a tour of the primary filming sites around Brook Drive and Austral Street, along with several more obscure locations used in the 1982 production.

The good news for film historians and fans alike is that this neighborhood has remained beautifully preserved. The historic buildings of West Square are all still standing and look just as vibrant in the 21st century as they did when Kevin Rowland and the band danced through these streets over 40 years ago.

Brook Drive - The Main Artery of Come On Eileen

In the music video, the on location filming was done on Brook Drive at both Hayles Street and Austral Street. Several other scenes were filmed on the block of Hayles Street just north of Brook Drive.

The apartment buildings are all unaltered from 1982, with the exception that they all look sparkling clean as opposed to what we see in the music video. This is likely due to the fact that these are now very expensive residences!

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Journey back to this London neighborhood in 1982 in this Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video and retrace the steps of Dexys Midnight Runners and Eileen!

Madonna - Borderline (Music Video) (1984): Downtown Los Angeles Filming Locations

Take a virtual tour of the Los Angeles filming locations from one of the most iconic music videos of all time: Madonna's Borderline, released in February 1984.

Early in her career, Madonna frequently used the streets of Los Angeles as a backdrop for her visuals, and the Borderline music video is a prime example.

The Arts District Of Downtown Los Angeles

This music video was filmed extensively in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), a neighborhood that has long been a popular destination for film and television productions.

The historic 4th Street Bridge serves as a filming location anchor for the music video, with several scenes shot alongside and on the western approaches to the bridge on both 4th Street and 4th Place. Today, each of these filming locations looks just as they did back in the music video.

The Pool Hall Hangout

The one building seen in the music video that is not standing is the pool hall building. Today, that site at the corner of East 6th Street and Alameda Avenue is a surface parking lot.

Rest In Peace, Louie Louie

Madonna's love interest in the music video was Louis Cordero (July 10, 1962 – March 20, 2026), better known as Louie Louie. After filming Borderline he went on to have some success as a singer/songwriter and spent most of the rest of his life performing in Las Vegas. He was 63 at the time of his death.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

See Madonna, Louie Louie and the filming locations in this Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Madonna - La Isla Bonita (Music Video) (1987): Maryland Street In Los Angeles Filming Location

In this Quick Preview Filming Locations Video tour, we explore the Los Angeles settings for Madonna's popular 1987 music video, La Isla Bonita.

The La Isla Bonita music video was filmed entirely on the 1300 block of Maryland Street, located on the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). This neighborhood has changed very little since 1987, with one exception.

The Auto Garage Filming Location

Unfortunately, not every building manages to stand the test of time, and the auto garage building seen behind guitarist Marcos Loya has been demolished and in its place is a surface parking lot. However, all the other buildings seen in the music video are still standing with very few - if any - alterations.

The Death of Madonna's Co-Star

In the years since the filming of La Isla Bonita, guitarist Marcos Loya fell on hard times and experienced homelessness. Sadly, Marcos Loya passed away in April of 2026.

The La Isla Bonita Neighborhood Today

For fans looking to visit this iconic Madonna filming location, overall the neighborhood serves as a remarkable time capsule, as you'll see in this Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Madonna - Open Your Heart (Music Video) (1986): Los Angeles Filming Location Then And Now

Explore the Los Angeles filming location of Madonna's music video for her 1986 hit, Open Your Heart. While the music video was considered scandalous by 1986 standards, its heavy rotation on MTV propelled the song to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 7, 1987.

This virtual tour takes you to the intersection of West Court Street and Toluca Street, located just on the edge of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). This specific neighborhood served as the primary backdrop for the video's exterior scenes.

The Site of the Famous "Adult Theater" Set

For location hunters, this area of Los Angeles remains remarkably preserved since the late 1980s, with one major exception: The "Adult Theater" Site.

This filming location wasn't just a vacant lot, it was an active oil drilling site. If you look closely during the dance scene of Madonna and Felix Howard on the corner, you can see the oil well pumping away in a fenced in structure right next to the sidewalk!

The vacant lot that once housed the specially constructed "Adult Theater" set has since been developed. Today, a large apartment building occupies the site where the iconic peep show set once stood.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Keep a lookout for that oil well as you watch this Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1983): The Famous Los Angeles Movie Theater Filming Location

Michael Jackson's 1983 masterpiece, Thriller, was a groundbreaking cinematic event. With its unprecedented budget of half a million dollars and nearly 14-minute runtime, it feels more like a horror short film than a standard music video.

Because there's so much location filming in Thriller, I have divided the then and now filming locations tour into four parts. The first Quick Preview video takes us to 630 South Broadway in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA).

The Historic Palace Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles

The landmark featured prominently at the start of the video is the historic Palace Theatre:

• Architecture: Built in 1910 and opened in 1911, it originally opened as the Orpheum Theatre.
• History: It was renamed the Palace Theatre in 1926 and remains one of the most recognizable structures in the Broadway Theater District.
• The Video: This is the site where Michael and his date are seen leaving the theater at the beginning of the iconic 1983 production.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Today, the venue still hosts events, though you would never guess by looking at the outside of it as you'll see in this Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1983): A Visit To The Boyle Heights Filming Location

In the second installment of our Thriller filming locations tour, we visit the site of the legendary "Zombie Dance" street on Union Pacific Avenue just west of South Calzona Street in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles.

Big Changes At This Thriller Filming Location

This particular 1983 music video location is currently undergoing a significant transition. As the area shifts from vintage warehouses to modern industrial spaces, the area around the "Zombie Street" is changing rapidly:

• The Modern Shift: On the south side of Union Pacific Avenue, just west of Calzona Street, the landscape has modernized with several new structures replacing railroad tracks and storage silos.
• The Vanishing Warehouse: The original corrugated metal warehouse featured prominently in the music video has been demolished. In its place now stands the brand-new Union Commerce building.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Take a look at the changes to this filming location in the Quick Preview Then and Now Video.

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1983): The Zombie Dance Filming Location

The tour of the iconic 1983 Michael Jackson Thriller filming locations continues at the junction of Union Pacific Avenue and Calzona Street. While the south side of the street has modernized, the north side remains a perfect time capsule of the "Zombie Dance" scene.

Unlike the developing industrial lots nearby, this side of the street is completely unchanged since Michael Jackson and his cast of zombies performed the famous dance routine here.

Filming Location Landmark: The Red Brick Wall

The most prominent landmark in this sequence is the rear side (on Union Pacific Avenue) of the property located at 3700 East Olympic Blvd:

• Historic Architecture: Built in 1941, this imposing structure is defined by its massive red brick wall, which serves as the primary backdrop for the dance choreography.
• Preservation: From the masonry to the street-level appearance and the red brick wall, this filming location remains exactly as it was when it was captured on film for Thriller in 1983.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Watch the Quick Preview Filming Locations Video to see this Thriller filming location then and now.

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1983): The Famous Haunted House Filming Location

Wrapping up our then and now tour of the iconic 1983 Michael Jackson Thriller filming locations, we head to the historic Angelino Heights district of Los Angeles. This neighborhood is home to one of the most famous residences in music video history: the Thriller haunted house.

The climax of the music video was filmed at 1345 Carroll Avenue. This stunning residence is part of a world-renowned block of Victorian-era homes constructed in the late 1800s. Thanks to its status as a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ), the area remains meticulously maintained, looking much as it did a century ago.

About the Haunted House in Thriller

• Historic Pedigree: Built in 1887, the house at 1345 Carroll Avenue has been "dressed" by its owners to maintain its "haunted" appearance.
• Cinematic Legacy: Beyond its role in Thriller, this house appeared in films like Mystery Men, Skinner, and the 80s cult classic Teen Witch.

A Historic Block of Houses

This particular block of Carroll Avenue is a goldmine for location hunters. Several neighboring homes have also been featured on screen:

• 1329 Carroll Avenue: Famous as the Halliwell Manor from the TV series Charmed.
• 1320 Carroll Avenue: Featured in a 2000 episode of the series Primrose Empath.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Watch the Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video below to pay a visit to the Thriller haunted house now!

Spandau Ballet - Gold (Music Video) (1983): A Tour Of Leighton House Museum In London

The iconic 1983 music video for the song Gold by Spandau Ballet features a setting as opulent as the song itself. Interestingly, the band chose the exact same London filming location used just one year prior by The Stranglers for their hit Golden Brown. Read all about THAT music video a bit further along on this page!

Located on the west side of London, the Leighton House museum serves as the primary backdrop for this music video. While the Arab Hall — famous for its golden mosaics and intricate Middle Eastern tiles — features prominently as a filming location in the music video, Spandau Ballet utilized several additional sections of the historic estate, each easily recognizable today.

Leighton House Museum: Music Video Filming Location

• Historic Preservation: Because Leighton House is a meticulously maintained museum, the rooms look virtually identical to how they appeared during the 1983 production.
• The Arab Hall: A must-see filming location for 1980s music video fans, this is where the small indoor fountain and pool is located.
• Travel Tip: If you are visiting (or live around) London, I highly recommend a trip to Leighton House for any fan of 1980s music videos or Victorian architecture.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

The Complete Filming Locations Then and Now Video available for current members takes you through the various rooms of Leighton House seen on screen in this music video. Click the Watch The Video Now button below to view a Quick Preview of the complete filming locations video.

The Stranglers - Golden Brown (Music Video) (1982): The Beauty Of Leighton House Museum In London

While The Stranglers started out in the 1970s punk scene, their 1982 hit Golden Brown marked a sophisticated shift in their sound. Featuring a prominent harpsichord — probably the first and only time this instrument was used by a rock band — the song charted globally and was accompanied by an elegant music video.

The Golden Brown music video was filmed entirely at the Leighton House museum on the west side of London. The production perfectly utilizes the building's 1920s international elegance, with the band performing in formal tuxedos to match the opulent surroundings.

Exploring Leighton House in London

• The Arab Hall: Most of the video’s iconic imagery was captured in the Arab Hall section of Leighton House, known for its intricate golden mosaics and Middle Eastern tilework.
• The Entrance Scene: A brief sequence at the beginning of the video was filmed in an adjacent room within the museum, showcasing the transition between the building's unique architectural styles.

If this London filming location looks familiar, you have a great eye for 1980s pop culture! Just one year later, the band Spandau Ballet returned to Leighton House to film the music video for their 1983 hit Gold.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch a short excerpt from the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

White Town - Your Woman (Music Video) (1997): Touring Filming Locations In Derby, England

The 1997 hit song Your Woman by the band White Town was a global phenomenon with a unique origin story. The "band" is actually a solo project by Jyoti Mishra, who famously produced the track instrument-by-instrument on a 4-track analog cassette deck in his spare bedroom. This landmark achievement is widely considered the first worldwide #1 hit created in a home "bedroom studio."

White Town is based in Derby, England, and the music video for Your Woman serves as a beautiful cinematic tour of the city’s downtown core. I was pleasantly surprised during my visit to Derby to find that so many of these 1990s filming locations have been perfectly preserved over the last 30 years.

A Late 20th Century Time Capsule Of Derby, England

Most of the 1997 locations used in the music video remain standing today, making Derby a perfect destination for filming location hunters, including:

• The Guildhall Theatre: This historic venue remains a centerpiece of the city's cultural scene.
• Derby City Council & The Derby Cascade: Iconic civic landmarks that appear prominently in the music video.
• The Derby Ram Statue: A famous local monument that looks exactly as it did during the 1990s production.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Watch the Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video below to start your virtual tour of Derby and the filming locations for Your Woman.

Abbott and Costello - Dance With Me, Henry (1956): The Last Days Of An Original Los Angeles Neighborhood

The 1956 comedy Dance With Me, Henry holds a significant place in cinema history as the final feature film made by the legendary comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Beyond its comedic legacy, the motion picture serves as a rare, invaluable visual record of the Palms neighborhood on the West Side of Los Angeles just before its massive mid-century urban transformation.

Abbott and Costello Palms Filming Location Details

For urban explorers and classic Hollywood location hunters, this specific production captures on film a now-vanished era of Southern California architecture:

• Primary Filming Location: 3400 block of Mentone Avenue (near Woodbine Street)
• Neighborhood: Palms / West Side Los Angeles, California
• Key Cinematic Era: Mid-Century Studio Era (1956)
• Crossover Classic: The First Seven Years (1930) starring Our Gang / The Little Rascals

The Our Gang Connection and the Rezoning of Palms

This particular block of Mentone Avenue has a rich cinematic pedigree. Decades before Abbott and Costello arrived, it was featured prominently as a real-world backdrop in the 1930 Our Gang / The Little Rascals short The First Seven Years.

What makes the 1956 footage so historic is its timing. It was filmed just as the City of Los Angeles zoning changes were taking effect in the Palms neighborhood. One by one, single-family homes that dated back to the very early 1900s were replaced with the higher density, multi-family apartment buildings we see today.

Watch the Palms Neighborhood Then and Now Video Tour

This Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video takes you directly to Mentone Avenue near Woodbine Street to witness the final days of the "old" Palms neighborhood.

• The Neighborhood Transformation: Witness the striking contrast between the historic, single-family homes seen on screen in 1956 and the modern apartment complexes that ultimately replaced them.
• A Living Landmark: Amidst the radical mid-century changes to the West Side landscape, one incredible detail remains. A historic tree featured prominently next to Lou Costello in the 1956 film is still standing today, serving as a living link to Hollywood history.

Colors - High Top Chase Scene (1988): Venice Beach Streets

In the 1988 action movie Colors, veteran Los Angeles police officer Bob Hodges (Robert Duvall) and his hot-headed rookie partner Danny McGavin (Sean Penn) find themselves on the front lines of a fierce war against street gangs in Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Historic Venice Beach Filming Locations: Then and Now

Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California, has a storied history as a favorite Hollywood filming location dating back to the silent film era. Iconic filmmakers and comedy legends frequently utilized the vibrant beachside backdrop, including:

• Charlie Chaplin for his 1915 comedy short By The Sea
• Buster Keaton a few years later for his classic film The High Sign
• Our Gang / The Little Rascals, who shot the entire second half of their 1933 comedy Fish Hooky at the Venice Amusement Pier

The Iconic "High Top" Chase Scene in Colors

In this memorable sequence from Colors, the production moves to the Westside. The scene features Robert Duvall chasing a suspect through the streets of Venice Beach. Meanwhile, Sean Penn takes an alternate tactical route down the iconic Venice Beach Speedway to cut him off.

This Quick Preview Filming Locations Video highlights the start of the high-energy pursuit, tracking the characters from Windward Avenue at the beach over to Pacific Avenue.

Edgar Kennedy - It's Your Move (1945): The Famous Los Angeles Descanso Steps As Filming Location

A classic plot in early cinema involves the comedic struggle of carrying bulky objects up a daunting flight of stairs. While the 1932 Laurel and Hardy masterpiece The Music Box is the most famous example, several other comedy legends utilized this exact plot device. Notable examples include The Three Stooges in their 1941 comedy An Ache in Every Stake and Charley Chase's brilliant performance in Isn't Life Terrible (1925).

At first glance, many classic film fans mistake the setting of the 1945 Edgar Kennedy short It's Your Move for the landmark Music Box Steps in Silver Lake. However, this RKO Radio Pictures production actually utilized a completely different, equally impressive urban staircase.

Edgar Kennedy's It's Your Move Filming Location Details

For film historians and urban explorers tracking down historic Los Angeles cinematic landmarks, here are the precise location details:

• Primary Filming Location: The Descanso Steps, 3200 Larissa Drive
• Neighborhood: Silver Lake / Los Angeles, California
• Key Cinematic Era: Mid-Century Comedy Shorts (1945)
• Historical Crossover: Frequently confused with the Laurel and Hardy Music Box site located just a short distance away.

The Hills Of The Silver Lake Neighborhood

This neighborhood's unique hillside geography made it an absolute favorite for physical comedy directors during the golden age of cinema. The steep, sprawling concrete staircases built into the hills around this area provided the perfect real-world stage for sight gags, exhausting stunts, and chaotic prop comedy.

Watch the Descanso Steps Then and Now Video Tour

Want to see how this legendary outdoor staircase looks today compared to the 1945 film? This Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video takes you on a direct then and now tour of these famous stairs.

Glenn Tryon - 45 Minutes From Hollywood (1926): Hollywood And Culver City Filming Locations

In the mid-1920s, Hal Roach Studios launched a series of comedy shorts starring actor Glenn Tryon. Following the studio's tradition of extensive location shooting, the 1926 film 45 Minutes From Hollywood serves as an incredible 100-year-old time capsule of Southern California.

Bright And Bustling Streets

45 Minutes From Hollywood provides eye-opening views of the Los Angeles area of the 1920s, featuring a variety of historic backdrops:

• Downtown Culver City: See the downtown core as it appeared in the silent era, and how it is mostly unchanged today.
• Hollywood & Los Angeles: The film also features rare footage of Hollywood Blvd and the West Side of Los Angeles.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Because these scenes were filmed on location a century ago, they offer us a unique opportunity at time travel! This Quick Preview Filming Locations Video provides a fascinating then and now comparison, taking us on a tour of these historic sites.

Max Davidson - Dumb Daddies (1928): Looking At Main Street In Culver City Then And Now

Max Davidson was a standout comedic talent of the silent era, celebrated for his popular series of films made at the Hal Roach Studios during the mid-to-late 1920s. His 1928 comedy Dumb Daddies is not just a masterpiece of character acting; it is a definitive historical record of the Los Angeles area from a century ago.

No Need For Backlots

Unlike many films of the era that used studio backlots to film outdoor scenes, Dumb Daddies made extensive use of the real-world streets of Downtown Culver City. The film provides an incredible, in-depth look at Main Street, capturing almost every inch of the historic district as it existed in 1928, including:

• The Alleys of Main Street: The production utilized the narrow alleys between the buildings, offering a rare "behind-the-scenes" look at the city's early layout.
• Meticulous Preservation: Remarkably, all of the buildings and alleys featured in the 1928 film are still standing today. A visit to these locations offers a rare opportunity to see exactly what Max Davidson saw during production nearly 100 years ago.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

For film historians and fans of Hal Roach comedies, this neighborhood remains one of the best-preserved filming sites in the Los Angeles area. This Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video takes you on a virtual tour of these historic spots, comparing the 1928 footage with the vibrant Downtown Culver City of today.

Max Davidson - The Boy Friend (1928) - Part 1 of 2: Touring 1920s Downtown Culver City

The 1928 comedy short The Boy Friend stands as another brilliant entry in Max Davidson's series at Hal Roach Studios. Beyond the comedy, the film provides a stunning visual record of Downtown Culver City during the late silent era, featuring some of the area's most iconic landmarks.

Because this production features so much on-location footage, this then and now filming locations tour is divided into two parts. This first part focuses on the area surrounding the historic Culver Hotel, located at 9400 Culver Blvd.

A Young Icon: The Culver Hotel

At the time of filming in 1928, the Culver Hotel was only four years old. The movie offers clear views of the Culver Blvd side as it appeared in its earliest days.

Walking Main Street In Culver City - Then and Now

We also tour the heart of the city, with excerpts from several key scenes filmed along Main Street. It's all here in the first of our two Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Videos.

Max Davidson - The Boy Friend (1928) - Part 2 of 2: Looking At The Historic Culver City Telephone Exchange Building

Continuing our then and now tour of the historic filming locations used in the 1928 silent comedy The Boy Friend, starring comedy legend Max Davidson. Picking up where Part 1 left off, this second Quick Preview Filming Locations Video explores more of the historic downtown core of Culver City, California, as it appeared nearly a century ago during the height of the silent film era.

Culver City Filming Location Details

For classic film historians and urban explorers, this installment provides a rare, highly localized look at early 20th-century Southern California architecture and infrastructure:

• Primary Location: 9400 Block of Culver Boulevard, Culver City, California
• Featured Intersection: Culver Boulevard and Cardiff Avenue
• Key Cinematic Era: Late Silent Film Era (1928)
• Crossover Classic: Wages of Tin (1925) starring Glenn Tryon
• Lost Landmark: The historic Culver City telephone exchange building

The Cardiff Avenue and Glenn Tryon Connection

This leg of the tour captures a highly detailed look at the north side of the 9400 block of Culver Blvd before turning the corner onto Cardiff Avenue. Movie buffs will recognize Cardiff Avenue as a prominent backdrop from another classic Hal Roach Studios production: The 1925 Glenn Tryon comedy short Wages of Tin.

A Rare Look at Early Culver City Infrastructure

One of the most exciting aspects of this archival footage is a very rare look at the historic Culver City telephone exchange building. While many early 1920s utility buildings have been lost to mid-century modernization and commercial redevelopment, this footage provides a priceless visual record of the city's early infrastructure and industrial design.

Max Davidson - Why Girls Say No (1927): Visiting The Larchmont Village Neighborhood Of Los Angeles

The 1927 silent comedy Why Girls Say No, directed by Leo McCarey and starring Max Davidson, offers a stunning visual tour of the beautiful Larchmont Village neighborhood in Los Angeles. This Hal Roach Studios production focuses heavily on a single historic block, serving as a detailed, 100-year-old time capsule of one of LA's most charming and well-preserved commercial districts.

Historic Larchmont Boulevard Filming Location Details

For film historians and urban explorers planning a trip to Los Angeles, this specific filming location provides an incredible look at early Hollywood transit and architecture:

Primary Location: 100 Block of North Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

• Key Cinematic Era: Late Silent Film Era (1927)
• Transit Landmark: The historic Los Angeles Railway streetcar line (Yellow Cars)
• Preservation Status: High. Almost all the original commercial buildings captured on film in 1927 are still standing today, retaining their vintage 1920s architecture.

The Three Stooges Connection to Larchmont Blvd

The transit history captured in Why Girls Say No has a fascinating overlap with other classic comedy shorts. The opening of the film features rare footage of a Los Angeles Railway streetcar operating right down the center of Larchmont Boulevard. This is the exact same streetcar line prominently featured nearly a decade later in the 1936 film False Alarms starring The Three Stooges.

Nat Carr - Traffic Tangle (1930) - Part 1 of 2: A Look At Historic Main Street In Culver City

While Hal Roach Studios is legendary for utilizing the streets of Culver City for classic comedy backdrops, they were not the only production company operating in the area. The nearby Pathé Studios also took full advantage of the city's downtown core, leveraging its vintage architecture as a highly versatile backdrop for early sound era productions.

Pathé Studios and the Traffic Tangle (1930) Location Tour

In 1930, Pathé released the classic comedy short Traffic Tangle, starring Nat Carr. This first Quick Preview Filming Locations Video focuses specifically on the legendary Main Street in Downtown Culver City.

The Laurel and Hardy Connection and Urban Preservation

Classic Hollywood enthusiasts and fans of Laurel and Hardy will immediately recognize the historic storefronts captured in the 1930 footage. These identical structures served as prominent backdrops in numerous silent films starring the iconic duo, including the 1928 classic Leave 'Em Laughing.

Nat Carr - Traffic Tangle (1930) - Part 2 of 2: A Culver City Residential Neighborhood Then And Now

Our ongoing exploration of vintage movie locations from the 1930 classic comedy short Traffic Tangle moves from the commercial center of Main Street into a classic Culver City residential neighborhood. Starring Nat Carr, this Pathe production provides a great visual archive of one of the early residential neighborhoods of Culver City.

Historic Carson Street Architecture as a Mid-1920s Time Capsule

During production, the film crew utilized the 9000 block of Carson Street in Culver City, capturing a row of residential homes that were newly constructed at the time of filming:

• 9020 Carson Street (Built 1924): Featured prominently in the 1930 footage, this residence stands as a pristine example of pre-depression era home construction.
• 9025 Carson Street (Built 1926) & 9015 Carson Street (Built 1929): Positioned across the street, these homes also appear virtually the same as they did in 1930.

Preservation of Classic Hollywood Locations

As showcased in this Quick Preview Movie Locations Video, the level of historical preservation on Carson Street is extraordinary. This specific Culver City block remains remarkably unaltered, offering a rare then and now historical contrast that allows viewers to experience the exact streetscapes of 1930.

Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly - Beauty And The Bus (1933): The Early Years Of Westwood Village

The 1933 comedy short Beauty and the Bus stars Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly on a chaotic driving adventure through the Westwood Village section of Los Angeles. Produced by Hal Roach Studios, this film serves as a vital historical archive, capturing the neighborhood's signature Mediterranean-style architecture just four years after its 1929 inception.

Early Hollywood Sound Production & Rear-Projection

By 1933, major movie studios were transitioning away from purely on-location filming for driving sequences, increasingly utilizing rear-projection (process photography) on indoor soundstages. This structural blend offers an invaluable perspective on how early sound films balanced technological constraints with real-world backdrops.

Historical Preservation and Westwood Landmarks

Because commercial development in Westwood Village only began in 1929, the film functions as a crucial visual record of the area in its infancy. In the 90+ years since production, many of the landmark commercial buildings captured in the 1933 footage remain standing and beautifully preserved.

Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts - Sneak Easily (1932): Touring Historic Beverly Hills And Los Angeles

In the early 1930s, legendary Hollywood producer Hal Roach sought to recreate the slapstick magic of his most famous comedy duo by teaming Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts as a "female version of Laurel and Hardy." Their 1932 classic comedy short Sneak Easily stands out as a highlight of the series, highly prized by film historians for its extensive on-location footage of iconic Los Angeles area landmarks.

Landmark 1: Beverly Hills City Hall (Beverly Hills, CA)

Our Filming Locations Then and Now Quick Preview Video begins with a visit to the historic Beverly Hills City Hall, which was brand new to the Southern California landscape at the time of the 1932 production. Celebrated for its stunning Spanish Renaissance architecture, the building was officially declared Beverly Hills Historic Preservation Landmark #12.

Landmark 2: Pacific Electric Railway Fletcher Viaduct (Silver Lake, Los Angeles)

The geographical tour then travels east to the vibrant Silver Lake neighborhood for a rare look at the lost transit infrastructure of Southern California: the Pacific Electric Railway Fletcher Viaduct. While this massive "Red Car" railway bridge was demolished in 1959, the concrete footings of the viaduct's supports still exist and have been designated Los Angeles Cultural Monument #770.

The Ladykillers (1955) Filming Locations: A Historic London Time Capsule

Part comedy, part thriller, and entirely a cinematic masterpiece, The Ladykillers is a quintessential Ealing Studios British black comedy classic. Starring legendary screen icons Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers, this landmark movie is highly celebrated for its extensive and gritty on-location outdoor filming, serving as an irreplaceable visual record of post-World War II London.

The Historic King's Cross / St. Pancras District in the 1950s

The vast majority of The Ladykillers filming locations were centered in the immediate urban area surrounding London’s St. Pancras and King's Cross train stations.

A Then and Now Tour of Central London Streets

This exclusive Filming Locations Then and Now Quick Preview Video takes you deep into the heart of this historic district to witness how little this iconic United Kingdom landscape has transformed over the decades, from the historic train platforms of King's Cross to the residential streets that served as the setting for Mrs. Wilberforce's famous house.

The Taxi Boys - Bring 'Em Back A Wife (1933): When Streetcars Ran Down The Middle Of The Streets

In the early 1930s, Hal Roach Studios launched The Taxi Boys, a comedy short film series featuring beloved supporting actors from the Our Gang and Laurel and Hardy franchises. Today, this series is considered a hidden gem for film historians due to its extensive use of real-world Los Angeles area filming locations.

A 1930s Downtown Culver City Time Capsule

This specific production offers a remarkable visual archive of Downtown Culver City during the early 1930s, capturing the streets before modern urban redevelopment altered the area:

• The Pacific Electric Railway "Red Cars": Viewers can spot incredibly rare historic footage of the iconic Pacific Electric Railway "Red Car" tracks.
• The Culver Boulevard Median: The vintage footage explicitly documents the streetcar tracks as they once ran directly down the center of Culver Blvd, providing an invaluable resource for transit historians.

Exploring The Taxi Boys: Hot Spot (1932) Filming Locations in Culver City

Step back in time to early 1930s Los Angeles history with The Taxi Boys movie Hot Spot: A Look At A Street That No Longer Exists. Beyond the slapstick humor, this rare film serves as a remarkable visual archive of Downtown Culver City during the golden era of classic Hollywood.

Historic Culver City Landmarks Then and Now

• The Legendary Culver Hotel: The film was shot directly across the street from this iconic landmark, which was less than 10 years old when filming took place in 1932.
• The Lost Washington Boulevard Pedestrian Tunnel: One of the most fascinating geographical features captured is the entrance to a historic pedestrian tunnel that once ran directly under Washington Blvd at Van Buren Place, serving as a vital safety measure for pedestrians.

This exclusive Filming Locations Then and Now Quick Preview Video reveals how this specific historic block has been converted into a vibrant, walkable pedestrian plaza, effectively "erasing" the physical need for the historic 1930s tunnel.

The Taxi Boys - Taxi Barons (1933): A High Speed Chase Through Downtown Culver City

Taxi drivers Ben Blue and Billy Gilbert accidentally knock over a policeman's motorcycle with their taxi. The motorcycle is undamaged though, and the cop pursues Ben and Billy through the streets of Downtown Culver City.

Like most of the other films in The Taxi Boys series, Taxi Barons features quite a bit of on location filming around the Los Angeles area and is another fantastic early 1930s time capsule.

The Filming Locations

• Van Buren Place at Washington Blvd with an excellent view of the Culver Hotel.
• Ince Blvd at Washington Blvd showing the block prior to today's Culver Steps development.
• Main Street between Culver Blvd and Venice Blvd when everyone parked diagonally and there weren't any trees lining the street.

Tyler Perry - Madea Goes To Jail (2009): Visiting The Historic Parking Lot Scene Filming Location

One of the most memorable big-screen appearances for Tyler Perry's character Mabel "Madea" Simmons is in the 2009 box-office hit Madea Goes to Jail, which features a legendary parking lot showdown that fans still talk about today. This hilarious scene was filmed on location at a real-life shopping plaza in Mableton, Georgia.

Where Was Madea Goes to Jail Filmed?

• Filming Location: 5590 Mableton Pkwy SW
• City and State: Mableton, Georgia (Suburban Atlanta)
• Original Anchor Store: Kmart (Now permanently closed and remodeled)

Then and Now: How the Mableton, Georgia Site Has Changed

While the big-box Kmart seen in the 2009 film has since closed its doors and been replaced by a new retail outlet with an altered storefront entrance, the rest of the plaza remains a perfect time capsule of the production. Walking through the parking lot today, location hunters can easily recognize the exact layout where Madea took her frontier justice out on a sedan.

Buster Keaton - The High Sign (1921): A Tour of Venice Beach Filming Locations

Buster Keaton created some of the most enduring masterpieces of the silent era. His 1921 short film, The High Sign, serves as a remarkable visual time capsule of Southern California’s coastal landscape from over a century ago.

Visiting Filming Locations In Historic Venice Beach

While Keaton filmed across several iconic coastal spots—including the Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach as well as Redondo Beach—this filming locations tour focuses on historic Venice Beach.

This Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video provides a direct comparison of the 1921 production footage and the modern-day landscape, featuring:

• Windward Avenue: See the dramatic transformation of one of Venice's most famous streets. Sadly, all but one of the historic buildings featured in the film have since been demolished.
• Ocean Front Walk: Witness the shift from a quiet, residential beachfront to the world-famous, bustling commercial district it is today.

Charlie Chaplin - A Woman (1915): A Visit To Picturesque Lincoln Park Filming Locations

The classic silent comedy short A Woman is split into two acts. It kicks off with the iconic Little Tramp causing his trademark slapstick chaos in a public park. Then, the real twist happens in the second half when Charlie hilariously disguises himself as a woman.

Touring Charlie Chaplin's 1915 Filming Locations at Lincoln Park

If you are exploring the Los Angeles area and want to spend a day discovering historic Charlie Chaplin filming locations, use this Quick Preview video to help plan your trip!

We take you on a tour of historic Lincoln Park, nestled right in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Rich in history, this local landmark has gone by a few names since opening in 1881, including East Los Angeles Park and Eastlake Park, before finally being named Lincoln Park after nearby Abraham Lincoln High School.

When watching the video, keep an eye out for the Lincoln Park Boathouse in the background. Built back in 1912, this incredible historic structure is still standing strong today and serves as the vibrant home for the Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center.

Charlie Chaplin - By The Sea (1915): A Visit To Los Angeles Area Beach Filming Locations

Charlie Chaplin provides a remarkable historical record of the Southern California coastline in his 1915 comedy, By The Sea. This Then and Now filming locations tour takes you back over a century to explore the early days of Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Discover Iconic Silent Film Landmarks

In this video preview, we revisit the exact spots where the Little Tramp caused coastal chaos, comparing the 1915 production footage with the modern landscape:

• Palisades Park (Santa Monica): See a fascinating then and now comparison of this world-famous park. We take you to the precise location where Chaplin filmed, offering a rare glimpse of the park as it looked in 1915.
• 1 Westminster Avenue (Venice Beach): Built in 1913, this historic building is a miracle of preservation. Most remarkably, the corner seen in the movie remains unchanged.
• The Brickwork Test: We demonstrate how the original brick patterns from the 1915 film match up perfectly with the building today—a definitive "fingerprint" for film historians.

Charlie Chaplin - The Idle Class (1921): A Tour of Historic Los Angeles Area Filming Locations

In his 1921 comedy short The Idle Class, Charlie Chaplin utilized a diverse array of locations across the Los Angeles area. From the luxury of Beverly Hills to the historic railroad station in Pasadena, this film serves as a vital visual record of Southern California during the early 20th century.

Historic Landmarks & Then and Now Comparisons

Our filming locations tour follows the Little Tramp through several iconic sites, comparing 1921 production footage with the modern landscape:

• Pasadena Train Station (260 South Raymond Avenue): The film opens with Chaplin arriving at this historic train station. While the station remains an active part of Pasadena's transportation infrastructure today, our video highlights the extensive modernization that has occurred over the last century.
• The Los Angeles River (Los Feliz Blvd): Perhaps the most remarkable footage in the film is the view of the Los Angeles River in its natural state. See the river as it looked before the massive 20th-century engineering projects transformed it into the concrete stormwater channel it is today.
• Will Rogers Memorial Park (Beverly Hills): We conclude our tour at this beautiful Beverly Hills landmark. As you will see in our "Then and Now" comparison, the park's layout and atmosphere remain beautifully preserved and largely unchanged since 1921. Interestingly, Laurel and Hardy filmed scenes from their 1932 feature film Pack Up Your Troubles in this exact same spot.

Harold Lloyd - Get Out And Get Under (1920): A Wild Ride Across Early Los Angeles Streetscapes

Much like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, silent comedy legend Harold Lloyd treated the streets of Los Angeles as his personal movie backlot. His 1920 comedy movie, Get Out And Get Under, serves as an excellent example of his extensive use of on-location filming, capturing the Los Angeles area landscape prior to its rapid evolution in the mid-20th century.

A Journey Through a Vanishing Los Angeles

This then and now filming locations tour follows Lloyd's journey across the city, highlighting the dramatic changes to these historic neighborhoods:

• The Palms Neighborhood (West Los Angeles): The first half of the film offers a look at the West Side in 1920. At the time of filming, Palms retained a quiet, small-town atmosphere with wide-open spaces. This then and now video provides a vivid contrast between this undeveloped era and the massive urban density found in the area today.
• North Spring Street & Ord Street (Downtown LA): Explore fascinating footage filmed on the edge of DTLA. The comparison features the historic building at 808 North Spring Street. Built in 1916, this structure is still standing today and serves as a magnificent anchor for identifying these century-old scenes.
• Historic Time Capsule: From the dirt roads of the West Side to the burgeoning industrial districts near downtown, this film is a vital record of the Los Angeles area from over 100 years ago.

Reefer Madness (1936): West Hollywood Filming Locations Then and Now

The 1936 cult classic Reefer Madness is famous for its over-the-top portrayal of the "new drug menace" supposedly destroying American youth. While the production was filmed almost entirely at the historic United Artists Studios (originally the Pickford-Fairbanks Studios and today known as The Lot), there is one notable scene captured on the real-world streets of Los Angeles—filmed right outside the studio gates!

A Historic Glimpse of Santa Monica Boulevard

This Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video focuses on that single, outdoor sequence where a car speeds down Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. By matching up the distinct buildings and background landmarks from the 1936 footage, we can see exactly how much this busy stretch of West Hollywood has changed over the last ninety years.

• The 7300 Block of Santa Monica Blvd: Witness this historic stretch of West Hollywood as it appeared in the mid-1930s.
• Architectural Preservation: While much of the Los Angeles area has been redeveloped, you’ll be surprised to see how many original buildings from this 1936 scene are still standing today.

Charley Chase - All Wet (1924): A Historic Culver City Filming Locations Tour

In the 1924 silent comedy short All Wet, Charley Chase delivers a masterclass in physical comedy as he battles a massive mud puddle that threatens to swallow his car. Filmed almost entirely on a single residential street, this production serves as an incredible visual record of the birth of a Culver City neighborhood.

A 100-Year-Old Time Capsule of Carson Street in Culver City

This Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video takes you to the 8800 block of Carson Street, offering a rare glimpse of Southern California’s suburban expansion during the mid-1920s:

• A Neighborhood Under Construction: Witness Carson Street as it was being built over a century ago. The film captures the raw landscape and early architecture of the area before it became the established neighborhood it is today.
• The Our Gang Connection: Film historians will recognize this exact location from the 1923 Our Gang / The Little Rascals movie, Dogs of War, filmed just one year prior.
• Dramatic Transformation: Our video comparison shows the striking shift from a muddy, developing construction site to the quiet, tree-lined street of today, featuring beautifully preserved 100-year-old homes.

Charley Chase - Fast Work (1930): Los Angeles Filming Locations Then and Now

Released during the early "talkie" era, the 1930 Charley Chase comedy Fast Work serves as a vibrant visual record of pre-war Los Angeles. As a Hal Roach Studios production, the film utilizes several iconic locations that remain staples of Hollywood’s cinematic geography.

Iconic Mansions and Studio History

Our filming locations tour begins at a historic mansion in Los Angeles:

• The Mansion at 3500 West Adams Blvd: Early in the film, Charley Chase appears at this opulent estate in the West Adams Historic District. Architecture and film buffs will recognize this as the same historic mansion used in the 1930 Laurel and Hardy comedy, Another Fine Mess.
• The Hal Roach Connection: Since both films were produced by Hal Roach Studios in the same year, the site remains a fascinating example of how the studio maximized its location deals. Most remarkably, the mansion is still standing today and remains beautifully preserved.

Hollywood Street Scenes: Franklin and Whitley Avenue

This then and now comparison continues with a chase sequence involving an escaped lunatic:

• 1861 Whitley Avenue: The high-energy collision between Charley and the lunatic was filmed at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Whitley Avenue.
• Architectural Time Capsule: The apartment building at this intersection is still standing. Our then and now video analysis shows that the structure remains virtually unchanged since 1930, offering a rare "fingerprint" of classic Hollywood architecture.

Charley Chase - His Silent Racket (1933): A Palms Neighborhood Filming Locations Tour

Released in 1933, the Charley Chase comedy short His Silent Racket features incredible on-location footage from the Palms neighborhood on the West Side of Los Angeles. This Then and Now tour explores the historic intersections that served as a real-world backlot for both Chase and the legendary Hal Roach Studios.

Iconic Silent Film Intersections: Palms Then and Now

This video preview takes you to the exact spots where cinematic history was made, featuring then and now comparisons of:

• Motor Avenue & Tabor Street: This intersection is a landmark for film historians. Beyond its appearance in His Silent Racket, it was famously used in the Our Gang / The Little Rascals classics Dog Heaven (1927) and Bouncing Babies (1929).
• Motor Avenue & Woodbine Street: Located just a few blocks away, this site was a favorite for Hal Roach directors. It is most prominently featured in the 1929 Our Gang / The Little Rascals comedy Boxing Gloves and appeared in numerous other Our Gang / The Little Rascals shorts throughout the 1920s and early 1930s.
• A Neighborhood Transformed: Witness the striking evolution of these West Los Angeles streets, comparing the quiet, suburban atmosphere of the 1930s with the densely developed modern-day landscape.

Charley Chase - His Wooden Wedding (1925): A Culver City Filming Locations Tour

Filmed in 1925, the Charley Chase silent comedy His Wooden Wedding provides a stunning visual record of Culver City in its infancy. This Then and Now tour focuses on the area surrounding one of the most famous landmarks in the area.

Explore Historic Downtown Culver City

This video preview takes you to the heart of the "Heart of Screenland," featuring then and now comparisons of:

• The Culver Hotel (9400 Culver Blvd): Witness this architectural masterpiece when it was less than two years old. The film captures the building's original elegance and its early role as a hub for silent film stars and studio executives.
• The MGM Studios Water Tower: Look closely at the background of the 1925 footage to see the iconic water tower that stood for decades on the main MGM Studios lot - a landmark that has since become synonymous with the Golden Age of Hollywood.
• The Pacific Electric Railway: See the historic "Red Car" tracks that once ran directly down the center of Culver Blvd. Our video highlights this lost transit artery that connected Downtown Los Angeles to the beach communities of Playa del Rey and El Segundo.

Culver Hotel Filming Locations: Innocent Husbands (1925) vs. Hunter (1986)

Discover the rich cinematic history of Downtown Culver City with this Filming Locations Then and Now breakdown. This historic spot bridges the gap between 1920s silent comedy and 1980s television crime drama.

• The Silent Era: The 1925 Charley Chase silent comedy short Innocent Husbands features extensive on-location footage filmed directly in front of the landmark Culver Hotel. At the time of production, the iconic building was barely a year old.
• The TV Era: Moving half a century forward, this exact same historic backdrop was utilized in 1986 for the TV series Hunter in the classic Season 2 episode, Scrap Metal.

The Exact Location

This Quick Preview Filming Locations Video for Innocent Husbands provides a detailed, then and now comparison of:

• The Culver Blvd facade of the hotel.
• The historic main entrance located at the prominent intersection of Culver Blvd and Main Street in Downtown Culver City, California.

Charley Chase - Limousine Love (1928): Historic Culver City Filming Locations

Following the tradition of his 1925 classic His Wooden Wedding, Charley Chase returns to the heart of Culver City in the 1928 comedy masterpiece, Limousine Love. This film provides an incredible, detailed visual tour of Downtown Culver City during the peak of the silent film era.

The Culver Hotel: A 100-Year Cinematic Landmark

This Then and Now filming locations tour features extensive footage of the world-famous Culver Hotel (9400 Culver Blvd). Our video comparison highlights:

• Detailed Views: See the historic hotel from several unique angles as it appeared in 1928.
• Restoring 1920s Elegance: We contrast the vintage footage with the building’s current state. Since its multi-million dollar renovation in the mid-2010s, the hotel has been meticulously restored to its original 1920s elegance.
• Downtown Culver City Tour: The second half of Limousine Love serves as a moving time capsule, taking viewers through the commercial district as it looked nearly a century ago. This part of the filming locations tour is available to current members of the site.

Charley Chase - Midsummer Mush (1933): A Culver City Filming Locations Tour

Released in 1933, the Charley Chase comedy classic Midsummer Mush serves as an outstanding visual time capsule of two legendary Hal Roach Studios filming locations. This Then and Now tour explores how two Los Angeles area intersections evolved over several decades of cinematic history.

Historic Intersections: From Silent Comedy to 70s TV

This video preview takes you to the exact spots where some of Hollywood's most famous comedy movies and TV episodes were filmed:

• Motor Avenue & Tabor Street (Palms): The first half of our tour focuses on this historic Palms intersection. Film historians will recognize this site from the 1929 Our Gang / The Little Rascals short Bouncing Babies. Remarkably, this same location was used 50 years later in the Target Angels episode of the hit TV series Charlie's Angels.
• Main Street & Culver Blvd (Downtown Culver City): The second half of our tour shifts to the center of the "Heart of Screenland." This intersection was a favorite filming location for local studios in the 1920s and 30s. It features prominently in the 1928 Laurel and Hardy comedy movie Leave 'Em Laughing and the 1930 Nat Carr comedy Traffic Tangle.

Charley Chase - On The Wrong Trek (1936): Hal Roach Studios Ranch Filming Location

As one of the final comedy shorts Charley Chase created for Hal Roach Studios, the 1936 film On The Wrong Trek serves as a rare visual record of the entrance to the studio's ranch property.

The Hal Roach Studios Ranch & Laurel and Hardy Cameo

This Quick Preview filming locations video takes you to a location that was once the heart of Roach's outdoor production: The Hal Roach Studios Ranch entrance at South Robertson Blvd & Hillsboro Avenue in the Beverlywood section of Los Angeles.

• The Studio Ranch (South Robertson Blvd & Hillsboro Avenue): A rare visit to the entrance to the Hal Roach Studios ranch. Film history enthusiasts will appreciate this site, as dozens of Hal Roach Studios movies filmed at the ranch between 1924 and 1940. The ranch was where Miss Crabtree's school house was located as seen in the Our Gang / The Little Rascals movie Teacher's Pet. Laurel and Hardy filmed most of their 1929 movie The Hoose-Gow at the ranch, along with their 1932 comedy Towed In A Hole.
• A Surprise Appearance: The scene in this Quick Preview filming locations video features a cameo appearance by Laurel and Hardy.
• The Birth of Beverlywood: Just a few years after this scene was filmed, Hal Roach sold the ranch property to developers. Our "Then and Now" comparison shows this famous filming location transformed into the beautiful, upscale Beverlywood neighborhood of today.