Introduction
This month we're heading out on location and featuring then and now photos of filming locations from three comedy short movies of the 1920s.
First up is a stunning look at the location used for the closing scene in the Our Gang / The Little Rascals 1923 movie Dogs Of War. Then, just in time for Christmas, it's a look at the big changes at one of the filming locations used in the Laurel and Hardy classic 1929 comedy short Big Business.
Lastly, we spend some time looking at the on location filming from a Max Davidson comedy from 1928, The Boy Friend.
Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Dogs Of War (1923)
The Plot
The Gang and a rival gang in the neighborhood have declared war on each other and go at it with an array of messy, rotten vegetable projectiles and an elaborate system of defensive trenches.
A Movie With Two Interesting Filming Locations
This early Our Gang / The Little Rascals comedy movie has two sections. The first part of this film is the battlefield scenes, while the second part of the movie takes place on the grounds and shooting stages of a real movie studio where the Gang tries their hand at making their own melodramatic film.
The movie studio scenes were filmed in Culver City, California at the Hal Roach Studios (which produced this movie). The Gang sneak onto the lot in the back of a truck and we get to see great views of the studio grounds in addition to many of the sets used in many of the Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Charley Chase and other Our Gang / The Little Rascals movies that the studio produced in the 1920s and 1930s.
Filming Location Time Capsule - The Birth Of A Neighborhood
This amazing filming location then and now photo above shows a Culver City neighborhood - the 8800 block of Carson Street - literally being built as they filmed the movie. The residents living on this lovely street today probably have no idea that a classic comedy movie filmed right here on location over 100 years ago!
In Case You Missed It
Quick Preview Video: Watch an excerpt from the complete filming locations video from this movie here:
Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Dogs Of War - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video
Member Exclusive - Full Then and Now Filming Locations Documentary Video and Photo Gallery
If you have made a small donation and are a current member, you can view the ENTIRE filming locations video by clicking here to Login and then clicking here:
The Little Rascals - Dogs Of War - Complete Filming Locations Video
And don't miss the complete photo gallery of filming locations then and now here:
The Little Rascals - Dogs Of War - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
Become A Member Now!
If you make a very small donation to the site, you'll unlock over 150 full-length filming locations then and now videos and over 2,000 filming locations then and now photos.
Click here to donate and become a member now!
Laurel and Hardy - Big Business (1929)
The Plot
It's the holiday season and Laurel and Hardy are going door to door trying to sell Christmas trees.
The Death Of A Filming Location
Two filming locations were used in this movie. The first was a house at the corner of Caroline Avenue and Jacob Street in Culver City, while the second filming location was a house at 10281 Dunleer Drive in the Cheviot Hills area of Los Angeles.
The house at the first location remained standing and in excellent condition right up until late 2024. The owner of this house knew the important place in filming location history her house held. In a conversation I had with her in 2017, she told me of the many times Laurel and Hardy fans would gather on the street to photograph the house - yours truly included. She called us "the Laurel and Hardy people!" Sadly the owner passed away a few years ago and the house was sold. Apparently the new owners had other ideas for the property and had the house demolished in early 2025.
The "now" photo above was taken in April of 2025 and shows the construction of the new home. One has to wonder that with all the houses on this particular street, luck would have it that THIS house was the one to be demolished!
Fortunately, the second home used as a filming location for Big Business is still standing and in excellent condition.
In Case You Missed It
Quick Preview Video: Watch an excerpt from the complete filming locations video from this movie here:
Laurel and Hardy - Big Business - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video
Member Exclusive - Full Then and Now Filming Locations Documentary Video and Photo Gallery
If you have made a small donation and are a current member, you can view the ENTIRE filming locations video by clicking here to Login and then clicking here:
Laurel and Hardy - Big Business - Complete Filming Locations Video
And don't miss the complete photo gallery of filming locations then and now here:
Laurel and Hardy - Big Business - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
Become A Member Now!
If you make a very small donation to the site, you'll unlock over 150 full-length filming locations then and now videos and over 2,000 filming locations then and now photos.
Click here to donate and become a member now!
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend (1928) - Part 1 of 2
The Plot
Max Davidson doesn't approve of the young man his daughter is dating and goes to great lengths to scare him off.
A Time Capsule Of Culver City
The Boy Friend is a 1928 Max Davidson comedy made by the Hal Roach Studios that greatly benefits from being filmed almost entirely on location in downtown Culver City, California. It's great entertainment and a great time capsule.
Above is a then and now photo comparison of a scene filmed in front of the Peerless Bakery located on Main Street which today is the Grand Casino Bakery and Cafe. Despite some alterations to the outside of the building since this was a filming location in 1928, it is in fact the same building, then and now.
In Case You Missed It
Quick Preview Video: Watch an excerpt from the complete filming locations video from this movie here:
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video #1
Member Exclusive - Full Then and Now Filming Locations Documentary Video and Photo Gallery
If you have made a small donation and are a current member, you can view the ENTIRE filming locations video by clicking here to Login and then clicking here:
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend - Filming Locations Then and Now - Complete Documentary Video
And don't miss the complete photo gallery of filming locations then and now here:
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
Become A Member Now!
If you make a very small donation to the site, you'll unlock over 150 full-length filming locations then and now videos and over 2,000 filming locations then and now photos.
Click here to donate and become a member now!
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend (1928) - Part 2 of 2
The Plot
In the second half of the movie, Max finds out that his daughter's suitor is actually the son of his boss, and Max reverses course and tries to convince the son that he is NOT crazy!
Filming Location: Main Street In Culver City
This then and now filming location photo comparison above from The Boy Friend shows us the big changes to downtown Culver City that happened over the past 10 years.
The view is looking south on Main Street at Culver Blvd towards Washington Blvd. On the right in each of the photos is the historic Culver Hotel. In the second photo, this section of Main Street has become a pedestrian mall. And in the recent (2024) photo, we see the pedestrian mall that replaced this part of Main Street is gone and is now the entrance to the massive Culver Steps development's underground parking garage.
In Case You Missed It
Quick Preview Video: Watch an excerpt from the complete filming locations video from this movie here:
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video #2
Member Exclusive - Full Then and Now Filming Locations Documentary Video and Photo Gallery
If you have made a small donation and are a current member, you can view the ENTIRE filming locations video by clicking here to Login and then clicking here:
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend - Filming Locations Then and Now - Complete Documentary Video
And don't miss the complete photo gallery of filming locations then and now here:
Max Davidson - The Boy Friend - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
Become A Member Now!
If you make a very small donation to the site, you'll unlock over 150 full-length filming locations then and now videos and over 2,000 filming locations then and now photos.
Click here to donate and become a member now!
Support the site with a small donation to become a member and enjoy full, unrestricted access to the extensive collection of filming location content!
In case you missed it: My November 2025 featured filming locations then and now photos blog entry.
Return To Filming Locations Blog Main Page