Introduction
For this month, we are exploring five iconic filming locations across the Los Angeles area, spanning from 1925 to 1971. Here's a preview of the filming locations included in our then and now virtual tour:
- The Culver Hotel: We begin with this historic landmark, featured in the 1925 Charley Chase comedy film, Innocent Husbands.
- Santa Monica Pier: Our journey takes us to this classic seaside destination, which served as a filming site for a 1971 episode Dead Pigeon of the detective series Cannon.
- Downtown Los Angeles: We head to the city center to examine an unusual "high-rise" location from the 1927 Our Gang / The Little Rascals comedy short movie, The Old Wallop.
- A Culver City Residential Neighborhood: We travel to a quiet area of Culver City to see how the setting for the 1932 Laurel and Hardy classic movie Helpmates has evolved over the decades.
- Main Street, Culver City: We conclude our tour by visiting the historic Main Street district, featured in the 1933 Taxi Boys comedy movie Taxi Barons.
Charley Chase - Innocent Husbands (1925)
The Plot
Charley is a model husband, one who would never contemplate cheating on his wife. But his wife is the jealous type, which causes major issues for Charley.
Filming Location: The Culver Hotel - A Southern California Icon
Standing as a cornerstone of downtown Culver City for over a century, the historic Culver Hotel remains a vital local landmark. Since its construction in 1924 by city founder Harry Culver, this building has served as a silent observer to the community’s transformative history:
- 1920s: The earliest years of Culver City, featuring the development of Main Street shops that remain to this day.
- 1930s and 1940s: A period of sustained growth fueled by the local movie studios that provided the town's lifeblood.
- 1950s: An era defined by postwar prosperity.
- 1960s – 2000s: A time of economic decline as new regional developments drew residents and commerce elsewhere.
- 2010s: A massive revitalization driven by major corporate growth from Amazon Studios and Apple, the arrival of the Expo light-rail line, and an influx of new residents. This era also saw a multi-million dollar restoration of the hotel and the 2019 debut of the Culver Steps retail / office complex.
A Long History On Screen
The Culver Hotel has been featured in movies since it was under construction starting in 1923. It has functioned as both a subtle backdrop, such as in the 1926 Glenn Tryon film 45 Minutes From Hollywood, and as a core story element, as seen in the 1986 TV series Hunter episode, Scrap Metal - Part 3.
Charley Chase and the Hotel
The iconic comic actor Charley Chase frequently utilized the hotel's architecture in his work, perhaps most famously in his 1928 classic Limousine Love in addition to this film, Innocent Husbands.
Above in our featured then and now photo comparison, you can spot Charley Chase on the Culver Boulevard side of the property, located near the hotel's modern-day main entrance.
In Case You Missed It
Quick Preview Video: Catch more of this filming location from Innocent Husbands in our preview video:
Charley Chase - Innocent Husbands - Filming Location - Quick Preview Video
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Charley Chase - Innocent Husbands - Filming Locations Then and Now - Complete Documentary Video
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Charley Chase - Innocent Husbands - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
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Cannon - Dead Pigeon (1971)
The Plot
Cannon is hired to help clear the name of a wrongly accused cop.
The Santa Monica Pier: A Legacy of Evolution
Though it opened in 1909, the Santa Monica Pier did not begin as the tourist destination we know today; its initial purpose was to support a pipe discharging sewage into the ocean. By 1915, residents successfully lobbied for an expansion to house an amusement park, and the site was officially dedicated as an amusement pier the following year.
Over the past century, the structure has faced significant challenges, including shifts in public interest, necessary repairs to decaying steel pilings, and the devastating 1983 storm that decimated its entire western third.
A Long-Standing Favorite Filming Location
Southern California's amusement piers have long served as magnets for filmmakers. The legendary Abbot Kinney Amusement Pier in Venice was a frequent backdrop for silent legends like Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and Our Gang / The Little Rascals until its destruction by fire in 1946.
Fortunately, the Santa Monica Pier endured, providing a rich, multi-decade visual record of coastal development. Its screen history includes:
- The Fugitive: The 1965 episode Brass Ring featured the pier in its opening sequence, featuring actor Christopher Riordan.
- The Sting: The iconic 1973 film utilized the pier for its classic carousel scenes.
- Three's Company: The pier is featured prominently in the opening credits of the popular 1970s sitcom.
- Tiffany: The 1988 music video for the song All This Time captured the pier's atmosphere
- Star Trek: Voyager: The 1996 episode Future's End brought the crew to this historic location.
Cannon: A Then and Now Perspective
The featured filming location then and now photo above highlights a comparison between the pier as seen during the 1971 filming of the detective series Cannon and the present day. While many structures along the pier's southern edge have been modernized or replaced, the most dramatic shift is the removal of the Colorado Avenue road extension, transforming the area into a pedestrian-only zone.
In Case You Missed It
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Cannon - Dead Pigeon - Quick Preview Filming Locations Video
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Cannon - Dead Pigeon - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
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Our Gang / The Little Rascals - The Old Wallop (1927)
The Plot
A very young Wheezer takes after his father (who is a boxer): Anyone who gets too close gets punched in the nose! The Gang is supposed to babysit Wheezer while his parents are out running errands, but one by one they get tired of being punched by Wheezer and end up leaving him unattended for a few minutes. Wheezer heads off on his own and that's when the trouble starts!
Downtown Los Angeles: A 1927 Filming Location
While the Our Gang / The Little Rascals movies frequently utilized the Palms neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles during the 1920s and 30s—all of which are documented elsewhere on our site - The Old Wallop required a different backdrop. Because the plot demanded that the characters find themselves atop a skyscraper under construction, the production team headed to Downtown Los Angeles.
Taking inspiration from Harold Lloyd's famous daredevil antics, the crew constructed a set of steel girders on the roof of the building at 939 South Broadway. Through strategic camera angles, they successfully simulated the appearance of the children perched high above the bustling city streets.
The Connection to Laurel and Hardy
Fans of classic comedy likely recall the iconic, high-altitude finale of the 1929 Laurel and Hardy silent comedy movie, Liberty. It turns out that those famous scenes were shot using the exact same technique on that very same rooftop at 939 South Broadway. Notably, the Our Gang team beat Laurel and Hardy to this location by two years.
In the featured filming location then and now comparison photo above, you can spot Farina suspended over the city with 1023 South Broadway visible in the background. Both structures remain standing today, making them essential stops for any tour of historic Los Angeles filming sites.
In Case You Missed It
Take a look at the Quick Preview video of filming locations for The Old Wallop here:
Our Gang / The Little Rascals - The Old Wallop - Quick Preview Filming Locations Video #2
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Our Gang / The Little Rascals - The Old Wallop - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
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Laurel and Hardy - Helpmates (1932)
The Plot
Mrs. Hardy is out of town visiting her mother and Mr. Hardy takes advantage of the opportunity and throws a wild party. The next morning, with the house a total mess, Mr. Hardy receives a telegram from his wife stating she'll be home early, as in this afternoon! Mr. Hardy has Mr. Laurel come over to tidy up the house, however things don't go very smoothly.
A Quiet Culver City Neighborhood As Filming Location
Helpmates remains a beloved classic among Laurel and Hardy enthusiasts. It is primarily a showcase for the duo's signature dynamic—specifically, Stan Laurel inadvertently creating chaos for Oliver Hardy. The film's memorable climax features Mr. Hardy returning to find his home reduced to ash after Mr. Laurel's misguided attempt to prepare a cozy welcome-home fire.
The scene's realism is heightened by the fact that it was shot right next to an actual residential neighborhood. It is easy to imagine the delight of local residents, who had a front-row seat to watch the comedy legends at work while the surrounding real-life homes served as the backdrop.
A Favorite Hal Roach Studios Filming Location
This location was situated directly against the southern edge of the Hal Roach Studios property. The production team constructed the "ruined house" set on a vacant lot on studio grounds, immediately adjacent to 8885 Carson Street in Culver City.
This stretch of Carson Street was a staple location for the studio's productions, offering a rare glimpse into the development of the neighborhood in its early years, notably in:
- Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Dogs Of War (1923)
- Charley Chase - All Wet (1924)
In the featured then and now comparison photo above, we can observe Stan departing the Hardy residence. While the original home across the street at 8880 Carson Street remains standing today, you'll notice a significant addition that has been built over the years.
In Case You Missed It
Take a look at the Quick Preview video of this Laurel and Hardy filming location here:
Laurel and Hardy - Helpmates - Quick Preview Filming Locations Video #3
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Laurel and Hardy - Helpmates - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
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The Taxi Boys - Taxi Barons (1933)
The Plot
Taxi Drivers Ben Blue and Billy Gilbert accidentally run over a cop's motorcyle. A chase ensues and the two end up giving the cop the slip by hiding out on a cruise ship.
The World's Most Popular Filming Location?
Few places can claim to be as iconic as Main Street in Culver City, California, which arguably stands as the one of the most frequently used filming location in history. Since the dawn of the 1920s, this area has served as the backdrop for an endless array of motion pictures and television programs, including:
- Glenn Tryon - 45 Minutes From Hollywood (1926)
- Laurel and Hardy - Putting Pants On Philip (1927)
- Max Davidson - Dumb Daddies (1928)
- Nat Carr - Traffic Tangle (1930)
- Charlie's Angels - Angels On The Street (1979)
- Hunter - Scrap Metal - Part 3 (1986)
A Century Frozen in Time
While Southern California has undergone drastic transformations over the last 150 years—shifting from orchards and farmland to sprawling suburban neighborhoods, and seeing small-town shops replaced by massive "big box" retailers—one area has defied this trend. Downtown Culver City, specifically the stretch of Main Street between Culver and Venice Boulevards, has remained remarkably consistent for over a century.
In the filming location then and now photo above, every structure seen on this block in films from the 1920s and 30s is still standing today. The only visual shifts are the transition from diagonal to parallel parking and the addition of the mature trees that now shade the street. The then and now comparison from our Taxi Barons feature perfectly illustrates how this single block has managed to hold onto its historic character.
In Case You Missed It
Take a look at the Quick Preview video of this filming location here:
The Taxi Boys - Taxi Barons - Quick Preview Filming Locations Video #3
See More of the Filming Locations Here
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In case you missed it: My June 2026 featured filming locations then and now photos blog entry.
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