Introduction
This month's filming locations journey starts off in Philadelphia with a look at some of the filming locations from the classic 1991 music video Motownphilly by the group Boyz II Men.
We then head out to the West Coast to explore filming locations in the Los Angeles area from three comedy short movies from Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang / The Little Rascals and a rare look at a Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument captured on film in a comedy short starring Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts.
Boyz II Men - Motownphilly (1991)
The Plot
In the Summer of 1991, you couldn't listen to the radio (remember radio?) or watch MTV (remember when MTV played music videos?) without coming across the song Motownphilly by the group Boyz II Men. The song was the debut single from the group and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the USA.
The music video follows the band around several Philadelphia neighborhoods and landmarks.
Filming Locations Then And Now
The music video filmed at several Philadelphia landmarks, including:
- Penn's Landing on the shores of the Delaware River
- Geno's Steaks at 1219 S 9th Street
- And the beautiful neighborhood on South 2nd Street between Pine Street and Lombard Street
In this then and now look at the music video filming locations, it's striking how none of the sites have changed very much and, more notably, how they're just as nice looking today as they were back in 1991 when the music video was filmed.
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Boyz II Men - Motownphilly - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video
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Laurel and Hardy - Going Bye-Bye! (1934)
The Plot
Laurel and Hardy have just testified against a ruthless criminal in court. The judge announces that the criminal will be jailed, to which Mr. Laurel responds, "Aren't you going to hang him?" This does not please the convict and he vows to break out of jail and get even with Laurel and Hardy. Laurel and Hardy plan a quick exit out of town, but true to his word, the convict breaks out of jail and catches up with them!
City Hall Building In Culver City As Filming Location
In this then and now filming location video, we get a great view of the old City Hall building in Culver City, California. The building lasted into the 1990s and appeared in many movies and TV episodes through the decades. Today, a replica of the front facade stands at this movie location.
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Laurel and Hardy - Going Bye-Bye! - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video
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Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Small Talk (1929)
The Plot
This is the first "talking" Our Gang / The Little Rascals movie. The Gang have been adopted into the homes of wealthy families and they marvel at all the modern conveniences. One of those conveniences is an electronic alarm system that Mary Ann and Jean Darling accidentally activate, and soon the police AND fire department arrive!
City Hall Building In Culver City As Filming Location - Again!
While most of the movie was shot inside a soundstage at the Hal Roach Studios, there were several scenes filmed outdoors on location nearby in Culver City.
This quick preview then and now filming location video gives us a great view of the front and side of the historic City Hall building, along with a row of houses nearby on the 4000 block of Lafayette Place that are unchanged since this movie was filmed in 1929.
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Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Small Talk - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video
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Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts - Sneak Easily (1932)
The Plot
In the early 1930s when the popularity of Laurel and Hardy was at its peak, producer Hal Roach had the idea that he could offer a series of films with a female version of the Laurel and Hardy characters. Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts were chosen, with Todd assuming the Hardy role and Pitts the Laurel character.
In true "Laurel" fashion, Zasu gets the duo into a jam by accidentally swallowing a volatile explosive and Thelma has to get her to the hospital before she blows up!
Filming Location: Beverly Hills City Hall
The beginning of the movie filmed outside the (then) brand new Beverly Hills City Hall building. Besides a few landscaping changes, the building looks very much the same today as it did when Sneak Easily filmed here in 1932.
Filming Location: A Los Angeles Historical Site
Later on in the movie, the ambulance carrying Thelma and Zasu somehow ends up on one of the Pacific Electric Railway tracks in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. This scene gives us a great view of the old Pacific Electric Fletcher Viaduct that used to cross Fletcher Drive near Riverside Drive. Unfortunately, the viaduct is no longer standing but the concrete footings on each side of the hill still exist and have been listed as Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument #770.
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Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts - Sneak Easily - Filming Locations - Quick Preview Video
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In case you missed it: My June 2025 featured filming locations then and now videos blog entry.
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