Introduction
This month, we take a tour of four historic LA filming locations from movies spanning 1915 through 1988:
- The "High Top Chase Scene" from the 1988 movie Colors: First up we head over to the historic Venice Beach neighborhood.
- The early days of the Westside of Los Angeles - Part 1: We then head about 5 miles inland for a visit to the Palms neighborhood which was used in the 1928 Our Gang / The Little Rascals short Spook Spoofing.
- A walk in the park: Charlie Chaplin takes us to the Lincoln Heights neighborhood and Lincoln Park for his 1915 comedy short movie A Woman.
- The early days of the Westside of Los Angeles - Part 2: The beautiful Cheviot Hills neighborhood was caught on film as it was being built on a former, sprawling rancho in the 1929 Laurel and Hardy movie Bacon Grabbers.
Colors - High Top Chase Scene (1988)
The Plot
A rookie cop is paired up with a more experienced cop and they are assigned to control gang activity in Los Angeles neighborhoods.
The Evolution Of Venice Beach: From Marshland To Coastal Playground
In 1905, developer Abbot Kinney looked at a stretch of soggy marshland along the Santa Monica Bay and saw a vision of Europe. He transformed the swampland into "Venice of America," a romantic nod to Italy complete with an elaborate system of canals. To draw crowds, he added a massive amusement pier modeled after Brooklyn’s famous Coney Island.
However, fate had a volatile relationship with the pier. Just a few years after opening, the original structure was entirely destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt and enjoyed a multi-decade run, but the story ended in smoke once more. In 1947, after being condemned by the City of Los Angeles, a second blaze struck the pier - ironically saving local government a massive demolition bill.
Scouting Colors Filming Locations In Venice Beach
Fast forward to 1988, when Director Dennis Hopper brought the gritty crime drama Colors (starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall) to film on location. By this point, the seaside neighborhood was almost unrecognizable from Kinney's original layout. Most of the iconic canals had been filled in, and modern development had crowded out much of the turn-of-the-century architecture.
Even so, a handful of enduring landmarks made cameo appearances in the film and can still be visited today:
- 80 Windward Avenue: Standing strong since 1905, this structure is among the oldest surviving pieces of the original Venice development.
- 1802 Pacific Avenue: Erected in 1923, this historic building functions as a key visual anchor in our cinematic breakdown.
- 41 19th Avenue: Originally built in 1906, sharp-eyed movie fans can still catch a glimpse of the rear section of this vintage property.
Mapping The Filming Locations: Then vs. Now
Our detailed breakdown of the Venice Beach filming locations in Colors tracks these urban transformations across the decades.
For instance, in the filming location then and now match-up featured above, you can watch Sean Penn cruising east down Speedway. As the camera looks up 18th Place, the distinctive 1920s facade of 1802 Pacific Avenue perfectly frames the background of the shot.
In Case You Missed It
Quick Preview Video: Catch more of the Venice Beach filming locations from Colors in this preview video:
Colors - High Top Chase Scene - Filming Location - Quick Preview Video
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Colors - High Top Chase Scene - Filming Locations Then and Now - Complete Documentary Video
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Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Spook Spoofing (1928)
The Plot
Farina has become very superstitious and believes he can put spells on other people.
Exploring Filming Locations As Heritage: How Palms, Los Angeles Became a Living Time Capsule
From the moment the franchise debuted its first silent film in 1922, the creative team behind Our Gang (popularly remembered as The Little Rascals today) regularly utilized the historic Palms neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles.
The studio executives consistently selected this particular corner of LA for two primary reasons:
- Proximity to Hal Roach Studios: The neighborhood sat just a convenient, 10-minute commute from the studio lot where the classic shorts were filmed.
- An Authentic "Anytown, USA" Vibe: During the 1920s, Palms perfectly captured a quaint, small-town look. Its leafy avenues, unassuming storefronts, and classic wood-frame residences effortlessly stood in for working-class neighborhoods nationwide.
Vintage Set Locations: Mapping 'Spook Spoofing' (1928)
When it came time to shoot the outdoor sequences for Spook Spoofing, the production crew centralized their efforts. Almost all the on-location footage was captured within a compact, single-block radius surrounding the crossroads of Motor Avenue and Woodbine Street.
Tracking the Evolution of Motor Avenue
In the then and now filming location comparison photo shown above, the iconic childhood cast is captured on the west side of the 3400 block of Motor Avenue.
Though the surrounding Westside landscape has undergone dramatic architectural shifts over the last hundred years, a singular, enduring anchor bridges the gap between these two eras: Palms Elementary School. Built back in 1925, this historic school building remains active today. If you look closely, it can be spotted way in the background of both the original movie still and the present-day photograph.
In Case You Missed It
Take a look at the Quick Preview video of filming locations from movie here:
Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Spook Spoofing - Quick Preview Filming Locations Video
See More of the Filming Locations Here
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Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Spook Spoofing - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
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Charlie Chaplin - A Woman (1915)
The Plot
Charlie causes trouble in a park and is chased by two men. The chase ends up in a house, where Charlie quickly changes into women's clothes in order to trick the two men who were chasing him.
Retaining History: How Charlie Chaplin's A Woman Archived 1910s Los Angeles
Much like his contemporary silent film pioneers of the 1910s, Charlie Chaplin frequently transformed the public parks of Los Angeles into sprawling, open-air production sets. By doing so, he effortlessly turned casual park-goers' afternoon scenery into timeless cinematic comedy. For his classic 1915 short film A Woman, Chaplin relied heavily on this technique - and in the process, accidentally created a flawless, historic time capsule of Lincoln Park as it existed over one hundred years ago.
Legacy of the Lincoln Park Boathouse and Plaza de la Raza
While the park's expansive, iconic lake draws immediate attention, the area's most defining architectural centerpiece is the historic Lincoln Park Boathouse.
The timeline of this landmark highlights a fascinating journey of survival:
- 1912: The boathouse originally opened its doors back when the surrounding grounds were still officially referred to as Eastlake Park.
- 1969: After suffering through decades of wear and neglect, the historic structure was targeted for demolition by city officials.
- The Turning Point: Local community members stepped in just in time. The building was successfully rescued from the wrecking ball, beautifully refurbished, and ultimately leased to a vital community anchor: The Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center for the Arts and Education.
Today, this enduring landmark operates as a celebrated cultural hub, offering essential multidisciplinary arts education and community enrichment programs to the Eastside neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
The Lakefront Set: 1915 vs. Modern Day
Throughout the park scenes in A Woman, viewers are treated to an exceptionally clear, wide-angle view of this lakefront property.
In the then and now filming location comparison photo featured above, you can analyze a direct match-up of the facility as it looked in 1915 against its present-day appearance. Thanks to generations of dedicated preservation initiatives, the historic boathouse stands completely revitalized, flawlessly maintained, and serves as a tangible, physical connection to the earliest days of Hollywood history.
In Case You Missed It
Take a look at the Quick Preview video of filming locations for the Charlie Chaplin movie A Woman here:
Charlie Chaplin - A Woman - Quick Preview Filming Locations Video #2
See More of the Filming Locations Here
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Charlie Chaplin - A Woman - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
Charlie Chaplin - A Woman - Complete Filming Locations Video
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Laurel and Hardy - Bacon Grabbers (1929)
The Plot
Laurel and Hardy are employed as "repo men" and attempt to take back a radio from deadbeat Edgar Kennedy.
A Century of Cinema: A Silent Film Landmark in Los Angeles
For enthusiasts of vintage Hollywood production movie locations - especially silent slapstick from the 1920s and the early talkies of the 1930s - there is an essential pilgrimage site in the greater Los Angeles area: Main Street in Culver City.
This historic, single-block corridor, tucked neatly between Venice Boulevard and Culver Boulevard, functioned as a premier open-air studio space for comedy legends. Within this brief stretch, Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang / The Little Rascals, Max Davidson, and Charley Chase captured some of their most enduring cinematic routines on film.
To assist you on your next cinema-inspired walking tour, here is a breakdown of several classic shorts filmed along this historic block:
Laurel and Hardy Filming Locations
- Duck Soup (1927): Shot at the often used filming location of Main Street and Culver Boulevard.
- Putting Pants On Philip (1927): The entire block’s distinct architectural storefronts are prominently showcased throughout the film.
- The Second 100 Years (1927): Features the a great view of the intersection where Main Street turns into Bagley Avenue and meets Venice Boulevard.
- Liberty (1929): Highlights multiple distinct storefronts along Main Street.
Our Gang / The Little Rascals Filming Locations
- The Mysterious Mystery (1924): One of the earliest views captured on film of Main Street and Culver Boulevard.
- Your Own Back Yard (1925): A stunning 360 degree view of the intersection of Main Street and Culver Boulevard.
- The Kid From Borneo (1933): Main Street and Culver Boulevard, looking at the Culver Blvd side of 3850 Main Street, one of the oldest buildings in Culver City, built in 1914.
- Honky-Donkey (1934): Main Street (which has become Bagley Avenue here) and Venice Boulevard, with a great view of 9401 Venice Blvd which has stood at this corner since 1914.
Max Davidson Comedies Filming Locations
- Dumb Daddies (1928): Main Street and Venice Boulevard, with a clear view of 9345 Venice Blvd and the Pacific Electric Railway crossing.
- The Boy Friend (1928): Utilized the entire length of Main Street for its on location filming
Charley Chase Comedies Filming Locations
- A Treat For The Boys (1925): 9345 Venice Blvd makes another appearance, at the intersection of Main Street (Bagley Avenue) and Venice Boulevard.
- Outdoor Pajamas (1924): Filmed scenes across the full block of Main Street.
- Limousine Love (1928): Main Street and Culver Boulevard with exceptional views of the historic Culver Hotel.
In Focus: Laurel and Hardy's Bacon Grabbers (1929)
A remarkable record of early Los Angeles and Culver City urban landscape can be found in this 1929 Laurel and Hardy short, Bacon Grabbers.
In the then and now filming location match-up featured in the photo above, Stan and Ollie are en route to Edgar Kennedy's home to repossess a radio. As their vehicle travels west on Venice Boulevard, they prepare to execute a sharp right turn to head north onto Bagley Avenue - which is the official name Main Street transitions into just before it crosses to the north side of Venice Boulevard.
The Architectural Anchor: 9345 Venice Boulevard
A key point of orientation for modern film location sleuths in this sequence is the commercial property situated at 9345 Venice Boulevard (which currently functions as a yoga studio).
- Construction Year: 1922
- As A Filming Location: Featured in dozens of Hal Roach films and golden-age Hollywood movies over the decades.
- Current Status: Astonishingly, the facade of this building has survived for over one hundred years without any structural modifications, standing as an unaltered monument to the early comedy classics filmed in its shadow.
In Case You Missed It
Take a look at the Quick Preview video of this Laurel and Hardy filming location here:
Laurel and Hardy - Bacon Grabbers - Quick Preview Filming Locations Video #3
See More of the Filming Locations Here
Current members can see all the filming locations, then and now, from this Laurel and Hardy movie by Logging into the site and clicking here:
Laurel and Hardy - Bacon Grabbers - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery
Laurel and Hardy - Bacon Grabbers - Complete Filming Locations Video
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In case you missed it: My May 2026 featured filming locations then and now photos blog entry.
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