Buster Keaton - The High Sign (1921) - Filming Locations
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.
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.
Watch The Quick Preview Video NowCharlie Chaplin - A Woman (1915) - Filming Locations
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.
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.
Watch The Quick Preview Video NowCharlie Chaplin - By The Sea (1915) - Filming Locations
Chaplin Heads To Venice Beach
Charlie Chaplin filmed By The Sea in the picturesque beach communities of Venice and Santa Monica in the Los Angeles area.
This movie gives us a great look into the earliest days of "Venice By The Sea" as it was originally known, with the original Venice Amusement Pier visible in some of the scenes. In addition, at the time By The Sea was filmed, the beach was much shorter than it is today. Today's much longer beach was likely caused by the breakwater that was put in about 10 years before filming of By The Sea took place in an effort to protect the Venice Amusement Pier. Over the decades, the breakwater altered the ocean currents and resulted in a very large buildup of sand which played a big role in expanding the size of the beach.
You can see the breakwater in the 1933 Our Gang / The Little Rascals film Fish Hooky and is still there today, as the then and now filming locations video and photo galleries here on the site for Fish Hooky vividly illustrate.
Chaplin Films At Palisades Park
Several other scenes in By The Sea filmed just up the coast at Palisades Park in Santa Monica. Despite this movie being filmed over a century ago, the layout of the park remains very much the same as it was when Chaplin filmed here.
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.
Watch The Quick Preview Video NowCharlie Chaplin - The Idle Class (1921) - Filming Locations
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 and 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.
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.
Watch The Quick Preview Video NowHarold Lloyd - Get Out And Get Under (1920) - Filming Locations
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.
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.
Watch The Quick Preview Video NowThe Three Geniuses Of Silent Comedy Filming Location Photo Galleries
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Check out some samples of the website's filming locations then and now collection of photos from movies by The Three Geniuses Of Silent Comedy.
The Three Geniuses Of Silent Comedy Filming Locations Photos Sampler
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