Previously Featured TV Series Filming Location Quick Preview Videos

Cannon - Dead Pigeon (1971) - Filming Locations

A Trip To The Beach

In 1971, a new TV detective show hit the airwaves starring William Conrad as Private Investigator Frank Cannon. The series was action-packed and filmed all over the Los Angeles area, thus giving us a great historical record of mid-century LA.

In this episode from Season 1, Dead Pigeon, the filming locations included several coastal sites, including Marina del Rey and the famous Santa Monica Pier.

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.

Charlie's Angels - Angels On The Street (1979) - Filming Locations

Tough Times In Culver City

In 1979, the hit TV series Charlie's Angels filmed the episode Angels On The Street almost entirely on location in the historic downtown core of Culver City. Because this episode features so many rare location shots, we have dedicated four separate then and now filming locations videos to this single 1970s time capsule.

During this era, Downtown Culver City was in a period of decline. While many of the landmarks made famous in the 1920s and 30s by Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang / The Little Rascals are visible, they appear in a state of decay. These filming locations tours provide a vivid contrast between the abandonment of the late 70s and the vibrant, redeveloped Culver City of the 21st century.

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.

Charlie's Angels - Target Angels (1976) - Filming Locations

Beverly Hills HQ, Mid-Century Apartment Buildings And A Historic Filming Location From The 1920s

The 1976 episode Target Angels from the hit TV series Charlie's Angels features an extensive tour of the West Side of Los Angeles.

This then and now filming locations video identifies the iconic Angels’ Headquarters in Beverly Hills and a historic apartment building located directly adjacent to the 20th Century Fox Studios lot.

For fans of classic comedy, this episode offers a special treat: a 1976 look at the legendary filming location intersection of Motor Avenue and Woodbine Street in the Palms neighborhood. This is the same intersection that served as a filming location in the classic 1929 Our Gang / The Little Rascals movie Bouncing Babies.

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.

CHiPs - Moving Violation (1977) - Filming Locations

Traces of The Pacific Electric Railway In Culver City

While the TV series CHiPs filmed all over Southern California, the 1977 episode Moving Violation created a fascinating time capsule of the "lost" transit history in Culver City.

This Quick Preview then and now filming locations video identifies rare remnants of the Pacific Electric Railway tracks that once defined the Culver Blvd landscape.

The tour begins with Ponch and Jon at the intersection of Culver Blvd and Madison Avenue. Visible in the 1977 pavement are the same railroad tracks that once transported passengers from Downtown Los Angeles to Playa del Rey. Our journey concludes on Madison Avenue in front of the historic apartment building at 4016 Madison Avenue, which remains remarkably unchanged since it was captured on film nearly 50 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.

CHiPs - Return Of The Turks (1978) - Filming Locations

Culver City In Decline And The 21st Century Revival - Then And Now

In the 1978 episode Return of the Turks, the hit TV series CHiPs filmed a high-speed chase through the heart of Downtown Culver City. This episode serves as a remarkable 50-year time capsule, revisiting many of the same filming locations used by Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang in the 1920s and 30s.

This Quick Preview then and now filming locations video illustrates the dramatic transformation of Washington Blvd from a busy 1970s thoroughfare to today’s pedestrian-friendly mall.

Our tour also features the historic Culver Hotel which in 1978 offered cheap apartments at daily, weekly and monthly rates.

The filming locations tour wraps up with a visit to the same alley next to the Citizen Building that Our Gang / The Little Rascals ran down in 1933 in their movie The Kid From Borneo.

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.

Emergency! - Nagging Suspicion (1974) - Filming Locations

The Fire Station Home Of Squad 51 - Filming Location Then And Now

The hit 1970s TV series Emergency! filmed extensively across Los Angeles, and this Quick Preview then and now filming locations video of the 1974 episode Nagging Suspicion perfectly captures the show's geographic diversity.

Our tour begins in Carson, California, at the legendary LACoFD Station 127—the real-world home of the famous Squad 51. The station remains a fully functioning facility and a major tourist attraction and the surrounding area has remained remarkably preserved since 1974.

The journey then moves north to Studio City, just over the hill from Hollywood. We visit the historic building at 11502 Ventura Blvd, which served as a prominent backdrop in this episode. Although the structure has undergone minor remodeling, it remains easily recognizable to fans on an in-person filming locations tour.

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.

Hunter - Any Second Now (1987) - Filming Locations

Downtown Culver City Hits Rock Bottom - And Comes Back

The popular 1980s police drama Hunter utilized the "seedy" side of Los Angeles for its location shoots, and the 1987 episode Any Second Now provides a startling time capsule of Downtown Culver City at its lowest point. This Quick Preview of our then and now filming locations video tours the area during a year of significant urban decay and transition.

The centerpiece of this tour is the Adams Hotel, which once anchored north side of the block of Main Street between Washington Blvd and Culver Blvd, directly opposite the Culver Hotel.

While this landmark was a staple in 1920s and 30s comedies by Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang / The Little Rascals, the 1987 footage reveals a block mostly demolished and waiting for redevelopment.

This filming locations tour concludes with a chase scene ending in the historic alleyway made famous in the 1929 Laurel and Hardy film Liberty—showing the site before it was transformed into the modern Culver Steps development.

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.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986) - Filming Locations - Part 1

A Rarely Used Section Of Culver City As Filming Location - Then And Now

In keeping with the cop show genre's tradition, the hit 1980s TV series Hunter (starring Fred Dryer) utilized extensive on-location filming throughout Los Angeles. The 1986 episode Scrap Metal is a standout for location hunters, featuring numerous Culver City filming locations and additional scenes shot in the heart of Hollywood.

Because of the high volume of real-world landmarks featured in this episode, we have created four then and now filming location preview videos for you to explore.

The first Quick Preview filming locations then and now video explores the northeast section of Culver City along Washington Blvd. This specific area was a rare choice for Hollywood productions, making this 1986 footage a unique historical time capsule. While the original buildings seen in the episode remain standing today, you will see how the neighborhood has been revitalized and "spruced up" over the decades.

Part 1 of this filming locations tour concludes in the residential neighborhood centered on Jacob Street. Much like the commercial scenes, this street has remained virtually unchanged since Stepfanie Kramer and Fred Dryer filmed here in 1986, offering a perfect then and now comparison for fans and urban explorers.

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.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986) - Filming Locations - Part 2

On The Hard Streets Of Hollywood - Filming Location - Then And Now

For the second of our four Quick Preview filming locations then and now videos for the Hunter TV episode Scrap Metal, we journey to the heart of Hollywood, specifically the iconic intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Avenue.

In this scene, Stepfanie Kramer’s character, McCall, goes undercover to obtain crucial information to help crack the case she and Hunter (Fred Dryer) are working on. The footage features an incredible night view of the Hollywood First National Building. Built in 1928, this Gothic-inspired skyscraper towers over the historic intersection—almost stealing the scene from the actors!

This 1986 time capsule offers a rare look at the neon-lit grit of 80s Hollywood, providing a perfect then and now comparison with the tourist hub we see there 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.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986) - Filming Locations - Part 3

INSIDE The Historic Culver Hotel During Its Darkest Days And 21st Century Rebirth

Continuing our tour of the real-world filming locations used in the 1986 episode Scrap Metal from the TV series Hunter, we journey to Downtown Culver City and the landmark Culver Hotel.

While many productions have utilized the exterior of this historic site, this 1986 footage is a rare gem: It is the only TV episode or movie known to have filmed inside the Culver Hotel lobby during that era. At the time of filming, the hotel had been converted into low-cost apartments with daily, weekly, and monthly rates. As you will see in this then and now filming location comparison, the 1980s lobby required very little set dressing to look "seedy."

We wrap up this part of our filming locations tour by showcasing the hotel’s massive mid-2010s renovation, which restored this Culver City landmark to its original 1924 architectural splendor.

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.

Hunter - Scrap Metal (1986) - Filming Locations - Part 4

What Came Before Culver Steps In Downtown Culver City - Filming Location Then And Now

The final part of our Quick Preview filming locations video tour for the 1986 Hunter episode Scrap Metal takes us to the historic heart of Culver City's Main Street, just steps away from the Culver Hotel.

This part of our tour spotlights a lost piece of Hollywood history: the Adams Hotel. Once a primary Culver City landmark, the Adams Hotel stood on the north side of Main Street between Culver Blvd and Washington Blvd and served as a backdrop for dozens of movies and TV episodes showcased on this website, including Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang / The Little Rascals, and even the TV series Charlie’s Angels and CHiPs.

By the time Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer filmed their shootout here in 1986, the area was about to hit rock bottom. Sadly, this local landmark was demolished in the 1990s.

In this then and now video comparison, you will see how the massive Culver Steps development has completely replaced the site where classic cinema history was once made.

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.

I Dream of Jeannie - Battle Of Waikiki (1968) - Filming Locations - Part 1

During the 1968 season of the classic TV series I Dream of Jeannie, the production traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii to film two iconic episodes. This fan-favorite, Battle of Waikiki, features Jeannie summoning King Kamehameha, the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The episode shows us his hilarious and bewildered reactions to the bustling landscape of mid-20th-century Honolulu.

The Ilikai Hotel Filming Location

In this filming locations then and now preview, we journey to the historic Ilikai Hotel. While it is famous as a recurring backdrop for "homegrown" hits like Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., it served as a primary setting for the King’s visit in this Jeannie episode.

One of the most memorable scenes features the King discovering a fountain on the hotel grounds, exclaiming in wonder that "the rain is going up!" While the area has seen some architectural and landscaping updates over the decades, this Honolulu filming location remains easily recognizable 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.

I Dream of Jeannie - Battle Of Waikiki (1968) - Filming Locations - Part 2

Iolani Palace Honolulu Filming Location - Then And Now

This is the second of two Quick Preview Videos here on the website for the classic I Dream of Jeannie episode, Battle of Waikiki. In this segment, we focus on the historic Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii, a landmark that has served as a backdrop for some of the most popular TV series of the 20th century.

While Iolani Palace is famous for appearing dozens of times as the headquarters in the original Hawaii Five-O TV series during the 1960s, and more recently in the 2009 film Princess Kaiulani, its role in I Dream of Jeannie remains a fan favorite.

On this filming locations then and now tour, you will see how this royal site has been beautifully maintained through the decades. It remains virtually unchanged since 1968, when Jeannie, Major Nelson, and Major Healy visited the grounds.

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.

Starsky and Hutch - Long Walk Down A Short Dirt Road (1977) - Filming Locations

Like many iconic cop shows of the mid-20th century, the Starsky and Hutch TV series utilized the streets in and around Los Angeles as filming locations to create an authentic atmosphere. Today, these episodes serve as a remarkable visual time capsule of the region as it appeared in the 1970s.

Downtown Culver City In Decline - The Filming Location Then

The 1977 episode Long Walk Down A Short Dirt Road is particularly notable for its scenes filmed directly across Washington Blvd from the landmark Culver Hotel in Culver City, California.

On this filming locations tour, you will notice a striking detail: By 1977, the hotel and its surrounding downtown core had begun to look dilapidated. This is a stark contrast to those movies by Laurel and Hardy, The Taxi Boys, Charley Chase and others made here during the "Golden Age" of Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s.

Downtown Culver City Resurrected - The Filming Location Now

The present-day view is much less depressing. The mega-development Culver Steps now dominates this block as well as the refurbished and renovated Culver Hotel. Downtown Culver City has come back to life!

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.

Star Trek - Arena (1968) - Filming Location

Where No Man Has Gone Before - Except It HAS Been Used As A Filming Location For Years!

In the classic 1967 Star Trek: The Original Series episode Arena, the U.S.S. Enterprise pursues a hostile alien spaceship operated by the Gorn. The chase leads them to a solar system inhabited by the Metrons, a peaceful race that halts the violence and beams Captain Kirk and the Gorn Captain to a desolate planet to settle their dispute in hand-to-hand combat.

If ever there was a historic, iconic filming location, this is it. For this filming locations then and now video, we travel to the legendary Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in Agua Dulce, California. Located about an hour north of Downtown Los Angeles, this site is a "holy grail" for fans of Star Trek, classic westerns, and cinema history.

The jagged, prehistoric rock formations provided the perfect otherworldly backdrop for Kirk’s battle. In this then and now filming locations tour, you can take a virtual journey to the exact spot where TV history was made. You’ll see that these rocks are virtually the same as they were when they served as an alien planet filming location in 1967.

Watch the COMPLETE "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Click the button below to watch the full Filming Locations Then and Now Video.

The Brady Bunch - Hawaii Bound (1972) - Filming Locations - Part 1 of 2

Honolulu Time Capsule From 1972

During the 1960s and 1970s, several popular TV series packed up and headed to Hawaii to film a few episodes. These episodes happened later in the run of the series and were likely done in an effort to avoid doing "the same old stories" and to keep the series fresh. The I Dream of Jeannie episode Battle Of Waikiki (1968) is a great example and I've covered that episode's filming locations here on the site.

The Brady Bunch did the same in 1972 and this episode, Hawaii Bound, is literally a tour of Honolulu and the island of Oahu. It covers a lot of different locations and is a great time capsule of the area.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Due to the large number of filming locations, there are TWO Quick Preview Videos devoted to this episode.

Click the button below to watch a Quick Preview of this filming location video.

The Brady Bunch - Hawaii Bound (1972) - Filming Locations - Part 2 of 2

Touring Honolulu In 1972

The journey back in time to Honolulu in 1972 continues with The Brady Bunch episode Hawaii Bound.

The Honolulu Chamber of Commerce must have been thrilled when they saw the script for this episode and the sheer number of locations visited in this episode. There's a breathtaking overview of Honolulu from the Tantalus Lookout at Puu Ualakaa State Park and great views of the high rises starting to line Waikiki Beach in this one in a scene filmed at Owls Beach at Sans Souci State Recreational Park.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

Take a virtual tour back to 1972 with this, the second of two Quick Preview Videos of the filming locations in Hawaii Bound.

Click the button below to watch a Quick Preview of this filming location video.

The Sopranos - Made In America - Phil Gets Whacked (2007) - Filming Location

Sleepy New Jersey Filming Location That Hasn't Changed At All

The legendary HBO series The Sopranos was famous for its authentic atmosphere, achieved through extensive on-location filming across the New York City and nearby New Jersey areas. In the series finale, Made in America, one of the show's most shocking moments takes place when rival mob boss Phil Leotardo is "whacked" at a suburban gas station.

This scene was filmed at a real-world gas station in Morris Plains, NJ. Located at the busy intersection of Routes 10 and 202, this site has become a must-visit landmark for fans of the series.

Two Personal Connections With This Scene

• My old neighborhood: This scene was filmed about a mile from where I grew up and seeing your old neighborhood on TV is quite a surreal experience!
• The actor who played Phil Leotardo: Frank Vincent had several memorable movie roles prior to landing the role of Phil Leotardo on The Sopranos. Shortly after this episode aired, Frank and his wife were visiting friends who lived in the same condo building in Miami where I lived at the time. We had a great afternoon sitting by the pool talking about all things northern New Jersey and, of all things, jazz and big band music (Frank was an excellent musician too!).

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.

The Twilight Zone - You Drive (1964) - Filming Locations

The Twilight Zone called the sprawling MGM Studios its production home, and the series primarily relied on the studio's vast backlot sets for outdoor scenes. It was rare for an episode to venture out for real-world location filming, making the 1964 episode You Drive a fascinating exception.

Filmed almost entirely on location, this episode showcases the Culver City neighborhood surrounding Carlson Park, located just across Culver Blvd from the historic MGM Studios lot.

Typical Suburban Neighborhood as Filming Location

Unlike many other Los Angeles area neighborhoods, this one has largely avoided the trend of historic homes being demolished for new construction, leaving the 1964 filming sites perfectly preserved.

• Carlson Park: The site of today's park was originally an auto speedway, hosting car races on its circular track starting in 1924.
• Neighborhood Construction Delayed: Due to the Great Depression, housing construction in the Carlson Park area didn't really get going until the very late 1930s / early 1940s. Many of these original homes are still standing today.

Watch a quick excerpt from the "Then and Now" Filming Locations Tour Video

In this Quick Preview Filming Locations Then and Now Video, we take a tour of the Carlson Park neighborhood. As you'll see in the video, both the park and the surrounding homes have remained virtually unchanged for over 60 years!

TV Series Filming Location Photo Galleries

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