# Shows or film that were actually filmed in the place where they are set **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764 "2021-01-18T00:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/21 "2021-01-18T02:52:47Z")
**Homicide, Life on the Street** : set and filmed in Bawlmer, MD. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/22 "2021-01-18T02:56:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Even in _Aguirre, the Wrath of God_ , those actors really were in South America hauling stuff over the Andes. Also _Fitzcarraldo_. I did a field project in the area where it was filmed in Peru on the Lower Urubamba River, near the actual “Pass of Fitzcarraldo,” and it’s really, really remote. We got in there by helicopter. In _Burden of Dreams_, the documentary on the making of the film, Herzog goes into a rant about how much he hates the rainforest. _The Tailor of Panama_ was filmed in Panama. I enjoyed seeing many familiar locations. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/23 "2021-01-18T02:59:36Z")
The movie _Gettysburg_ was filmed on location. Most of the soldiers were played by Civil war re-enactors, who saved up their vacation time for a couple years to be able to do the ultimate battle scenes at the actual place they occurred, firing whole batteries of guns and so on. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/24 "2021-01-18T03:10:49Z")
I was going to mention a horde of 1960s/1970s police dramas. And _Emergency_. But I’ve been partly ninja’d. _Highway Patrol_ (both iterations), _Dragnet_ the TV series and the movie, _Adam-12_, _CHiPs_, _Starsky and Hutch_. I’m sure there are more. A lot of liberties were taken with locations though. As mentioned above, the stationhouse for _Emergency_’s fictional Squad 51 is real. As was Rampart Hospital. There really is a Rampart district in LA. But they were 30+ miles apart, and the shots of most of the generic suburbia calls were another 20-ish miles away in the opposite direction. But conveniently near the studio. Of course when the script needs a beach or harbor or mountain scene to establish the SoCal locale they drive the extra 20 or 40 miles it takes to get there. Then haul the patient back to good 'ol Rampart. _Adam-12_ was another one famous for Malloy and Reed jumping clear across LA at the drop of a patrolman’s spiffy hat. It’s a big city; a really big city. 500 square miles worth, plus the areas outside city proper that LAPD is contracted to serve. _Dragnet’s_ Parker Center really was LAPD headquarters at the time. It’s now an abandoned asbestos-infested superfund site of a building with homeless camping in the shadows. The new and much larger HQ is a couple blocks away. Watching these shows, even going back to the original _Highway Patrol_ of the 1950s, is an amazing time capsule of LA and environs’ visual history. Moving north, _The Streets of San Francisco_ was filmed there; that’s one town that’s hard to fake. Likewise the entire _Dirty Harry_ franchise. I’ve told this story of _almost_ the right place a time or two. In the 70’s there was a TV drama about students in a prestigious law school: > **[The Paper Chase (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paper_Chase_(TV_series))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The Paper Chase is a 1978 American drama television series based on the 1971 novel of the same name by John Jay Osborn Jr., and a 1973 film adaptation. It follows the lives of law student James T. Hart and his classmates at an unnamed law school, modeled on Harvard Law School. > James T. Hart is a law student from rural Minnesota who enters the intensely competitive environment of a prestigious law school specifically to study with Professor Charle... Although the story was modeled on super prestigious super competitive programs like Harvard, the actual location of the school was always ambiguous. All the exterior campus scenes were shot at USC in downtown Los Angeles. Which I was attending at the time. The campus main admin building had been one of the earliest truly huge imposing masonry structures there, had lots of ivy growing on it, and totally looked the part of a long-standing prestigious law school. So of course, that’s what the series used. Lots of canned shots of students entering, standing in the foyer, etc. The actual USC law school (also pretty prestigious and competitive, at least as to the West Coast) was an ugly late 1960s bare cast concrete Brutalist monstrosity diagonally opposite the main admin building and down a bit. So whenever we saw one of those exterior establishing shots we’d always shout at the TV: “No, stupid! Turn the camera around; the law school is _right behind you_!” They never listened. 😉 Growing up in LA you see a lot of stuff you recognize, either specifically or just stylistically. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/25 "2021-01-18T03:21:20Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > **Homicide, Life on the Street** : set and filmed in Bawlmer, MD. And so was _The Wire_. Those boarded up, abandoned row houses frequently seen on the show were actual vacant row houses in Baltimore. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/26 "2021-01-18T03:59:14Z")
_Arrested Development_ was set and filmed in Orange County, unlike _The O.C._, which was shot in the beach cities of L.A. County’s South Bay. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/27 "2021-01-18T04:17:47Z")
Elvis film It Happened At The World’s Fair was filmed at the Seattle World’s Fair. In case you are wondering what “It” is, apparently it’s not all that much. The TV movie filmed in my hometown, Things In Their Season, was indeed set in northeastern Wisconsin. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/28 "2021-01-18T04:28:48Z")
> [@Jay\_Z](#): > > The TV movie filmed in my hometown, Things In Their Season, was indeed set in northeastern Wisconsin. _ **The Giant Spider Invasion** _ was filmed in northern Wisconsin too, and during the Bicentennial no less. One of my all-time guilty pleasures! 🥰 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/29 "2021-01-18T04:36:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Moving north, _The Streets of San Francisco_ was filmed there; that’s one town that’s hard to fake. Likewise the entire _Dirty Harry_ franchise. _ **Monk** _ too, I imagine. _ **Cheers!** _ and _ **Frasier** _ would occasionally go on location in Boston and Seattle, respectively ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/30 "2021-01-18T04:44:22Z")
Pretty sure it was mentioned in the other thread, but _Grimm_ was set in and definitely filmed in Portland and they went to a lot of trouble to make use of well known landmark places around town. They did take some liberties with geography but nothing as risibly stupid as the scene in _The Zero Effect_ which had a driving scene which took the characters back and forth east and west over several considerably separated bridges in a way that is literally impossible to do. When _Grimm_ wrapped up they had a huge sale of props and set pieces here in town that was very well attended and quite a few locals worked as extras and crew on the show. I rather miss it. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/31 "2021-01-18T05:47:15Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **Monk** _ too, I imagine. Actually, I’m pretty sure _Monk_ was mostly filmed in Southern California, except for scenes where they needed a famous landmark. I’m pretty sure this was mentioned in the other thread, as it resulted in scenes with large suburban houses that were supposed to be in San Francisco but looked entirely unlike anything actually in San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/32 "2021-01-18T06:39:36Z")
A friend took me to see Traffic a couple decades ago. I was rather amused to realize the establishing shots they had (with captions to help viewers, because it jumps around quite a bit) were spot on. They’d show a scene that was supposed to be in San Diego and I would recognize the place (having grown up there) and they’d show a scene from Cincinnati and I’d recognize the place (having just left Grad School there) and they’d show a scene from Tijuana and I’d recognize the place (having built houses with the Rotary Club in those areas). It added a level of authenticity that I hadn’t expected. –G! ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/33 "2021-01-18T09:58:19Z")
The episode **The French Mistake** from _Supernatural_ was almost entirely set in British Columbia, where they filmed. Well, an alternate world British Columbia, but still. _Leverage’s_ fifth season was both set and shot in Portland, Oregon. Its pilot episode was set and shot in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/34 "2021-01-18T14:40:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > My wife visited Station 127 a few years ago – the station stills get fans of the TV show who show up, and they sell commemorative T-shirts. 😃 I drove by it once. The trees really have grown up. I didn’t want to stop in and bother them. I didn’t know they got visitors even after this long! I should have guessed - Menards makes a train-scale replica: > **[Where There's Smoke... Built-Up Fire Station from Menards in HO and O - Model...](https://modelrailroadnews.com/where-theres-smoke-built-up-fire-station-from-menards-in-ho-and-o/)** > > This new Menards Collectibles built-up fire station is available in HO and O scale, and includes figures and vehicles, as well as a number of details that add to the product’s value and enhance the building’s eye appeal. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/35 "2021-01-18T14:48:16Z")
_Corner Gas_ is set in small-town Saskatchewan. While the town is fictional, the outdoor scenes really were filmed in a small Saskatchewan town (and the indoor scenes were filmed on a set in the province’s capital). Oh, and speaking of sitcoms set in gas stations, the Iceland series _Næturvaktin_ was set and filmed in a real-life gas station in Reykjavík. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/36 "2021-01-18T14:51:46Z")
“Columbo” worked for the LAPD and the show was shot in Los Angeles. _Vertigo_ takes place in San Francisco and was shot there. “Trailer Park Boys” doesn’t have a named location, other than a trailer park in Canada. In the first season they took over a trailer park in Canada and shot there. From the second season on they built a replica of the park (in Canada) and have shot there since. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/37 "2021-01-18T14:52:48Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > and the shots of most of the generic suburbia calls were another 20-ish miles away in the opposite direction. But conveniently near the studio. When I watch Emergency! or Adam-12 reruns, I always look for a visible street sign. Sometimes even “5700 El Rancherito” or whatever is enough to find the location used. I use google street view to match them up. Fun to see what is the same and what has changed. And yes, they sure seemed to find a lot of locations that were within a mile of Universal Studios! Despite where Station 127 actually is located, I imagine Station 51 is somewhere in the valley. Though how Marina Del Rey is even remotely in their area of coverage is a mystery. I’ve been able to match up a couple locations on Movin’ On, but that’s harder. Though they did have Sonny visit his ex wife in Phoenix, and I found it. I would never have thought anyone would have scouted that location, out of all the greater Phoenix metro area, for use. Yers, I’m a nerd! My wife’s uncle worked for Universal, When she’d visit, he’d take her on set during filming. I’m so jealous! ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/38 "2021-01-18T14:54:13Z")
“On the Waterfront” was set and filmed in Hoboken, NJ. I used to live there and recognized many of the outside shots. The history museum there had some information about the entire shooting of the film. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/39 "2021-01-18T14:54:21Z")
Virtually all the outdoor scenes in Spenser for Hire (approximately half the scenes, I’d guess) were filmed in and around Boston. That made it a very expensive show to produce, because they had to fly in camera operators, sound people, etc., from California and put them up for weeks or months at a time. The indoor scenes, I think, were mostly filmed in California. The original version of The Thomas Crown Affair was filmed in and around Boston where it is set. I haven’t seen the remake. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764/40 "2021-01-18T14:58:00Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > The original version of The Thomas Crown Affair was filmed in and around Boston where it is set. I haven’t seen the remake. Banacek, on the other hand, was filmed, except for establishing shots, entirely in LA. Didn’t know Boston had palm trees! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-or-film-that-were-actually-filmed-in-the-place-where-they-are-set/930764.md?page=3)