Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood Filming Locations

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood has quickly become one of my all time favorite movies. Quinten Tanatino’s love letter to late 1960s LA is full of wonderful details and used many beloved SoCal institutions, including a number that are accessible to the film buff!

Screencap reading "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" with additional text reading "Filming Locations"

While many of the locations in the film, they “play themselves” there are a handful of places that were dressed up to be one thing or another. This has been a post months in the making, and in a way, also kind of years in the making, as I utilize some older photos from visits to these locations prior to and around the film’s release. Additionally, due to COVID, I have not visited or in some cases revisited the interiors of some locations.

Musso & Frank Grill

6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
Musso & Frank Grill website

In the beginning of the film we are introduced to Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman/right hand man Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). The pair arrive at Musso & Frank Grill, Hollywood’s oldest restaurant, for Rick to have a lunch meeting with Marvin Schwarz (Al Pocino). Rick and Cliff arrive by driving into the back parking lot and entering through the backdoor, eventually landing at the bar. Later Schwarz arrives, entering through the front, and meets Rick and Cliff at the bar, later Rick and Marvin are seated at a table.

Musso and Frank's as it appears in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood. Dark wood walls with red leather booths. DiCaprio's Rick sits to the right, while Al Pacino's Schwarz sits on the left.

Musso and Frank's as it appears in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood. View is over Rick's shoulder toward Schwarz, who wears a blue suit, blue shirt, and dark tie, with a red handkerchief in his pocket.

A friend of mine surprised me with Musso & Frank reservations awhile back, and we were lucky enough to be seated in a booth visible just past Pacino once he and DiCaprio at seated, with a lovely view of the area where they sat for the film.

Interior of Musso & Frank's today, with dark wood walls and tables and chairs, the tables are laid with a white table cloth. Waiters wear smart red velvet jackets.

After Rick and Marvin’s luncheon, Rick and Cliff have a conversation in the parking lot as they await Rick’s car, standing under the massive Musso and Frank sign.

Parking lot sign as it appears in the film. DiCaprio lights a cigarette as Brad Pitt looks on.

The large green Musso & Frank's sign in the parking lot, reading "Musso & Frank's Grill Since 1919 Oldest in Hollywood" I stand in front of it wearing a purple, yellow, and orange psychedelic dress.

They later pull out of the parking lot, and visible to the left are two mural versions of Elaine Hanelock’s popular psychedelic old Hollywood posters that she did in 1968, one featuring Charlie Chaplin, the other featuring Mae West and W.C. Fields. This is the first of three appearances of Hanelock’s series. They later crop up again in mural form in the Cliff Booth and Bruce Lee fight scene, and again, as posters inside George Spahn’s house.

Aerial view of the Musso and Frank's parking lot, as Rick and Cliff drive away, Elaine Hanelock's murals visible to the left.

Two murals of Elaine Hanelock's old Hollywood posters. One features Charlie Chaplin in his classic "Tramp" outfit of black tails and a bowler hat. The other features A well dressed couple, Mae West and W.C. Fields.

Musso & Frank appears once more later on in the film, during a neon sign montage.

Musso & Frank Grill sign as it appears in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, lit up at night, a massive green sign with neon script reading "Muss & Frank" in white, "Grill Since 1919" in red, and small text reading "Oldest In Hollywood" in white neon.

The Musso & Frank neon sign today, during the daytime.

Rick’s Car Accident – Frolic Room

6245 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles

During the Musso and Frank lunch, we find out the reason Cliff drives Rick everywhere is because of Rick’s drunk driving. A flashback shows him in the back of a police car, visible through the back window is his wrecked car in front of the Frolic Room.

Rick sits in the back of a police car, through the back window you see a wreck pink Cadillac in front of the Frolic Room, whose sign is lit up with yellow and pink neon.

In fanciful neon script it reads "Frolic Room Cocktails" with art deco details flanking it.

Originally opening as a speakeasy in 1930, it turned legit in 1935 as Freddy’s Frolic Room. The Frolic Room is a popular filming spot, and was also featured in another favorite film of mine, LA Confidential. It’s also on my list of places to stop in and truly visit! One day!

Dumpster Dive – Super A Foods

2925 Division Street, Los Angeles

We are introduced to a group girls, members of the Manson Family, as they dumpster dive for food outside of Super A Foods.

Super A as it appears in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, with several girls digging inside a large green dumposter.

Super A Foods as it appears today. A cream and burnt orange painted building. Rounded text reads "The Super A Way" along with their "Super A" logo.

James Dean Mural – S & S Pharmacy

2922 Division Street, Los Angeles

After scoring inside the Super A dumpsters, the girls make their way home and walk by a massive mural of James Dean from Giant.

A massive mural of James Dean from his film Giant. He sits in a car dressed in cowboy attire, an old house visible in the distance, the hippie girls walk by carrying their dumpster finds.

This mural was done especially for the film on the wall of S & S Pharmacy. Sadly, unlike the Hanelock murals, it has already been painted over, in a drab cream color.

Originally painted on the side of S&S Pharmacy, the mural no longer exists and is just a cream stucco wall.

Pussycat Theater – Previously Hologram Theater

6656 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles

After dropping Rick off at home, Cliff speeds away, weaving in between cars along Hollywood Boulevard. While there are many iconic places in this sequence, I love that for a split second you can spy the Pussycat Theater.

Cliff speeds down Hollywood Boulevard in his blue Garmin Gia, the plastic back lit sign of the Pussycat Theater is visible, with funky, bubbly letters spelling out its name.

A dilapidated theatre, with fading black paint. There are remnants of letters spelling out "Hologram"

The space originally opened in 1913 as the News View, followed by The Ritz, and in 1974 became The Pussycat, an adult theatre. Eventually it became the Hologram, although it has since vacated the space.

Lancer Scenes – “Six Points, Texas” Universal Studios

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
Universal Studios website

The following day Cliff drops Rick off to film the pilot for Lancer, which was indeed a real show. Here Universal Studio’s “Six Points” (one of the oldest sets on the backlot) was used. As few westerns are made these days, Six Points is often part of the Tram Tour, and the following are photos from various visits to Universal.

Rick arrives on set, a brick building is behind him. Those around him are already in costume.

The corner of a pale brick building.

Six Points as it appears in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio sits in a chair dresses as a cowboy on the left, a western town resides just past him.

Six Points as it appears today. Weathered western buildings, some feature faux brick. Piles of props are on the left.

Timothy Olyphant rides a horse into the scene, passing by a wooden store with "Dry Goods" painted on the front.

The same building on the lot, with "Dry Goods" still painted on it.

Timothy Olyphant, dressed as a cowboy films a scene for Lancer, a grey stone building with maroon trim is behind him.

The stone building as it appears on the backlot, with the same maroon trim.

Screencap from Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, featuring the saloon and Timothy Olyphant riding in from the left on a white horse.

The saloon as it appears on Universal's backlot, a faux brick exterior with a dark green balcony and porch. A hanging sign out front reads "Opera House"

Screencap from Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio, done up in his Lancer duds and make-up looks out from the porch of the saloon.

Screencap from Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, Olyphant prepares for a gunfight in front of the saloon.

The saloon as it appears on Universal's backlot, a faux brick exterior with a dark green balcony and porch. A hanging sign out front reads "Opera House"

Leonardo DiCaprio walks back to set with a stucco building behind him. A little blue wagon sits to the left.

Leonardo DiCaprio walks back to set with a stucco building behind him.

The same building, complete with little blue wagon.

In recent years Six Points and the adjoining Mexican Streets have been used in HBO’s Westworld and my favorite Lady Gaga music video, “Judas” which even takes advantage of the flash flood effect.

Pandora’s Box – Joseph’s Cafe

1771 Ivar Avenue, Los Angeles

After dropping Rick off, Cliff spies Pussycat, the hippie girl and Manson Family member, he and Rick crossed on their back to Rick’s place. Pussycat is seated outside Pandora’s Box and attempts to hitch a ride with Cliff, but they are going in opposite directions.

Pussycat sits on the back of a bus stop bench with her thumb out, in the background is Pandora's Box, a club painted in orange and lavender stripes.

Cliff drives way from Pandora's box, in its garish paint job of orange and lavender. Funky script reading "Pandora's Box" is painted on the side.

A white building that is a mish-mash of walls, windows and roof lines, with only mild Mediterranean style. A sign on the side reads "Joseph's"

Pandora’s Box appearance in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood is a bit of anachronism as it was gone by the time the film takes place. The original Pandora’s Box was located at 8118 Sunset Boulevard. But for some reason Tarantino felt compelled to have it appear, and he went to extensive lengths to revamp Joseph’s Cafe.

Pandora’s Box operated as a teenage club, catering to the under 21 crowd, and featured popular acts such as the Smothers Brothers and the Beach Boys. On November 12, 1966 a peaceful protest turned violent and was immortalized in Buffalo Springfield’s song “For What It’s Worth.” The result of the protest? All under 21 clubs were forced to close and Pandora’s Box was demolished in August of 1967.

Fox Westwood Village Regency Theater & Bruin Regency Theater

961 and 948 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles
Fox Westwood Village Regency Website
Bruin Regency Website

Sharon Tate (as played by Margo Robbie) takes the day to run errands. After parking behind the Fox Westwood Village Theater, she makes her way to pick up a book she ordered, but not before stopping to marvel at her name on the marquee of the Bruin. After picking up her book, she decides to see her own film, The Wrecking Crew. She tells the ticket girl that she’s in the picture, then the ticket girl photographs her standing next to the poster. I love the irony that the frame that was used for The Wrecking Crew poster was displaying the poster for The Suicide Squad, which stars Robbie, during our visit.

The tower of the Fox Theater juts up into a blue sky in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood.

The Fox Theater tower today.

Margo Robbie as Sharon Tate walks was the Fox Westwood Village Theater, the neon marquee visible in the background.

The Fox Westwood Village marquee today, with neon. However, instead of a traditional marquee as seen in the film, it features a banner advertising the showing of In the Heights.

The Bruin as seen in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, with neon above its marquee displaying "The Wrecking Crew"

The Bruin today, which also features a banner style marquee displaying The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard.

Robbie as Tate looks up at the Bruin.

Screencap as Robbie walks across the street.

The shops across from The Bruin today.

Robbie walks back toward the Bruin, the poster for The Wrecking Crew visible.

The same shot today.

The ticket girl holds up a camera outside the ticket booth to take a picture of Robbie as Tate.

Robbie as Tate poses next to the poster for The Wrecking Crew.

The same frames as seen in the film are used today. Ironically the frame that housed the poster for The Wrecking Crew now holds one for The Suicide Squad, a film starring Robbie.

I absolutely adore old cinemas, and would love to actually visit these to see a movie one day, and when I do, I’ll update the post with interior shots of the Bruin.

Cliff picks up Pussycat – Intersection of Burbank Boulevard and Denny Avenue, North Hollywood

After crossing paths twice already, Cliff finally meets Pussycat, who is still hitchhiking.

Jackalope Pottery as it appeared in Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. Pussycat, wearing a rainbow crocheted halter top and cut of jean shorts sticks her thumb out to signal to be picked up, while standing on a corner. A bench and various cacti are behind her.

Jackalope Pottery as it appears today. Various cacti are scattered on the corner. A metal fence is situated off to the right and a banner sign reads "Jackalope Pottery"

The intersection as it appeared in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Pussycat flips off a cop car that has driven by.

The intersection today, which is virtually identical to how it appeared in the film.

In the film Cliff asks “You hitch up and down Burbank Boulevard all day until someone says they’ll drive you to Chatsworth?” and this location is in fact on Burbank Boulevard, the corner of Burbank and Denny to be exact. The business behind Pussycat is Jackalope Pottery, a garden center offering various pots, statues, and plants.

Spahn Movie Ranch – Corriganville

7001 Smith Road, Simi Valley
Corriganville Park website

After picking up Pussycat, Cliff drives her to Spahn Movie Ranch, where she says she lives with her friends, the Manson Family. Manson did indeed convince owner George Spahn to let him and his cult live on the property, which was located in the Santa Susana Canyon, and the area is now Santa Susana Pass State Park. For filming Tarentino opted to film at another nearby former movie ranch, Corriganville, which is also a park today. Corriganville suffered multiple fires and today only a handful of foundations and walls from the stable remain. I suspect the film crew laid down boards to create a level surface over the Corriganville foundations to build their recreation of Spahn Movie Ranch. The walls of the old Corriganville stable are visible though in some shots.

Screencap from Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, the view from the porch of George Spahn's house, with western buildings on the right, and various cars scattered about.

The view today. Various concrete foundations remain from the original Corriganville buildings.

Screencap from Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, looking through the windshield, a small house sits on a hill, with western style buildings on the left, and some cars scattered about.

The same view today, with no buildings, just foundations from the Corriganville buildings, and scattered trees and bushes.

Pussycat leads Cliff by the hand, pulling him pas a barn, trees, and the western buildings, a large rock formation is in the background.

The same area today, with no buildings, but the same trees and rock formations.

Cliff, dressed in a yellow shirt with an Asian landscape print on it over a white Champion Spark-plugs t-shirt, a school bus behind him sits in front of the remains of the old Corriganville stables.

The stable walls today.

We visited Corriganville a few years ago, so if you want to learn more about Corriganville, check out this post.

Columbia – Paramount Studio

5515 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles

After wrapping up filming for Lancer, Rick is picked up by Cliff outside what appears to Columbia Studios.

Cliff picks up Rick outside a tan and cream streamline modern building, a sign next to the door reads "Columbia"

A tan and cream streamline moderne building reads "Paramount Pictures Studio Tour" in small script by a door.

As Cliff and Rick drive away the side of the studio building features a large ad for Funny Girl

The streamline modern building at an angle, and just slightly off to the distance on the right. On the left is a massive studio building with an ad for A Quiet Place II.

In reality this streamline moderne building and the large studio buildings next to it belong to Paramount Pictures, and the building Rick is picked up outside of is the one visitors go to for the Paramount Studio Tour.

Vogue Theatre

6675 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles

Rick and Cliff drive down Hollywood Boulevard the "V" from the Vogue is just barely visible in the upper right.

Marquee for the Vogue. Squares each feature one letter, with a red background and white letter, spelling "VOGUE"

As Rick and Cliff drive along Hollywood Boulevard there is another split second where the Vogue Theater is visible.

The Vogue was originally built in 1935 in a streamline moderne style, and was remodeled in 1959. Closing in 1995 it has gone through several changes and today operates now as The Vogue Multicultural Museum and, as you can see, has a Pink Floyd Exhibition going on.

Marvin Schwarz Phone Calls & Restaurant in Italy – Cicada Club

617 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles
Cicada Club website

Los Angeles’ supper club Cicada Club serves as multiple locations. It appears first when Marvin Schwarz calls his Italian director friend while watching FBI, this scene was shot in the upstairs bar. Later Marvin calls Rick from the main floor of the restaurant.

Al Pacino sits at a bar, smoking a cigarette.

Al Pacino sits at a dining table, talking on a phone.

As I am limiting my indoor experiences at the moment, I hope to return to Cicada and get shots to match these screencaps sometime in the future. However you can see some interior shots from our previous visits to Cicada, and learn more about its history, here and here.

Once Rick accepts the spaghetti western roles, he is happily bombarded with paparazzi at a restaurant, which is actually the exterior of Cicada.

Exterior of Cicada as seen in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, a door to a car sits ajar on the right, and flash bulbs pop as DiCaprio and a woman pose for photos.

Exterior of Cicada today, with Art Deco fence and gate, protecting the entry way.

What I find interesting about the above shot in particular is that you can notice the address visible in the upper right, 617. If you look closely in the screencap, you’ll see the address is backwards, meaning they shot this in the other direction (as Cicada has its address on both columns) and then flipped it. I didn’t notice this until I started editing and matching photos after shooting.

DiCaprio walks through the covered entryway of Cicada, which is posed as a restaurant, with various tables. The frosted glass and gold doors stand in the background.

Entry to Cicada today, as seen through the same fence, with the etched, frosted glass and gold doors in the back.

Cicada is a popular filming location, and was also used in Pretty Woman and American Horror Story: Hotel.

Cliff picks up Brandy – Avenue 26 Small Animal Hospital

609 W Ave 26, Los Angeles

Once Cliff and Rick return from Europe, Cliff stops by a vet to pick up his beloved dog, Brandy. The location is indeed a vet, and while I did not go inside, you can see through the frosted glass the same chairs as seen in the film.

Cliff, dressed in a white jean jacket and white jeans, has his dog, Brandy, by the leash. The check in counter of the vet sits on the left, with blue painted walls. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling frosted glass makes up the front portion of the lobby.

Cliff is visible through the frosted glass of the vet lobby, blue chairs sit against the front frosted windows, a man sits in a car on the right with his dog in his lap.

The exterior of the vet today, with frosted glass, and the same blue chairs visible.

In the later half of the film a montage showcases various businesses lighting up their signs for the night. It was a small touch that really had nothing to do with the story, but that I really loved.

Taco Bell

14232 Newport Avenue, Tustin

The Taco Bell as it appeared in the film, with vibrate colored tile letters.

A faded, boarded up former Taco Bell. No signage, no bell. The old fire pit has some broken bricks.

The Taco Bell used for the film is located in Tustin, and I loved the attention to detail, recreating the colorful letters across the top, and the sign. Old Taco Bells used to have a fire pit out front, and this one still does, although it is now damaged. In the film they chose to make the fire pit a planter.

Pacific Cinerama Dome

6360 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles

The Dome as seen in Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, lit up at night, featuring the banner for Krakatoa East of Java. The dome is lite blue.

The Dome at sunset, a red, white, and blue sign reads "Pacific Cinerama Dome" The white dome is lit with red lights.

When Patrick and I saw Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, we chose to see it at the Cinerama Dome, for a couple of reasons. I’d always wanted to go, as it is a unique piece of LA architecture, and it was used in the film. What I especially loved was that during our visit it was dressed up as it was in the film (which is the image you see above), and included the two cars used in the film. You can see more of our visit and learn more about this unique cinema here.

Prior to the pandemic, ArcLight operated the Cinerama Dome, however, amid the pandemic they shuttered, and currently various rumors swirl as to which cinema company will take over.

Vine Theatre

6321 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles

The Vine marquee lit up with Romeo & Juliet spelled out on its marquee.

Marquee for the Vine theater. Script reads "Vine" with bulbs that would illuminate. A large V faces the street from the front of the marquee.

The Vine originally was called The Admiral, receiving its new name and updated look sometime in the late 1960s. Today it operates as a one of Dolby’s screening rooms.

The Supply Sergeant

6664 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
Supply Sergeant website

The Supply Sergeant as it appears in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, lit up at night, with a neon soldier, red neon arrows, and blue neon reading "The Supply Sergeant"

The Supply Sergeant as it appears today, during the daytime, with a massive told neon soldier on the right, and text reading "The Supply Sergeant" in white letters.

The Supply Sergeant is a real military surplus store, in operation since 1948, with multiple locations.

Chili John’s

2018 W. Burbank Boulevard, Burbank

Chili John's as it appears in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, with glowing neon reading "Chili John's Chili As You Like It Take Some Home"

Chili John's as it appears today, in the daylight. A white curved building with red painted script reading "Chili John's" And text below reading "Chili As You Like It Take Some Home"

Chili John’s is another legendary eatery, and one I have yet to dine at! But one day!

Wienerschnitzel – Taqueria Los Primos #3

1910 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach

Der Wienerschnitzel as it appears in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, lit up at night with a red roof and yellow sign.

Originally a Wienerschnitzel, today it is an independent taco place.

Like the Taco Bell, this location is no longer a Wienerschnitzel, even though once upon a time it was. Today it is Taqueria Los Primos #3, but I do love that for one brief moment it got to be dressed up as a Wienerschnitzel again.

El Coyote

7312 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles
El Coyote Website

The sign montage comes to and end as El Coyote’s neon sign lights up, and Sharon and her friends pull into its parking lot on the evening of August 8, 1969. This is indeed where Sharon and her friends dined that night, however, unlike the happy ending of Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, this would be there last meal before being brutally murdered by the Manson Family.

Red neon reads "El Coyote Mexican Food"

The red neon sign outside which reads "El Coyote Mexican Food"

Margot Robbie, who plays Sharon Tate, wears a yellow mini dress, as she walks into El Coyote.

We visited El Coyote back in 2019 (and I have yet to return since, the above photo is from that 2019 visit, but I hope to return soon) and you can read and see more about that visit here.

Casa Vega

13301 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks
Casa Vega website

Like Cicada, Casa Vega also has multiple appearances. It first appears earlier in the film as the restaurant in Spain where Rick breaks it to Cliff that he doesn’t think he can afford to keep him on any longer.

Rick sits in a red leather booth, with a brick wall behind him.

The same red leather booth inside Casa Vega, with a matador painting behind it.

It returns later as itself, where Cliff and Rick go to have one more night together and indulge in multiple margaritas.

Patrick and I visited the exterior during the day while in the Valley, and then later returned for dinner on August 8, at 8:30 (around the time Cliff and Rick visit) where I indulged in my first alcoholic drink in well over a year. I’m not a big drinker, but I decided to get one in the spirit of the evening, and boy did it hit me hard!

Exterior of Casa Vega as it appears in the film, with red back lit plastic letters on the building reading "Casa Vega" and a standing neon sign reading "Casa Vega Restaurant Parking Cocktails"

Casa Vega as it appears in the film, a white stucco building with red letters reading "Casa Vega"

Casa Vega as it appears today, during the day, a white stucco building, with the same signage as in the film.

Casa Vega as it appears today at night.

Shot of the multi-color neon sign, reading "Casa Vega Restaurant" in blue neon, "Parking" in pink, and "Cocktails" in red.

The bar inside Casa Vega as it appears in the film.

The bar today, virtually identical.

Cliff and Rick sit inside a red leather booth, slouched, after many margaritas, smoking.

Myself in the booth after a margarita, slouched.

I have been very selective about indoor dining during the pandemic, visiting only a handful of places, including Musso & Frank and Casa Vega. My hope is that once COVID is a thing of the past, I can return to some of these indoor places and snap more pictures and update this post in the future.

There are a few more filming locations that are not as easy to get to, but I do hope to one day visit (and update this post accordingly) including…

Melody Ranch – Melody Ranch, one of the last remaining movie ranches, was used in the very beginning of the film as the Bounty Law set. Melody Ranch was also used in Deadwood and HBO’s Westworld.

The Pan Am Experience – A fan of the golden age of flying, I’ve wanted to do the Pan Am Experience since I first heard about it years ago, however it’s tragically expensive. The Pan Am Experience was used in the beginning of the film when Sharon is seen dancing aboard a plane, and later when Cliff and Rick return from Europe.

LAX – Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski arrive in LAX at the beginning of the film, and later, Cliff, Rick, and his “spankin’ new Italian wife” Francesca Capucci follow the same path near the end of the film.

Playboy Mansion – Yet another anachronism is Sharon and Roman attending a party at the Playboy Mansion complete with Playboy bunnies. While built in the 1920s, Hugh Hefner did not purchased the property until 1971.

Excelsior High School – During the film Cliff has a flashback moment to when he and Rick were guest appearing on The Green Hornet and Cliff gets into a fight with Bruce Lee. Excelsior High School stood in for the studio.

Leave a Comment!

3 comments on “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood Filming Locations”