Charlie "The Tramp" Chaplin in City LightsMany of the scenes in Charlie Chaplin's film, City Lights, were shot on the backlot and soundstages of the Chaplin Studios located on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood. The screenshot above where Charlie first meets the blind flower girl, as well as the opening scene in the film where Charlie is found sleeping on the city statue were all shot at the Chaplin Studio. However, there were a few scenes shot around the city of Los Angeles.
Chaplin Studios, 1416 N. La Brea Avenue, Hollywood
7th Street & Grand, Los Angeles, CA Above is a screenshot from the scene where Charlie and the millionaire go for a drunken drive around town after a night out. Below is a photo of how the same area appears today. Notice now there are the addition of trees and many more high-rise buildings, otherwise, the building on the left looks pretty close to the same. This building just happened to be right next door to the parking garage for my jeweler which made finding this building pretty easy.
7th Street & Grand, Los Angeles, CA
7th Street & Olive, Los Angeles, CAJust a block down from the above location is another location from the same scene. Above Charlie and the drunken millionaire are about to turn right onto Olive. I think it's interesting if you look in the below picture you will see that Olive Avenue is now a one way street. If Charlie and the drunk would have turned down Olive today they would have been heading the wrong way!
7th Street & Olive, Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Postcard, Town House apartment building.The millionaire's house is actually the Town House apartment building on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard - not far from the other downtown Los Angeles locations. When Charlie receives a wad of cash from the millionaire he heads outside the building to buy flowers from the blind flower girl.
Charlie races to buy flowers from the blind flower girl.
Town House apartment building. Wilshire Boulevard, Los AngelesAbove is the same corner of the Town House apartment building as it appears today. The building is no longer used as an apartment building. Now it is available for film location rentals as well as wedding and other special events.
Turning on Berendo from Wilshire - Gaylord Apartments In the above screenshot Charlie and the millionaire are driving down Wilshire Boulevard and are about to turn onto Berendo. The Gaylord Apartment is the large building in the background and is an easy landmark to spot.
Turning onto Berendo past Immanuel Presbyterian ChurchAbove is another screenshot that shows Charlie and the millionaire making the turn onto Berendo. Another landmark that can be seen is the Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Wilshire Boulevard, Los AngelesAbove is the same intersection as it appears today. The church is still standing and so too is the Gaylord Apartments. You just can't see the apartment from this angle now because of all the trees.
Charlie & Millionaire passing Beverly-Wilshire Hotel, Beverly HillsAbove is a photo of Charlie and the drunken Millionaire now driving pass the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Below is a photo looking at the hotel today.
Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly HillsWith the exception of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, all the other locations are in very close proximity to one another. I recommend visiting the downtown locations early on a weekend when traffic isn't so bad and then do a drive to the other locations. Just don't follow Charlie and the Millionaire's example - drive sober!
Here is a short YouTube video showing the Charlie and Millionaire driving around town drunk:
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