As Hollywood's Golden Age is winding down during the summer of 1969, television actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth endeavor to achieve lasting success in Hollywood while meeting several colorful characters along the way.
Capitol Records Building, 1750, Vine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 90028, United States of America
Scene: (background in a shot featuring the "Pandora's Box" nightclub, which when it was in operation, was located about three miles away at the entrance of the Sunset Strip at Crescent Heights Blvd.)
Main Street, Newhall, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, California, 91322, United States of America
Scene: ("Lancer" Western scenes)
Casa Vega, 13301, Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council District, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 91423, United States of America
4499, Ledge Avenue, Toluca Lake, Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council District, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 91602, United States of America
Terasaki Life Sciences Building, 610, Charles E. Young Drive East, Westwood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 90095, United States of America
Scene: (Movie theatre where Sharon Tate watches "The Wrecking Crew")
Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920, Valencia Boulevard, The Bungalows, Valencia, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, California, 91355, United States of America
Scene: (on location)
2801, Western Street, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, 48209, United States of America
Terasaki Life Sciences Building, 610, Charles E. Young Drive East, Westwood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 90095, United States of America
Crave Cafe, 14504, Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council District, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 91403, United States of America
Tarantino’s love letter to 1969 Los Angeles rebuilt the city as it was – reviving vintage signage along Hollywood Boulevard, dressing Sunset Strip in period neon, and using the real Spahn Ranch country where the Manson Family once lived. It’s less a film shot in LA than LA itself, restored.
Where was Once Upon a Time in Hollywood filmed?
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was filmed across Los Angeles – Hollywood Boulevard, the Sunset Strip, Studio City, and the old movie-ranch country north of the city.
Every Once Upon a Time location, explained
1
Hollywood Boulevard – rebuilt to 1969
Tarantino restored a stretch of Hollywood Boulevard with period signage and vintage cars to recreate the LA of 1969.
2
Rick Dalton’s house – Studio City
Rick’s home sits on Cielo Drive-adjacent hills, with his house in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.
3
Spahn Ranch – Corriganville and beyond
The unsettling visit to the Manson Family’s home used old movie-ranch locations around Corriganville north of the city.
4
The Sunset Strip and Musso & Frank
Real Hollywood institutions feature, from the neon of Sunset Boulevard to landmark restaurants, plus Newhall for the “Lancer” Western set.
Planning a visit
Los Angeles is the film’s living subject – Hollywood Boulevard, the Sunset Strip and Musso & Frank Grill are all real, and the film is essentially a guided tour of 1969 LA.
Once Upon a Time Fun Facts
1
Tarantino rebuilt 1969 The production restored vintage signage and marquees along Hollywood Boulevard to recreate the era.
2
Real movie-ranch country The Spahn Ranch scenes used the same old Western-movie ranch land the Manson Family once occupied.
3
Shot on film, of course Tarantino, a celluloid devotee, shot the period piece on 35mm film.
4
A very different ending The film famously rewrites history in its climactic finale.
5
Pitt won an Oscar Brad Pitt took Best Supporting Actor as stuntman Cliff Booth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did they recreate 1969?
By restoring vintage signage and marquees along Hollywood Boulevard and dressing streets with period cars.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – Hollywood Boulevard, the Sunset Strip and Musso & Frank Grill are all real and accessible.
Where was Spahn Ranch filmed?
At old movie-ranch locations around Corriganville, north of Los Angeles.
