During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.
Scene: (Pray getting Addie's money at Robertson's mill, Hairdresser and General store on Avenue E)
810, Main Street, Hays, Ellis County, Kansas, 67601, United States of America
Saint Joseph City Hall, 1100, Frederick Avenue, Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, 64501, United States of America
398, Main Street, White Cloud, Doniphan County, Kansas, 66094, United States of America
Scene: (exteriors: Doniphan Co. sheriff's office)
123, 2nd Street, Gorham, Russell County, Kansas, 67640, United States of America
Scene: (Gorham train station, demolished)
Northeast 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida, 33432, United States of America
Saint Joseph City Hall, 1100, Frederick Avenue, Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, 64501, United States of America
447, 1st Street, McCracken, Rush County, Kansas, 67556, United States of America
Scene: (opening scene at Nickel Cemetery)
200, Stutsman Street, Rulo, Richardson County, Nebraska, 68431, United States of America
Scene: (Missouri River Bridge, now demolished)
1614, Jules Street, Harris Addition, Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, 64501, United States of America
Scene: (Moses running away and getting cornered in alley)
Pasadena Civic Center District, East Union Street, Old Pasadena, Pasadena Council District 3, Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, 91129, United States of America
499, Codell Road, Codell, Rooks County, Kansas, 67663, United States of America
Scene: (Final scene with the truck rolling down the hill was filmed on King Hill south of Codell, KS.)
1959, Saline River Road, Turkville, Ellis County, Kansas, 67663, United States of America
Scene: (Aunt Billie's home was set at the Romine house. The fight scene with Moses Pray and Leroy was set at the Clair house. Both houses were along the Saline River Road, although they have been razed.)
Midland Railroad Hotel & Restaurant, 414, 26th Street, Wilson, Ellsworth County, Kansas, 67490, United States of America
Scene: (Interiors where Moses, Addie, Trixie, and P.J. lodge)
City Hall, 2407, Avenue E, Wilson, Ellsworth County, Kansas, 67490, United States of America
Scene: (Exterior of general store that Moses and Addie enter)
City Hall, 2407, Avenue E, Wilson, Ellsworth County, Kansas, 67490, United States of America
Scene: (Moses exits barbershop)
Kansas
Peter Bogdanovich’s black-and-white Depression-era road movie follows a con man and a sharp-tongued little girl across the Dust Bowl – and filmed in the real plains of Kansas and Missouri, whose small towns and flat horizons became the heart of the story.
Where was Paper Moon filmed?
Paper Moon was filmed across Kansas and Missouri – small towns like Hays and White Cloud, with St Joseph, Missouri.
Every Paper Moon location, explained
1
The Kansas plains
The road-trip world used small towns across Kansas, including Hays, White Cloud and McCracken.
2
St Joseph – Missouri
City scenes used St Joseph, Missouri.
3
The small-town squares
The film used real Depression-era main streets and town squares.
4
The flat horizons
The vast, flat landscapes of the Plains give the film its stark look.
Planning a visit
The small towns of Kansas and St Joseph, Missouri are real, accessible pieces of the Dust Bowl country the film captured.
Paper Moon Fun Facts
1
Filmed in Kansas and Missouri The road movie used the real small towns of the American Plains.
2
Shot in black and white Bogdanovich filmed it in stark black and white to evoke the 1930s.
3
A real father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, who play the leads, are father and daughter.
4
A record Oscar Ten-year-old Tatum O’Neal became the youngest competitive Oscar winner.
5
From a novel It adapts the novel ‘Addie Pray’.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Paper Moon filmed?
Across Kansas and Missouri – small towns like Hays and White Cloud, with St Joseph, Missouri.
Is it in black and white?
Yes – Bogdanovich shot it in black and white to evoke the 1930s.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – the Kansas towns and St Joseph, Missouri are accessible.
