When you see a scene that appears to be shot in New York City in films or TV shows, look closely. Don’t assume it was filmed there—many times, locations in Los Angeles, Vancouver, or Toronto stand in for the Big Apple.
You might be wondering why filmmakers often choose to shoot in Los Angeles instead of New York City. The answer lies in cost-effectiveness. Los Angeles boasts a robust film industry infrastructure, with easily accessible studios, varied landscapes, and generally favorable weather conditions. These advantages lead to significantly lower production costs, while New York City presents higher fees and numerous logistical challenges due to its dense population. When it comes to maximizing budgets and resources, LA emerges as the clear, smart choice for filmmakers.
For example, the award-winning 1980s series "Cagney & Lacey," starring the remarkable Emmy Award-winning actresses Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly, is set in the fictional 14th Precinct of New York City. However, most exterior scenes were filmed in downtown Los Angeles, particularly in run-down neighborhoods that were meant to mimic Manhattan. When Lacey moves to Fresh Meadows in Queens, the neighborhood depicted actually resembles suburban Los Angeles more than anything found in Queens. The actors and production team occasionally traveled to New York to film exterior shots, which were then seamlessly edited into the episodes.
The main filming locations for the show in Los Angeles included Walt Disney's Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, California, which provided backlot city streets. The exterior of the 14th Precinct was filmed at the Los Angeles DWP Central District Facility on South Wall Street. The Lacy Street Production Center in Lincoln Heights was converted from old brick warehouses into the precinct squad room, while other interiors included apartments, a hospital room, a crime lab, and precinct restrooms and locker rooms.
DISNEY’S GOLDEN OAK RANCH
Golden Oak Ranch is an expansive 890-acre movie ranch owned by Walt Disney Studios, offering a premier filming location and backlot ideal for filmmakers. Nestled off Placerita Canyon Road, just outside Newhall in Santa Clarita, California, it’s conveniently located less than an hour north of Los Angeles.
Disney and ABC Studios have thoughtfully developed two cutting-edge backlots at Golden Oak Ranch. The 42 storefront Business District has been meticulously designed for cinematic production. Its straight, horizontal rooflines make CGI backdrop creation a breeze, while the unique building layout allows filmmakers to focus on specific architectural styles seamlessly. The versatility of the street enables it to evoke any time period or city, empowering directors to vividly realize their visions, whether set in the roaring 1920s of Chicago or the modern-day hustle of New York.
Golden Oak Ranch is a favored destination for the film industry, having been featured in a wide array of iconic productions such as "Cagney & Lacey," "Lassie," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Charmed," "Red Dragon," "Murder, She Wrote," "Diagnosis Murder," "Bonanza," "Independence Day," and "The X-Files." This rich legacy continues with contemporary hits like "CSI," "My Name Is Earl," "Entourage," "Boston Legal," "Bones," "Sons of Anarchy," "Ghost Whisperer," "American Idol," and countless others, making Golden Oak Ranch a premier choice for storytellers looking to create magic on screen.
L.A. DWP CENTRAL DISTRICT FACILITY
The L.A. DWP Central District Facility offers a variety of filming-friendly locations throughout the city, making it popular for creative projects. These exceptional venues have hosted a range of productions, including feature films, student films, music videos, still photography, website illustrations, and television commercials. With their unique combination of modern, art deco, and historical architecture, along with distinctive industrial features like expansive catwalks, overhead cranes, and heavy machinery, these facilities provide an unparalleled environment for artistic expression.
One of the facility's standout attractions, located on South Wall Street, has a legacy connected to the iconic 1980s television series "Cagney & Lacey," where the 14th Street Precinct was brought to life. Although the original building used in the series is no longer standing, the facility still retains its charm and appeal. It has hosted notable productions such as "Three Fugitives" and "Tango & Cash."
LACY STREET PRODUCTION CENTER
Conveniently located near Downtown Los Angeles, the Lacy Street Production Center was converted into a studio in 1980 for the television series “Cagney and Lacey.” Producer Barney Rosenzweig sought a permanent location to shoot his new TV series. As you can see in the photos above, the facility's brick walls and industrial accents give it a New York vibe.
Positioned at the corner of Lacy Street and West Avenue, the Lacy Street Production Center comprises nine buildings totaling approximately 90,000 square feet. This versatile site features creative industrial offices, registered stages, and an exterior production studio, all situated within the vibrant Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. With its architectural courtyards, exposed brick walls, expansive industrial windows, loft spaces, and creative office environments, this property is ideal for a wide range of innovative projects and adaptive reuse possibilities.
Having hosted notable productions from Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can” to thrilling films like “Saw,” along with popular series such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “NCIS: Los Angeles,” the Lacy Street Production Center is not just a studio; it’s a pivotal contributor to LA’s rich cinematic history, providing an inspiring backdrop for creativity and innovation.
LACY STREET HISTORY
Columbia Mills, originally known as the Talbert-Whitmore Company, was incorporated in Los Angeles in 1904 by V.C. Talbert and J.P. Whitmore. Their mission at the time was straightforward: to meet the growing demand for window shade materials on the West Coast, which were predominantly supplied by Eastern manufacturers. Talbert-Whitmore Co. quickly became successful and, in 1908, built a state-of-the-art plant at 2626 Lacy Street. Upon completion, this factory was the largest west of Chicago exclusively dedicated to the manufacturing of shade cloth and window shades.
At its peak, the Talbert-Whitmore Company was the largest distributor of window shade rollers on the Pacific Coast. They were the first in the industry to perfect the method of mounting shade cloth on the roller, and their factory was renowned for being the most modernly equipped of its kind in both pre- and post-war America, boasting a manufacturing capacity of one million linear yards of material annually.
For the past 40 years, Columbia Mills has been operating as the Lacy Street Production Center. This unique backlot studio features 1920s brick façade backgrounds suitable for filming light industrial complexes, streets, alleyways, and yards, along with loading docks, roof tools, an incinerator, and fully equipped sound stages.
POST CAGNEY & LACEY
After the seventh and final season of "Cagney and Lacey" concluded, the studio remained in operation and has since been rented out for a variety of productions. Some notable films and shows filmed at this location include "Catch Me If You Can," "Ford vs. Ferrari," "Feud: Bette and Joan," "Seabiscuit," "Saw," "L.A. Confidential," "Alien Nation," "Star Trek: Enterprise," "24," "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare," "Rizzoli & Isles," "Stitchers," "The Addams Family," "Beethoven," "Dead Presidents," and many more.
Lacy Street Studios is located at 2630 Lacy Street, near the intersection of the 110 freeway and the 5 freeway.
Some facts are taken from IMDB & Wikipedia.
Don't miss the chance to listen to my fascinating interview with Emmy Award-winning actress Sharon Gless, star of "Cagney & Lacey," on the latest episode of the Hollywood Obsessed podcast!
Click the links below to listen now!
Episode 101 - HERE
Episode 102 - HERE
