A film set in Chicago · 1973
The fake city
TCM says filming was split between location shooting in Chicago and the Universal back lot in California.
TCM says director George Roy Hill used few or no extras in street scenes, a choice drawn from 1930s gangster films.
TCM says Hill, art director Henry Bumstead and cinematographer Robert Surtees chose a muted brown and maroon palette.
A fan location list says much of the film was shot on the backlot’s “Main Street”, and that the Chicago “el” was built there for Gaily, Gaily (1969).
Wikipedia’s Universal article says a fire on 1 June 2008 destroyed Brownstone Street, New York Street and New England Street on the backlot.
A working studio and theme park. The narrated Studio Tour runs through the active backlot; the 1973 sets are not marked.
The wire
The story is set in Chicago. Seven places stood in for it or were it. Back each one as shot in Chicago or in California, and the result comes in over the tape.
0 paid · 0 lost · 7 still open
Waiting on the wire.
Waiting on the wire.
Waiting on the wire.
Waiting on the wire.
Waiting on the wire.
Waiting on the wire.
Waiting on the wire.
Back each place as Chicago or California.
Los Angeles
Live marketplace results for movie location tours of Los Angeles. Check which routes reach the pier and Old Pasadena.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursUniversal City, California
Live marketplace results for Universal Studios Hollywood, where the Studio Tour runs through the active backlot. Pictured: New York Street, 2014.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare ticketsThe real rails
The only real Chicago in the film is railway. One station still works. The other was pulled down in 1981.
TCM says the Chicago location shooting used Union Station and LaSalle Street Station.
A fan blog gives it as the scene of Lonnegan leaving New York.
Wikipedia’s station article says the current station opened on 16 May 1925 and is served by Amtrak and Metra.
A working Amtrak and Metra station; the building is open to anyone passing through.
Wikipedia says the 1903 LaSalle Street Station was a filming set for The Sting.
A fan blog gives it as the scene of Lonnegan arriving in Chicago.
Wikipedia says the 1903 station was demolished in 1981 and replaced by the present station and the One Financial Place tower.
The 1903 building is gone. The present commuter station sits under a tower on the same site; the photograph shows it today.
The Loop, Chicago
Live marketplace results for walks of Chicago’s Loop. Check which pass Union Station and the LaSalle Street Station site.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursCash out
The carousel, Union Station, the Biltmore and the Pasadena alleys are open to the public. Castle Green is apartments, and the backlot is seen on the Studio Tour. The 1903 LaSalle Street Station is gone; its site is on the map.
6 places across California and Chicago, shown on the map.
Pins mark public places; private homes are named but not pinned.
Site reference · Restricted access · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working studio and theme park. The narrated Studio Tour runs through the active backlot; the 1973 sets are not marked.
Site reference · Public access · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. On the pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue. The carousel still turns; the Hippodrome is open to walk into.
Site reference · Public access · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Public alleys in Old Pasadena, open to walk. How they look now was not compared with the film. The photograph shows nearby Colorado Boulevard.
Building reference · Public access · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working hotel on Grand Avenue. The lobby is open to guests and diners; the exact rooms filmed were not found.
California · Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, California
Wikipedia says the film was filmed on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot.
A working studio and theme park. The narrated Studio Tour runs through the active backlot; the 1973 sets are not marked.
California · Looff Hippodrome, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
Wikipedia says some scenes were filmed at the Santa Monica pier’s carousel.
On the pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue. The carousel still turns; the Hippodrome is open to walk into.
California · Smith Alley and Hugus Alley, off West Union Street, Old Pasadena
A fan blog lists West Union Street between North Fair Oaks and De Lacey Avenues as the street where Hooker runs from Detective Snyder.
Public alleys in Old Pasadena, open to walk. How they look now was not compared with the film. The photograph shows nearby Colorado Boulevard.
California · 506 South Grand Avenue, Downtown Los Angeles
TCM names the Biltmore Hotel among the Los Angeles-area sites used for the film.
A working hotel on Grand Avenue. The lobby is open to guests and diners; the exact rooms filmed were not found.
Stay
Nothing is listed for this film.
Grand Avenue, Downtown Los Angeles
The Grand Avenue hotel TCM names among the film’s Los Angeles-area sites. Pictured: the Grand Avenue facade, 2014.
Check roomsGo there
Marketplace searches for Universal City, Los Angeles film locations and the Chicago Loop.
Universal City, California
Live marketplace results for Universal Studios Hollywood, where the Studio Tour runs through the active backlot. Pictured: New York Street, 2014.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare ticketsLos Angeles
Live marketplace results for movie location tours of Los Angeles. Check which routes reach the pier and Old Pasadena.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursThe Loop, Chicago
Live marketplace results for walks of Chicago’s Loop. Check which pass Union Station and the LaSalle Street Station site.
Live marketplace results · itineraries change
Compare toursWhat’s on
Nothing dated for the film is listed at these places now.
No current dated events are listed. Check providers for the latest programme.
Dates, prices, rooms and stock change: confirm with the provider before you travel or buy. A stay or tour is described as a filming location only where the card says so.
Every place and moment behind this page, with sources.
7 of 7 places · 8 of 8 stories
Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, California
Much of the film is shot on the Universal backlot, with few or no extras in the street scenes.
Looff Hippodrome, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
The Santa Monica Looff carousel is a location in 1973; a fan blog says a matte painting adds the Chicago skyline.
99 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena
Castle Green supplies Lonnegan’s casino and hotel interiors.
Smith Alley and Hugus Alley, off West Union Street, Old Pasadena
Old Pasadena’s alleys host Hooker’s run from Snyder and the swindle of the mob courier.
506 South Grand Avenue, Downtown Los Angeles
TCM names the Biltmore as one of the Los Angeles-area sites.
225 South Canal Street, Chicago
Chicago’s Union Station is a location, and a fan blog places Lonnegan’s departure there.
South LaSalle Street, Chicago
The 1903 LaSalle Street Station is a film set; a fan blog places Lonnegan’s arrival there.
The 1903 LaSalle Street Station is demolished in 1981.
Places to stay
A downtown landmark that has stood in for hotels in dozens of films, Ghostbusters among them.
506 South Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, 90071 · Source · Check dates on Expedia (Ad / affiliate)
A notable hotel in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles · Source · Check dates on Expedia (Ad / affiliate)
A Michigan Avenue hotel opposite Grant Park, built for the 1893 World’s Fair.
South Michigan Avenue, Loop, Chicago, 60604 · Source · Check dates on Expedia (Ad / affiliate)
What’s on
Santa Monica Pier · 300 m from The Looff carousel
The Regent Theater · 550 m from The Biltmore
The Regent Theater · 550 m from The Biltmore
We may earn a commission on qualifying hotel bookings. Affiliate disclosure.
Links go to each venue’s or organiser’s own site. Check dates, access and availability there before you go.
Every place in The Sting leads somewhere else.
.jpg){kind=link}
