Maps of Movies

The Broadway Melody (1929)

Where The Broadway Melody says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Almost all of New York was built on a studio lot: where was Broadway Melody's Broadway really filmed?

Scenes and places

Aerial New York under 'Give My Regards to Broadway' (1929)

The film opens over the skyline while a Cohan march plays, telling us this is a story about making it on Broadway.

Set in New York City from the air — The film opens on aerial shots of New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Wikipedia says the opening establishing shots of New York City carry George M. Cohan's song.

Filmed at New York City (aerial, exact spots not recorded) — Opening aerial establishing shots of the city; the exact vantage points are not given, the point is the city center. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Tin Pan Alley music publisher (1929)

Eddie sings 'The Broadway Melody' and tells chorus girls he has brought the Mahoney Sisters to New York to do the number with him in Zanfield's revue.

Set in A Tin Pan Alley music publishing house — A Tin Pan Alley music publishing house, where composers plug songs to singers and publishers.

A Tin Pan Alley house is a place where composers pitch songs to singers and publishers.

The Mahoney sisters' apartment (1929)

Hank, sure of her talent, is certain they will make it big, while Queenie is less eager to risk everything. Eddie arrives and is instantly taken with Queenie.

Set in The Mahoney sisters' apartment — The New York apartment where Hank and Queenie wait for Eddie.

The sisters wait here for Eddie while Hank weighs an offer from their Uncle Jed.

Rehearsal for Zanfield's revue (1929)

Flo sabotages the sisters' act, causing a fight with Hank. Zanfield isn't interested, but Queenie begs him to take Hank too.

Set in Zanfield's revue rehearsal — A rehearsal where the sisters present their act to producer Francis Zanfield.

Zanfield, based on Florenz Ziegfeld according to AFI, is the producer they must impress.

Dress rehearsal of 'The Broadway Melody' (1929)

Zanfield cuts Hank and Queenie from the number as too slow. When another woman is injured in a fall from a prop, Queenie is chosen to replace her.

Set in Dress rehearsal stage — The stage where the revue's title number is rehearsed.

The revue's title number, 'The Broadway Melody', is the song Eddie sang in the opening.

'Wedding of the Painted Doll' in two-color Technicolor (1929)

The revue's big number is staged in early two-color Technicolor. Only a 16-second fragment of the color footage survives.

Set in Revue stage — The revue stage where the film's two-color Technicolor number is performed.

The sequence helped start a 1929-1930 trend of color in musicals.

The party at the apartment Jock bought (1929)

Jock insists on time alone with Queenie and tells her it is the least she can do after all he's done for her. Eddie bursts in.

Set in Apartment Jock bought for Queenie — A raucous party at the apartment playboy Jock had recently purchased for Queenie.

The apartment is Jock's gift to Queenie.

The new house on Long Island (1929)

Back from the honeymoon, Queenie announces she is through with show business and insists Hank live with them.

Set in Long Island house — The house on Long Island where Queenie says she will settle.

Long Island is the suburban home Queenie chooses over Broadway.

Characters

• Hank Mahoney — The older sister, proud of her business sense and talent.
• Queenie Mahoney — The younger sister, praised for her beauty and less eager to risk everything.
• Eddie Kearns — A song-and-dance man who brings the sisters to New York.