Warner Bros Backlot – Midwest Street

Dates: 1939 – present

Replaces an older town square set, known as Midvale Street, which featured some of the houses that were later moved to Kings Row, the layout of street and sets were completely different. Midvale Street was the location for Dr. Socrates (1935) along with many others. 

Midwest Street, the current sets, were originally put together for Four Wives (1939), and are believed to have been extended for Saratoga Trunk (1945) (to be confirmed). 

This is “Any Town USA” complete with a small town square, center gazebo, white church and steeple, brick courthouse and street level storefronts. A small tree-lined residential street meanders off the town square and is highlighted by six different homes. Practical interiors exist in three houses and several of the business facades.

 

Gilmore Girls:
The entire town of Stars Hollow is the Warner Bros Studios backlot set called “Midwest Street” built in 1946 for the film Saratoga Trunk (1946) (a small section usually unseen on the show – behind the church – was added in the early 1990’s for no particular television or film project). The residential street attached is called Kings Row and was used in 1941 (predating the town set) for the Ronald Reagan film of the same name. No new structures have been added to the backlot for the “Gilmore Girls,” although the backlot set remains dressed for the show throughout the television shooting season (July through March or April).

Church

Seen in The Lost Boys, Oceans’ Eleven

High School / Police Station

Features as Rosewood High School in Pretty Little Liars, and the Police Station in Rebel Without A Cause.

The Tanner House

Lukes’ Diner

From Gilmore Girls – this is a practical set.

The Alibi Room 

Red store front from Shameless

See also Kings Row for information about the Residential Street joining Midwest Street.

Also see the Warner Bros Special Events pages

Seen on Screen: Warner Bros Studios [Midwest_St]

TitleReleasedDirectorIMDB
Dr. Socrates [Feature Film]1935William DieterleIMDB Database page about Dr. Socrates
Midwest Street
Four Wives [Feature Film]1939Michael CurtizIMDB Database page about Four Wives
Kings Row street was built for this movie - the houses already existed and were moved from the previous location on Midvale Street. Midwest Street on the backlot may also have been built for this movie.
Saratoga Trunk [Feature Film]1945Sam WoodIMDB Database page about Saratoga Trunk
Midwest Street on the backlot
Johnny Belinda [Feature Film]1948Jean NegulescoIMDB Database page about Johnny Belinda
Stage 19, Stage 20, Stage 24, Church on Midwest Street on the backlot
East of Eden [Feature Film]1955Elia KazanIMDB Database page about East of Eden
Stage 14, Stage 17, Stage 26, Kings Row, Midwest Street on the backlot
Rebel Without a Cause [Feature Film]1955Nicholas Ray IMDB Database page about Rebel Without a Cause
Stage 01, Stage 06, Stage 07, Stage 08, Stage 09. The drag race was run on Stage 16. The police station set still exists on WB studios backlot on Midwest Street.
The Bad Seed [Feature Film]1956Mervyn LeRoyIMDB Database page about The Bad Seed
Midwest Street / Kings Row houses featured as the Tidewater Arms Apartment exteriors
Oceans 11 [Feature Film]1960Lewis MilestoneIMDB Database page about Oceans 11
Stage 01, Stage 04, Stage 07, Stage 08, Stage 11, Stage 19, Stage 27., Stage 27A. The Church on Midwest Street was also featured.
The Music Man [Feature Film]1962Morton DaCostaIMDB Database page about The Music Man
Midwest Street and Kings Row on the backlot served as River City, Iowa. Stage 04, Stage 06, Stage 11, Stage 15, Stage 16 were used for interiors.
The Chase [Feature Film]1966Arthur PennIMDB Database page about The Chase
Midwest Street
Bonnie and Clyde / Bonnie & Clyde [Feature Film]1967Arthur Penn IMDB Database page about Bonnie and Clyde / Bonnie & Clyde
Stage 01, Stage 04, Stage 11, Stage 25, Midwest Street on the Backlot
Cool Hand Luke [Feature Film]1967Stuart RosenbergIMDB Database page about Cool Hand Luke
Stage 01, Stage 06, Stage 09, Midwest Street
The Waltons [TV Series]1971-1981IMDB Database page about The Waltons
Stage 20 and Stage 26, as well as the Waltons House on the Warner Bros backlot. The church on Midwest Street was featured regularly.
The Shootist [Feature Film]1976Don SiegelIMDB Database page about The Shootist
Midwest Street and Laramie Street on the backlot
The Dukes of Hazzard [TV Series]1979-1985Gy WaldronIMDB Database page about The Dukes of Hazzard
Stage 20, Stage 28., Stage 28A, Midwest Street, Laramie Street on the backlot.
Gremlins [Feature Film]1984Joe DanteIMDB Database page about Gremlins
Stage 12, Stage 15, Stage 18, Stage 26 at Warner Bros. Chinatown sequence was shot on Tenement Alley, off Hennesy Street on the backlot. Mrs Deagles house is part of the Midwest Street Kings Row area, and Billy and Kate walk past some of the other Kings Row houses.
Growing Pains [TV Series]1985-1992Neal MarlensIMDB Database page about Growing Pains
Stage 02 (1985 - 1987), The Seavers home was on Midwest Street and Kings Row was also featured
The Lost Boys [Feature Film]1987Joel SchumacherIMDB Database page about The Lost Boys
Stage 12, Stage 15, The Church on Midwest Street on the backlot was also featured.
The Monster Squad [Feature Film]1987Fred DekkerIMDB Database page about The Monster Squad
Midwest Street
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark [Feature Film]1988James SignorelliIMDB Database page about Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
The last house on Kings Row (removed in 2014) was Elviras home. Midwest Street is heavily featured.
Postcards from the Edge [Feature Film]1990Mike NichollsIMDB Database page about Postcards from the Edge
Midwest Street, Kings Row, soundstages
Seinfeld [TV Series]1990-1998Jerry Seinfeld, Larry DavidIMDB Database page about Seinfeld
Series finale shot at Midwest Street on the backlot
Sisters [TV Series]1991 - 1996Ron Cowen, Daniel LipmanIMDB Database page about Sisters
Midwest Street, Stage 08, Stage 27.
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman [TV Series]1993-1997Joe Shuster, Jerry SiegelIMDB Database page about Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
The Daily Planet office was on New York Street. Stage 14, Stage 19, Stage 20 and Midwest Street were also used.
Friends [TV Series]1994 - 2004VariousIMDB Database page about Friends
Taped in front of a live studio audience on Stage 24. Stage 05 was also used 1994-1995. The backlot was also used, including New York Street. The Geller House is part of the permanent Midwest Street backlot set (on the corner of Kings Row).
Jack Frost [Feature Film]1998Troy MillerIMDB Database page about Jack Frost
Midwest Street
The Gilmore Girls [TV Series]2000 - 2007IMDB Database page about The Gilmore Girls
Stage 12, Stage 14, Stage 18 and French Street, Kings Row and Midwest Street on the backlot were used as the town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
Norbit [Feature Film]2007Brian RobbinsIMDB Database page about Norbit
Midwest Street
Eastwick [TV Series]2009Maggie FriedmanIMDB Database page about Eastwick
Midwest Street, Kings Row
Pretty Little Liars [TV Series]2010 I. Marlene KingIMDB Database page about Pretty Little Liars
Rosewood High School is a permanent school set on Midwest Street on the backlot. Alison's House was built on the Jungle Set on the backlot. Henessy Street on the backlot doubled for Philadelphia. Kings Row houses were also used.
The Muppets [Feature Film]2011James BobinIMDB Database page about The Muppets
The opening dance number I've Got Everything I Need was shot on Midwest Street on the backlot. Another sequence was filmed at the cabin on the Jungle set.
La La Land [Feature Film]2016Damien ChazelleIMDB Database page about La La Land
The backlot is featured extensively, particularly French Street and Midwest Street.