Visit the upcoming tour page for upcoming walking tour dates. This tour is also available as a private group booking.

When Los Angeles was young, it was the world’s biggest backlot, its landscapes and landmarks recognized by millions of movie fans. One of the favorite places to film was the Westlake neighborhood, with its eclectic mix of New York style apartment hotels, wide boulevards and lush tropical gardens. Although Westlake has changed enormously in the last century, many of these early cinema shooting locations survive.

Join Esotouric as we flip back the calendar pages for a time travel trip to the silent era (and a few more modern landmarks), featuring iconic filming locations used by Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy and Harry Langdon. As we stroll around, you’ll hear about the productions, the players and the featured buildings, and thrill to stand just where iconic comedy legends stood when making motion picture gold.

Featured on the tour, a stop at the Hayworth Theater to hear about its vaudeville days and current life as Dynasty Typewriter.

This tour evolved out of our occasional bus tours with silent cinema sleuth and author John Bengtson, and we honor his brilliant work and friendship. John’s books are highly recommended by anyone seeking to know more about early location filming in Los Angeles.

This walking tour is illustrated with rare photos and film clips you can view on your smartphone.