Then … The time traveler is fascinated by the sight of boxes containing moving images at a store on a street corner. This image has a multitude of clues to its location: floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around what might be a structural column at left. Window panes are divided by a narrow patterned separator. Stores are visible across the street through the windows where the traffic flows one-way right to left. On the right pane there’s a reflection in the window of a crosswalk behind Herbert.
Then … In this view looking out from inside the store to the street junction there are additional clues: more crosswalks, a parking meter, a lamp(?)post and most likely one-way traffic flowing left to right.
… and Now, despite all of the aforementioned clues, CitySleuth has been unable to find this TV store and is posting it to see if any blog reader could relieve his frustration by recognizing where it was filmed. (If so, add a comment below or email citysleuth@reelsf.com).
Then … Herbert’s search for Stevenson takes him to several more banks beginning with Banco Di Roma.
… and Now, this is the California Street entrance of the Kohl Building at 400 Montgomery. Note Then and Now the matching ornamentation and flagpole wall cleat and halyard at the side of the entrance. There’s a different bank there now, a branch of Sterling Bank and Trust.
Then … Between bank visits he’s seen on the corner of Montgomery and Clay with the 1972 TransAmerica Pyramid headquarters behind him. Further back, left of center, is the original 1909 TransAmerica headquarters on the corner of Montgomery and Columbus.
… and Now, the same view today. The original TransAmerica building is barely visible from this viewpoint but it’s still there, now owned by the Church Of Scientology.
In this photo looking back along Columbus the old and the new TransAmerica headquarters buildings are nicely juxtaposed.
Then … More banks … next up is First Enterprise Bank at 260 Montgomery Street on the corner of Pine Street.
… in 1980 … A fire broke out in this building in July 1980, taking the life of a fire captain and injuring 13 others. Read here the harrowing accounts of firefighters who experienced the deadly collapse.
… and Now, a 15 story commercial building, addressed as 250 Montgomery, was built on this site in 1986.
Then … The main office of Sumitomo Bank is next. (Note another Sumitomo branch across the street reflected in the window).
… and Now, this main office and agency were at 351 California Street per the 1978 city directory; the same directory listed a Sumitomo branch across the street at 320 California. The window below is the one seen in the movie - the street level space has been home to various retail businesses over the years and is currently being redone for the next tenant.
Then … And finally, the French Bank of California at 130 Montgomery Street. But no luck, Stevenson hadn’t stopped by any of them.
… and Now, 130 Montgomery Street is a 1930 Art Deco gem, a delightful surprise sandwiched between two much taller office buildings.
Then … Ms Milner has gotten over being stood up; she wants to try again. She calls Teddy from a bar and suggests they meet at Le Club restaurant at Clay and Jones. Once again he thinks it’s the Woman In Red who is calling and readily agrees.
… and Now, this was filmed in Koreatown, Los Angeles at the Prince Restaurant at 3198 1/2 W. 7th Street. Its retro period decor has made this place a go-to location for dozens of movies and TV series over the decades. Note both Then and Now the yeoman statue in front of a red latticed window frame.
Then … Teddy arrives trying his best to look cool with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Again, this is the Prince restaurant in Los Angeles. Note the red door over to the right…
… and Now, it’s been over 40 years but the door and the handrail have hardly changed. (Photo by Syd Rev).
Then … The instant he sits down he realizes who had called him. He lets out a yelp and promptly hightails it out of there.
… and Now, the three latticed windows behind them identify the two booths at The Prince where the above scene was filmed. (Photo by J.P. Shelton)
Then … He rushes out - now we are back in San Francisco at the Clay-Jones residential highrise building at 1250 Jones Street, the very location that Ms. Milner had given Teddy. Note the signage at left on the awning above the window and the wall below it - there was indeed a Le Club restaurant in the 1980s here in the lobby level of this building (the incongruous white ‘LE CLUB’ letters may have been added for this movie shot).
… and Now, 1250 Jones today. It has hosted a succession of restaurants over the years: after Le Club closed Charles Nob Hill succeeded it from 1995 to 2004, followed by C.A.L. Steakhouse then by the Michelin-starred Keiko a Nob Hill from 2011 to 2021. Currently the building is residential only - no restaurant.
Then … as he rounds the corner, the eye-catching view east down Clay Street encompasses the TransAmerica Pyramid and the Embarcadero Center high-rises with the Bay Bridge beyond. (Note the image on the back of the beer truck advertising San Francisco’s own Anchor Brewing Company’s Porter beer).
… and Now, the view is essentially unchanged today.
Here’s a closer look at the beer label seen in the Then image above. The dark Porter beer, released in 1972, supplemented the classic Anchor Steam beer which had been brewed in Potrero Hill in San Francisco since 1896. After being bought by Sapporo, the 125 year-old Anchor Brewing Company closed down in 2023 then was purchased in 2024 by the founder of Chobani whose stated intention is to revive the company. As of July 2025 it was still closed.
Then … Ms Milner pursues him, watching as he jumps into the back seat of his car.
… and Now, minor changes here - the corner mailbox is gone, awnings have been added at left on the side windows of 1250 Jones and the street signs have been replaced.
If looks could kill! Teddy fakes a heart attack but she shows no sympathy, leaning in to release the handbrake… fade out as the car rolls down the hill to blasting horns, screeching brakes and crunching metal.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned … still fuming the next morning she slowly and deliberately tips a bottle of ink over Teddy’s desktop.
Then … The next scene begins with a shot of a classic 1980s mansard-roofed McDonald’s with an Arco gas station next to it.
… and Now, This was filmed at the McDonald’s at 505 Serramonte Blvd in Daly City (thanks to ReelSF blog reader Al for recognizing it). The diner has since been moved back from the road and rebuilt in a modern style. The sign appears to be the original one and the gas station, on the corner of Gellert Blvd, is now a Speedway station.
… in 2019 … as recently as 6 years ago the original diner was still there, looking the same as in the Then image above except that the rooftop beams had been removed (sometime after 2008) and it was a Mobil gas station on the corner of Gellert.
Then … Herbert of course has never seen a McDonald’s diner before; he listens carefully to the customer in front of him then repeats the same order for himself, adding “…and tea, to go, please”. Spoken like a true Brit. But these interior scenes were not filmed at the location above…
… in 1975 … instead, they were filmed in the McDonald’s located on the lobby level of San Francisco’s Two Embarcadero Center (thanks go to ReelSF blog reader Notcom for finding it). It had newly opened in 1975 when this photograph was taken; the counter filmed above is at the far end. (Note the circle-patterned floor tiles outside the entrance - a design feature throughout the public areas of the entire Embarcadero Center complex of buildings).
… and Now, McDonald’s closed down at this site in 2014 or 2015. Today a One Medical primary care clinic occupies and overlaps its former space. Below, the McDonald’s entrance used to be where the reception desk is, right of center at the rear of the One Medical lobby.
This floor plan detail of the Two Embarcadero lobby level shows today’s One Medical footprint. Click or tap the image to see exactly where McDonald’s used to be.
Then … Herbet is fascinated by the lacquered table top, telling the man next to him that he’s never seen wood like that before. Also in this scene there’s a mis-spoken moment where you can clearly see his lips mouth the (British) word ‘chips’ but you hear ‘fries’, substituted post-production. Note the corner planter behind them…
… that corner planter enables us to deduce which table was used for the scene above. In the 1975 photo (four images above), his table is behind the tall trash enclosure mid-aisle, partially visible above at the far right.
Teddy attends a meeting where the newly-hired face of the Cable Car Re-opening Campaign is being discussed. It’s the mystery Woman In Red! He still doesn’t know who she is but he’s told that she regularly goes horseback riding in Golden Gate Park.
Then … He barely knows how to ride but heads over there, determined to meet her. Hard to miss in white rain gear, he struggles to mount a horse.
… and Now, Golden Gate Park used to have horseback riding stables in the 1970s but they have since been closed down. Instead these scenes were filmed at Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, near Santa Clarita north of Los Angeles. A recent photo at the same spot shows the biggest change today is the absence of the stalls seen above across the paddock.
Then … In a hilarious scene he tries his best to convince the barn manager of his equine expertise until she slaps the horse’s rump, sending him charging precariously off.
… and Now, the 10-stall stable structure is still there today.
The stables are adjacent to location 3 on this map of the ranch.
It took skill for Gene Wilder to act out-of-control on a moving horse but skilled he was. He rode extensively in 1974’s Blazing Saddles and again in 1979’s The Frisco Kid. Here’s a 1979 photo of him looking totally comfortable in the saddle.
But he cuts a forlorn figure after searching all day without coming across her.
Then … Undeterred, he returns another day. His misfortune at being thrown into a lake next to a covered bridge is forgotten when the mystery woman suddenly gallops by (center background).
… and Now, the bridge, location 13 on the ranch map above, is still there but ongoing maintenance has changed its appearance since then.
… and Now, here it is from above, with ‘X” marking the spot where Teddy got wet.
He catches up with her; she is amused by his frenetic efforts to both impress her and maintain balance.
Then … In this shot (it’s the same skyline as the one seen five images above) note the house behind them with dormer windows and a brick chimney stack at one end.
… in 1982… here’s a vintage photo that captured the covered bridge just as it looked a year later in the movie (X marks where Teddy got wet); in the background is that same house, viewed from its other side. The Disney ranch usually preserves the various structures built for movies but this one is no longer there.
