The television series Hometown, which aired on NBC from 1985 to 1986, presents a nostalgic look at life in the 1950s through the lens of a group of friends in Chicago. While the story is set in the Windy City, the practicalities of 1980s television production meant the show was not filmed on location in Illinois. Understanding the actual filming location provides insight into how television shows are made and the techniques used to create a convincing sense of place.
The Actual Production Location
Despite being set in Chicago, Hometown was filmed entirely on the West Coast. The primary production took place at CBS Studio Center, located in the Studio City district of Los Angeles, California. This studio lot provided the soundstages and backlots necessary to construct the show's depiction of Chicago neighborhoods. Using a California-based studio was a standard industry practice for network television during that era, offering tax incentives and controlled production environments that were difficult to achieve on the East Coast.
Recreating the Windy City
To make the Los Angeles sets feel like Chicago, the show’s art department relied on specific visual cues. They incorporated iconic architectural elements such as the Chicago-style flatiron building facades and fire escapes into the background. Street signs with distinctly Chicago names and the design of public spaces were carefully chosen to trigger the audience's association with the Midwest. This meticulous set dressing was crucial for establishing the show’s authentic feel without requiring the cast and crew to travel to Illinois.
Utilization of Southern California studio backlots for urban environments.
Implementation of specific architectural details to mimic Chicago aesthetics.
Employment of specific signage and urban design elements to trigger geographic association.
Management of production logistics to avoid the high costs of filming in New York or Chicago.
The Disconnect Between Setting and Filming
This practice of filming a show in one location while setting it in another is common across the television industry. Many series are filmed in Vancouver, Vancouver, or Los Angeles but are set in cities like New York or Chicago. For Hometown, the creative team likely chose Chicago for its specific cultural and historical context regarding post-war American life. The decision to film in California was purely logistical, driven by budget, available infrastructure, and the concentration of production resources in Southern California.
Viewer Perception and Authenticity
Interestingly, the location where a show is filmed often becomes invisible to the viewer. If the production design is effective, the audience accepts the world presented to them. Fans of Hometown likely did not question the geographic mismatch because the show successfully created a believable atmosphere of mid-century Americana. The performances, writing, and set design worked together to sell the illusion of Chicago, proving that a convincing representation can be more powerful than geographic accuracy.
Industry Context and Legacy
Examining where Hometown was filmed highlights the evolution of television production. In the 1980s, the industry was heavily centralized in Los Angeles. The infrastructure for lighting, soundstages, and post-production was unmatched on the East Coast, making California the default choice for most network sitcoms and dramas. Hometown is a product of this system, demonstrating how a specific time and place in entertainment history dictated where stories could be told.
