I just saw this boxed set and the liner notes seemed to indicate there was a lot of on-location filming in Chicago (similar to The Naked City in New York).
Is there really much shooting in Chicago, or just a few generic set up shots?
Yes it was all shot on location here in Chicago. Unlike "The Untouchables" which was all backlot phoney. I live here and it's fun to watch the actual locations which haven't changed too much in over 50 years. I'm half way through the box set. It's a great show with lots of before they were famous stars.
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JAZZMAN: RONALD K. MARSH
The first season did not have the Count Basie theme song, and Benny Cater's sound track.
No, it's certainly not all shot in Chicago.
While much of the second unit footage is shot in Chicago, it's quite clear that the rest of the street footage is shot on a studio backlot.
One of the tidbits that discussed just after Highway Patrol and right before M squad, was that in an interview, Lee Marvin had stated that they did not have permits to film the outdoor scenes, so it was a quick, run out and shoot the shot, and then run back in. They would fly into Chicago for a brief period of time. It was not like what you would see today, a prolonged location shooting. They rest of the filming done in CA.
EDIT: Just found the link:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-04-01/entertainment/0903310325_1_chicago-cops-police-squad-city-of-big-shoulders
"This left "M Squad" to scramble to get its exterior shots of the city. In the TV Guide interview, Marvin said, "We shoot locations, twice a year. No permit, no cooperation, no nothing. They don't want any part of us. ... Any public building, but nothing else, no stopping traffic. We shoot it and blow."
One of the tidbits that discussed just after Highway Patrol and right before M squad, was that in an interview, Lee Marvin had stated that they did not have permits to film the outdoor scenes, so it was a quick, run out and shoot the shot, and then run back in.
I have been watching this show regularly since it began being re-broadcast on the local MeToo channel. What you see is the real Chicago circa 1957. One scene had Lee Marvin discussing with a mother about where her son hangs out. She stated the park between the Gun Club and Diversey harbor. That scene shown was that place as my parents used to take us there every hot summer night to cool off. Gotta love it!
shareI really like watching the show for the outside shots. Its a game to see if I can identify where they shot.
In the Vanishing Lady episode they talk about a character living by Belmont and Sheridan. The building they show is right there (South east corner). They reference a second building a few blocks south and then show a building on Sheridan, just north of Surf.
The M Squad building was located on Superior but was torn down for the Kennedy expressway.