Breakin' (1984)

Post date: Oct 18, 2010 2:57:20 AM

In 1984, THREE movies about breakdancing were released - Breakin', which was set in Los Angeles (along with it's sequel Electric Boogaloo), and Beat Street, set in New York City. Each has its own respective style, and its hard to pick a favorite. Personally, I prefer Breakin', mainly because of its truly outstanding & unique dance sequences, awesome soundtrack and memorable characters. This film showcases eighties Los Angeles from the beach to the big city streets.

The restaurant where Kelly works is now Cali Tandoor at 10036 Venice Boulevard in Culver City.

Adam (Phineas Newborn III) introduces Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) to the breakdancers on Venice Beach (also keep an eye out for Jean-Claude Van Damme in an early role as one of the background dancers in a wrestling singlet). The exact spot was at the end of East Market Street, in the park past Ocean Front Walk (33.987142,-118.474777).

"Franco's Dance Academy" is now home to McCaddenSpace Studio at 1041 North McCadden Place in Hollywood. The above image from their website shows how the space has been transformed. 

This shows the alleyway/parking lot at the rear of the building, where Ozone (Adolfo Quinones) and Turbo (Michael Chambers) are later seen driving up. The outside of the building has been remodeled extensively as well, and is hardly recognizable today. 

This is the rear entrance to the studio from the parking area, where Kelly picks up Adam (Phinneas Newborn III). 

GPS Coordinates:

34.089875,-118.33793

The store that Turbo and Ozone work at is now Under the Gun Tattoo Co. at 4323 Melrose Avenue. The broom dance was outside the building along North Heliotrope Drive.

Kelly has a dance audition at The Palace theater, now The Avalon at 1735 Vine Street in Hollywood.

After leaving the dance audition, Kelly & Adam pull out onto Vine Street across from the Hollywood & Vine Restaurant (34.102192,-118.326856).

As Kelly drives with Adam to go see Ozone and Turbo, they are seen driving down Trinity Street past East 22nd Street.

The club where the dance-offs were held (and where Ice-T rapped) was an actual club called Radiotron that closed in 1985.  It was located on Park View Street between 7th & 8th Streets, near MacArthur Park. Apparently, it appears to have been torn down.

The dance studio the T.K.O. Crew practiced at before the big show was Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio at 6514 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Sadly, it was demolished in 2019. 

Kelly goes to see Ozone and Turbo at their garage/studio at 518 East 22nd Street. 

Ozone sits on a rock on Venice Beach directly west of Market Street where they were breakdancing earlier (33.985776,-118.477356).