Streets of Fire (1984)

This stylistic action/musical from director Walter Hill follows Tom Cody (Michael Paré), a hired gunman who must rescue his former flame Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) from a biker gang led by Raven (Willem Dafoe). Taking place in an alternate 1950s-style Chicago-like city, the film was shot in a variety of locations between Chicago and Los Angeles. 

The "Richmond" district was shot on the New York Street & Brownstone Street sets on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot. Elevated subway tracks were added to replicate Chicago locations and a giant tarp was constructed to cover the entire set and create the moody atmosphere necessary. Sadly, this entire section of the backlot burned to the ground in the 1990 fire and was rebuilt just different enough that nothing is recognizable today. Then it all burned again in 2008!

Even though the exterior was a facade at Universal, the interior concert shots were done at the art deco Wiltern Theater at 3790 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. 

On their way to stake out the biker gang, our heroes drive down Mesquit Street toward the 7th Street Bridge in LA's Arts District. It also appears they parked the car under the bridge and faked the actors looking out at the passing bikes, as the P.O.V. shot was done elsewhere.

Exterior shots of "Torchies" biker bar were filmed at US Borax at 300 Falcon Street in Wilmington, CA. 

Interiors were filmed on a set created on Stage 22 at Universal Studios. 

On his way out of "The Battery" Tom drives over the Michigan Avenue Bridge on Lower Wacker Drive in Chicago. 

Scenes on "The Strip" were also shot under the tarps on the Universal backlot. 

As the bus approaches the police roadblock, it passes under the East 4th Place ramp off the 4th Street Bridge while traveling north on South Santa Fe Avenue in LA's Arts District. 

The police roadblock is at Mateo Street & South Santa Fe Avenue (under the 4th Street Bridge). 

GPS Coordinates:

34.041900, -118.232704