Definition and Origins
Backlots are specially constructed outdoor areas within a film studio’s grounds, designed to replicate streets, landscapes, and architectural facades. Originating in the early 20th century, the first backlots appeared at studios such as Universal and Paramount, where permanent street sets allowed filmmakers to shoot bustling cityscapes without venturing into real urban environments. These controlled environments reduced logistical complexity and offered weather-proof alternatives to on-location shoots.
Construction and Design
Studio carpenters and set designers build backlots with modular façades—lightweight timber frames covered in painted plywood or plaster—to mimic recognizable styles (e.g., Victorian brownstones, small-town Main Streets). Backlot terrain may include dirt roads, faux storefronts, and adjustable storefront fronts that can be redressed for multiple productions. Streets often bend in a horseshoe shape (“bottle street”) to give the illusion of longer thoroughfares when filmed from different angles.
Usage and Cultural Impact
Backlots have played starring roles in countless classics: the ghostly deserted streets of Sunset Boulevard (1950), the idyllic small town of Back to the Future (1985), and the damaged metropolis in War of the Worlds (2005). The ability to reconfigure façades quickly made backlots indispensable for television series like Desperate Housewives, where Wisteria Lane’s suburban charm was entirely fabricated. In recent years, some studios have demolished or repurposed backlots in favor of virtual-production stages; nevertheless, iconic backlot streets—Stage 12’s Courthouse Square at Universal Studios, for instance—remain pilgrimage sites for cinephiles and tourists alike.