Before the breakup, there’s the makeup - Joey’s wife has inexplicably returned. They throw a celebration party at a location as yet unfound by CitySleuth. (Anyone recognize it?).
At the party Buddy picks up a bracelet with the name Eric on it. Eric is there; when he reclaims it the two seem to hit it off.
Then … Afterwards while Teddy and friends enjoy lunch together Joey is back to his usual self, flirting outrageously with two young women as they pass by.
… and Now, set in San Francisco but they were filmed right here on this lawn in front of the Los Angeles Tennis Club at 5851 Clinton Street in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park neighborhood. Tennis courts can be seen in the background, both Then and Now.
This aerial gives a good overview of the location - the arrow indicates where their table was set up in front of the clubhouse.
Then … Suddenly Buddy’s live-in partner shows up; he has come across Eric’s bracelet and is not amused. He summarily dumps Buddy’s suitcase and clothes on the ground in a theatrical announcement of their breakup.
… and Now, the house behind them (also seen behind the young women 4 images above) is still recognizable despite an added unsightly security wall. This is the Clinton Street side of the corner house at 591 N. Cahuenga Blvd, directly opposite the tennis clubhouse. The tail of the arrow in the aerial view above points directly to it.
Then … Teddy is genuinely concerned. He drops Buddy off at his place in Telegraph Hill.
… and Now, he was parked on the upper level of Montgomery Street where it intersects Alta Street (map). The view looks to the east across Montgomery, down Alta, and beyond to where the Bay Bridge meets Yerba Buena Island; Oakland and the East Bay Hills are in the far distance. Note the leaning tree both Then and Now; most likely it’s the same one.
Then … Buddy ‘s apartment is on the western portion of Alta Street.
… and Now, Alta has seen some of its houses updated but most, as is true across the Telegraph Hill neighborhood, remain unchanged.
… in 1968 … Digressing for a moment: Jerry Garcia (pre-beard) and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead were filmed a few houses up on the left in front of 103/105 Alta in the movie Petulia.
… in 2011 … Here’s the same place in 2011, back then it was pretty much unchanged.
and Now, but since then it has been remodeled; the shingled house next to it has not.
After Teddy tries but fails to lighten the mood with a weak joke in Buddy’s apartment, the two share a hug. (Is that a prop continuity goof? The suitcase matches the one Buddy brought in (5 images above) but the tennis racquet cover is a different color).
Then … Teddy’s wife Didi (Judith Ivey) drops him off at a park to play tennis with his three closest friends.
… and Now, These are the public tennis courts on what was then Middle Drive East in Golden Gate Park. The road is now called Nancy Pelosi Drive, renamed in her honor in 2012 (map). The 130 year-old site recently underwent a $30M renovation, reopening in 2021, with 17 rebuilt courts and a new clubhouse.
Then … As Didi leaves she approaches John F. Kennedy Drive, about to make a left past the statue straight ahead and the large white structure at far left.
… and Now, the statue and the structure are of course still there. The only change here is Nancy Pelosi Drive, now much narrower at the junction.
The statue, erected in 1885, is a monument to James Abram Garfield, the 20th President of the United States who was assassinated in 1881. Below him on the pedestal Lady Columbia is holding a broken sword and wreath, referencing the heinous act. The white structure is the Conservatory of Flowers greenhouse and botanical gardens; completed in 1879, it’s the oldest building in the park.
Teddy greets his buddies on the tennis court. From left to right: Joey (Joseph Bologna), Buddy (Charles Grodin) and Mikey (Michael Huddleston). As the movie progresses we’ll find out that Teddy isn’t the only one harboring libidinous thoughts; they are all involved in affairs, Joey in particular serially so.
As they play, note the residence on the left and the palm tree in the background. Hmmm…
Then … In this shot we see a wider view of the same residence between Teddy and Buddy and more palm trees; this is clearly not Golden Gate Park, it was more likely filmed in Southern California. A search for this house, it has two gabled wings (the left one with a chimney stack built against it), led Citysleuth to the Los Angeles Tennis Club in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles just a short drive from Hollywood (map).
… and Now, the house is 591 Cahuenga Blvd on the corner of Clinton Street, across Clinton and directly opposite the venerable clubhouse (compare it with the movie view above). The gable with the arched window is also visible two images above at far left.
Then … The boys let out a whoop when they get an unexpected eyeful from the adjacent court.
… and Now, here’s the Los Angeles Tennis Club today; the movie scene was filmed on the court marked with the red marker. Next to it the court in the ‘Then’ image above has since been converted to a parking lot prior to which, coincidentally, this club too had 17 courts.
The iconic Los Angeles Tennis Club at 5851 Clinton Street was incorporated in 1920 and constructed in 1924. Over the past century it has hosted many famous tennis champions and Hollywood celebrities.
In the clubhouse after the match Mikey takes a call; Joey’s wife has just been seen leaving their home with the furniture and all of her belongings; Joey’s philandering has caught up with him. (Check out the subliminal ad - is the Nortel logo subtly suggesting “hey - replace this vintage Western Electric switchboard with our modern one”?).
