Madonna: Borderline

Today marks the anniversary of Madonna’s Borderline. As she will be embarking on a celebration tour this year, I am finally getting around to doing a proper page update for this one. I’ve been to these locations several times over the years and the area is seeing quite a bit of change, so who knows how long these spots will last! The video shot almost entirely just outside of downtown Los Angeles.

First up is this location on South Santa Fe Avenue under the 4th Place Bridge. Right nearby is where they also shot Leprechaun 6: Back 2 Tha Hood.

This bridge is just adjacent to the shot and you can see the 4th Place Bridge in the background of the shot. This spot was also used in Vamp.

The bar was shat at El Guanaco, located at 1201 6th Street, but was demolished long ago. I found this great photograph in The Claremont Colleges Digital Library taken by Elisa Leonelli, click here for more information.

I used her 1982 photograph to make some comparison shots to the video.

Here is what the same spot looked like many years later. The streetlight pole is still there for you to take an iconic shot!

The building across the street is still recognizable, at the corner of 6th and Alameda Streets.

Right next to the former bar location is this building, which still has some recognizable parts despite major renovations.

And finally the photographer’s studio which I tracked down many years ago, located at 415 Molino Street.

And lucky (star) me, I got to go inside!

Still an artist’s loft that has undergone some renovations, there are parts still recognizable from decades ago.