Overview of Three's Company Filming Locations
Three's Company, the American sitcom that ran from March 15, 1977 to September 18, 1984, was filmed primarily at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, Los Angeles, California. Outdoor shots of the apartment building were captured on location at 219 N. Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, California. The show was produced by ABC Studios and Thomas L. Miller Robert L. Boyett Productions in association with Lorimar Television.
Primary Studio Filming Location
Most interior scenes were shot at CBS Studio Center, formerly known as Metromedia Square. This lot provided the controlled environments needed for a multi-camera sitcom of the era. Production designer Laurence J. Dawson and art director John W. Hyde worked to create the Roper and Furley apartment sets that served as the central backdrop for the series' comedic situations.
Stage and Set Construction
Stage 24 at CBS Studio Center housed the iconic apartment layout, including the living room, kitchen, and bedroom areas. The exterior balcony shots were constructed on this soundstage with false windows and façades to enable versatile camera angles while maintaining the illusion of a real residential building.
Studio Audience and Taping
Like many sitcoms of the period, Three's Company was filmed in front of a live studio audience at CBS Studio Center. This audience presence influenced pacing, laugh timing, and certain reaction shots that remain visible in the final episodes.
Location Filming and Exterior Shots
To establish the series' setting in Santa Monica, the production used a real building at 219 N. Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills for establishing shots of the apartment complex. These location plates were cut with the studio interior footage to create the impression of a real neighborhood context.
Street and Neighborhood Context
Additional street footage was captured in the Beverly Hills area to maintain continuity across seasons. The production avoided identifying real businesses or landmarks that might date the show too tightly, supporting its broader suburban setting.
Supporting Production Details
Beyond primary filming locations, limited exterior shots used nearby areas in Los Angeles County. The show's visual approach prioritized consistency and budgetary efficiency, reusing sets and locations whenever possible without compromising the sitcom's carefully maintained suburban aesthetic.
Post-Production and Editing
Editing suites were typically located within the studio lot, allowing for efficient assembly of multi-camera footage and integration of location material. This workflow was standard for network sitcoms in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Notable Filming Timeline
Principal photography for Three's Company followed traditional network television schedules, with pilot episodes shot well before the series premiere. The production maintained a consistent filming rhythm across its eight-season run to meet weekly broadcast demands.
Table of Key Filming and Production Details
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Studio | CBS Studio Center (Studio City, Los Angeles) | Production records |
| Exterior Location | 219 N. Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA | Location permits and directories |
| Network | American Broadcasting Company (ABC) | Network archives |
| Production Companies | ABC Studios; Thomas L. Miller Robert L. Boyett Productions; Lorimar Television | Credit sequences and legal documents |
| Filming Format | Multi-camera before live audience | Industry standard for sitcoms of the era; production notes |
| Run Time | March 15, 1977 to September 18, 1984 | Broadcast history logs |
Practical Context for Researchers and Fans
Understanding where Three's Company was filmed helps clarify how the show balanced authentic location shooting with efficient studio production. The combination of a fixed studio set and carefully chosen exterior locations allowed the series to maintain visual continuity while meeting broadcast schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Was Three's Company filmed in front of a live audience? Yes, the series was filmed in front of a studio audience at CBS Studio Center, a common practice for multi-camera sitcoms of the period.
- Are any of the original filming locations still accessible to the public? The primary studio is now part of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, and the exterior location remains a private residential building.
- Did any episodes film outside California? Some later season inserts and location shots were filmed within Los Angeles County, but no episodes were produced out of state during principal photography.
Summary of Key Points
Three's Company was filmed mainly at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, with exterior establishing shots taken at 219 N. Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills. The production relied on a stable studio audience and multi-camera setup, standard for network sitcoms in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This approach provided consistent visuals while managing costs and broadcast deadlines across eight seasons.