Scouting NY:

On March 29, 1971, The Godfather, considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made, began principal photography in New York City.

Because the film is a period piece, The Godfather actually presents a fascinating record of what 1940s-era New York City locations still existed in the early-1970s. Sadly, many of them are now gone. What still remains? Let’s take a closer look.

I’m a complete junkie for these kinds of “before and after” stories. I use to date a woman from Greenwich Village and whenever we’d watch TV shows set in New York, I was constantly stopping the show to ask her, “Is that real? Do you know where that location is? Have you been there?” Drove her nuts.