Where Was Soul Train Filmed? Don Cornelius’ Classic TV Variety Show!

Do you like to watch television variety shows? Well, if you do, then you must have seen the variety show Soul Train (1971). Let’s just call this particular show a classic, as it was on air for over three decades. Most reality or variety shows are filmed in studios, but the main question here is, in which studio was Soul Train filmed? In this article, I’ll discuss the show and tell you where was Soul Train filmed.

The classic television musical variety show Soul Train aired in the 70s and became such a hit that it continued for 36 years. It is one of the longest-running TV variety shows of all time. It started as a musical variety show where contestants showcased their singing talents, but later on, it also showcased dance performances. The show was primarily meant for African Americans to showcase their talents in front of the world. 

Now, to clear your doubt regarding where was Soul Train filmed, the classic television variety show was filmed in Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

Created by the legendary Don Cornelius, Soul Train was released in the United States on 2nd October 1971. The show contains 36 seasons, and as I mentioned before, was on air for 36 long years. The last and final installment was released on 25th March 2006. However, it’s time to dive into the details of the show’s filming locations.

Where Was Soul Train Filmed? Soul Train Filming Locations!

Don Cornelius’ Soul Train was the first longest-running nationally syndicated TV show in the history of American television. After the show’s immense success, the makers created an award show known as Soul Train Music Awards, which was meant to honor African-American artists.  

Cornelius was an American TV show presenter and producer, who hosted the musical variety show for almost 13 years. The show was acquired in 2008 by Madvision Entertainment. He was given the Ahmet Ertegun Award and was inducted into the prestigious Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Soul Train received an incredible rating of 8.1 on IMDb. However, let’s cut to the chase and find out where was Soul Train filmed.

Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

A portion of the classic television variety show, Soul Train, was filmed in the city of Chicago, particularly in the studios of WCIU-TV. It is a local television station headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It is affiliated to CW Television Network. The first installment of the show was shot in Chicago’s WCIU-TV studios.

Later on, the majority of the filming took place in the city of Angels, Los Angeles, California. The television station along with all the studios are currently owned by Weigel Broadcasting Co.

Los Angeles, California, United States of America

The majority of Soul Train was filmed in California’s Los Angeles. The city of angels served as a vital filming spot of the classic musical variety show. Filming of the show took place at multiple studios across LA, including Metromedia Square Studios, A&M Studios, Hollywood Center Studios, which is currently known as Sunset Las Palmas Studios, and the all-time famous Paramount Studios.

Metromedia Square Studios served as a filming location for the show from 1971-1981, the A&M Studios from 1981-1984, the Hollywood Center Studios from 1984-1993, and Paramount Studios from 1993-2006. 

Plot of Soul Train (1971) | A Classic 70s Variety Show!

The television variety show Soul Train is kind of a reality show that aired in the 70s and went on for over three decades. It showcased African-American contestants from all over the United States, who showed their dancing and singing talent in front of the world at a time when racial discrimination was rampant. The show was exclusively meant for African Americans. 

Even after 36 years, people continued to watch the show as it became a part of popular culture. The contestants sang and danced to R&B, Hip Hop, Soul music, and many more. The show was presented by creator Don Cornelius and other hosts like Mystro Clark, Shemar Moore, and Dorian Gregory. 

Final Words

You must have watched TV variety shows like Saturday Night Live, American Idol, The Andy Griffith Show, or The Dean Martin Show. Well, now it’s about time you check out the classic musical variety show Soul Train. If you haven’t watched it yet, you better start binging on it. However, if you liked going through the article, then do not forget to let me know. And if you feel like reading more such interesting filming location articles, then keep visiting the Viebly website.