The Golden Age of Hollywood came about when synchronized dialogue came to theaters and there were five big studios cranking out fantasies for the masses. One of the benefits of the industry being centered in southern California was the access to many types of locations. In 1927, Paramount Studios developed this location map showing what California landscapes could be used for faraway movie settings. No need to send a cast and crew overseas to recreate the Sahara Desert or a South Sea island! The audiences wouldn't know the difference, since they'd never been to those places.
But do these locations really resemble what they portrayed? Peter Atwood found photographs of the California spots labeled on the map and constructed another map with them. How plausible they are depends on how familiar you are with the real location. The picture of "Kentucky" looks like nothing I've seen in the state; your mileage may vary. Of course, in the 21st century, movie budgets often allow for shipping an entire production overseas, which can actually be cheaper than filming in California. See the two maps together here. -via kottke
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