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Mapping the Filming Locations of D.C. Cab

By Valerie Paschall
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By Valerie Paschall
1 comment / new

Unfamiliar with Joel Schumacher's 1983 cult classic, D.C. Cab? Admittedly, it's not widely thought of as a "good" movie so much as one that's campy at best and awesomely bad at worst. However, the film stars the likes of Mr. T, Gary Busey, Adam Baldwin and Bill Maher and is a good snapshot of the capital in the early '80s. We mapped out some of the local locations that appear in the film. Even though locating some of these spots (like the headquarters for D.C. Cab Company) required rewinding the same two minute scene several times, we recognize that we may have missed a few spots. If you point out a place in the comments, we'll add it to the map.

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Capital Hilton

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Because I know when I think of the high end accomodations of the Capital Hilton, I think of the Barbarian Brothers fighting under the canopy on the driveway, as in the opening sequence. What..you don't?

1001 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 393-1000
(202) 393-1000

Florida Ave Grill

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One of the movie's central locations. Fights broke out, everyone went stir crazy trying to find an expensive violin and Albert Hockenberry (Adam Baldwin) fell in love with a beautiful young server. Photo by Chester Hawkins.

1100 Florida Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20009

District of Columbia Government — John A. Wilson Buildin

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Because if you're going to have a massive triumphant parade to celebrate freedom and success in America, why not do it on Pennsylvania Avenue? The Cardozo High School band makes it to the Wilson building (then called the District Building) where the closing music plays over what is surely a memorable thank you speech. Photo by Andrew Wiseman.

1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Ambassador's House

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Although the ambassador's servants point out the British and Brazilian Embassies (correctly) on Massachusetts Avenue, somehow they magically end up off Embassy Row and at a house on 23rd and Kalorama Avenue...something that's obvious during the scene that Albert and the ambassador's bratty kids get kidnapped.

2300 Kalorama Road Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20008

Washington Dulles International Airport- Food and Shops

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Okay, so Tyrone doesn't have the airport license but that doesn't stop him from picking up alcoholics, taking them 5 feet, telling them that they're at National Airport and charging them $50. Photo by Flickr user catface3.

1 Saarinen Cir, Dulles, VA 20166
(703) 572-5080
(703) 572-5080

Arlington National Cemetery

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Triangulation marks this as the spot where Tyrone and Albert looked across the Potomac at the monuments, listened to the Mission Impossible theme song and talked about what it would take to become a Psychic Blood Brother of D.C. Cab. Photo by Brandi Korte.

214 McNair Rd, Arlington, VA 22211
(877) 907-8585
(877) 907-8585

D.C. Cab Headquarters

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While it initially looked the headquarters of this zany cab crew was shot at Florida Avenue Market (and the inside shots may have been), when Albert and Tyrone come barreling in with a gun to their heads you can see that First & Quincy are the street names behind the team ready to arrest the masked robber.

First Street Northeast & Quincy Place Northeast, Washington, D.C., DC 20002

Bohemian Caverns

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In the 1980s when Mr. T said that "this zone," meaning U Street, was the worst one, he may not have been too far off. The corner where he argues with the pimp with the nice car is at the once and future location of Bohemian Caverns, which had still not reopened at the time of filming. Photo by Clarissa Peterson

2001 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 299-0801
(202) 299-0801

Also featured in:

Garfinckel's Department Store

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The building that now encompasses the Hamilton used to be a department store called Garfinckel's and that's where Tyrone finally meets singer Irene Cara and gives her a ride...even though he's dressed in Uncle Sam garb as a street vendor.

1401 F Street Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20004

Lincoln Memorial

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Because what's more inspiring and patriotic than hearing Mr. T saying "The least I can find is my self-respect" and saluting the Lincoln Memorial with "Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing in the background? Photo by Flickr user rlinger.

900 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 426-6841
(202) 426-6841

Also featured in:

F Scott's

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Another building from the opening sequence. Xavier (Paul Rodriguez) leaves this Georgetown restaurant and tries, unsuccessfully, to pick up a lady passenger. "Tough to be a man, baby!" Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

1232 36th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 342-0009
(202) 342-0009

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Capital Hilton

1001 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036

Because I know when I think of the high end accomodations of the Capital Hilton, I think of the Barbarian Brothers fighting under the canopy on the driveway, as in the opening sequence. What..you don't?

1001 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 393-1000
(202) 393-1000

Florida Ave Grill

1100 Florida Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20009

One of the movie's central locations. Fights broke out, everyone went stir crazy trying to find an expensive violin and Albert Hockenberry (Adam Baldwin) fell in love with a beautiful young server. Photo by Chester Hawkins.

1100 Florida Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20009

District of Columbia Government — John A. Wilson Buildin

1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Because if you're going to have a massive triumphant parade to celebrate freedom and success in America, why not do it on Pennsylvania Avenue? The Cardozo High School band makes it to the Wilson building (then called the District Building) where the closing music plays over what is surely a memorable thank you speech. Photo by Andrew Wiseman.

1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Ambassador's House

2300 Kalorama Road Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20008

Although the ambassador's servants point out the British and Brazilian Embassies (correctly) on Massachusetts Avenue, somehow they magically end up off Embassy Row and at a house on 23rd and Kalorama Avenue...something that's obvious during the scene that Albert and the ambassador's bratty kids get kidnapped.

2300 Kalorama Road Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20008

Washington Dulles International Airport- Food and Shops

1 Saarinen Cir, Dulles, VA 20166

Okay, so Tyrone doesn't have the airport license but that doesn't stop him from picking up alcoholics, taking them 5 feet, telling them that they're at National Airport and charging them $50. Photo by Flickr user catface3.

1 Saarinen Cir, Dulles, VA 20166
(703) 572-5080
(703) 572-5080

Arlington National Cemetery

214 McNair Rd, Arlington, VA 22211

Triangulation marks this as the spot where Tyrone and Albert looked across the Potomac at the monuments, listened to the Mission Impossible theme song and talked about what it would take to become a Psychic Blood Brother of D.C. Cab. Photo by Brandi Korte.

214 McNair Rd, Arlington, VA 22211
(877) 907-8585
(877) 907-8585

D.C. Cab Headquarters

First Street Northeast & Quincy Place Northeast, Washington, D.C., DC 20002

While it initially looked the headquarters of this zany cab crew was shot at Florida Avenue Market (and the inside shots may have been), when Albert and Tyrone come barreling in with a gun to their heads you can see that First & Quincy are the street names behind the team ready to arrest the masked robber.

First Street Northeast & Quincy Place Northeast, Washington, D.C., DC 20002

Bohemian Caverns

2001 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

In the 1980s when Mr. T said that "this zone," meaning U Street, was the worst one, he may not have been too far off. The corner where he argues with the pimp with the nice car is at the once and future location of Bohemian Caverns, which had still not reopened at the time of filming. Photo by Clarissa Peterson

2001 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 299-0801
(202) 299-0801

Garfinckel's Department Store

1401 F Street Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20004

The building that now encompasses the Hamilton used to be a department store called Garfinckel's and that's where Tyrone finally meets singer Irene Cara and gives her a ride...even though he's dressed in Uncle Sam garb as a street vendor.

1401 F Street Northwest, Washington, D.C., DC 20004

Lincoln Memorial

900 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024

Because what's more inspiring and patriotic than hearing Mr. T saying "The least I can find is my self-respect" and saluting the Lincoln Memorial with "Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing in the background? Photo by Flickr user rlinger.

900 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 426-6841
(202) 426-6841

F Scott's

1232 36th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007

Another building from the opening sequence. Xavier (Paul Rodriguez) leaves this Georgetown restaurant and tries, unsuccessfully, to pick up a lady passenger. "Tough to be a man, baby!" Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

1232 36th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 342-0009
(202) 342-0009