Director Martin Scorsese considered it important to shoot the film on historical sites, so the production team went to Oklahoma, to the traditional lands of the Osage Nation. Before filming began, a land blessing ceremony was performed by members of the Osage Nation. The ceremony was attended by actors and the film's production crew.
The events of the film take place in the city of Fairfax, but the city has changed significantly since the 1920s, which are depicted in the film. Therefore, the main filming took place in the neighboring city of Pawhuska.
The creation of the sets was truly monumental. About 50 locations were used, some structures were decorated, and others were built from scratch. To create the railway station, the former Pawhuska depot was used, where 1,200 feet of track were laid, and to convey authenticity, the team found an antique locomotive. The house of the main antagonist, William Hale, was built on the Hughes Ranch, located near Bartlesville. And Molly Kyle's dwelling was erected in the town of Gray Horse.
Some scenes were filmed in the city of Tulsa. The only location outside Oklahoma was the Cardinal Hayes High School campus, located in the Bronx, New York. There, the radio show scene from the film's finale was shot.

Filming Locations:

McKinroy's Billiard Hall and Barber Shop

In the Movie

Scene where Ernest and his friends play cards. A large sum of money is on the table, and the hero, confident in his victory, stakes the recently stolen jewelry. But the opponent has a better hand, and the friends lose. Frustrated, they leave the establishment.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in a department store on Kihekah Ave in the city of Pawhuska. This building appeared on screen as McKinroy's Billiard Hall and Barber Shop. To convey the atmosphere of the 1920s, the storefronts of modern shops and various establishments in Pawhuska were hidden behind special panels.

First National Bank of Fairfax

In the Movie

Scene where Mr. Hale brings Ernest to the First National Bank. They enter the building, where Byron meets them. Ernest is asked to kneel. William begins interrogating him about the theft of the red roadster.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the historic First National Bank and Masonic Lodge building in Fairfax. The building was constructed in 1906 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The structure includes a large bank vault, where the scene was shot.

Drumright Bank

In the Movie

Scene where Blackie and his accomplices, tipped off by Mr. Hale, rob the Drumright Bank. They exit the bank and walk into an ambush. Police are waiting outside. A shootout ensues. Blackie's accomplices are killed, and he is arrested.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in an old bank building in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The film crew needed authentic 1920s buildings that would convey the spirit of the time. To achieve this, the film team transformed Kiheka Avenue in Pawhuska. Some structures, like this bank, did not even need to be decorated.