Hollywood United Methodist Church — Back to the Future 'Johnny B. Goode' Scene

The gymnasium behind Hollywood United Methodist Church on Franklin Avenue is where one of cinema's most iconic rock and roll moments was filmed: Marty McFly performing Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance in Back to the Future (1985). In the scene, Michael J. Fox's McFly is coaxed into playing 'something that really cooks' and launches into a blistering guitar performance that inadvertently invents rock and roll — complete with a phone call to Chuck Berry's cousin. The scene is both a love letter to and a playful rewriting of rock history.

Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is one of the highest-grossing films of the 1980s and permanently embedded the 'Johnny B. Goode' performance into pop culture. The Enchantment Under the Sea dance is the film's emotional climax, where Marty must ensure his parents' first kiss while simultaneously shredding on a Gibson ES-345. The gymnasium's real-world location — the fellowship hall of a Hollywood church — was chosen for its period-appropriate architecture and has since become a quiet pilgrimage site for film and music fans.

The church is still active and reportedly welcomes visitors who want to see the gymnasium. Some of the movie scenes are displayed on the walls inside. Access is easiest on Sundays after services. The building sits on Franklin Avenue just west of Highland, in the heart of Hollywood — within walking distance of numerous other film landmarks.