Construction on the "River Junction" set for STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. began early in July 1927 on the west shore of the Sacramento River, opposite the mouth of the American River, about half a mile north of the I Street bridge. The 300 local extras used in the production met at the wharf at the foor of P Street and were ferried to the site, a recreation of a Missouri River town where scores of carpenters, electricians and laborers built the town, docks and a levee. Three river steamers were used in the movie, with railroad scenes shot at the Freeport railroad station, painted and cleaned to look like new. A special train on loan from the Southern Pacific Railroad carried about 100 Sacramentans in period costume up and down the tracks for establishing shots.
