Thanks to Robert of Set-Jetter, Brian of Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations and Paul of Then & Now Movie Locations for allowing me to use some of their photos for this page.
The film opens at the Doyle house with a recap of Halloween's ending. For reasons that are unclear part of the ending was actually reshot for Halloween II, with The Shape now falling into the front garden instead of the backyard. To facilitate this a set of French doors was placed onto the front balcony for Dick Warlock to emerge from, along with a ramp to ensure that he could clear the railing and fall on his back.
Trivia: This house also makes an appearance in the Charlie's Angels episode 'Angels on Campus' and Back to School (1985).
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
Photo: Set-Jetter
The Shape enters Magnolia Lane from the backyard of 712 Meridian Avenue and then turns right to face Hope Street, where he sees the trick-or-treaters. He then turns around, walks towards Magnolia Street, and upon seeing Loomis hides behind the garage of 708 Meridian Avenue.
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations
Photo: Set-Jetter
Following on from the previous scene, when The Shape moves away from the garage at 708 Meridian there is an invisible cut in the darkness to him walking down the side of the Elrod's garage at 716 Meridian Avenue. The interior photos were taken when the house was previously available to rent.
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
After leaving the Elrod house The Shape walks across the front lawn 69 Montecito Court before spying on Alice next door.
This was the first of three major scenes filmed by John Carpenter in a 3 day period of additional photography, after taking control of post production from Rick Rosenthal. In addition to filming this kill to up the gore factor, Carpenter also re-edited the entire film to increase the pace after deeming Rosenthal's cut too slow and not scary enough.
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
The scene with the ambulance pulling into the hospital was filmed in the parking lot directly in front of Nordstrom at 34.135820, -118.053567. In the late 1980's the west part of the mall was rebuilt and as a result both the layout and elevation of this parking lot changed. See the map below which shows the route of the ambulance on the old layout (as seen in the film) compared to the current layout.
I actually believe this was shot by Carpenter so the location would have been one of convenience as it's only a short distance from Sierra Madre, where he had filmed Alice's death and the town square sequence (in which the same model ambulance can be seen).
The route of the ambulance on the 1981 layout compared to the current layout.
This location is a functioning Veterans Hospital with several buildings covering the grounds but the one that doubled as the exterior of Haddonfield Memorial Hospital is the North side of Building 10 at 34.246736, -118.483384. The area where Mr Garrett investigates the telephone outage is located at the South East corner of the same building at 34.246101, -118.483145. The interior of this hospital was not used in the film (aside from Laurie being wheeled through the emergency entrance).
Since 1981 the building and surrounding area have changed quite considerably. Between 1989 and 1994 a small building (10A) was constructed in front of the ambulance canopy (which itself has been replaced). The area in front of the main entrance has been paved and is now covered with trees, and although the parking lot has remained in the same place the wall in front of it has been removed.
Other changes that were made specifically for filming include the addition of a main entrance section with glass double doors (which was removed after filming), along with a lighting tower that had been used to cover up a palm tree that existed near the ambulance canopy.
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
Morningside Hospital was the primary location for the filming of the hospital interiors. Some of the areas shot here include the hospital corridors, nurses stations, Laurie's room, Major Surgery (where Mrs Alves is found) and Minor Surgery (where the final confrontation occurs). However, a small corridor was built at Raleigh Studios to capture the explosion at the end of the film. The coroners office where the body of Ben Tramer is examined was also filmed in the basement of this hospital.
This would have been a suitable location for filming as the hospital had closed in September 1980, 7 months before principal photography began. The building then remained abandoned until early 2003 when it was demolished and replaced with apartment buildings.
Trivia: This location also makes an appearance in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), 10 to Midnight (1983), V: The Final Battle (1984).
Morningside Hospital in 2002.
Pasadena Community Hospital was another location used for filming. Some of the areas shot here include the reception desk, guard station, break room, basement and generator rooms, and possibly the hydrotherapy room.
Although the Pasadena Community Hospital ceased operation in the late 1980's the original buildings are still standing, but are now the home of the Pasadena Public Health Department (and a Medical Center) after the City of Pasadena purchased the property in the early 1990's. The buildings were subsequently renovated and remodelled and as a result the break room was converted in restrooms, whilst the guard station was converted into its own separate room.
Trivia: The reception area also makes an appearance in M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (1983)
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations (2023)
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations (2023)
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations (2023)
The break room was located where the green painted wall is, which is now the entrance to the restrooms.Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations (2023)
Photo: Set-Jetter
Loomis spots Ben Tramer from the north intersection of Meridian Avenue and Magnolia Street, with Tramer walking north on Meridian towards them. He then turns around, crosses Meridian, and is struck by the police car at the south intersection of Meridian Avenue and Magnolia Street.
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
The Wallace house also returns and had remained almost unchanged in the time since 1978, with the exception of minor alterations. The original carport had been removed and although largely out of shot a porte-cochère had been added to the driveway. A much larger renovation would occur in 2001 when a garage and living space above it was added onto the left side of the house.
Photo: Set-Jetter
The scene begins with Karen and Darcy walking in front of 1 Kersting Court, which is currently a Starbucks. Just after this 'boombox boy' bumps into The Shape in front of 17 Kersting Court, which is currently Mother Moo Creamery, but was also the tv shop playing the Silver Shamrock Commercial in Halloween III. The Shape then walks to the end of Kersting Court, where he passes the hospital sign.
This was the second major scene filmed by Carpenter, primarily to establish how The Shape knew of Laurie Strodes location, an aspect that was apparently missing from Rick Rosenthal's cut.
Trivia: Kersting Court also makes an appearance in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Photo: GSV (2022)
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations (2023)
The Myers house is yet another location to return and was where principal photography began on 6th April 1981. At the time of filming the house was still located at 709 Meridian Avenue, but would eventually be relocated to 1000 Mission Street in 1988.
Photo: Set-Jetter
The interior of Smith's Grove Sanitarium was filmed in the main lounge of the Hollywood Studio Club, on what was the final day of principal photography on 18th May 1981. Carpenter would also film a scene with a young Michael Myers inside Smith's Grove during the production of Halloween II, but for the TV version of Halloween. It would have made sense to use the same actor and location for both but for whatever reason this did not happen.
The break-in occurs in the classroom located directly beside the main entrance on West McClean Street (the same classroom where Laurie learns about fate in Halloween). This was of course Tommy Doyle's school in Halloween as well.
This scene was filmed on a service road at the South West end of Hansen Dam Park (34.267104, -118.397384), with the camera facing roughly West towards a small left right kink in the road (a short distance up from where this comparison photo was taken).
Trivia: This road also makes an appearance in Shocker (1989).
Sean Clark was gifted the cutting board form the Elrod house before the renovation. I bet the owners could have funded the entire project by auctioning off the cabinets and other pieces from that kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThey sure could have. When he was there hardly anything had changed. The same blender was in the same area.
DeleteLOVE all your tidbits and info. I knew a lot but am learning more from your site!!!
ReplyDelete