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 with Grimbridge running north on San Fernando Road, beneath the I-5 overpass at 34.326246, -118.503415. This section of the I-5 was widened in 2009, making this view look a little different now.
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations | 2023
The junkyard is located directly ahead of the overpass from the previous scene. I wasn't able to determine if this was a real junkyard back in 1982 but I know Tommy Lee Wallace has stated that the area was set dressed so maybe not. The warehouse that Grimbridge tries to access is still there and now belongs to a company that produces outdoor art pieces.
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations | 2023
This gas station (originally the Fremont Pass Service Station) ran under several different brands until the late 1970's or early 1980's. Since then the building has been used for a variety of purposes, including an auto repair shop (which it most likley was at the time of filming), a detective agency, a nightclub, and an investment brokerage office. However, the building appears to have been unused for several years.
Trivia: This gas station also makes an appearance in Family Plot (1976)
Photo: Set-Jetter
I searched endlessly for this house in Sierra Madre and never found it, but fortunately I then came across the address which had been posted by a family member who lived in the house at the time and watched filming take place. An interesting coincidence that she also mentions is that she had the same birthday as Michelle Walker who played Bella Challis.
Photo: MLS | 2022
Photo: MLS | 2022
The exterior of the hospital was the Pacoima Medical Center, which stood at the corner of Eldridge Avenue and Terra Bella Street until it was demolished in 1993. The building seen in the background when the car explodes was a mental health wing of the Pacoima Memorial Hospital, but it too was demolished in 2017 and new houses have since been built on the site where both buildings previously stood.
Trivia: This building also makes an appearance in Leprechaun (1993)
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations
Pacoima Medical Center in 1971.Photo: Loring A. Wyllie Jr
Photo: Set-Jetter
The hospital interiors were filmed at the Golden State Memorial Hospital, which closed in 1979 and was then demolished in 1984 to make way for a small retail park. As far as I can tell the scenes between Challis and Teddy were also filmed here, despite the fact they were added late in production.
Golden State Memorial Hospital in the 1960's.Photo: Ancestry
Ellie finds Challis at The Buccaneer in Sierra Madre, which was located at 60 West Sierra Madre Boulevard at the time of filming (where The Bottle Shop now is). The Buccaneer (along with its distinctive paintings) then moved to its current location at 70 West Sierra Madre Boulevard between 1983 and 1984, whilst its previous location was taken by The Bottle Shop which expanded into it. To be precise, the original Buccaneer would have been positioned to the left of The Bottle Shop's wine tasting area.
A vacant store in Loleta was set dressed as Grimbridge's toy shop. Interestingly, this scene was originally set to be filmed at Balk's Hardware Store in South Pasadena, but for reasons unknown the location was switched to Loleta.
Challis makes the phonecall in front of 17 Kersting Court, which is the TV shop playing the Silver Shamrock commercial. Kersting Court was also used as the town square in Halloween II, with 'boombox boy' bumping into The Shape almost directly in front of the same tv shop.
The drive to Santa Mira begins with Ellie and Challis heading south on the 101 Highway, just before the exit to Hookton Road. The shot was taken from the Hookton Road overpass at 40.672032,-124.201802 with the camera facing North.
They then head west along Hookton Road, passing its intersection with Table Bluff Road.
Photo: GSV | 2012
They head east along Table Bluff Road, before making the turn onto Copenhagen Road.
Photo: GSV | 2012
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations | 2019
This gas station was once the Jim Davy Chevron Station but at the time of filming was known as Ken's Shell Service. I'm not sure when it ceased operation but it appears to be some considerable time ago.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations | 2019
Ellie and Challis first pass the Dublin Inn at the corner of Loleta Drive and Main Street, which prior to its closure was the Hunter's Inn bar and restaurant. The building was demolished at some point in the 1990's as a result of fire damage sustained in 1979. They then pass Shamrock Savings at 358 Main Street (the Bank of Loleta), the Shamrock Store at 352 Main Street (the Loleta Market), and finally the Laundrette at 348 Main Street (formerly the Loleta Bakery).
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations | 2019
Located directly beside the gas station is the Rose of Shannon motel, which was formerly the 101 motel. I'm not sure if it had closed prior to filming or if it was still operational under a different name. The rooms have since been converted into private apartments, possibly in the early 1990's but I cannot be sure. In the film Ellie and Challis rent room 6, which is now 2473 Eel River Drive.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations | 2019
One of Santa Mira's alleys is located directly behind the building at 24318 Walnut Street. The 'Cinderella Beauty Salon' (as seen on the sign) still existed next door to this building until 2017. The other two shots were most likely taken from the alley between Walnut Street and Chestnut Street, but that block has been demolished and rebuilt since 1982.
Trivia: 24318 Walnut Street was the location of Vera's house from Friday the 13th: Part III, before it was relocated to Hart Park in 1987.
This building began life as the Diamond Springs Creamery, which was established in 1893. In the years since then the creamery has seen several owners, been known by many different names, and has produced a variety of dairy products (including milk, cheese, butter and more) up until its closure in January 2008. The building was then used as a warehouse for a short time but it now appears to be abandoned and has fallen into a state of disrepair.
A total of four locations were combined to form the interior of the Silver Shamrock factory.
The office area where Ellie enquiries about her fathers order was filmed at the S. Paul Ward ceramic company, located at 601 Mission Street in South Pasadena. The company no longer exists but the building is still standing and the office would have been located at its north west corner (beside the main entrance on Mission Street), however, the entrance used by the Kupfers in the film is located on the Palm Avenue side of the building.
Thanks to Corinne Fry (whose father was General Manager at S. Paul Ward) for supplying this information.
The mask production areas were filmed at Don Post Studios, located at 8211 Lankershim Boulevard at the time of filming, but now home to the GP Color Imaging Group. Don Post did actually manufacturer all three of the masks that appear in the film, although the Jack-o'-lantern was created specifically in collaboration with Tommy Lee Wallace.
The toy museum area was filmed at Baranger Studios in South Pasadena. The Baranger company manufactured electric motion displays for jewellery stores (know as Baranger Motions), which can be seen throughout the Silver Shamrock tour. Tommy Lee Wallace had stated on his commentary that this scene was possibly filmed at The Burman Studios, which Tom Burman later confirmed to be incorrect. Fortunately the correct location presented itself in Tommy's book 'Halloween 3 - “Where the Hell is Michael Myers?' to clear up the confusion.
Finally, the test rooms and final processing area were filmed on a sound stage at Raleigh Studios, located at 5300 Melrose Avenue. These stages were also used in Halloween II for filming of the explosion at the climax of the film.
The toy store was located in Suite C of this building, which in 1982 was a real toy store called Toy Attic. The scene was originally set to be filmed at Albin's Hobby & Toy in Burbank, but the location was switched to Santa Clarita.
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
Credit to Robert at Set-Jetter for finding this location back in 2013.
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
This shot was taken from North Thomas Street (just before its intersection with Two Tree Avenue) looking out towards downtown Los Angeles.
Photo: Set-Jetter
The Silver Shamrock van first pulls out of Vista Ridge Drive onto Wiley Canyon Road. In the next shot (from the top of the van) it can be seen heading north on Vista Ridge Drive.
Possibly the most iconic shot of the entire film. I was very happy to be the first person to find this location back in 2016. The shot was taken from North Thomas Street, looking up towards the street light on Two Tree Avenue. It's difficult to replicate the exact angle because of the fencing that now runs along Thomas Street, and with the addition of the new housing this view has sadly been ruined.
After escaping Santa Mira we first see Challis speeding along Pico Canyon Road at 34.377535, -118.586739, heading west away from Santa Clarita. He is then attacked by Ellie and swerves off the road at 34.377555, -118.586621, before clipping a utility pole just ahead (which has since been removed). This is roughly the same location as before (with a change of camera position) but the car is now travelling east towards Santa Clarita. From there Challis careers through Pico Canyon Park, where he passes a distinctive looking oak tree at 34.377487, -118.586023 (which is still there), before crashing into another tree at 34.377601, -118.585847 (which has since been removed).
The whole area has changed considerably since 1982 and is barley recognisable in comparison. The narrow stretch of Pico Canyon Road where filming took place was torn up and then widened to four lanes between 2002 and 2003. This not only led to the removal of the aforementioned utility pole but also reduced the space (and possibly changed the elevation) between the road and the area beside it that Challis careers through, which itself was tidied up and transformed into Pico Canyon Park in the mid 2000's.
Trivia: Part of this road can be seen in the Knight Rider episode 'Ten Wheel Trouble'.
The same location as the two above from the Knight Rider episode 'Ten Wheel Trouble'.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations | 2020
This 1980's aerial shows the route of the car on the original road.
I have seen a video that shows that the Buccaneer Lounge was originally located across the street from where it is now, and that's where the scenes were actually shot for H3. The YouTube page is grimmlifecollective.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the video but I was holding off updating this page with that info, because when I researched this place years ago I read that the relocation date was before Halloween III filmed. I'm trying to find that article again, however, newer articles that have since appeared online (which is possibly where Grimm got the info) state that it moved in 1984. I think that will be correct but I'd like to check further before I change anything.
DeleteHe did a good job with the video and covered some of the rarer locations that I uncovered, which is always good to see as most people tend to skip those and just focus on the Loleta locations.
Ok, thanks for the update! Most all people who go there and vlog, state that the entrance to the bar has changed since filming which lead me to believe that there might actually be some credibility to that statement. Look forward to any updates you have! Thanks!
DeleteThe "Town Square / TV Shop" location was also the town square in the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). At 55 minutes in, Kevin McCarthy's character is watching, from his office, seed pods being unloaded from trucks in the same town square.
ReplyDeleteGreat location(s) synopsis, very interesting! Your attention to detail is awesome. Great work and Happy Halloween!
ReplyDelete