The film opens with actor John Houseman telling a ghost story on the beach, which was actually recreated and filmed on a soundstage at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. The camera then pans up to reveal Antonio Bay, which is in reality Stinson Beach shot from Shoreline Highway.
The scene at the Canyon Country Store (along with the other ghostly activity in the credits) was filmed after principal photography to help build more mood into the beginning of the film. John Carpenter chose this location as he lived close-by in Laurel Canyon at the time. Both the interior and exterior were used but as you would expect both have changed since 1980.
- Location pending
According to John Carpenter this gas station is located somewhere in the San Fernando Valley. Following that tip and some extensive research I have possibly uncovered the location (albeit now demolished), but I will have to confirm it further before posting the address.
This small scene featuring Nancy Kyes was actually filmed in the apartment that she and Tommy Lee Wallace were living in at the time. The photo below was taken in the upper unit and although it's a close match I suspect that filming actually took place in the lower unit.
Nick travels along Bear Valley Road near Olema when he stops to pick up a hitchhiking Elizabeth. As the exact location did not appear to be known I conducted my own research to work it out and came to the conclusion that Elizabeth is standing beside the Antonio Bay sign at approximately 38.046646, -122.799502. The truck interiors were however filmed using 'Poor Man's Process' inside the garage building of the former Chevron station at 12786 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness (now Dixon Marine Services).
Two locations were used to form the interior of Nick Castle's beach house. The bedroom scene with Nick and Elizabeth was filmed at a small waterfront house on Tomales Bay in Inverness, but the exact location is unknown. When Nick moves into the living room and sees the ghost at the door (a reshot scene) the location switches to the house on Wonderland Avenue in Laurel Canyon where Adrienne Barbeau and John Carpenter were living at the time. I wasn't able to find any interior photos but the house appears to have been heavily remodelled since 1980.
If anyone knows the location of Nick's house in Inverness then please let me know and full credit will be awarded.
Stevie Wayne's beach house is also located on Tomales Bay in Inverness. Both the interiors and exteriors were filmed here with the exception of Stevie's bedroom, which was constructed on a soundstage at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. The architecture style of the house has changed completely since 1980, with some of the additions including a new walkway, fencing, windows, and most striking of all a new roof with adorning onion domes.
The Antonio Bay Docks are located on Tides Warf in Bodega Bay, which is the furthest location from the others in Marin County. The Tides Wharf Restaurant that can be seen behind Nick and Elizabeth as they walk along the dock was most famously used in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. The building itself and the surrounding wharf has changed significantly in the time since these two films were made.
Perhaps the most iconic location in the film is the Point Reyes Lighthouse, which was built in 1870 and subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The lighthouse interiors (both levels) were however built on a soundstage at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, along with the roof section to facilitate the filming of Stevie Wayne's encounter with the ghosts, a sequence that was added after principal photography.
The entrance to the church is located off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, almost directly across from Stevie Wayne's house. This road actually leads to the St. Columba's Episcopal Church, but this was not used in the film (see the location below). Amazingly, the large wooden cross near the entrance is still there after all this time.
Another historic location is the Episcopal Church-The Ascension, which was built in 1888 and subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Both the interiors and exteriors were filmed here, with the exception of Father Malone’s chamber, which was built on a soundstage at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. The driveway that Sandy and Kathy use when they first arrive (which ran parallel to Laurel Avenue) has since been removed completely. The entrance that everyone uses is located at the rear of the Church, which was chosen over the front entrance as it was deemed too difficult to hide a busy intersection for filming to take place there.
- Location unknown
The scene at the hospital with Dick Baxter's corpse coming back to life was another late addition to the film, with Carpenter feeling that another scare was needed. As revealed on the commentary track the location was a small clinic somewhere in the San Fernando Valley, but at this time I have not been able to find it. If anyone knows where this is then please let me know and full credit will be awarded.
The Antonio Bay celebration takes place in the parking lot of the Olema House and Due West Tavern. The most obvious change to this area is the new ranch style entry way that was added between 2008 and 2011, replacing the crude version seen in the film. The later scene in the bar was also filmed at this location, in the Due West Tavern (known as Jerry's Farm House Restaurant at the time). The bar's interior has been renovated since 1980 and in more recent times an interior wall has been removed to achieve a more open plan layout.
I learned a few more spots that I didnt know! Like where the power plant was? My favorite all time movie! I love the true story, cast , setting, and music, and the Ending!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. It's a great film so I tried to be as complete as possible and figure out the locations that no one else had. Still got a couple more to find or confirm but I'll get there.
Deleteexcellent job! Also my favorite all time movie! Awesome movie location sites!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
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