My all time favorite movie. Light on gore, heavy on suspense, an amazing score, a terrifying mask… The list goes on and on and on. I lost a lot of sleep as a kid thanks to Halloween. The first time I watched it was in 1987 when I was 9. I remember the eerie shot of the mask in a TV Guide ad. Some of my friends had already seen it and talked about how scary it was, so I decided to tune in. I think I finally slept through the night around Christmas. Not having learned my lesson, I tuned in again the following year and watched Halloween II (1981) and saw a parade of commercials for Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988). I think I finally slept through the night around Easter. Thus began my obsession.
Fast forward to Christmas 1993. I was at the mall to use my Macy's gift certificate. I wandered into the music & movie section (yes, they used to have those) and saw a VHS copy of Halloween. A beam of light shined down upon it just like when Clark spots The Griswold Family Christmas tree in Christmas Vacation (1989). I grabbed it and raced home to watch it entirely with my eyes open. That winter was a particularly bad one and I had about fifteen snow days, all spent watching Halloween on repeat. I could recite line by line by the time the spring equinox came around. It wasn't until Scream (1996) came out three years later did I realize I actually had the TV version that was accidentally released. When Randy pauses the movie as Michael Myers raises the knife to stab Bob, I was perplexed. That wasn't in my version! I worked at Blockbuster Video in college so I brought it home to finally see the movie as it was meant to be seen.
As a Television Production major, I got to spend a semester in LA. After doing some research on Alta Vista and Excite, I found the addresses for The Myers, Strode, Doyle and Wallace houses and Nichols Hardware. After arriving in The City of Angels in January 1999, I grabbed my Thomas Guide and headed straight to South Pasadena. Over the years new locations were discovered thanks to conventions and other loyal fans. In 2002, I had the privilege of working on AMC's series Backstory, which did an hour special on Halloween. I got to meet John Carpenter, Debra Hill and several of the cast. It was a Halloween fan's wet dream. A year later Achor Bay added 30 minutes of unused footage and it became the Cut Above The Rest documentary on the 25th Anniversary DVD.
Halloween was shot in South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, Burbank, City of Industry and West Hollywood, CA
Location: The Myers House
Address: 1000 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA
Some of these shots are from 1999 before work began on the LA Metro. Most fans know by now the original location was just up the street. All those houses were torn down and a vacant lot remained for a while before condominiums were built. But the Myers house was saved in the nick of time and moved down to the corner. It now houses small office spaces.
1999
2008
2013
I think I'd just leave it under the mat...
The former site of the Myers House was located down the street at 709 Meridian Avenue. It was across from 720 Meridian Avenue, which is two houses from the Elrod House in Halloween II (1981)...
Location: Driving to Smith's Grove
Address: Lake Hollywood Dr (off Barham Blvd) Burbank, CA
1999
2016
The interior driving shots were done via poor man's process inside what is now Larry's Union Service at 1100 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA...
Location: Haddonfield Establishing Shot
Address: Corner of Oxley and Montrose Ave, South Pasadena, CA
Haddonfield was named after Debra Hill's hometown of Haddonfield, New Jersey...
Interestingly enough, it's about eight miles from Voorhees Township...
Location: The Strode House
Address: 1115 Oxley St, South Pasadena, CA
1999
Interestingly enough, it's about eight miles from Voorhees Township...
Location: The Strode House
Address: 1115 Oxley St, South Pasadena, CA
1999
2016
2021
The house is seen again later when Laurie comes home from school and hears a strange noise...
In September 2023, the residence was put on the market and I attended the open house. Photos are at the bottom of this post.
Location: Walk to the Myers House
Address: Magnolia St, turning south on Meridian, South Pasadena, CA
Location: Haddonfield Elementary
Address: 110 W McLean St, Alhambra, CA
Location: Loomis calls Haddonfield Police
Address: Brea Canyon & Old Ranch Road (near Valley Blvd), City of Industry, CA
This area has been built up considerably since filming...
Location: Haddonfield High School
Address: 1401 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA
This school was completely renovated in the early 2000s. For some reason I never took a picture of it back then. Totally stupid of me. Here's what it looks like today. Laurie and Lynda exit from the left.
2003
2016
Location: Walking Home From School
Address: Highland St (turning from Fairview), South Pasadena, CA
2019
2003
2023
Location: Lynda's House
Address: 1027 Montrose Ave, South Pasadena, CA
Lynda's house was also used as Thelma's house from Mama's Family (1983-1990).
Location: The Hedge
Address: 1019 Montrose Ave, South Pasadena, CA
1999
2016
Location: The Brackett House
Address: 1017 Montrose Ave, South Pasadena, CA
Location: Annie Picks Up Laurie
Address: 1115 Oxley St, South Pasadena, CA
1999
2008
2016
Laurie turns to the right and sees a few kids trick or treating...
She then turns to the left and is actually looking at the intersection of N Genesee Avenue and De Longpre in West Hollywood, not far from the babysitting houses. The house Loomis is in front of when he spots The Shape's car is also on that street...
Location: Haddonfield Cemetery
Address: 601 E Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA
This was also seen on Melrose Place (1992-1999) where Jake and Jess' mother was buried.
Location: The Drive Pre-Hardware Store
Address: Cynthia St starting at N. Hidalgo Ave, Alhambra, CA
The Shape turns in from N. Almansor St...
You can see the road curves a few times in the background...
Location: Nichols Hardware Store
Address: 966 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA
Annie's car approaches on Meridian between El Centro & Mission Street...
1999
2008
2013
2016
Location: The Drive Post-Hardware Store
Address: Left off of S Parish Place onto Parkside Ave, Burbank, CA, then turn north on S Keystone St.
Thanks to Robert at Set-jetter.com for finding this location...
Location: The Doyle House
Address: 1530 N Orange Grove Ave, West Hollywood, CA
1999
2013
2016
Location: The Wallace House Exterior
Address: 1537 N Orange Grove Ave, West Hollywood, CA
This house was renovated some time in the early 2000's. Unlike Haddonfield High, I did take pictures back in '99...
Address: 1537 N Orange Grove Ave, West Hollywood, CA
This house was renovated some time in the early 2000's. Unlike Haddonfield High, I did take pictures back in '99...
2013
The interior of the Wallace House was filmed at 1542 N Orange Grove Ave, West Hollywood, CA, just a few houses down from The Doyle House. The garage and laundry room were filmed here as well. The exterior of the house makes an appearance in Halloween II (1981) when Loomis and Brackett search for Michael Myers...
The garage
A glimpse of the laundry room
Location: The No-Help Neighbor
Address: 1533 N Orange Grove Ave, West Hollywood, CA
The interior of the first floor of the Doyle House and Mr. Riddle's backyard were also filmed here.
Location: Loomis Spots The Station Wagon
Address: 1351 N Genesee Avenue, West Hollywood
This street is seen again when he's wandering the streets and Sheriff Brackett pulls up to him...
Open House at The Strodes (September 9, 2023)
The Strode House is actually a three-unit property. Unit 1 is on the first floor, which has a large one bedroom suite, bathroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry and basement...
Units 2 and 3 are located upstairs, accessed by the door Laurie Strode exits in the film. Unit 2 has three bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchen...
Unit 3 has one bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen...
This is the door the Laurie exits from...
Perhaps the inspiration for Mr. Riddle's backyard...
Locations Visited: January 1999, October 2000, October 2003, October 2008, October 2013, March 2016, June 2021, July 2023
Over the years I've attended several conventions and got to meet several of the cast and crew...
John Carpenter (Director)
Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie)
Nancy Loomis (Annie)
P.J. Soles (Lynda)
John Michael Graham (Bob)
Brian Andrews (Tommy)
Charles Cyphers (Sheriff Brackett)
Nancy Stephens (Nurse Marion)
Sandy Johnson (Judith Myers)
David Kyle (Judith's One Minute Man)
Will Sandin (Michal Myers, Age 6)
Brent Le Page (Lonnie)
Gwen Van Dam (Nurse, Halloween TV Version)
Jennifer Rhodes (Nurse, Halloween TV Version)
In September 2023, The Strode House went up for sale and I stopped by the open house, which is actually three separate units...
This is the door Laurie steps out of...
Perhaps the inspiration for Mr. Riddle's backyard?
Related Locations:
Halloween II (1981), Halloween III: Season of The Witch (1982), Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988), Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989), Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (1998), Halloween (2007), Halloween II (2009), Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), Halloween Ends (2022), Halloween: 25 Years of Terror Convention (2003), Halloween: 30 Years of Terror (2008), Halloween: 35 Years of Terror (2013), Halloween: 40 Years of Terror (2018), Jamie Lee Curtis HorrorHound Weekend (2012), Halloween: 45 Years of Terror Convention (2023)
Great additions, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick one on the building at Lodi Place, I think this was only used for Smith’s Grove in Halloween II. I think the TV scenes from Halloween were filmed somewhere on the West Los Angeles Veterans campus. See post 205 from the OHMB locations thread.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Mr. H! I assumed it was the same location since the tv scenes were shot around the time Halloween II was filmed but you haven't steered us wrong yet so I will make the correction.
DeleteWow, very cool stuff! I am headed out there in July and this info was very useful, thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Enjoy your trip!
DeleteGreat job!! I enjoyed this very much! I love your back story too. Great stuff. You wouldn't happen to know where the clothesline was would you?
ReplyDeleteThank you! To my knowledge, that location has yet to be discovered.
DeleteVery Cool! My favorite movie too. Was there in 2006. Took all the same photos. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks Garrett! Glad you got to see the locations in person as well.
DeleteHey Brian -- glad you were able to include your 1999 pics, especially the Wallace House exterior.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I was lucky to get to see it before the transformation.
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