Reel to Real Filming Locations

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Alice (1976-1985)

After her husband is killed in a trucking accident, Alice Hyatt packs up her son Tommy and leaves New Jersey for Los Angeles to pursue a singing career. After her car breaks down in Phoenix, she takes a job waitressing at Mel's Diner working for the crusty Mel Sharples. Sassy Flo and scatterbrained Vera also serve up blue plate specials. Later on, Belle and Jolene filled in for Flo after she left for Texas. Though she was only meant to stay for a little while, Alice worked at Mel's Diner for nine years until she received a recording contract and Mel sold the diner to real estate developer.

Alice was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore starring Ellen Burstyn. There are several differences between the movie and the series, which ran an impressive nine years and had one of the most popular catchphrases in sitcom history - Kiss my grits! Florence "Flo" Castleberry became the breakout character and eventually got her own spinoff. Rumors of a backstage feuds were reported over the years, between Linda Lavin and Polly Holiday, and later with Dianne Ladd. The series did well in the ratings despite the cast drama and cast changes. The theme song was sung by Lavin and had numerous changes to the lyrics over the years.

Location: Mel's Diner

Address: 1747 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ

Mel's Diner is still in operation today. The sign was used in the opening credits of the later seasons. At the time the location manager found the diner, it was called Chris' but the owner agreed to change it and remains Mel's to this day...

Location Visited: October 2022

Locations Master List

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me (1984)

How does an unknown artist get the biggest pop star in the world to sing on their record you ask? Being the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy certainly has its perks. Kennedy William Gordy believed he rocked well, so he chose Rockwell as his stage name and not play the nepotism card. His debut single, Somebody's Watching Me, was a smash hit thanks in part to The King of Pop's vocal contributions. The song is rather campy, though I do like to mention of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). For the video, Rockwell wanders around his creepy house getting the feeling he's being spied upon while enduring odd occurrences. Michael Jackson does not appear in the video, most likely because he was filming his own music video for Thriller (1983) around the same time.

Location: Rockwell's House

Address: 1860 North Fuller Avenue, Hollywood, CA

Unfortunately, Rockwell's house joins the locations of yesteryear, though some of the surrounding area is still recognizable. The house actually belonged to the video's director, Frank D'Elia, and was torn down in 1986. The Pinnacle Apartment Building now stands in its place, just at the foot of the popular Runyon Canyon hiking trail. Special thanks to Paul H at Halloween Filming Locations for finding this location.

Location Visited: October 2022

Locations Master List

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Halloween Ends (2022)

After a freak accident babysitting on Halloween, Corey Cunningham becomes a pariah in Haddonfield. Four years later, Laurie Strode is writing a memoir, has gotten into hair care and fixes Allyson up with the misunderstood Corey. Meanwhile, Michael Myers has been habitating in a sewer like a ninja turtle. After Corey encounters him, he slowly descends into madness and embarks on a bloody rampage. Michael appears at Laurie's house for a final showdown where he is finally killed for good. An impromptu funeral procession to the junkyard by the entire town ensues and Michael is disposed of in an industrial shredder.

Halloween Ends is a completely unsatisfying ending to a mediocre trilogy. Halloween (2018) was certainly an improvement on Rob Zombie's Halloween II (2009), but had its share of problems. Halloween Kills (2021) was mostly a plotless gorefest. Halloween Ends just didn't feel like a Halloween movie. Leaving Michael out mostly until the end was ridiculous as was the lack of scares and tension. Going for something different is not always the best choice.

Halloween Ends was filmed in Savannah, Midway and Pooler, GA

Location: Dead Couple in Car

Address: 1920 Waters Avenue, Savannah, GA

Location: Laurie & Allyson's House

Address: 1206 E Duffy Street, Savannah, GA

Behind Laurie's House is an alleyway reminiscent of Halloween II (1981)...

Location: The Cunningham House

Address: 15 Kinzie Street, Savannah, GA

As a huge, longtime fan of the Halloween franchise, I was super excited when I was chosen to be an extra in Halloween Ends. Being a part of the new ending, having Jamie Lee Curtis a few feet away and getting to touch Michael Myers will forever be the best extra experience I ever had...

Locations Visited: June 2022

Locations Master List

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

Trish Deveraux is planning a slumber party. But an innocent night of pizza, music and talking about boys turns into a bloodbath. Escaped mass murderer Russ Thorn, with the help of his power drill, wreaks havoc on Trish's friends, a pizza boy, even her gym coach! Trish decides she won't be screwed like the rest and manages to take out Russ with a machete.

The Slumber Party Massacre was released during the endless parade of slashers in the early 80s. Not particularly scary or memorable, having a power drill as the weapon of choice was a nice change from the usual knife or machete. The film was directed by Amy Holden Jones, who had to turn down editing E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), in order to helm the movie. I wonder if M&M's were part of the craft service table.

The Slumber Party Massacre was filmed in Venice and Los Angeles, CA

Location: Trish's House

Address: 3662 Mountain View Avenue, Venice, CA