Friday night the family had other plans, so not wanting to be bored and enjoy what good weather we do have left for this season, I took a quick ride downtown. While there I was able to get a pretty decent picture in front of City Hall, right where towards the end of the movie Elwood jumps the curb and The Bluesmobile crumbles as they exit the vehicle.
Notice in the picture the wall behind The Bluesmobile. That is a fake wall to give the illusion of only one entrance into the building. There are actually three doors on each side of the build to enter through like below. Our hero’s wouldn’t have gotten very far if those doors were there in the movie!!!
The next shot that I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to get was in front of the Picasso. Unfortunately, access to the plaza with a car is EXTREMELY hard to gain in post 9/11 Chicago. Stone benches and planters pretty much surround the perimeter. While not impossible, at the time I was down there on Friday night, they were host a Mexican Independence Day show, and I am pretty sure The Bluesmobile speeding through the plaza while laying on the horn would have been highly FROWNED upon.
I might have to save that shot for an early Sunday morning.
Since my Daley Plaza photo shoot was cancelled before it started, I didn’t have any other locations in mind, so I found a couple that I believe Jake and Elwood would have frequented back in the day.
Buddy Guy’s Legends
While not in the same location as the original, I think the Bluesmobile looks right at home in front of this Chicago institution.
2120 S. Michigan Ave.
No self-respecting blues fan does not know what 2120 S. Michigan Ave is about. In fact The Rolling Stones recorded a song named 2120 South Michigan Avenue. The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records and Checker Records where five songs for their record Five By Five were recorded in June 1964. Many of the biggest rock and roll acts out of England were directly influence by Chicago Blues and R&B. The Blues Brothers would have definitely stopped by here!
Old Joliet Prison, aka Joliet Correctional Center
I took a break Saturday from movie location shots in order to hang out in Mt. Prospect. Sunday I was inspired to get some shots by the prison in Joliet. While I’m certainly not the first one to do this, and my shots aren’t all that original I thought they did turn out pretty cool.
For my next installment of filming locations, I will focus on the North and Northwest suburb locations! Until then I hope you have enjoyed the pics! See you real soon!
