As I slowly make my way through all of the Chicagoland area filming locations of The Blues Brothers, this past weekend I decided to focus my attention to suburb of West Chicago, IL, a small communicated in DuPage County, approximately 40 miles outside of Chicago.
Lloyd’s Tire Clinic
After covering Lake, McHenry and part of DuPage County, The Bluesmobile runs out of gas, leaving our heroes stranded right before the big gig at the Palace Hotel Ballroom.
They push The Bluesmobile to the closest gas station, only to find out that the station is also out of gas causing them further delay!
Lloyd’s Tire Clinic was located at S. Neltnor Blvd (Route 59) And Garys Mill Road. I don’t know if this was an actual gas station or if it was only a set built at the site, due to the explosion in the extended cut that was caused by Jake when he tossed his cigarette out of the window and into a trail of gasoline.
While some older pictures I found on the internet showed flat land, remnants of the foundation and what appears to be the same billboard location as in the film, a lot has changed!
The area is completely overgrown now. I wasn’t even sure I was in the right spot, since I could not find any evidence of foundation or the billboard.
It wasn’t until I was able to match the two telephone poles that are very noticeable as the brothers push The Bluesmobile into the service station that I knew I had found the spot.
It was sad to see the area so overgrown.
Moving on from Lloyd’s at the intersection of Gary Mills Road and Roosevelt Road (Route 38) is the…
West Wind Motel
The West Wind Motel is the motel down the street where Elwood points Twiggy towards for them to meet after the show, you know in case her date doesn’t work out.
While the motel is still there and still operational as the West Wind, I was said to see the neon sign from the movie was gone and replaced with a generic looking florescent sign.
I spoke to the handy man that came out after hearing my car pull up. He mentioned that the sign was taken down several years ago and put in the garage. He told the owner to sell the sign on eBay for 8-10k because of it’s provenience in the movie. He’s unsure if the owner did sell it, but he said that it was no longer in the garage.
Me thinks it’s still somewhere on the property.
BONUS TRIP: WHEATON, IL
Heading east on Roosevelt Road will lead you directly to Wheaton, IL. As most Belushi fans will know as where the family resided during John and Jim’s formative years.
I stopped by to pay my respects.
The home has changed significantly from the time they lived there, as an addition was added on and extensively remodeled.
Finally before heading home, I stopped by the Seven Dwarfs Diner. Newspaper reports indicate that this was where John held down a part time job while in high school and some college.
I always thought the gas station was in the empty lot next to the West Wind.
And the very first time I saw this movie , the gas station was blown up. They must have cut it out for a reason.
I always thought the gas station was in the empty lot next to the West Wind.
And the very first time I saw this movie , the gas station was blown up. They must have cut it out for a reason. Great MOVIE
I didn’t realize some scenes were done at Universal.
I always thought the gas station was in the empty lot next to the West Wind.
And the very first time I saw this movie , the gas station was blown up. They must have cut it out for a reason. Great MOVIE
The gas station scene was down the street from the West Wind. I believe the only full set on Universal besides interior shots was Bob’s Country Bunker.