This past weekend, Sunday was an unseasonably warm 60+ degrees (December 3rd!). Knowing that days like that would be few and far between over the next three months, I decided to do what I like best.
Drive The Bluesmobile and look for filming locations!
None of these locations are a secret, in fact most of them are listed on several websites dedicated to the movie. But knowing where they are at and actually going to visit them are two very different things.
Going to visit them in The Bluesmobile just adds a level of fun and weirdness to it!
After visiting the downtown and far south filming locations, I turned my attention to the sleepy northwest suburb of Park Ridge, IL.
Park Ridge has a population of approximately 38,000 people and was once home to famous actor Harrison Ford, whom you probably saw in such small budgeted, art house movies as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Park Ridge was also home to former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, and Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
With two over achievers like that, the whole town could rest on their laurels and bask in the glory of their former son and daughter, but alas they don’t. Residents of Park Ridge work hard and play hard and take pride in their community.
And nothing brings more pride to their community than a Blues Brothers fanatic driving around in The Bluesmobile.
First Stop: Cumberland & Talcott
The first stop on our tour is the intersection of Cumberland and Talcott. This is where Elwood drives through the traffic signal (The light was yellow, sir.) and therefore initiating the Illinois State Police to pull him over.
The Shell gas station is remarkably well preserved, other than the modernized corner sign. Nelson Funeral home on the opposite corner doesn’t look like it has changed at all.
Talcott is one lane street, so it was hard to pull over to take a picture, so I did the safe thing and pulled into the parking lot for a quick snapshot. Don’t worry, no wakes were in session!
Second Stop: Cumberland and Gillick
After Elwood crosses the intersection, the State Troopers pull out of the gas station and flip on there lights to signal Elwood to pull over. Elwood finally stops in front of a neatly manicured home.
The home is on the corner of Cumberland and Gillick. The real home is 2 blocks North of the intersection. While it makes no difference in the movie itself, it wrecks havoc on someone that has seen the move well over 100 times!
The home itself looks much the same, other than some minor upgrades (different bottom paint, awnings gone.
The home to the right rear of The Bluesmobile in the picture above has changed a bit more, with an addition added.
It’s a beautiful block, very quiet and peaceful for being 3:30 in the afternoon.
Third Stop: Courtland & Granville
As we all know from the movie, Elwood decides to ditch the cops after they try to arrest him and impound his vehicle for having a suspended license due to the numerous moving violations and parking tickets.
Driving to this next location through the neighborhood was an awesome experience. The younger people just smiled and nodded their head approvingly.
The older folks had a look of horror on their faces as I was driving The Bluesmobile through the serene environment. You could tell that they were going to go home and call their local politician to grill them on who approved the filming permit for a Blues Brothers movie!
At the intersection of Granville, Courtland becomes a picturesque street with a parkway between north and south traffic. This is the intersection Elwood makes a quick left on in his initial attempt to evade capture.
Fourth Stop: Intersection of Courtland, Devon, and Talcott
Our final stop in Park Ridge is the intersection of Courtland, Devon, and Talcott. This is where The Bluesmobile spins out of controll (as do the state troopers) before finally recovering.
Here is the intersection today.
Immediately after this scene The Bluesmobile pulls into the mall parking lot. Fun fact is that the mall was 41 miles south of this location in Harvey, IL!!!
Fifth Stop: 3801 Mannheim Rd, Schiller Park IL.
The fifth stop takes us to the former Holiday Inn where The Blues Brothers later drop in on Murph and the Magic Tones in the Armada Room.
This stop is only 6 miles from where all of the action took place in Park Ridge. The hotel is directly southeast from O’Hare Airport.
Final Stop: Gene and Judes
All this touring makes a Blues Brother hungry!!! Might as well take advantage of the close proximity of Gene and Judes in neighboring River Grove for some real Chicago style hot dogs!!! Hope you enjoyed this latest tour as much as I did.
Hopefully I will get a nice day in the near future and find some more filming locations to share with you!
Until next time, do what you feel and keep both feet on the wheel. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.
Head ’em out, move ’em out Rawhide!
BONUS STOP: Mrs. Tarantino’s House
A couple of days prior I am a short trip to Cicero, IL to get a picture in front of the REAL two flat used as Mrs. Tarantino’s house.
Fun Fact:
The street this home is on is a one way street traveling southbound. For purposes of filming, the film makers had The Bluesmobile travel northbound in order to pull up directly in front of the two flat.
