Do you know the actual location that the movie "American Grafitti" was filmed?

[Rodger Tellefson]

I was at a muscle car show in old town Folsom, CA this evening, and the actress Candy Clark told me the actual location that the movie was filmed. I just want to know how many here get it right. Was it Modesto, CA or Peteluma, CA? No fair doing a Google search for the answer.

 

[Johnny O]

I think it was Modesto and some parts were also filmed in Mendocino.

 

[TRACket Paul]

Petaluma, but the first day of filming was in San Rafael. I went to high school in Novato, which is about half way between the two cities.

 

[Bill Barber]

Petaluma for sure, spent a year there one weekend

 

[Kevin Lang]

Never seen it, probably wouldn't know it i I saw it. Sorry 'bout that.

 

[Richard L]

Hmmm, Years ago when I visited Universal Studio's in Orland, FL I was told that some of the scenes for American Graffitti were filmed there. Especially the outside shots of the Drive-In Resturant. The Drive-in Resturant is there and they actually sell burgers, etc inside and have a few vintage hot rods of 60's era parked outside. They said the inside of the Drive-In burger place was not used in the movie, only the outside?



I have not been to Universal Studios in California, so I don't know if either were actually used or if the on in Orland is just a copy?



They also showed homes on the Universal back lot that were used for outdoor scenes in the Golden Girls, the Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver, but I don't think Universal Studios, Orlando existed back when Leave it to Beaver was being filmed?



...Rich

 

[Les]

American Graffiti is a 1973 coming of age comedy-drama film co-written and directed by George Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, Kathleen Quinlan and Harrison Ford. Set in Modesto, California, American Graffiti is a study of the cruising and rock and roll cultures popular among the Post-World War II baby boom generation. The film is a nostalgic portrait of teenage life in the early 1960s told in a series of vignettes, featuring a group of teenagers and their adventures in a single night in late August 1962.



The genesis of American Graffiti was in Lucas's own teenage years in early 1960s Modesto. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors, but finally found favor at Universal Pictures after United Artists, 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Paramount Pictures turned him down. Filming was initially set to take place in San Rafael, California, but the production crew was denied permission to shoot beyond a second day. As a result, most filming for American Graffiti was conducted in Petaluma.

Universal Studios Florida, opened On June 7, 1990,

 

[LaRue Medlin]

WOW,,, this movie was on WGN LAST NIGHT! Had to watch it... Still as good as the first day.

 

[Bob McDonald]

Wasn't Suzanne Sommers the blond driving the T-bird in the movie?

 

[LaRue Medlin]

yep

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Sorry, Les, but Paul & Bill are correct. It was filmed in Petaluma, CA. according to Candy Clark (whom I was able to ask the question directly at a hot rod show in old town Folsom, CA), and http://www.americangraffiti.net/

 

[Les]

As a result, most filming for American Graffiti was conducted in Petaluma.

As the article says...

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Sorry, Less, I did not read it completely. :grin: