ATTENTION: This blog works best in website mode (click below) KIP PULLMAN'S AMERICAN GRAFFITI BLOG is the best and most successful web tribute to the 1973 film classic, AMERICAN GRAFFITI. Here you'll find hundreds of original, accurate and well-researched articles by this author on American Graffiti including personal interviews, car information, film analysis, original newspaper clippings and other articles written by me.
Monday, January 16, 2023
Mel’s Drive-In Celebrates 75 Years
Last month, in the middle of December, Mels celebrated its 75-year anniversary by offering 75% off classic menu items. Owner, Steven Weiss notified me about the sale, but unfortunately, I did not get this posted in time for readers to benefit. Oops. Sorry. However, the least I could do was remind folks to be sure to visit a Mels Drive-in next time you’re in the area.
As long-time blog readers know, Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs first established Mel’s Drive-in in 1947 and seventy-five years later, it still exists, with four locations in San Francisco and four in Southern California. It is still in the Weiss family, now operated by Colton Weiss; his brother, Chasen Weiss; his father, Steven Weiss; and Gabriel Mendez.Besides being featured in the classic 1973 nostalgic film, “American Graffiti," Mel's Drive-In was featured in a Snoop Dogg music video and a Pepsi commercial with Doja Cat that aired during the 2021 Super Bowl. Mel's also counts celebrities Al Pacino, Adam Sandler, Paul McCartney, Wiz Khalifa, Andrew Wiggins and Guy Fieri as fans.
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Wednesday, August 3, 2022
REMEMBERING BO
Look at it this way: Now you got three choices. One, you chicken out. In that case, I let Ants tie you to the car and drag you around a little bit. And you don't want that, right? Two, you foul up and Holstein hears you and well, ah... you don't want that, right? Three, you are successful and you join the Pharoahs with a carcoat, and the blood initiation and all that, huh?
Bo as Joe, the leader of The Pharaohs with Beau Gentry & Richard Dreyfuss
Bo, Billingsley & Burt in WHITE LIGHTNING (1973)Bo couldn't have been more right about American Graffiti. It became a box office smash, grossing over $115 million worldwide. In 1974 the film won a Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical. It was nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Candy Clark) and Best Film Editing. It also won several several Best Picture awards at well established events including New York Film Critics Circle Awards and the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards. Of course, that's to say nothing of the accolades the film continues to receive from film fans and classic cars enthusiasts to this day. But I digress... |
Bo & Farrah Faucett on the set of CHARLIES ANGELS (1976)
Bored as Hell and Nothing to Rebel Against!
Bo & American Graffiti co-star/friend, Candy Clark Photo: Stephanie Keenan
~Fini~
- Bo Hopkins of American Graffiti - Interview at 2019 Portland Roadster Show. https://www.youtube.com/c/RidesDoneRight
- BO HOPKINS - UNINHIBITED, COLORFUL & HONEST. Industry Central. BSIMON. https://www.industrycentral.net/features/working_actors/bo_hopkins
- IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS WITH BO HOPKINS. Mark Groesbeck. Various dates. 2009-2011.
Friday, April 19, 2019
SHOOTING AMERICAN GRAFFITI
“Sup Dawg? This time, we gonna drop it when it’s hot!” Oh, wow, how do I segue from mid-'90's rap blasting in my ear buds to 1950's rock and roll? I guess I'll pull up some early Elvis on Spotify. Maybe a little, "Mystery Train" or "Let's Play House." Okay, now I'm in the mood.
For this entry, in "Kip’s American Graffiti Blog,” we present
to you (because you never asked), notes on the shooting schedule of American Graffiti.
These notes include details about the actors, locations, technicians, and vehicles related to the production of the film. It represents a timeline which states where
and when production resources are used and the general filming locations. The information presented here is reproduced from
the daily progress reports as they are printed in the book, “The Cinema
of George Lucas” by Marcus Hearn. Additional comments by me, Kip. Also, I've included butt-loads of cool pics for fans to drool over.
So, lets set down the Gin & Juice and pick up a bottle of Old Harper & Coke and get into the spirit of things. Keep reading!
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Jana Bellan as carhop waitress, Budda looking cold with arms crossed. She, Lucas and staff prepare to shoot take 3 in which Budda turns down Toad for a date |
Pages 2-6/8
Setups: 10
SHOOT DAY 3: Thursday, June 28, 1972
Mackenzie Phillips and Pau Le Mat rehearse their lines as Lucas (red jacket in window) watches. |
No work
SHOOT DAY 7: Wednesday July 5
The talented, Bo Hopkins as "Joe the Pharaoh" |
SCENES: EXT STREET (Hoods/Curt/Merc)
SHOOTING DAY 11: Tuesday, July 11
CALL: 7:00pm WRAP: 6:00am
LOCATION: Mels Drive-in, San Francisco
Scenes EXT DRIVE-IN, Sc. 42 [John orders Carol a Coke; Song designated: In the Still of the Night.”]
PAGES 8
SETUPS: 23
Background actor, Donna Wehr sits on the now famous 1958 Impala. |
SHOOT DAY: 12 Wednesday, July 12
CALL: 6:30pm WRAP: 5:30am
LOCATION: Mel’s Drive-in, San Francisco
Scenes EXT. DRIVE-IN, Sc72
Pages 5-2/8
SETUPS: 24
Filming Ron Howard in an interior scene at Mels Drive-in. Lucas (under counter), Haskel Wexler (behind camera) |
SHOOT DAY 13: Thursday, July 13
CALL: 7:30pm WRAP: 5:30am
LOCATION: C of C. Lot, Petaluma. Petaluma Streets
SCENES: EXT. STREET
EXT. CAR LOT & STREET
EXT. CAR LOT/COPS (retake)
PAGES: 1-2/8
SETUPS: 20
SHOOT DAY 14: Friday July 14
CALL: 6:30pm WRAP: 5:26am
LOCATION: Marin Memorial Cemetery, Novato
SCENES: EXT CANAL. [Laurie gets angry with Steve;
The Merc is stolen; talk of the “Goat Killer”
PAGES: 4-2/8
SETUPS: 8
SHOOT DAY 15: Monday, July 17
CALL: 6:00am WRAP: 7:49
LOCATION: Mel’s Drive-in, San Francisco
Scenes INT. DRIVE-IN
EXT. DRIVE-IN, Sc [Curt speaking on the phone to the blonde in the white T-bird: “It’s important to me.. You’re the most perfect beautiful creature I’ve ever seen and I don’t know anything about. Could we meet someplace?” Voice: “I cruise 3rd Street every Night. Maybe I’ll see you again tonight.” “I don’t think So…I’m leaving in a couple of hours.”
PAGES: BAL OF SEQ
SETUPS: 30
Notes: (1) Éclair camera fell off tripod-badly damaged
SHOOT DAY 16: Tuesday July 18
CALL: 6:30pm WRAP: 5:26am
LOCATION: Marin, Memorial Cemetery, Novato;& Petaluma Streets, Petaluma
SCENES EXT. STREET (Terry/Falfa)
SCENES EXT. STREET (Laurie/Falfa)
PAGES: 2-4/8
SETUPS: 12
NOTES: Light rain from 1:30am to wrap prevented completion of scheduled scenes, streets too wet.
Ed Greenberg "Kip Pullman." |
SHOOT DAY: 17 Wednesday July 19
CALL: 7:30 WRAP: 5:37
LOCATION: Petaluma Streets (Petaluma Blvd.,Kentucky, Washington, Western)
SCENES EXT. STREET (Curt/V.W./T-Bird/Kip) Sc. 29
[Shouting from on e car to another, Kip: “Henderson, Long time no see. What’cha been doing?” Curt: “Not much, just wanted to let you know that Bobbie here is hopelessly in love with you and trembles at the sight of your rippling biceps…” Bobbie turns in the V.W. and “starts flailing at Curt with her purse.”]
PAGES: 1-2/8
SETUPS: 20
SHOOT DAY 18: Thursday July 20
CALL: 7:30 WRAP: 5:45
LOCATION Rowena Lane (KTOB transmitter), Petaluma, Lazy-Me Used Cars, 320 Petaluma Blvd.; North Petaluma streets.
SCENES EXT. RADIO STATION, Sc. 70 [Manager: “The Wolfman is everywhere…Listen-no offense to your hometown here, but this ain’t exactly the hub of the universe…Hell, here I sit while there’s a whole big beautiful world out there.”]
EXT CAR LOT
EXT. STREETS
PAGES: 2
SETUPS: 18
KTOB radio tower site located on Rovina Ln. was Petaluma's local community radio station for many decades. The exterior scenes of Curt approaching Wolfman's radio station, XERB were filmed here. |
Friday 7-21-72 - Company DID NOT WORK
SHOOT DAY 19: Saturday, July 22
CALL: 12:00pm WRAP: 8:45pm
LOCATION: Marin Memorial, Cemetery, Novato
SCENES EXT. CANAL & CANAL ROAD, FILTER DAY FOR-NIGHT
PAGES: 4-1/8
SETUPS: 11
CALL: 7:30 WRAP: 5:40
LOCATION: 4th St., San Rafael
SCENES EXT. STREETS-MONTAGE SEQUENCES
PAGES: 2
SETUPS: 27
Note: 4 cameras used…one Jeep crane
Candy Clark "Debbie" rests between takes on the hood of a car. (Photo: Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos) |
SHOOT DAY 21: Monday, July 24
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:30am
LOCATION: Sanders Used Cars (B St. and Petaluma Blvd North); EZ Pickins Gas Station,
U.S. 101 (South of Petaluma); Frates Road, Sonoma County
SCENES EXT. CAR LOT
EXT STREETS
EXT. GAS STA., Sc 66 [Attendant (to John): “Why do they even try…Hell; you’ve been number one longer than I can remember…”]
EXT PARADISE ROAD, Sc 75 [“Both cars roar off the starting line, tires smoking and screaming.”]
PAGES: 2-4/8
SETUPS: 23
Climactic drag race on Frates Road "Paradise Road" in Petaluma, CA |
SHOOT DAY 22: Tuesday, July 25
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:40pm
LOCATION: Petaluma High School; Pet Streets; Frates Road.
SCENES EXT. GYM PARKING LOT, sc 21 [Wendy: “Same old Curt. All the time we were going together you never knew what you were doing.”]
EXT STREETS
EXT. PARADISE ROAD (cont’d)
PAGES: 2-2/8
SETUPS: 22
NOTE: Blew reverse gear in ’32 Coupe
100 block Petaluma Blvd. North (circa 1986) Sonoma Co. Library |
SHOOT DAY 23: Wednesday, July 26
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:30am
LOCATION: Rear of Beasley’s Rest. (Petaluma Blvd. N. &Washington); Pet. Streets, Frates Road
SCENES EXT. BAR PARKING LOT
EXT. STREETS (Curt/T-Bird)
EXT. PARADISE ROAD (cont’d)
PAGES: 4
SETUPS: 26
NOTE: 1st attempt to roll car failed…approx. 6:10 Am. Continued to shoot until wrap. Car unable to repeat run due to broken tie rod.
SHOOT DAY 24: Thursday, July 27
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:40am
LOCATION: EZ Pickins, U.S. 101; Public Parking
Lot, Petaluma Blvd.; Streets and sidewalk, Petaluma Frates Road
SCENES EXT. GAS STATION (pick-up c.u. “John”)
EXT ACME LOT
EXT. STREET and SIDEWALK
EXT. PARADISE ROAD (cont’d)
PAGES: 3-3/8
SETUPS: 25
NOTE: 2nd attempt at car stunt failed…Bent right tie rod.
SHOOT DAY 25: Monday, July 31
CALL: 8:00am WRAP: 8:00pm
LOCATION: Petaluma High School, Marin Memorial Cemetery, Novato
SCENES INT. HALL
INT. BOY’S LAVATORY
INT. GIRL’S LAVATORY
EXT. CANAL AND CANAL ROAD (retake)
PAGES: 1-5/8
SETUPS: 13
NOTE: Retakes needed at Canal location due to underexposed film.
Candy Clark & Charles Martin Smith's make-out scene was filmed in daylight at a tributary of the Petaluma River located near the base of the first hill immediately north of the Novato airport. |
SHOOT DAY 26: Tuesday, Aug 1
CALL: 10:00am WRAP: 10:10pm
LOCATION: Mt. Tamalpias High School- Boy’s Gym, Mill Valley
SCENES INT. GYM (Sock Hop), Sc. 14 [designated song: “At the Hop”]
PAGES: 6-1/8
SETUPS: 38
NOTE: 4 cameras used
SHOOT DAY 27: Wednesday, August 2
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:15am
LOCATION: Petaluma High School; Petaluma Streets
SCENES EXT. GYM PARKING LOT
EXT. STREETS
EXT. DRIVE-IN (retake)
PAGES: 2-7/8
SETUPS: 18
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 6:40am
LOCATION: KRE Radio, Berkeley; Buchanan Field, Concord
SCENES EXT./INT. RADIO STATION
EXT: AIRPORT
INT. AIRPLANE
PAGES: 4-2/8
SETUPS: 16
NOTE: Airplane unable to taxi off due to flat left tires. Did not get shot of plane airborne.
SHOOT DAY 29: Friday, August 4
CALL: 8:30pm WRAP: 9:30am
LOCATION: 884 Bodega Ave., Petaluma; Frates Road;. Buchanan Field (2nd unit)
SCENES EXT. /INT LIQUOR STORE, Sc. 44 [Toad tries to buy the elusive bottle of “Old Harper. Designated song:Teenager in Love”]
EXT. PARADISE ROAD (retake)
EXT. AIRPORT/AIRPLANE, SC. 79 [“Curt listens to the radio as the plane takes off. As it climbs and banks out over the valley, the music fades and the station drifts between static and other stations an then it’s gone. Curt turns off the radio and looks out the window. As the plane banks, the wing tips down and through the window Curt sees the yellow Thunderbird crossing beneath on the small grey ribbon of highway. Curt leans up, watching it-the plane shadow ripples over the car and then it’s gone”]
PAGES: 4-1/8
SETUPS: 26
NOTES: Low overcast prevented shooting at Frates Road location until 8:40am. Stunt again failed to work. “A” arm and tie rods bent. (1) cameraman & (1) asst. cameraman to airport to film plane take off after company wrap at Frates Road location.
Wrap 1st unit shooting “AMERICAN GRAFFITI”
CALL: 4:00am WRAP: 10:42am
LOCATION: Frates Road
SCENES: EXT PARADISE ROAD (retake stunt and explosion only)
EXT. ROAD/T-BIRD (aerial shot)
NOTE: Used Cessna as camera plane f/aerial shot.
(4) cameras used on stunt.
NOTES:
- Eats 1975. Shorpy old Photos. Retrieved 4/20/19. https://www.shorpy.com/node/10973
- Hearn, Marcus. The cinema of George Lucas. p74-75. (2005) Published by Abrams, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York, New York
- Shooting Schedule Law and Legal Definition. https://definitions.uslegal.com/s/shooting-schedule/
- Sonoma County Library [Histroric photos of Petaluma] https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library
Actress, Sylvia Koscina. 1962 |