Halloween III: Season of the Witch




Halloween III: Season of the Witch was released into theaters on October 22nd, 1982. Filming locations include Loleta, Los Angeles, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Stevenson Ranch, Sylmar and Sierra Madre, Ca. It was written and directed by Tommy Lee Wallace. He also did the voice of the announcer for the Silver Shamrock radio spots and commercials. Aside from Halloween III, Wallace has also directed horror genre films Fright Night Part 2 (1988) and It (1990). The lead of Dr. Daniel Challis was played by Tom Atkins. Atkins' career was red-hot during the 80's with such films as Creepshow, Escape from New York, The Fog, Lethal Weapon, Maniac Cop and Night of the Creeps. Dick Warlock, who played the lead assassin in the film, also played Michael Myers in Halloween II, just one year earlier. So technically, Michael Myers WAS in this film. Jamie Lee Curtis makes two voice cameos in the film, the first being the intercom voice announcing the curfew and the second as the phone operator that Challis keeps getting when he tries to call out of Santa Mira. The three Silver Shamrock masks showcased throughout the film consisted of two altered masks that were already in production by Don Post Studios (the skull and witch) and one made exclusively for the movie (jack-o'-lantern). Using the original molds, Don Post Studios mass-produced the three masks and sold them in retail stores to promote the film's release. Halloween III has one of my favorite theatrical posters of all-time, designed by Edd Riveria, which I think perfectly embodies the spirit of the Halloween holiday. It features a distorted image of the witch mask, above an image of trick-or-treaters similar to a shot in the movie where three children in Phoenix, Az. are walking in silhouette with a reddish-orange sunset in the background.

John Carpenter and Debra Hill agreed to come on as producers as long as it didn't directly tie-in with the previous two Halloween films. The idea was conceived that the franchise could be turned into an anthology, releasing a new film each year that would focus on some aspect of the Halloween season, therefore removing the first two films' antagonist, Michael Myers. This did not bode well upon the films theatrical release. Since the word "Halloween" was still in the title, most fans of the first two installments expected to see Michael Myers included, at least to some degree. When word got out that he was nowhere to be seen, people seemed to lose interest, and the film put up the lowest box office numbers of the first three films in the series. If they had just released it with the title "Season of the Witch" perhaps it may have done better during it's initial release. Then again, maybe not. Part of the reason most fans wanted to see it in the first place was because it included "Halloween" in the title. It's actually a really solid movie in my opinion and I like it a lot. Over the years most fans have come to embrace the film as well, making it a cult classic in every sense of the phrase. It has a wonderful score which was composed by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth. It's highlighted by the Main Title, which was a slower, electronic theme played on a synthesizer with beeping tonalities. The films first DVD release was in 1998 by Goodtimes Home Video.


Service station - 22124 Sierra Hwy. San Fernando Valley, Ca. 91342

This is the same service station Dr. Challis runs to at the end of the film. This location can also be seen in Alfred Hitchcock's 1976 film, Family Plot.


2010

2018


Hospital (exterior) - 11600 Eldridge Ave. Sylmar, Ca. 91342

This was the Pacoima Lutheran Medical Center. The building was demolished at some point during the 80's. The interior's were shot inside the Golden State Memorial Hospital located at 24124 Lyons Ave. Newhall, Ca. It too was demolished at some point during the 80's. The building seen across the parking lot when the car blew up was the Golden State Community Mental Health Center. When I visited this location in 2017 it was still standing, as can be seen in the second comparison picture. However, in November of that same year it was demolished as well. New houses are currently being built on the property where both buildings once stood.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2017.



Bar - 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024
(The Buccaneer)

The bar opened in 1960. The painting that runs the length of the wall behind the bar looks exactly as it did in the movie, back in 1982.


2017


Silver Shamrock commercial - 17 Kersting Ct. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

This location is only about a block east of The Buccaneer. The "boombox boy" scene from Halloween II was also filmed on Kersting Court, almost directly in front of this location.


2019


Santa Mira sign - Eel River Dr. and Copenhagen Rd. Loleta, Ca. 95551

Dr. Challis and Ellie were driving south on Eel River, toward the town.


2019


Rafferty's Gas Station - 2457 Eel River Dr. Loleta, Ca. 95551

The Rose of Shannon Motel is right next to the gas station, just as it's depicted in the movie.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.





Downtown Santa Mira - Main St. Loleta, Ca. 95551

Shamrock Store is really Loleta Market, located at 352 Main St. Shamrock Savings is really the Bank of Loleta, located at 358 Main St. The Dublin' Inn was located at 366 Main St. but it burnt down at some point during the 80's.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.



Silver Shamrock Novelties - 281 Loleta Dr. Loleta, Ca. 95551

The building opened in 1893, as the Diamond Springs Creamery. The last dairy product produced at the creamery (powered milk) was in 2007. For the next couple of years, it was primarily used for storage. It has been abandoned since 2010. At the time of my visit in 2019, it was obvious the former creamery had fallen into a state of disrepair. I'm not sure what the plans are for the structure or how long it'll remain there, but I urge any Halloween III fans who want to visit it to do so soon. The interior shots of the factory involving the masks, were filmed at the old Don Post Studios factory in Los Angeles. 


All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.











Santa Mira alley - Behind* 24318 Walnut St. Santa Clarita, Ca. 91321

The shed directly behind the nearest telephone pole was demolished in 2017. This location is directly behind the former site of Vera's house from Friday the 13th Part III.


2021


Dayton, Ohio - 4431 Ben Ave. Los Angeles, Ca. 91607


2017


New York, New York - 22700 Lyons Ave. Santa Clarita, Ca. 91321

This location is less than three blocks away from Vera's house in Friday the 13th Part III.


2017


Omaha, Nebraska - 161 N. Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, Ca. 90004


2017


Baton Rouge, Louisiana - 1st St. and S. Plymouth Blvd. Los Angeles, Ca. 90004


All "Now" pictures taken in 2021.



Seattle, Washington - Vista Ridge Dr. and Wiley Canyon Rd. Santa Clarita, Ca. 91355


2017


Phoenix, ArizonaN. Thomas St. and Two Tree Ave. Los Angeles, Ca. 90031


2021


Challis crashes into a tree - 25600 Pico Canyon Rd. Stevenson Ranch, Ca. 91381
(Pico Canyon Park)

The spot where he runs off the paved road used be a dirt road, but has since been converted into Pico Canyon Park. The tree he crashed into has been removed, however, the distinctive tree he passes prior to crashing, is still there. This location is only two miles east of where Harley's Grocery, from Pumpkinhead, was located.

I'd like to thank PaulH of Halloween Filming Locations for finding this location.


2020


28 comments:

  1. Alot of "Santa Mira" still looks the same. Went there recently to pick up some Silver Shamrock masks. Saw my daughter Ellie on the way back.

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  2. Thanks for taking the time to show the before and after. Still enjoying this movie in 2016!

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  3. The best horror movie of all time! Thanks! I'm going to the Buccaneer bar next week.

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  4. thank you so much for taking the time to show us then and now..... Great movie!!! all the location seems not change even though years have passed, would like to know the address to the hotel.... would stay there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Great Movie

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    1. It's my pleasure. The Rose of Shannon Motel is right next to Rafferty's Gas Station but I think they're apartments now. Also, not so sure anybody would want to rent one for a night after seeing them in person.

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  5. Thank you for all the great and hard work you put in to this,very appreciative.This movie is truly an all time classic.

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    1. Thank you Joe and I agree, Halloween III gets a lot of crap for being the "Michael Myerless" entry in the series when it's actually really good regardless.

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  6. This is my 2nd favorite movie ever behind a christmas story
    I love this website!
    Its a great resource as I will be visiting a ton of filming locations in the near future

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  7. Halloween 3 is my favourite horror movie. I love these photos, thanks for posting them. I remember watching 'Horror's Hallowed Grounds' on the H3 DVD and some of the residents of Lolita seemed rather unfriendly!

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  8. Thank you for posting these locations!

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  9. Great job researching the movie locations! I kinda like the small town aspect of the film and the Lolita area....too bad many of those structures are now in disrepair and not being utilized. Seems the town could make a Halloween museum of sorts or use those buildings for businesses. This was a popular, much anticipated film among us 5th graders in San Dimas, CA, when it came out!

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  10. Greeat job researching the movie locations! I kinda like the small town aspect of the film and the Lolita area....too bad many of those structures are now in disrepair and not being utilized. Seems the town could make a Halloween museum of sorts or use those buildings for businesses. This was a popular, much anticipated film among us 5th graders in San Dimas, CA, when it came out!

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  11. Makes you wonder if Conklin Jr. is behind all these COVID masks!!!! 😷

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  12. Thank you so much for taking all those amazing film location pictures! I'm watching Halloween 3 right now as i'm typing this!!!

    Oh, and....HAPPY HALLOWEEN quote: "what happened?,..misfire" haha!

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  13. What ever happened to the Dublin Inn or the motel they used in the movie? Is it still a motel? Is the public allowed to stay there for visiting?

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    1. As I understand it, the 'Dublin Inn' suffered fire damage in the late 1970's and then just sat empty until 1990's when it was torn down. The motel has since been converted into private apartments.

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  14. You make an amazing job for each, it's unbelievable !
    I have one question : it's said that some scenes of H3 were filmed in Eureka, California. Do you have any informations about that ?

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    1. To the best of my knowledge, the closest scenes filmed near Eureka were in Loleta.

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  15. Hi there, thanks for all the fantastic info. I love this film, it's the best one after the original. I was just wondering, as there are a couple of locations missing from your page. Do you know where the interiors of Challi's wife's house was shot? Or the location where Teddy works?

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    1. To the best of my knowledge Challis' wife's house is located somewhere in Sierra Madre. Not sure about Teddy's workplace.

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    2. The address of Linda Challis's house is 75 Lowell Ave, Sierra Madre, CA.

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  16. Excellent post.I am also a big fan of Halloween III.I have always wondered whatever happened to Ellies 1982 Olds Cutlass Supreme that they drove around in.As it was a new model car at the time they filmed this,I'm sure it was repaired and then probably sold after production of the movie wrapped up.As the damage of sideswiping and hitting the tree wasn't that bad.Do you have any idea were it is?

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  17. Great photos! I'm amazed so many of the buildings have survived. Any thoughts on where Grimbridge's shop was? In the DVD commentary, Tommy Lee Wallace thinks it might've been an abandoned store in Loleta.

    Also, what was it like when you were in Loleta? I've heard some describe it eerily like the movie setting.

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    1. Lol yeah I can seen why some might describe Loleta as being similar to the town in the movie, but I think that can be said of most small towns. At least in Loleta the locals are probably aware that most of the strangers who are wandering around the streets are there visiting the Halloween III filming locations. As for Grimbridge's shop, that was at 364 Main St. Loleta, Ca. 95551.

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  18. I was one of the local extras hired as a GREY SUIT in the movie. Filming lasted for about a week on location.. [In Loleta]. The crew stayed at the Red Lion in Eureka... Dick Warlock was our boss, and a really great guy to work with... There is a photo on his website with us GREY SUITS together.... I'm on the left in the picture..

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    1. Dick Warlock a great stuntman and used to own the original Friday the 13th Part IV mask. Had it for years. Not sure if he hung onto it. Got to meet him a few times in L.A. at Fango shows. Nice guy and had some cool stories.

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