Hollywood Tour

Ever since the early days, commercial and feature film producers have loved to capture Petaluma's charm and style on film. Some sources suggest this Victorian Riverfront Town was a feature film site as early as 1911.

A little more recently, in 1973 to be exact, the American film classic American Graffiti was being filmed on Petaluma's Historic Downtown streets.

Films that include Basic Instinct and Peggy Sue Got Married were also shot in Petaluma among the historic Iron Front buildings and immaculate Victorian mansions.

Mumford, a Disney/Touchstone film featured Petaluma in a romantic comedy about a man pretending to be a psychologist in a small town. Also filmed in the area were Phenomenon, starring John Travolta, The Horse Whisperer with Robert Redford, and a remake of Lolita with Jeremy Irons, as well as Clint Eastwood's True Crime.

In addition, Petaluma has been the site of numerous commercials, independent and student films and more than one television show.

Here is a brief look at the Petaluma Film Tour:

• Iron Front buildings on Western Avenue between Kentucky Street and Petaluma Boulevard were frequently the backdrops for film sets. This area was used in Francis Ford Coppola's Peggy Sue Got Married as well as for Basic Instinct and Heroes.
  Set designers for Lolita transformed the area at the corner of Petaluma Blvd. So. and "D" St. with 1940's-era traffic signals and vehicles.
  
  
• The Riverfront at the foot of Western Avenue was where the police car splashed into the water in Howard the Duck.



• 120 Petaluma Blvd. North (Bluestone Main Building) was the site of Bodell's Appliances in Peggy Sue Got Married.



• The Mystic Theater, 23 Petaluma Blvd. No., near "B" St., was transformed into the State Movie Theater in American Graffiti.
  
  In the film, the marquee on the movie theater read Dementia 13, which was one of George Lucas' first films. Lucas also inserted another reference to one of his earlier movies by having the license plate on one of the main hot rods read "THX1138."



• Petaluma Blvd. from "D" Street to Washington was used for the cruising scenes in American Graffiti. The parking lot next to the McNear Building was used in the scene when the police car was chained to a light pole.



• 5th and "B" streets were used in the 1997 Disney production,Flubber starring Robin Williams.



• The end of "H" Street at the Petaluma River was Lovers Lane for Peggy Sue and her boyfriend. And 600 Petaluma Blvd. South at "H" St. was transformed into the Donut Hole Cafe, where Peggy Sue cuddled with her boyfriend then roared off on his motorcycle.



• 920 "D" St.The upstairs bedroom was used in Explorers, and a 20-foot tree was imported from Los Angeles for the boyfriend to climb to the girl's bedroom. Brown Court off "D" Street has a look that is a favorite with commercial producers, including those for Orville Redenbacher.



• St. Vincent's Church and the surrounding neighborhood near Howard and Liberty streets were used for the TV remake of Shadow of a Doubt with Mark Harmon as well as Basic Instinct with Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The big white house on the east side of Liberty Street near Washington street (226 Liberty St.) was Peggy Sue's house in Peggy Sue Got Married.



• Petaluma Turning Basin and docks near Cavanagh Park were also used in Explorers as the site of a space ship landing.



• Corona Road and the hills east of town were used in the 1983 thriller Cujo by Stephen King.
  
  
• Click here to download a full pdf copy of the tour