Watching movies is great, but you can take the cinematic experience a step further by visiting the real locations of your favorite films. For Indiana residents, there are plenty of places in or around the state where movie lovers can experience their own little piece of cinematic history. So, pack your bags, get in the car and get ready to take your favorite films off the silver screen and into live action.
“Hoosiers” (1986)
Residents of Indiana should all know the popular 1986 sports movie “Hoosiers.” Gene Hackman starred in this film as Norman Dale, a basketball coach who gets a chance to redeem his coaching career through a high school basketball team from a tiny town in Indiana. Norman faces numerous challenges in his quest to lead his team, the Hickory Huskers, to victory — namely in the form of teacher Myra Fleener (Barbara Hershey) trying to keep his best player off the team and everyone second-guessing his choice of assistant coach Shooter (Dennis Hopper), a basketball-loving drunk.
For movie fans looking to experience a bit of cinematic history in a shorter period of time, Hoosiers was filmed around various locations in Central Indiana. The first place any “Hoosiers” fan must visit is the Hoosier Gym, a basketball gymnasium, community center and museum located in Knightstown, Indiana. The Hoosier Gym is famously known for being one of the primary filming locations for the 1986 film and with free admission every fan can go visit the home of the Hickory Huskers.
Another big basketball location in the film is Hinkle Fieldhouse, located on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis. The gym served as the filming location for the movie’s state-finals game where the Hickory Huskers played South Bend Central. Though the gym has undergone renovations since the movie was filmed, it’s still a cool place that both movie and basketball fans can enjoy.
The last place fans of “Hoosiers” should visit is the Milan '54 Museum, a heritage museum located in Milan, Indiana. In 1954 a small-town high school basketball team went on to win the state championship and became the inspiration for the 1986 film. Along with historical artifacts from the Milan High School basketball team and their championship win, the Milan ‘54 Museum is home to the “Hoosiers Collection” which boasts the largest collection of “Hoosiers” film memorabilia.
“The Blues Brothers” (1980)
Music and mayhem intertwine in “The Blues Brothers,” a film based on the recurring “Saturday Night Live” sketch created by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. In the SNL sketch, Akroyd and Belushi played the fictional brothers Elwood and Jake Blues, respectively, who together made up the musical act The Blues Brothers. Two years after the official debut of the fictional band in April 1978, the feature film was born/created/whatever you want. Reprising their roles as Jake and Elwood, the movie follows the brothers as they try to raise money to help save the orphanage the two grew up in. Convinced that the key to raising $5,000 is through music, the brothers come up against quite a few challenges, and make some new enemies, with every gig they book. Fans of this movie can walk the exact same path as Jake and Elwood by taking a trip to Chicago where much of “The Blues Brothers” was filmed.
Dan Aykroyd (left) and John Belushi (right) are pictured in a scene from "The Blues Brothers." The film was released June 20, 1980.
If you’ve seen “The Blues Brothers,” you probably remember the Triple Rock Church where Jake and Elwood received divine musical intervention with the help of Reverend Cleophus James (James Brown). Though it looks a little different today after being remodeled in 2006, the real location of Triple Rock Church is Pilgrim Baptist. It’s located in the south side of Chicago at 3235 E. 91st St. Fans can also stop by the location of the film’s famous cop car pileup, a hilariously overdone crash that will go down in comedic cinema history. Located on the corner of North LaSalle Street and West Lake Street, this spot is a great place to pass by as you’re exploring Chicago.
Wrap up your day by grabbing a bite at Panchos Rooftop Cantina, located close to Elwood's noisy, cramped apartment seen in the beginning of the film. Though the original building is one of the movie's filming locations that did not stand the test of time, fans can still go and propose a toast to Jake and Elwood on the ground they once stood on.
“High Fidelity” (2000)
Another Chicago-based classic is the 2000 film “High Fidelity.” The film is centered around Rob Gordon (John Cusack), the owner of a failing record store who is forced to reexamine his life when his girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejle) walks out on their relationship. Trying to win her back, Rob goes back through his best five most memorable breakups and tries to figure out what went wrong. Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, “High Fidelity” isn’t just your everyday rom-com, it’s a story about how growing up is a lifelong task even when you are well into adulthood.
John Cusack (left) and Jack Black (right) are pictured in a scene from "High Fidelity." The film was released March 28, 2000.
In the film Rob’s record store Championship Vinyl sat right across from Wicker Park at 1500 N. Milwaukee Ave. The neighborhood is now made up of various restaurants and stores, but fans can still get a record shop experience with Reckless Records — only a few short blocks away at 1379 N. Milwaukee Ave. “High Fidelity” fans can also catch a movie in the same theater Rob took Penny Hardwick (Joelle Carter) at Music Box Theater on 3733 N. Southport Ave. The historic Chicago theater is known for showing independent, foreign, cult and classic films, making it the perfect place for movie lovers to go and check out.
There are also plenty of restaurant options for fans to check out. Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse and the Rainbo Club are all featured in the film and still currently open for people to visit and enjoy some good food and drinks.
“A Christmas Story” (1983)
It may be the summer, but it’s never too early to enjoy this classic, comedic Christmas film. The 1983 film “A Christmas Story” is essentially a long flashback of a boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and a Christmas he would never forget. Narrated by his older self (the voice of Jean Shepherd), all Ralphie wants is an official Red Ryder air rifle, a gift he worries he will never get unless he manipulates the situation, and those around him, enough to make the opportunity himself. It’s funny. It’s heartwarming. And though it is set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, it was primarily filmed in Cleveland, Ohio.
The first must stop spot for anyone looking to experience a little bit of their own Christmas story, even in these hot summer months, is the official museum for the film located at 3159 W. 11th St., in Cleveland. The museum, fittingly yet simply named House from A Christmas Story, is dedicated to preserving the cinematic essence of the 1983 film and giving fans a chance to walk inside Ralphie’s home from the movie. Not only can fans walk around Ralphie’s remodeled home but they can even book an overnight stay, or in the home of his “hillbilly” neighbors in The Bumpus House. Fans can also purchase a little bit of movie magic to take home with them in the museum's gift shop, which offers a variety of themed gifts like the leg lamp that Ralphie’s father (Darren McGavin) wins in the movie.
Other places around Cleveland that fans of “A Christmas Story” can visit include the Bob Clark Memorial bench, located right by the House from A Christmas Story museum. Clark not only directed “A Christmas Story” but also had a short cameo in the film where he questions Ralphie’s father about the leg lamp. It’s the location of this short interaction where the bench has been placed. You can also stop by the location of Higbee’s department store, where Ralphie first sees the Red Ryder air rifle. Though Higbee’s became a Dillard’s department store in 1992 before closing altogether in 2002, fans can still visit the building which is open and now home to Jack Cleveland Casino.
Peter Billingsley is pictured in a scene from "A Christmas Story." The film was released November 18, 1983.
No matter the amount of time you’ve got, taking a trip to the filming locations of your favorite movie is a fun and exciting way to bring the film to life. And with so many great movies taking place so close to home, this summer is the perfect chance for a road trip straight out of the movies.
