I just found out I live near a Texas Chainsaw Massacre filming location

[LDO]

I've never seen the movie, but I found out that one of the opening scenes was filmed in a cemetery that's maybe a mile from my house. I drive by it every day. Just ten years ago, this area was sort of "in the sticks". I can only imagine what it was like in 1974. There's a prominent grave with a Roman column in one scene. It is for a man who died in 1865.

I found this present-day photo online:

Across the road is a strip center. The red letters at the left of it are for Smokey Mo's, a local BBQ chain. That whole strip center is only 4 or 5 years old.

It was an interesting bit of trivia I heard on NPR while driving home.

Edited October 3, 2014 by LDO

[Joe Handley]

That's cool, I live just a few miles from the motel that Twiggy was supposed tp be waiting for Elwood Blues in the original Blues Brothers and at one time, it was owned by the parents of one of my Sister's childhood friends. I think that the lot that gas station was on isn't too far away either, but all that evidence other than the trees is long gone now.

[mnwildpunk]

About 10 yrs back a buddy and I went on a TCSM tour of texas wasn't what I was hoping the house was turned into a restaurant; where it was located before is nothing but a field. Never found the gas station and such

[slusher]

That was a wicked movie. I saw it twice when I was a kid. I went to high school where walking tall was filmed 1 2 and 3.

[tubbs]

I can watch almost any movie, but that movie and the exorcist give me the willys!! i'd be moving!!!

[ChrisBcritter]

Where I used to live in Yucca Valley was home to several of the locations from It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, including a gas station (now a 7-11) two blocks from my house; the spot where Ethel Merman drops the Jeep keys down her cleavage is now a Wal-mart parking lot (like so many other old landmarks nowadays!).

[mnwildpunk]

I can watch almost any movie, but that movie and the exorcist give me the willys!! i'd be moving!!!

the only two movies to ever make me jump. The exorcist still gives me goosebumps

[Tom Geiger]

Ever watch Kevin Smith movies? As a director he usually cameos Monmouth County, NJ locations. It's fun to watch the movies and see things from our towns. It's even more fun to see his movies in local theaters. Everyone cheers. Except in one scene of Jersey Girl, which was shot in Highlands, NJ. When the main character decides to move back to New York, there's a shot of his U-Haul truck going across the Sandy Hook Bridge... except it's headed south! Everyone in the theater was yelling, "Wrong way! Turn around!"

My claim to fame? The store that he shot the movie Clerks in... I was assistant manager at that store years before the movie was done there!

[my80malibu]

I live about a mile and a half from where some whack job,killed a whole family including an infant. Be thankful yours was only a movie.

[Harry P.]

A plumber who listens to NPR?

You certainly don't fit the stereotype, Lee.

[LDO]

Yeah, but FM radio in the Austin area is terrible. I really want to get Sirius in my work van again. I like oldies and classic rock. Austin has neither on the radio. It's really bad before 10am, with the morning shows. I just want to hear some music.

...oh yeah I also have shirts with long tails, and keep them tucked in.

Edited October 10, 2014 by LDO

[JollySipper]

The newer TCSM movie is a little more disturbing than the original one, but it's hard to top the scene where he puts that dude on the meat-hook!

You guys remember in the movie FireStarter, the scene where Drew's character blows up the police cars? The old house where that was filmed is between here and Wilmington, and supposedly belonged to some relatives of my Dad........

[mnwildpunk]

Well my only claim to a movie is I grew up in BRAINERD MN which a lot of the movie Fargo is based on BUT most of the things are 100% wrong Brainerd is no where near 35w and at the time of the movie there was no arby's in brainerd there is no moose lake in the area and one of my bigger pet peevs is there is no trees in the film brainerd is full of forests and trees

[Chuck Most]

Scariest part of that movie is that so many people think it actually happened. Yes, it's "based on a true story", but in this case, VERY loosely.