Joker (2019)

December 4, 2022December 4, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 2019 Todd Phillips film “Joker,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, was filmed in New York and New Jersey. The most famous location from the film likewise emerged as one of the most popular filming locations of recent years, which is of course the stairs where Joker dances. The stairs, previously known as the Shakespeare Avenue Stairs, or alternatively as the Gauson Stairs, connect Shakespeare Ave and Anderson Ave at West 167th St. The stairs were also featured prominently on the film’s poster image and are now most commonly known as the Joker Stairs.

LOCATION: Between 1161 Shakespeare Ave and 1150 Anderson Ave, The Bronx, NY 10452 (GPS coordinates: 40°50’09.3″N, 73°55’26.2″W)

Here is the area where Joker dances. Originally director Todd Phillips was inspired by a flight of stairs seen in the Ridley Scott film “American Gangster,” but upon scouting realized that area had since changed and no longer matched the aesthetic they were looking for in this film. Instead, other stairs around The Bronx were scouted and ultimately the right look was found.

Here is another view of the section of stairs he dances on.

Here is a view from the top of the stairs. Normally the stairs are not only heavily used by local residents, but it is also a highly popular tourist destination. We found a few minutes when the stairs were totally empty, but soon after, the place was crowded full of tourists.

The stairs are seen multiple times in the film. This view is seen early on as Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) walks to the top of the steps on his way home. The large, modern building in the background was replaced via visual effects with a an older, urban backdrop for the film.

Arthur’s apartment can be found at the top of the stairs, but it’s not the entrance closest to the top, right beside the market. It is instead the next entrance down, which is very similar looking, leading many to mix the locations up. Perhaps the easiest method to identify the correct, screen used entrance is to look for the two large poles to the left.

LOCATION: 1140 Anderson Ave, The Bronx, NY 10452

Arthur has a face to face encounter with Bruce Wayne at the Wayne Manor, which was filmed at the Webb Institute Livingston Library.

LOCATION: 298 Crescent Beach Rd, Glen Cove, NY 11542 (GPS coordinates: 40°53’00.4″N, 73°38’35.5″W)

The Arkham State Hospital building was filmed in Brooklyn near the intersection of 1st Ave / 58th St. Some visual effects were once again employed to make the building to the left taller and add Arkham State Hospital signage above the arches.

LOCATION: 80 58th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Batman (1966)

September 24, 2018May 27, 2024 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The classic 1966 “Batman” TV series, starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin, remains as popular now as ever. Even decades later, some of the locations can still be seen.

Bronson Cave, also known as the “Bat Cave,” can be found in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California. A very popular hiking spot, simply take the Bronson Cave Trail for about a quarter of a mile and the caves are on the left. Although the walk is uphill, it’s so short that anyone without medical issues should be able to handle it with ease. The cave is a bit larger than it appears here. The cave has since been fenced off due to safety concerns, but you can still reach the others side by walking around to the left. Those who walk around it will also be treated to a nice view of the Hollywood sign on the other side.

LOCATION: 3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (the trailhead can be found at 2950 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068)

The exterior of the Wayne Manor, which is not visible from the street, can be found in Pasadena. It has appeared in other TV shows, such as “Alias,” “Knight Rider,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Westworld” and more. It has also appeared in many other films, such as “Rush Hour,” “Bridesmaids,” “Bowfinger,” “The X-Files,” “Action Jackson,” “Dinner for Schmucks,” “Scary Movie 2,” “Delirious,” “The Mechanic,” “Dead Again” and many more.

LOCATION: 380 S San Rafael Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

The Gotham City Police Headquarters was a set and still stands on the Warner Bros. backlot. It can be seen as part of their studio tour.

LOCATION: 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505

This “Batcycle,” a 1966 Yamaha, was seen in the 1966 “Batman” feature film based on the TV series. It can be seen at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

LOCATION: Peterson Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

In 2019, the same museum held a limited exhibition called “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” which featured some additional vehicles from the show. Here is the Catmobile, which appeared in the third season of the show.

Here is the Jokermobile from the show, a 1966 Mongrel T.

Suicide Squad (2016)

July 3, 2017December 22, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Rather than the usual film locations, for David Ayer’s 2016 anti-hero film “Suicide Squad,” which was mostly filmed around Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we’re instead going to cover some props and costumes from the film, which were on display as part of the Warner Bros. Studio tour.

We begin with one of Jared Leto’s Joker costumes.