The Lost Boys


    

The Lost Boys was released into theaters on July 31st, 1987. Filming locations include Aptos, Burbank, Rancho Palos Verdes, Santa Cruz and Valencia, Ca. The film was directed by Joel Schumacher, who would go on to direct genre film Flatliners, three years later. This was the film that Corey Feldman and Corey Haim initially met one another on. Including The Lost Boys, they would end up appearing in nine films and one television show (The Two Coreys) together over the span of their careers. The film features a stellar cast overall, with a blend of young, up coming actors along with established veterans. It also has a perfect score/soundtrack combination. The fabulous score was written and composed by Thomas Newman. But shockingly, aside from To the Shock of Miss Louise, it was never released as part of the films official soundtrack, or at all for that matter. However, if you look in the right places on the internet you'll be able to find almost the entire score. The soundtrack features a variety of rock themed songs and was one of the most popular rock soundtracks of the 80's. Some of the songs included are Lost in the Shadows (Lost Boys) by Lou Gramm, People Are Strange by Echo & The Bunnymen, Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMann and I Still Believe by Tim Cappello. The films first DVD release was on January 28th, 1998.  


Boardwalk400 Beach St. Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060
(Santa Cruz Boardwalk)

The boardwalk opened in 1907 and is California's oldest surviving amusement park. It extends along the coast of Monterey Bay from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf south to the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. One of the boardwalk rides featured in the film is the Looff Carousel. It was made in 1911 by Danish woodcarver Charles I.D. Looff. Music for the carousel is provided by a 342-pipe Ruth und Sohn band organ built in 1894 and has played alongside the carousel since it first started operating. The cost of the carousel in 1911 was $18,000. Today, just a pair of the Looff horses featured on the ride are valued at more than that. Another ride featured in the film is the Giant Dipper roller coaster. It was built in 1924 by Arthur Looff, son of Charles I.D. Looff. It's currently the fifth oldest coaster in the U.S. that has continuously operated in it's original location. It's seventy feet high, 2,640 feet in length and travels up to 46 miles per hour. The Looff Carousel and Giant Dipper were both listed as National Historic Landmarks in 1987, coincidentally the same year as the film was released. The scene where they ride their motorcycles under the pier was done under the Municipal Wharf. The concert stage used in the film was destroyed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Despite this, the boardwalk still hosts a free "Friday Night Bands on the Beach" concert series every weekend June through August as well as a "Free Movies on the Beach" every Wednesday, June through August...with The Lost Boys usually being the first movie shown of the season. The parking lot where the security guard get's killed is between 3rd St. and the San Lorenzo River. Other notable movies filmed at the boardwalk over the years include Bumblebee, Chasing Mavericks, Dangerous Minds, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Sudden Impact and Us.



All "Now" pictures taken in 2007.











All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.




















2022

Laffing Sal at the entrance to Neptune's Kingdom.



Lucy, Michael & Sam arrive in Santa Carla -W. Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060

In the initial shot of Lucy, Michael and Sam driving into Santa Carla in their 1968 Toyota Land Cruiser, they're driving south on W. Cliff Dr. through Lighthouse Point Park and past the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. They eventually pass a "Welcome to Santa Carla" billboard which was obviously constructed for the film. The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce wasn't too keen on having their town dubbed "The Murder Capital of the World" so they made the filmmakers agree to change the name to the fictional town of Santa Carla. Today, in the spot of the billboard, sits an 18-foot bronze surfer statue which was erected in May of 1992.



2007

All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.




Whale snout - 526 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz, CA. 95060

The name of the business that the whale snout protruded from is Day's Market and it's been in operation since the 1920's. The first time I visited Santa Cruz in 2007, while at the boardwalk, I had a conversation with a local police officer about the filming locations for The Lost Boys and he told me where the whale snout location was. Prior to that, I'd never seen or read anything on it's whereabouts. On my first visit, the ocean mural was still there but the whale snout was gone. The current owners of the market informed me that it was taken down for safety reasons. I had also heard that a delivery truck backed into it, breaking it off. On my second visit to the location in 2013, the mural was gone as well and the spot it had been at was painted the same color as the rest of the building, leaving no indication that it was ever there. On my third visit to the location in 2019, a new mural had been painted on the wall, which featured a whale which I thought was a pretty cool homage. One neat thing about this location though, is that you can actually see the building that's across the street being constructed in the movie.


2007 

2013 

2019


    
Grandpa's house333 Golf Club Dr. Santa Cruz. Ca. 95060
(Pogonip clubhouse)

The clubhouse was built in 1911 as the Casa del Rey Golf and Country Clubhouse. It closed in 1930 and then re-opened again in 1935 as the Pogonip Country Club. It was during this time that the golf course was converted to polo grounds. In 1936, a pool was built next to the clubhouse but it was filled in at some point during the mid 80's. The outline of the pool is still visible today. There were also tennis courts constructed which are still there, however they're overgrown with vegetation and have been unplayable for sometime. Today, the clubhouse is part of the 416 acre Pogonip park and trail system and provides spectacular views of the city of Santa Cruz down below. For the film, only the exterior of the clubhouse was used. The interior shots of Grandpa's house were filmed on stage 15 at Warner Bros. Studios.


2007

2013

All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.




A vintage photo of the clubhouse, when it had a pond in front.

A recent photo of the tennis courts, which is basically now a blackberry patch.

The filled-in pool.


Max's Video Store17 Municipal Wharf Suite D Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060

At the time of my visit, it was called the Santa Cruz Bay Company. It's located on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, just a stone's throw from the restaurant Lucy and Max dine at later in the film.


2007

2019


Comic book shop1020 Cedar St. Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060
(Atlantis Fantasyworld)

The original location of the comic book shop, as well as where it was located during the time of filming, was 707 Lower Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060. Not quite on the boardwalk, as the movie suggests. To block the street in front of the shop from view, they put up a fascade. Since filming, the comic book shop has moved twice. The first due to the shop being damaged beyond repair in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. It was then "temporarily moved" to the Tent City which was erected for destroyed businesses of the earthquake, from 1989 to 1992. In 1992, it moved to it's current location. When Sam first walks into the comic book shop, a rare Laffing Sal can be seen (and heard) behind him. There was no Laffing Sal at the comic book shop when I visited in 2007, however, a different one can currently be found on the boardwalk, near Neptune's Kingdom. It was purchased in a 2003 auction for $50,000 by Charles Canfield, president of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Joe Ferrara, the owner of the comic book shop can be seen in the background at the pinball machine, the second time Sam visits the shop. The "Destroy All Vampires" comic book featured in the film, can still be seen at the comic book shop today, on the wall behind the counter. They even allow Lost Boy fans to pose for a picture with it if they'd like. 


2007

The original location of Atlantis Fantasy World, where the comic book scenes were filmed.

Myself with Joe Ferrara and one of the custom comic books used in the film.


Roof gets torn off car - E. Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060

While flipping through a "Sad Sack" comic, freshly shoplifted from the Frog brothers comic book shop, two members of a rival gang are sucked out of their 1961 Plymouth Valient. This spot is one of, if not the best elevated view of the boardwalk.


2007

2019

The same spot, taken from a deleted scene.


CaveBehind* 100 Terranea Way Rancho Palos Verdes, Ca. 90275

The interior of the cave was filmed on stage 12 at Warner Bros. Studios. The cave exterior was filmed roughly 270 miles south of the boardwalk, in Rancho Palos Verdes. The production built stairs that only went part of the way up the cliff. Aside from The Lost Boys, the cave can also be seen in Batman: The Movie (1966) and Charlie's Angels (2000). Martin Riggs' trailer from Lethal Weapon 2 also sat next to the cave. The cliff above the cave used to be home to Marineland of the Pacific. It operated from August 28th, 1954 to February 11th, 1987. During that span, episodes of The A Team, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Lucy Show, The Munsters, The Partridge Family, Sea Hunt, The Six Million Dollar Man and Wonder Woman were filmed there. The last remaining Marineland structure was removed in 2006. In 2007, construction began on the Terranea Resort and it was completed in 2009. Also above the cave, sits the Vanderlip Park which has walking trails and breathtaking views of the ocean as well as Catalina Island on a clear day. 


2007

All "Now" pictures taken in 2018.




Looking out of the cave with Catalina Island visible in the distance.

Lethal Weapon 2


Railroad trestle - 25311 Magic Mountain Pkwy. Valencia, Ca. 91355
(Iron Horse Trailhead)

During my first visit in 2007, restoration work was being done to the trestle and path. When I re-visited in 2013, the project was completed. Six Flags Magic Mountain is visible from the trestle, just across the I-5. Scenes from the movie Nothing But Trouble were also filmed at the trestle.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2007.

All "Now" pictures taken in 2021.


Looking at Magic Mountain from the trestle.


Sea Cloud - 49 Municipal Wharf B Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060
(Olitas Cantina & Grille)

Olitas Cantina & Grille has been at the location since 2003.


2019


Max's house - formerly* 440 Seaview Dr. Aptos, Ca. 95003

The house seen in the film was demolished in the early 90's. In 1995, the property sold for $330,000. The current house occupying the site was built in 1997. The spot of the roundabout driveway is now occupied by 426 & 430 Seaview Dr. The house seen in the background across the street while Sam's sitting in the Land Cruiser is 427 Seaview Dr.

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


All "Now" pictures taken in 2022.



Sam & the Frog brothers gather holy water - 3400 W. Riverside Dr. Burbank, Ca. 91522
(Warner Brothers backlot)

As far as I know, this was the only outdoors scene filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot, with everything else being shot on location.


2016

Me with Kiefer Sutherland & Jason Patric in 2019.


67 comments:

  1. Hey paul i want to know wheres the cave at is it in the bottom of the of 6610 palos verdes drive s. Behind oh where or down

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    1. A very late response... it is near the rock beach on Terranea resort. If you follow the path from the lower pool, you will come to the beach and caves. People often dive there for abalone

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  2. This is awesome. Lost Boys is my favorite horror movie!

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  3. Thanks Rhianna, it's one of my favorite's too.

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  4. The inside of the cave I believe was a built set at Warner Brothers Studio. They built only three walls and would rotate them during filming.

    The bridge the guys hung off of was filmed at the location above however, when they are on the bottom and drop that was a built set at Warner as well I believe.

    Absolute favorite movie of all time. I lived in Santa Cruz ten years ago and sometimes wish I had stayed!

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    1. The bridge they hung off of was filmed @ Bayou Canot train trestle,Mobile,Al

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    2. No, it wasn't! IMDB is a liar! It makes no sense to go all the way across country to film one scene. They most likely used special effects to make the train bridge look different, the earth, buildings and everything around us is constantly changing...

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    3. According to the Alabama Film Office, it was not in Alabama, nor would it have made any sense.
      https://www.al.com/living/2016/10/was_lost_boys_scene_filmed_on.html

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    4. What's weird is, there is a very cool looking railroad bridge right there beside the beach boardwalk. The San Lorenzo River railroad bridge. Granted, it's not that high up, but could have been filmed creatively

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  5. Brilliant work finding and posting all of these. Well done!

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  6. I was wondering where they filmed one of the last lost boys after Corey Haim passed- The beach was beautiful and I tried to look up the bookstore cause I saw an address there not no luck not even with that torn down asylum.

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  7. I'm on my way to the area. Are we aloud to enter through the resort to see the cave?

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    1. To be honest I'm not sure because when I visited this location they were just building the resort so using the beach to walk around was my only option. If I visited today though I'd definitely go through the resort, the worst they can tell you is no :)

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  8. #SantaCruz #SantaCarla #TheLostBoys1987 #OsGarotosPerdidos1987

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  9. Awesome. Thanx! R.J.M.

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  10. I love how the SC boardwalk barely changed. Defiantly a fun place to go to, the foods really expensive though.

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  11. The movie just came on a few hours ago, such a great feeling of nostalgia to watch, wow! Its been hard to find movies that had the same sense of adventure like this movie, and so many others in the 80's which was THE DECADE where movies embodied that.

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    1. I know, the movies from the 80s were so special. The actors were so much better and the writers were second to none! Plus, I don't know if you noticed, it seems everyone got along better! I was an 80s kid so I remember when these movies came out. I also had a leather jacket and a long duster style coat like David wore in the movie LOL!! Ahh, those were the days!

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  12. Thank you so much i cant wait to visit these locations

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  13. My two favorite things..Vampires and the boardwalk! I LOVE the pictures! Thank you for posting!

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  14. This is too awesome! One of my favorite films. My husband grew up in Santa Cruz, and you nailed it. Thanks for the awesome comparison and all your hard work!

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  15. We have literally just moved to Santa Cruz and I'm thrilled! The Lost Boys is one of my all time favorite movies! Hopeful I can visit a few of the haunts listed above! I wonder if visitors can get close enough to Grandpa's house for photo opps?

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    1. Christine Marie Chen, there is a fence surrounding the building but that should be plenty close enough for a good photo op.

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    2. Thanks for your response! Sorry I didn't see it until just now! Hope to make it over there possibly next week!

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  16. Well done! Greetz from germany :)

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  17. Fantastic stuff, that dude in the Gi Joe shirt on the boardwalk is hot.

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    1. I'm pretty sure everyone who's seen that pic thought the same thing.

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  18. FYI, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is showing The Lost Boys as one of its Wed. night movies this year - June 21st. :)

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  19. Thanks for saying so!!! I'm heading to SanDiego then- think I might stop through for the event!

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  20. One of my favorite movies! Love these pictures! Great website too. I've enjoyed looking at all of these pictures. Well done!

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  21. Really wish I'd found this site before I went on my trip to Northern California from UK! Next time, I wanna smoke a doob in the cave listening to 'lost in the shadows'!

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  22. Great pics! One of my favorite vampire movies of all time. I'm looking for the area that was used in the bonfire kill scene. I wonder if the tree they got up into is still there. Of course it could've been just a studio movie set.

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  23. Very well done! One of my favorite vampire movies. Watching it right now as I type this! One location I'm still looking for is where they filmed the bonfire scene. I wonder if that big tree that they got up into is still there. Of course, it could be just a studio back lot or something.

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    1. That's one of the two locations I'd love to know from the film. If I find out I'll definitely post!

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  24. Thanks for the site and i took your advise and managed to find the cave. The beach is public below the Terranea Resort so no need to be a guest. On arrival at the resort head to Nelsons restaurant and follow the path to the beach. Its a 10 minute walk. The outside of the cave looks just like it does in the movie!

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    1. I first watched this movie when I was 3 and still watch it now and I'm 35,its my favorite of all time but now I watch it with my girls.they watch it at 8 and 10 now they're 14 and 16.i think this movie got me into all thing supernatural like books,TV show and movies.thank for the pics,if I ever get the chance I'm going there

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    2. Omgggg same, my dad showed me it when it was 3 and I’m still watching it at 19:) also make my friends watch it haha

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  25. Hi. thanks for all the work.. but there was a scene in the movie of them chopping the garlic, then when I saw the movie again, that scene was GONE... any ideas, anyone else remember the garlic chopping scene..? thanks

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    1. yes, i remember, i have this scene in all the versions i have, it's strange that you do not see it

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  26. Nice pic with the 3 of you! Good to see the man behind the work! Thanks��

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  27. Do you happen to know that name of the restaurant that Lucy and Max dined at on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf? We are coming to do all the filming locations and we want to make sure that we visit that restaurant as well. Thanks in Advance...

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    1. Yes, it's currently called Olitas Cantina & Grille and it's located at 49 Municipal Wharf B Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060.

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  28. This was awesome thanks for posting this information. Like you I have tried to find out where Max's place was filmed to no avail.

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    1. My pleasure. Maybe one day someone will be able to locate Max's house...fingers crossed.

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  29. Great photo's really nice to see some of these locations are still there and look almost the same, 2 years ago I was on vacation at San Francisco but I did not know Santa Cruz was so close, otherwise I would have loved to visit it myself. Where did you get the picture with Kiefer and Jason?

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    1. Thank you. I've probably visited all The Lost Boys locations a handful of times and it never get's old. The pic with Kiefer and Jason was taken at the 2019 Fan Expo Dallas.

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  30. I just found the head vampier max house and no one else has

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    1. I actually know the location where it used to be, just haven't had the chance to get out there to visit it yet.

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    2. So where is it?

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    3. formerly* 440 Seaview Dr. Aptos, Ca. 95003

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  31. I heard MAX house was on Beach drive, or not. Hope you get there soon

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  32. Thanks for this. I went to UC Santa Cruz for school and all the locals there always took great pride in the fact the Lost Boys were filmed there- even 25 years later! Brings back nice memories of the town :-)

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  33. I literally just got an apartment at Avana in Ranchos Palos Verdes. I took a picture of that trail the other day and didn't realize it was the trail to the cave I grew up watching in Tennessee almost every day as a kid before I moved out here. So cool. So many good memories watching this movie with my family and now I live only a couple hundred yards away.

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  34. Where was the sax guy scene filmed, just a random area on the boardwalk?

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    1. The Sax Guy was playing on an ‘large’ elevated cement stage on the beach in front of the Boardwalk. The October 1989 earthquake made it collapse flat straight down. Luckily nobody was underneath it when it fell.
      That same structure was also used in Clint Eastwood’s movie Sudden Impact, as was other Santa Cruz locations. Amusingly (?) at the end of Sudden Impact when the main bad guy gets shot off the top of the roller coaster by Eastwood he lands on the merry-go-round. Nice trick. The merry-go-round is actually about 400 feet away. But hey. Hollywood!

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  35. This is still so cool! Thanks for your effort and for showing all of this!
    Sferics was here - not for the first time :)

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  36. Watching Lost Boys on Netflix right now… for like the thousandth time! One of my all time favorite flix! This is a great page! Thank you for posting it!

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  37. where did you meet the stars from the movie?

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  38. Just ate at Olitas a few weeks ago with my daughter and mom lol. Crazy how they have all those guardrails up the coast compared to back then in SCZ.. cool page!

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  39. Still good 36 years later still watch every time!

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  40. wow! beautiful work! lost boys, it's my favorite movie of all time, hugs from Brazil!

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