Maps of Movies

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Where The Blues Brothers says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A mission from God, filmed across two cities and a closed mall: the bridge jump, the orphanage facade and the ballroom that is really in Los Angeles

Scenes and places

Jake walks out of Joliet prison (1980)

Jake is released on parole and Elwood picks him up in a used police car, not the old Bluesmobile.

Set in Joliet prison — The state prison where Jake serves his sentence and is released on parole. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Joliet Correctional Center (Joliet Correctional Center, Joliet, Illinois, United States) — Filmed on location at the prison. Address 1125 Collins St; Elwood meets Jake at the east gate. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The Bluesmobile jumps the open drawbridge (1980)

Elwood drives the Bluesmobile over a raised drawbridge in one leap.

Set in Chicago southeast side drawbridge — Elwood drives the Bluesmobile across a raised drawbridge in a jump. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at 95th Street Bridge, Calumet River (Calumet River, southeast side, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — The jump was filmed on this real drawbridge. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: The bridge crosses the Calumet River on Chicago's southeast side; Calumet Fisheries stands right next to it.

The orphanage where they grew up (1980)

The brothers return to the orphanage; a nun sends them away until they redeem themselves, and they learn the home may be lost over unpaid taxes.

Set in St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage (Calumet City) — The orphanage the brothers grew up in, set in Calumet City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Schoenhofen Brewery, Chicago (Pilsen, W 18th St, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — The exterior was a facade built for the film between two brewery buildings; the point is the historic district, not the exact spot. Reported position: the alley at the north end of S Normal Ave (1712 S Normal Ave, near 500 W 18th St), between the old Schoenhofen buildings. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Jake sees the light (1980)

Jake has a vision during the sermon and decides to reunite the band to raise the money.

Set in Triple Rock Baptist Church — A lively sermon with a gospel choir; Jake takes a vision as a sign to get the band back together. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Pilgrim Baptist Church of South Chicago, 3235 E 91st St (South Shore / Chatham, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Reported as the church exterior used in the film, 3235 E 91st St (address only, no coordinates found). Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The chase through the shopping mall (1980)

Police chase the brothers through a shopping mall while they keep arguing.

Set in Shopping mall — Police chase the Bluesmobile into a mall and through its stores. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Dixie Square Mall, Harvey (Dixie Square Mall, Harvey, Illinois, United States) — Filmed in the real, closed mall. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Elwood's rooming house (1980)

The brothers settle into Elwood's rooming house room.

Set in Elwood's rooming house — The rented room where Elwood lives and the brothers regroup after the orphanage. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Former Plymouth Hotel site, 22 W Van Buren St, Chicago Loop (The Loop, Van Buren St, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Reported location of the rooming house exterior. The building was torn down; 80sfilmlocations says the site is now Pritzker Park (choosechicago says 'a small park'). Address only. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The hotel lounge hunt for a band member (1980)

The brothers find a band member working a hotel lounge.

Set in Holiday Inn lounge — The brothers track down a band member playing in a hotel lounge (Murph and the Magic Tones). Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Former Holiday Inn, 3801 N Mannheim Rd, Schiller Park (Mannheim Rd, Schiller Park, Illinois, United States) — Reported location of the lounge scene (about 45:58 in the film, per reelchicago). The hotel is now a Quality Inn and the original building was torn down. Address only. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Recruiting the maitre d' at the fancy restaurant (1980)

Jake and Elwood order big and let the bill pile up until the maitre d' gives in.

Set in Chez Paul restaurant — The brothers run up a lavish bill to push Mr Fabulous into rejoining the band. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Chez Paul, 660 N Rush St (Near North Side, Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — The real restaurant was here; the film used a replica of its interior (set location unknown). Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The bridge standoff with the neo-Nazis (1980)

A rally blocks the bridge and Elwood drives the car off the side to avoid it.

Set in Jackson Park, Chicago — A neo-Nazi rally blocks a bridge and Elwood drives the car off it. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Music Court Bridge, Jackson Park (East Lagoon) (Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Reported as the bridge used for the standoff. The coordinates are the Jackson Park point from Wikipedia, not the bridge itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Finding the guitarist on Maxwell Street (1980)

They find guitarist Matt Murphy working in a soul food place while John Lee Hooker plays outside.

Set in Maxwell Street, Chicago — The brothers find guitarist Matt Murphy; John Lee Hooker plays on the street. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at 807 W Maxwell St (former Nate's Delicatessen site) (Maxwell Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Reported street location where John Lee Hooker plays 'Boom Boom'. The deli building that stood here (Nate's, the 'Soul Food Cafe' in the film) was torn down in 1994-95. Coordinates are the Maxwell Street point from Wikipedia. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Ray's Music Exchange (1980)

The brothers stop at a music shop while putting the band together.

Set in Ray's Music Exchange — A music shop the brothers visit while recruiting the band. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Shelly's Loan Co, 300 E 47th St, Chicago (47th St, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Reported location used for the music shop; a mural remains. Address only. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The band plays a country bar (1980)

The club expected a country act, so the band has to win over a hostile crowd.

Set in Bob's Country Bunker, Kokomo — The band is taken for a country act and has to play for an unfriendly crowd. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Universal Studios backlot, Los Angeles (Bob's Country Bunker set) (Universal City, Los Angeles, California, United States) — Built as a set on the Universal Studios backlot; not filmed in Indiana. Coordinates are the Universal Studios Hollywood site point, not the exact set position. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The Palace Hotel Ballroom show (1980)

With the hall to fill, the brothers spread the word across nearby counties.

Set in Palace Hotel Ballroom — The brothers publicize a big benefit show in a hall that looks too big to fill. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at South Shore Cultural Center, Chicago (exterior) (South Shore, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Exterior; a country club at the time of filming. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles (interior concert) (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States) — The concert interior was filmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Underground tunnel, 1 W La Salle Dr, Chicago (Near North Side, La Salle Dr, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Reported location of the tunnel used in the escape after the concert. Coordinates as written by reelchicago. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The chase under Lower Wacker to Daley Plaza (1980)

The chase pours into the Loop and ends at Daley Plaza.

Set in Downtown Chicago — Police cars follow the Bluesmobile into the city, under Lower Wacker Drive toward Daley Plaza. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Richard J. Daley Center (The Loop, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Chase through the plaza and lobby, with breakaway glass. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Lower Wacker Drive (Lower Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Chase scenes were shot here on Sundays in summer 1979. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Hoan Bridge, I-794, Milwaukee (Hoan Bridge, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States) — A freeway ramp scene was shot in Milwaukee near this bridge. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Bangs Lake, Wauconda (Bangs Lake, Wauconda, Illinois, United States) — Beach scenes were filmed along the lake shore. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Chicago City Hall (The Loop, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Exterior and parts of the interior are said to appear in the climax (the source sentence is flagged citation needed; the film article describes the Daley Center instead). Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Mrs. Tarantino's house, 1623 S 51st Ct, Cicero (51st Ct, Cicero, Illinois, United States) — Band-recruiting stretch. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Howard Johnson's restaurant site, Des Plaines Oasis, I-90 (I-90 Oasis, Des Plaines, Illinois, United States) — The roadside diner scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at 2250 N Clifton St, Chicago (Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Stealing speakers to promote the Palace show. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Wrigley Field, 1060 W Addison St, Chicago (Wrigleyville, Chicago, Illinois, United States) — Elwood's official address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Jake Blues — A paroled singer who sets out to put his old band back together.
• Elwood Blues — Jake's brother, who drives the Bluesmobile and keeps the mission going.