

-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:01 pm


Robocop 1 locations: then and now (25 year retrospective)

-----------------------------------

My friends and I live in or near Dallas, so we are putting together a little retrospective on the locations used for the film shoot back in '86. We've managed to track down easily 90% of them, and we are even securing the rights to film some of the interiors(!)

What I have filmed so far (these are video stills) can be found on my website (2 pages):

http://www.questvideoproduction.com/Robocoplocations.html

May be a little image heavy, and may exceed my bandwidth, but give it a try.


-----------------------------------

RoboDemise

Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:21 pm



-----------------------------------

Very cool. Very cool. Are you still going to other locations to get more shots?


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:57 pm



-----------------------------------

Oh, yes, definitely. It's a work in progress. I will be getting shots such as the parking garage, Sons of Herman Hall, and if I can swing it- Renaissance Tower, The Starck Club, Bob Morton's place, and the skyscraper used for Dick Jones' office (which was a different location from the OCP interiors.)

Oh, and a video to go along with the still frames.


-----------------------------------

Archive

Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:03 pm



-----------------------------------

Very interesting. Good work tracking all those places down.

Looking forward to the video! :)


-----------------------------------

Deus Ex Robo

Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:58 pm



-----------------------------------

This is actually really awesome.

+1 PT for all the gas and free time frittered.


-----------------------------------

Dash

Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:44 pm



-----------------------------------

Hey man, this is pretty cool. :)  I thought about doing the same thing for Toronto locations in the Series/Prime Directives a couple times, but there are just way too many locations to cover them all.  Maybe I'll undertake it someday. :b

Have you thought about making a Google map that marks the location of all these places?


-----------------------------------

Sean_001

Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:38 pm



-----------------------------------

That's a pretty good idea, Dash!

That should be on a list of tourist attractions. 

I'd buy that for a dollar!


-----------------------------------

Rick

Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:55 am



-----------------------------------

Didn't someone post a video on here before about him and his friend visiting the locations from the first (and possibly the second) movie? I'm almost certain there was.


-----------------------------------

Sean_001

Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:42 am



-----------------------------------

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zyuxIy85dY

This what you mean Paddy?


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:49 am



-----------------------------------

Yes, we saw those guys. And we thought they did a great job, so we aren't trying to step on their toes. :) We are more like creating an addendum to their work. While they had 5-6 spots, we are covering those spots also, and providing a footnote, but we are also hitting up a bunch of additional spots, and some interiors, as well.

In other words, just a little more detailed look.


-----------------------------------

Primrose Lane

Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:29 pm



-----------------------------------

Great stuff. Love this :) 

Can't wait to see Morton's house!


-----------------------------------

Primrose Lane

Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:32 pm



-----------------------------------

Regarding the location where Murphy and Lewis respond to the first call, is the coffee shop still there?


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:56 pm



-----------------------------------

Yes. It's a donut/coffee shop still. They've took down the iron awnings that are visible when Lewis exits the building, though.

We shot some more footage yesterday, but the wind made mince meat out of most of the audio, so we will have to go back and do some lavalier miking next time.

But, we HAD to stop and film this part, because it seemed like so much fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_3R_EVk5mA

:-)


-----------------------------------

Primrose Lane

Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:22 pm



-----------------------------------

Yes. It's a donut/coffee shop still. They've took down the iron awnings that are visible when Lewis exits the building, though.

We shot some more footage yesterday, but the wind made mince meat out of most of the audio, so we will have to go back and do some lavalier miking next time.

But, we HAD to stop and film this part, because it seemed like so much fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_3R_EVk5mA

:-)

That is so cool to know. My new bucket list item: Buy a coffee from that shop!

And I literally 'laughed out loud' at the video, man. Great stuff, I hope you keep making more. Thank you!


-----------------------------------

Dash

Tue Mar 22, 2011 12:08 am



-----------------------------------

Yes. It's a donut/coffee shop still. They've took down the iron awnings that are visible when Lewis exits the building, though.

We shot some more footage yesterday, but the wind made mince meat out of most of the audio, so we will have to go back and do some lavalier miking next time.

But, we HAD to stop and film this part, because it seemed like so much fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_3R_EVk5mA

:-)

This was great! :lol:


-----------------------------------

Josh

Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:40 pm



-----------------------------------

That was very cool.

Public Trust for you...


-----------------------------------

RoboHell

Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:03 pm



-----------------------------------

Fuck me Linda!!! that was amazing!!

Can i follow you guys next time your out, i live in arlington and have been wanting to take the Robo tour?

I drove past city hall when i first moved here and thats about it.

P.S. im not a rapist.


-----------------------------------

RoboDemise

Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:08 am



-----------------------------------


P.S. im not a rapist.

In general anytime somebody says P.S I'm not a rapist... It definitely means they are. You filthy filthy rapist hell. :mrgreen:


-----------------------------------

Dash

Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:55 am



-----------------------------------

In general anytime somebody says P.S I'm not a rapist... It definitely means they are. You filthy filthy rapist hell. :.:

Kind of like when someone says "with all due respect", it really means, "kiss my ass". :mrgreen:


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:13 am



-----------------------------------

LOLZ! If you want to follow us, that's fine. Somehow I feel like that part in Forest Gump, though, where they follow him back and forth across the U.S. ;-) We haven't done anything special...but I guess we have done our homework.

I jokingly told Monica that we should do walking tours for Robocop, and then we looked at each other, laughed, and said "Naaahhhh..."

Now, if we combined Robocop and JFK...NOW we're getting somewhere!

Robohell, I'll let you know the next time we go. In the meantime, though, I will send you a list of addresses. Most of them are all close together.

Speaking of addresses - does anyone know where the 548 Primrose Lane house was located?? This is one of the places that has stumped us big time. When he pulls his Taurus up to the house, the number actually says 3128 Primrose on the side. And I searched in the area (online of course) for a house matching that description and found bubkis.


-----------------------------------

RoboHell

Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:26 am



-----------------------------------

LOLZ! If you want to follow us, that's fine. Somehow I feel like that part in Forest Gump, though, where they follow him back and forth across the U.S. ;-) We haven't done anything special...but I guess we have done our homework.

Robohell, I'll let you know the next time we go. In the meantime, though, I will send you a list of addresses. Most of them are all close together.

Speaking of addresses - does anyone know where the 548 Primrose Lane house was located?? This is one of the places that has stumped us big time. When he pulls his Taurus up to the house, the number actually says 3128 Primrose on the side. And I searched in the area (online of course) for a house matching that description and found bubkis.

Sounds great man, and thanks for the addresses.

Can't help you on that 3128 address, wish i could. It would be so sweet to see that house.


-----------------------------------

POCOBOR

Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:08 pm



-----------------------------------

I may be way off here but there's a 3128 Primrose lane in Natrona, PA.  And most of you know that the scenes at the steel mill were filmed in Monessen, PA. I looked up the Natrona address on google earth and zooming in it looks to be a subdivision type area like in the movie. It's hard to tell much about the houses from a top-view perspective though. And the two towns don't seem to be that far from each other. Just a guess.


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:51 pm



-----------------------------------

Hmm...it's possible. But from what I looked up, that house in PA was built in 1940. I don't think the architecture inside would look futuristic enough- but they could have spent the money to do so, I guess.

Also, from what I can tell in the movie, the neighborhood seems to have a bit more houses than the one in PA.

I noticed Bing.com gives a little clearer overhead view.

Thanks!


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:27 pm



-----------------------------------

Brilliant, really enjoyed your photo album, thanks for sharing.

Just this morning I was on Google earth trying to find a street view location which would allow me to look at the Steel Mill, I wasnt abe to find one.

"Speaking of addresses - does anyone know where the 548 Primrose Lane house was located?? This is one of the places that has stumped us big time. When he pulls his Taurus up to the house, the number actually says 3128 Primrose on the side. And I searched in the area (online of course) for a house matching that description and found bubkis." I know this, off to check, will post awnser.


-----------------------------------

Primrose Lane

Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:13 pm



-----------------------------------

Brilliant, really enjoyed your photo album, thanks for sharing.

Just this morning I was on Google earth trying to find a street view location which would allow me to look at the Steel Mill, I wasnt abe to find one.

"Speaking of addresses - does anyone know where the 548 Primrose Lane house was located?? This is one of the places that has stumped us big time. When he pulls his Taurus up to the house, the number actually says 3128 Primrose on the side. And I searched in the area (online of course) for a house matching that description and found bubkis." I know this, off to check, will post awnser.

The mill was apparently torn down a long time ago, but you can find some great pics of it online, just search for 'Monessen Steel Mill' in Google and Google Images for some sweet photographs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott_beveridge/298478048/


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:50 pm



-----------------------------------

"Speaking of addresses - does anyone know where the 548 Primrose Lane house was located?? This is one of the places that has stumped us big time. When he pulls his Taurus up to the house, the number actually says 3128 Primrose on the side. And I searched in the area (online of course) for a house matching that description and found bubkis." I know this, off to check, will post awnser.

Dang, sorry, turns out the awnser I was think of was for Bob Mortons house ,6511 Clubhouse Cricle, Dallas, Texas.


The mill was apparently torn down a long time ago, but you can find some great pics of it online, just search for 'Monessen Steel Mill' in Google and Google Images for some sweet photographs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott_beveridge/298478048/

So far as Im aware, this is the mill (or atleast what is left of it);

http://img705.imageshack.us/i/themill.jpg/

I was looking for the location of the final battle scene, but I cant see it..


-----------------------------------

Primrose Lane

Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:34 pm



-----------------------------------

I read in an article that most of the interiors used in Robocop were real also, rather than sets. The OCP board room was a top floor empty office in a real Dallas skyscraper (Renaissance Tower), and is now used as a library.

Similarly, the locker rooms seen in the beginning of the film were the actual locker rooms of the Dallas High School building (used for the Police Station). They are underground in the basement. 

There's some great information in this article, was it written by an Archive member?

http://manabouttinseltown.blogspot.com/2009/08/wandering-streets-of-old-detroit.html

Does anyone know if the interiors of the Murphy and Morton houses were real?

Also, was a replica set made for Morton's house when it explodes? I can't imagine they were able to do that stunt in a real street with somebody's house.


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:55 am



-----------------------------------

I read in an article that most of the interiors Does anyone know if the interiors of the Murphy and Morton houses were real?

Like I said above, Bob Mortons house was 6511 Clubhouse Circle in Dallas (or aleast according to this; http://img857.imageshack.us/i/58481064.jpg/)

Can anybody confirm the Google earth image I posted above is the correct location for the steel mill? I am trying to locate the position of the final battle (the watery pit, crane, etc)?


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:24 pm



-----------------------------------

Looks like this is the location of the Monassen Steel Mill:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&z=7&iwloc=A&q=+1134+Market+St.+Wheeling,+WV


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:11 pm



-----------------------------------

Looks like this is the location of the Monassen Steel Mill:


Are you sure thats the location of the mill?

If you see the image I posted on the last page (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/themill.jpg/ 
) that looks a much more likley location.


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:56 pm



-----------------------------------

Wow.

Ive found the correct place, but i just copy pasted an wrong URL.

This is the correct one:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=687+Donner+Avenue,+Monessen,+PA,+United+States&aq=0&sll=40.162116,-79.887557&sspn=0.006035,0.013937&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=687+Donner+Ave,+Monessen,+Westmoreland,+Pennsylvania+15062&t=h&ll=40.163071,-79.886216&spn=0.003103,0.006968&z=18&iwloc=A

Sorry for the mistake.  :oops:


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:11 pm



-----------------------------------

Wow.

Ive found the correct place, but i just copy pasted an wrong URL.

This is the correct one:



Cool, thats the same place I have also.

I still cant work out where the final scene in the mill would have taken place, there appears to be a crane to the far right of the mill but the lay of the land doesnt look right..??


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:24 pm



-----------------------------------

Thats weird. I've found another probable location - the Duquesne Steel Works.

http://explorepahistory.com/images/ExplorePAHistory-a0j6c4-a_349.jpg

In the early twentieth century Duquesne formed a key part of U.S. Steel's production capacity and a showcase for its policy of "welfare capitalism," in which the corporation offered workers stock purchases, pension plans, and health benefits. In its use as the site for the final battle between the cyborg hero and his executioners in the movie Robocop (1987), Duquesne's steel works symbolized the ruined lives and economic plight of American rust belt cities.

Link: http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=788

Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=East+Grant+Ave.+0++Duquesne&aq=&sll=40.371547,-79.853902&sspn=0.011901,0.027874&g=East+Grant+Ave.+876++Duquesne&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=00+Grant+Ave,+Duquesne,+Allegheny,+Pennsylvania+15110&ll=40.373441,-79.845189&spn=0.00595,0.013937&t=h&z=17

If this is the real location, i think it was wiped out.  :(


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:48 pm



-----------------------------------

The Duquesne Steel Works (or atleast from the picture you have posted) doesnt have the look and feel of the mill from the movie, where as the Monessen Mill does.

Unless.. Both mills were used..


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:02 pm



-----------------------------------

That's the point. Was the 2 mills used?

Anyways, this is a link for a photo album, with good pictures of the Duquesne Mill. Some of them has the feel of the movie.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10077757@N00/sets/72157603702038584/with/2189235729/


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:49 pm



-----------------------------------

That's the point. Was the 2 mills used?

Anyways, this is a link for a photo album, with good pictures of the Duquesne Mill. Some of them has the feel of the movie.



That is a good question, somebody here must know the awnser to this.

I cant match any of the photos in the flicker album you posted to this still from the movie. http://img339.imageshack.us/i/mid112.jpg/


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:56 pm



-----------------------------------

I´ve found more evidences:

"Pittsburgh also got a big image boost when Jennifer Beals pursued her dream of abandoning her welding job in a steel mill for a chance at ballet school in FLASHDANCE (1983). In the movie Beals dances through the Hall of Sculpture at the Carnegie Institute at 4400 Forbes Avenue. Another time Hollywood made effective use of the city's steel-forging atmosphere was in ROBOCOP (1987) when Peter Weller confronts his executioners at the Duquesne Steel Works (Route 837, Duquesne, Pennsylvania)."

Font:http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4988831040_060f5b4dea.jpg

http://a1.l3-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/33/530fac27bd10caa8187368d2c7e882aa/l.jpg

http://a4.l3-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/11/284ddcfb021ede80d3c28d1f1a9ab215/l.jpg

http://a2.l3-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/55/53baca325bb76af13be95448a4d0e08f/l.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/u/cokids/upload/100816.DuquesneWks1.jpg

http://www.phillipbonosky.com/12-Duquesne.jpg

http://www.cs-photo.com/csphoto_Images/Full/CS11411.jpg


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:20 pm



-----------------------------------

Well, I know that when Lewis drives in to the mill towards the end of the movie to bring Robo his baby food, she passes by a house-like structure on the left which has 3 chimneys and a tiny metal shack on the left side of it. You can see this "house" in the overhead b&w shot of Monessen on that Flickr page. It matches perfectly. And when they chase him down that corridor, I can't see any reason to change locations- it's a fairly simple shot.

So, that just leaves the final battle, where there is a retaining wall, a pool of muddy water about a foot deep, and an overlooking crane and control room. If Duquesne had a better set-up for that, they would only have to drive 45 minutes to get it, but without reference pics, that would be hard to pinpoint. (Also, there's the matter of securing the proper permits to film somewhere else.)


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:42 pm



-----------------------------------

Hey guys. I'm very intrigued with this Steel Mill question. Its atmosphere was so strong, so "RoboCopish" that as a fan, i always look for similarities with our local fuel refineries, or the Santos port warehouses and cranes (the biggest port in latin america). I really like all those big buildings, with iron pipes and machinery in great proportions here and there. Very complex engineering.

Well, i was looking for similarities between the movie and probable locations. I found something interesting about the Duquesne Mill.

http://www.igorantunes.com.br/temp/duquesne.jpg

Looks like this big furnaces above Robo are very similar with that picture of Duquesne. I've found an little detail that might have some sense, with that suspended house-like building, so i pinpointed it.

Another detail that i noticed: the eletric lines installed over the site, we see lots of then on this picture, and when Lewis chases Clarence before the showdown.

It's a mystery.


-----------------------------------

KidGoesWild

Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:28 am


Re: Robocop 1 locations: then and now (25 year retrospective

-----------------------------------

My friends and I live in or near Dallas, so we are putting together a little retrospective on the locations used for the film shoot back in '86. We've managed to track down easily 90% of them, and we are even securing the rights to film some of the interiors(!)

What I have filmed so far (these are video stills) can be found on my website (2 pages):

http://www.questvideoproduction.com/Robocoplocations.html

May be a little image heavy, and may exceed my bandwidth, but give it a try.

Fantastic job, really well done


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:02 am



-----------------------------------

Hey guys. I'm very intrigued with this Steel Mill question. Its atmosphere was so strong, so "RoboCopish" that as a fan, i always look for similarities with our local fuel refineries, or the Santos port warehouses and cranes (the biggest port in latin america). I really like all those big buildings, with iron pipes and machinery in great proportions here and there. Very complex engineering.

Well, i was looking for similarities between the movie and probable locations. I found something interesting about the Duquesne Mill.

http://www.igorantunes.com.br/temp/duquesne.jpg

Looks like this big furnaces above Robo are very similar with that picture of Duquesne. I've found an little detail that might have some sense, with that suspended house-like building, so i pinpointed it.

Another detail that i noticed: the eletric lines installed over the site, we see lots of then on this picture, and when Lewis chases Clarence before the showdown.

It's a mystery.

Good work.

Although the furnaces are very similar I cant make them fit as they are not exactly the same shape.

This all depends on when each photo was taken and if the mill was already being ripped down as the film was being made.

Shame we dont have any aerial shots of the mill.


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:33 am



-----------------------------------

This is a raw sample of the video footage we have shot so far. Hope to have more in the coming weeks. Thanks for the support and kind comments so far guys!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s3gpiruJxc


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:37 am



-----------------------------------

^ Again, brilliant work, thanks for sharing.


-----------------------------------

Primrose Lane

Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:31 pm



-----------------------------------

This is a raw sample of the video footage we have shot so far. Hope to have more in the coming weeks. Thanks for the support and kind comments so far guys!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s3gpiruJxc

I love the video, guys! You all look like you're having a ton of fun. I think it's amazing how other than the gas station, very little has changed in the past couple of decades. Can't wait to see more!


-----------------------------------

Primrose Lane

Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:25 pm



-----------------------------------

BTW, have you visited the "Sons of Hermann" on Elm in Dallas? The interior apparently doubled as the inside of the police station and according to Fast-Rewind.com, the doors to the upstairs ballroom still have "Detroit Police" printed on the glass as a memento. Would be great to get a pic of those.

EDIT:

 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/57/196456772_162430217f.jpg

These look to be the doors that Robocop walks through with Clarence (the "Book him...he's a cop killer" scene). The doors, wood panels and window above the door all look identical.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c286/dadonnelly/robodoors.jpg


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:49 pm



-----------------------------------

Yeah, we have toyed with the idea of going there. The main reason why we put it off is because I got an email from them saying that they had removed the Detroit signs from the doors "decades ago" (by their account.)

Still, it was a filming location, and I think they would be okay with us taking a video camera inside and showing what the ballroom looks like now (during off-hours.) So...that is on the to-do list. :)

By the way, in case anyone is wondering about the old Dallas High School (police station in the movie), and its current situation, have a look at this article from 2010:

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/02/why_hasnt_the_old_dallas_high.php


-----------------------------------

Crowley

Sat Apr 02, 2011 4:19 am



-----------------------------------

I know this is extremely nitpicky, but one thing about your comparison shots caught my attention. Namely this pair: (I hope linking them here is all right)

http://www.questvideoproduction.com/sitebuilder/images/Robo9-1-600x324.png

http://www.questvideoproduction.com/sitebuilder/images/Robo9-2-600x323.png

It looks to me that the window Robocop threw the guy out of is actually the one two windows to the left from the one where you focused on. The Robocop screenshot doesn't show the low arc structure in the lower left corner.


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:37 am



-----------------------------------

You're most likely right. And, that screws up the continuity even more (at least from a real-world perspective) since Robocop would have to pull him through one wall, escort him down the hall, and then punch him through another window two rooms down. Pretty messed up.


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:56 pm



-----------------------------------

I FOUND! I FOUND!!

I was wrong. The RoboCop Steel Mill is in fact the Pittsburgh Steel Company, in Monessen, Pennsylvania. I've made a really fast comparison from a image found on Take a Hike Publishing (now i want a picture framed of it):

http://www.igorantunes.com.br/temp/comparison.jpg

This mill were in my imagination since the 1st time i watched RoboCop, i ever wanted to go there, im sorry its gone now.

The Wheeling-Pittsburgh mill was razed in 1989.



-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:36 am



-----------------------------------

Oh, yeah! Great photos, and a keen eye. Good job!


-----------------------------------

WeKilledYou

Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:12 am



-----------------------------------

Is that steel factory still there now? Monessen is only about a 3 hour drive from here. I wouldn't mind driving out to see that if I planned on visiting Pittsburgh again at some point this Summer. Great comparison shots by the way.


-----------------------------------

Snoopy

Sat Jul 16, 2011 1:52 am



-----------------------------------

Good thread, I love it. Sir above that posted the steel factory was pulled down in 1989.


-----------------------------------

WeKilledYou

Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:18 am



-----------------------------------

Good thread, I love it. Sir above that posted the steel factory was pulled down in 1989.
My bad. I don't know how I overlooked that part of the post. That sucks. If there's one thing I enjoyed about growing up in PA, it was all the old run down and random abandoned places scattered all over the state.


-----------------------------------

Snoopy

Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:59 pm



-----------------------------------

It's all good man, it took me a second to figure it out too. I always wanted to visit the steel mill. California has some nice run down places too lol


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:22 pm



-----------------------------------

Yeah guys, i feel sorry to know that Duquesne Mill is no more.

Anyways, here's a vision from skies, of whats left of it:

http://www.phillipbonosky.com/12-Duquesne.jpg


-----------------------------------

Stan The Man

Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:05 pm



-----------------------------------

Yeah, abandoned spaces are disappearing all over the place. And you know they just don't abandon them like they used to.. :(


-----------------------------------

WeKilledYou

Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:25 am



-----------------------------------

Yeah, abandoned spaces are disappearing all over the place. And you know they just don't abandon them like they used to.. :(
This is so depressing and true. Urban exploration was one of my all time favorite past times. From 2004 through 2009 I went to so many places all over PA, MD, NY, NJ, and DE. Damn well over 75% of them are now gone. Either destroyed or now under total and strict surveillance. It really sucks, cause most of it is because of stupid kids & adults who go there to drink, do drugs, or vandalize things, and for people like me that's just stupid and moronic.   :rage:


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:11 pm



-----------------------------------

I FOUND! I FOUND!!

I was wrong. The RoboCop Steel Mill is in fact the Pittsburgh Steel Company, in Monessen, Pennsylvania. I've made a really fast comparison from a image found on Take a Hike Publishing (now i want a picture framed of it):

http://www.igorantunes.com.br/temp/comparison.jpg

This mill were in my imagination since the 1st time i watched RoboCop, i ever wanted to go there, im sorry its gone now.

The Wheeling-Pittsburgh mill was razed in 1989.


Brilliant work, that one has been bugging me for a while. Cheers!


-----------------------------------

Ponteral

Sun Aug 14, 2011 11:59 am


pics

-----------------------------------

Thank's for sharing this fotos. It's nice to see places where was movie shooted. 25 years it's a very very long time :)


-----------------------------------

jclayman99

Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:19 am



-----------------------------------

thats fun.


-----------------------------------

Sean_001

Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:01 pm



-----------------------------------

Is that steel factory still there now? Monessen is only about a 3 hour drive from here. I wouldn't mind driving out to see that if I planned on visiting Pittsburgh again at some point this Summer. Great comparison shots by the way.

Actually, WKY, it is still there. I'm about 45 minutes from it myself. Tried to get in to see it, but it is, in fact, a functioning mill. So, I wasn't allowed in. Though the security guard told me that I could get pictures of the whole site from down the road. I did take alot of pictures.

I Invite you out here WKY, we can go there and try to get some great shots. Who knows, maybe we can talk them into a quicky tour. PM if you ever come out my way.

Wouldn't be my first time visiting that place.


-----------------------------------

POCOBOR

Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:51 pm



-----------------------------------

If you have google earth the address is 6511 Clubhouse Circle in Dallas. There's also a streetview. All you can tell is that it looks different than all the other houses.


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:01 am



-----------------------------------

Small update:

Went to the Dallas Comicon today, and Angie Bolling (who played Robocop's wife in the movie) was a guest. I went up and talked to her about the flashback sequences, and where they were shot. She remembered the general area, which was a great start, but she also knew someone that has the address, for sure. So, I left her my email, and she said as soon as she finds out, she will send me a message.

Looking forward to hearing from her on that front. If I don't hear from her in a month or so, I will go looking in the are that she mentioned (which was only about 4 city blocks, so I may be able to narrow it down.)

Oh, and she remembered that it was also one of the cutting edge "smart homes" that they were trying to push in the late 80's (similar to the Bob Morton house.)


-----------------------------------

Josh

Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:11 am



-----------------------------------

Good stuff Beatle, that's some fine detective work you've done right there.

As I've said before, It's always good to learn new stuff. I feel a lot of stuff get's overlooked because we only think of the main parts-Robo, his gun, the suit etc. But to think of the set behind the flashback scenes is cool and I hope you hear from her.


-----------------------------------

POCOBOR

Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:28 pm



-----------------------------------

Small update:

Went to the Dallas Comicon today, and Angie Bolling (who played Robocop's wife in the movie) was a guest. I went up and talked to her about the flashback sequences, and where they were shot. She remembered the general area, which was a great start, but she also knew someone that has the address, for sure. So, I left her my email, and she said as soon as she finds out, she will send me a message.

Looking forward to hearing from her on that front. If I don't hear from her in a month or so, I will go looking in the are that she mentioned (which was only about 4 city blocks, so I may be able to narrow it down.)

Oh, and she remembered that it was also one of the cutting edge "smart homes" that they were trying to push in the late 80's (similar to the Bob Morton house.)
6511 Clubhouse Circle


-----------------------------------

Deus Ex Robo

Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:12 pm



-----------------------------------

What was the address again?


-----------------------------------

POCOBOR

Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:10 pm



-----------------------------------

Small update:

Went to the Dallas Comicon today, and Angie Bolling (who played Robocop's wife in the movie) was a guest. I went up and talked to her about the flashback sequences, and where they were shot. She remembered the general area, which was a great start, but she also knew someone that has the address, for sure. So, I left her my email, and she said as soon as she finds out, she will send me a message.

Looking forward to hearing from her on that front. If I don't hear from her in a month or so, I will go looking in the are that she mentioned (which was only about 4 city blocks, so I may be able to narrow it down.)

Oh, and she remembered that it was also one of the cutting edge "smart homes" that they were trying to push in the late 80's (similar to the Bob Morton house.)
6511 Clubhouse Circle
Correction. The address I gave is for Bob Morton's house. Not Murphy's.


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:44 am



-----------------------------------

Yes, and I have the Clubhouse Circle owner in my friend's list on Facebook. He was totally cool with us setting up a time to view the house in the future, I'm just waiting to get my crew together to do it. If I hear back from Angie, I will try to get both houses in the video this spring/summer.


-----------------------------------

sriramr9

Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:39 pm


Residents of Dallas/In and around.

-----------------------------------

Could any one of you here help me figure out the building that appears in the movie Robocop where airlifted Police Officer Murphy s body would be transferred from the chopper to the emergency ward, it happens in the terrace of a building, its still looks futuristic, the unique lighting design in the ceiling of the hallway where the stretcher is pulled along to the operation theater.

Could the hallway be from the same building ?

Also help me figure out the buildings that are shown up in the background in the chopper scene, a building lit up entirely with fluorescent lighting.. will post pic if needed..


-----------------------------------

sriramr9

Mon Jun 04, 2012 6:05 am


Re: Residents of Dallas/In and around.

-----------------------------------

Could any one of you here help me figure out the building that appears in the movie Robocop where airlifted Police Officer Murphy s body would be transferred from the chopper to the emergency ward, it happens in the terrace of a building, its still looks futuristic, the unique lighting design in the ceiling of the hallway where the stretcher is pulled along to the operation theater.

Could the hallway be from the same building ?

Also help me figure out the buildings that are shown up in the background in the chopper scene, a building lit up entirely with fluorescent lighting.. will post pic if needed..

Trying to load screen captures for the above questions... pl respond.. 

[img]https://picasaweb.google.com/117696022874075115394/Robo_Loc#5750057757055201202[/img] 
[img]https://picasaweb.google.com/117696022874075115394/Robo_Loc#5750057751078516306[/img] 
[img]https://picasaweb.google.com/117696022874075115394/Robo_Loc#5750057783350180322[/img]


-----------------------------------

sriramr9

Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:30 am


Re: Residents of Dallas/In and around.

-----------------------------------

Could any one of you here help me figure out the building that appears in the movie Robocop where airlifted Police Officer Murphy s body would be transferred from the chopper to the emergency ward, it happens in the terrace of a building, its still looks futuristic, the unique lighting design in the ceiling of the hallway where the stretcher is pulled along to the operation theater.

Could the hallway be from the same building ?

Also help me figure out the buildings that are shown up in the background in the chopper scene, a building lit up entirely with fluorescent lighting.. will post pic if needed..

Sorry for duplicate posts, please find below the Picasa Web link for the pictures i had posted as a reference for the above questions. Awaiting your detailed replies in this regard.

https://plus.google.com/photos/117696022874075115394/albums/5750057751497759825?banner=pwa


-----------------------------------

Josh

Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:28 am



-----------------------------------

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093870/locations

Here's a link to some of the locations. You'll have to do a little more research though as I'm not sure if what you're looking for is on there.


-----------------------------------

sriramr9

Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:20 am



-----------------------------------

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093870/locations

Here's a link to some of the locations. You'll have to do a little more research though as I'm not sure if what you're looking for is on there.

Thank you, all i was looking for was the location of the hospital where they transported the injured officer and whether the hallway they pulled the stretcher was from the same building or not?

Please look for the link below which suggests in pictures what i am trying to indicate here. Thanks for your time. 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117696022874075115394/albums/5750057751497759825?banner=pwa


-----------------------------------

sriramr9

Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:18 pm



-----------------------------------

 and the skyscraper used for Dick Jones' office (which was a different location from the OCP interiors.).

Hi 5th Beatle, could you please throw some light as to where is Jones Office located, which building was it, it's location and how tall was it ? Any pic of his office room would be most welcome.

Also confirm me if you aware the stretcher scene location where they pull along nearly dead murphy with all the saline, in a small pathway that had some really unique lighting system in it's ceiling. Your replies are highly appreciated.


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:17 pm



-----------------------------------

Someone who replied to my YouTube video had this to say about the hospital scene:

"that Landing Zone is at Baylor Hospital, 5th floor of the Roberts building. I know this because I've taken many patients from Careflight&#65279; when I worked Baylor ER."

So, Baylor Hospital (now Baylor University Medical Center.) I will have to do some checking to see if the Roberts Building is still up.

As for Dick Jones office, what we found is there are specific markers outside his window indicating it is a DIFFERENT building from Rennaissance Tower, where the other OCP offices were. We did locate a few buildings that could be suspect, but  we never could narrow it down to just one.


-----------------------------------

RoboDemise

Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:16 am



-----------------------------------

Fifth beatle you have become very one dementional in your replying. You should expand yourself to the rest of the board. You're clearly a fan... Or just got obsessed with filming locations one day. :?


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:39 pm



-----------------------------------

MAJOR UPDATE: Murphy's house found!!

I don't have a pic at this moment, because it is on a friend's camera, but once he sends it to me, we will have verifiable proof. Thanks to a tip on Youtube under the video I posted, someone directed me to 9243 Church Rd in Dallas. There is a series of condos there, and the one with the #107 on the outside proved to be a perfect match for the exterior.

IF we can locate the owner, we will definitely try to get a look inside. Barring that; there are 1 or 2 of those condos for sale, and we will ask a realtor if they have the same layout.

To RoboDemise:

Oh, I am a fan. But I'm a fan of all cinema, not just Robocop. I guess I am tied to this thread, because I realized it was filmed here in Dallas, and I had quick and easy access to most of the locations, and I like making little documentary-type films. Sorry if I am being one-dimensional. If it helps, I am also wanting to build a Detroit Police Ford Taurus, and the police helmet, as well. when I get more done on those, I will have more input in other threads.


-----------------------------------

Officer Igor Antunes

Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:42 pm



-----------------------------------

I am also wanting to build a Detroit Police Ford Taurus

I bought a fire burned 1990 Ford Taurus LX to rebuild it as a Robo Cruiser (work in progress right now). I think it's my ultimate honor to the movie of my life.

By the way, this is one of the most interesting topics in all the board, because brings to our daytime the greatest Robo-memories from the past.

It's like living for a moment in Verhoeven's Detroit, walking around Dallas. I really enjoy this, and i have participated to find most correct evidences about the Steell Mill some messages behind.

This is one kind of document, that Archive could use to update Robo Info at the home page. For Cinema or Robo-Fans. Or both!


-----------------------------------

vegasrobo

Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:45 pm



-----------------------------------

I bought a fire burned 1990 Ford Taurus LX ..

Doing a Gen 1 lx very soon..


-----------------------------------

beer

Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:20 am



-----------------------------------

MAJOR UPDATE: Murphy's house found!!

I don't have a pic at this moment, because it is on a friend's camera, but once he sends it to me, we will have verifiable proof. Thanks to a tip on Youtube under the video I posted, someone directed me to 9243 Church Rd in Dallas. There is a series of condos there, and the one with the #107 on the outside proved to be a perfect match for the exterior.

IF we can locate the owner, we will definitely try to get a look inside. Barring that; there are 1 or 2 of those condos for sale, and we will ask a realtor if they have the same layout.

To RoboDemise:

Oh, I am a fan. But I'm a fan of all cinema, not just Robocop. I guess I am tied to this thread, because I realized it was filmed here in Dallas, and I had quick and easy access to most of the locations, and I like making little documentary-type films. Sorry if I am being one-dimensional. If it helps, I am also wanting to build a Detroit Police Ford Taurus, and the police helmet, as well. when I get more done on those, I will have more input in other threads.


I found something for you!

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9243-Church-Rd-Dallas-TX-75231/26867884_zpid/


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:46 pm



-----------------------------------

Cool! Yeah, it's not that huge property in the back, but in the cluster of light gray condos, it's in the bottom left corner of that picture. (So 9243 may not be the exact address, as that is a private road. But it is close.)

Edit: 9233 Church Road #107, Dallas TX 75231 (I think this is right physical address.) P.S. Townhome # 101 is for sale, and $105 is for rent.

Edit # 2: This has got to be some sort of joke. # 107 is owned by Dick Jones?!?

http://dfw.blockshopper.com/property/0021M650000B00107/9233_church_road_unit_107


-----------------------------------

beer

Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:17 pm



-----------------------------------

Cool! Yeah, it's not that huge property in the back, but in the cluster of light gray condos, it's in the bottom left corner of that picture. (So 9243 may not be the exact address, as that is a private road. But it is close.)

Edit: 9233 Church Road #107, Dallas TX 75231 (I think this is right physical address.) P.S. Townhome # 101 is for sale, and $105 is for rent.

Edit # 2: This has got to be some sort of joke. # 107 is owned by Dick Jones?!?

http://dfw.blockshopper.com/property/0021M650000B00107/9233_church_road_unit_107


Lol. Maybe it was bougth by Orion Studios? Jones house.

House of Murphy! http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sugexp=eiatsh&cp=38&gs_id=7&xhr=t&aq=f&aqi=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1440&bih=779&q=9233+Church+Road+%23107,+Dallas+TX+75231&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x864ea0120ff5f6d3:0x236c625364c1722,9233+Church+Rd,+Dallas,+TX+75231&sa=X&ei=niXqT8ztKcGg0QXLy-WHAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAUQ8gEwAA


-----------------------------------

sriramr9

Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:32 am



-----------------------------------


Edit # 2: This has got to be some sort of joke. # 107 is owned by Dick Jones?!?

http://dfw.blockshopper.com/property/0021M650000B00107/9233_church_road_unit_107

Has he survived the fall and went buying this property having got fired from OCP, and it's dues. ?

Thanks a lot 5th beatle,  hope you throw in some info about the stretcher scene location ?


-----------------------------------

POCOBOR

Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:18 pm



-----------------------------------

This may be the closest we get to the Murphy house. From what I can tell the house is part of a group of condo/apartment complex where many of the residences look the same. So unless we find out the suite/apartment number to the exact house they filmed in...
Here is the real estate page for 9233 Church street. There's a 25 picture slide show that includes the waving goodbye scene from RoboCop and if you scroll down to the info on the house they include a little Robo trivia about the place. 
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9233-Church-Rd-Dallas-TX-75231/2123193760_zpid/


-----------------------------------

AceAlive1

Sat Jun 30, 2012 4:27 pm



-----------------------------------

someone get out to dallas.....lol


-----------------------------------

RoboWags

Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:26 pm



-----------------------------------

Great stuff!  Can't wait to see the final product!


-----------------------------------

POCOBOR

Sat May 11, 2013 10:56 pm



-----------------------------------

Leaving Dallas now. Sadly I didn't have time to go location hunting. One of these days I will, my sister lives there. Probably won't find anything we haven't seen unless I can find the location from the mom n pop liquor store.


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:37 pm


Re: Robocop 1 locations: then and now (25 year retrospective

-----------------------------------

My friends and I live in or near Dallas, so we are putting together a little retrospective on the 
http://www.questvideoproduction.com/Robocoplocations.html


Any chance of a re-upload, the original link is dead.


-----------------------------------

Stan The Man

Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:51 am



-----------------------------------

Holy old thread, Batman!

That said, I believe this is their same video on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s3gpiruJxc.


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:23 pm



-----------------------------------

Sometimes the old ones are the best.

Brilliant, thanks for the link mate. :)


-----------------------------------

CoboRop

Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:42 pm



-----------------------------------

Its taken a couple of years but I think I have finally found an aerial photo of the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Mill in Monessen where the conclusion of Robocop was filmed!! :)

http://oi58.tinypic.com/24zcglf.jpg

http://oi58.tinypic.com/2a9nzgp.jpg

The aerial photo was taken in 1993.

[EDIT] Just noticed that the furthest left red line is pointing at the wrong building, my bad.


-----------------------------------

TODD-209

Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:22 pm



-----------------------------------

Holy old thread, Batman!

That said, I believe this is their same video on YouTube - 

I hate to gush, but...what does it say about a film when it elicits excitement even when cheap videos are made about the filming locations almost thirty-years later? Heck, the silly re-enactments brought back great memories of awesome scenes. I hate to sound like a fanboy, but how many films have that kind of effect and legacy? That's awesome...


-----------------------------------

guix

Thu Mar 12, 2015 2:51 pm



-----------------------------------

Hello, I found other pictures of the mill
[url=http://www.woodhavenhistoric.com/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/3/5/356938pvx.jpg.jpg]Pic 1
[url=http://www.steelcactus.com/OLD_PGH_A09.jpg]Pic 2


Look at Picture 2 carefully. Apart from the "entrance" in the bottom center of the picture (which is also the place where Clarence do a half turn with his car, just after Robocop shot Joe), and the "pool" at the right, can you find other locations that were used for filming?

Here is what I found:
[url=http://i.solidfiles.net/f59742585b.jpg]When Emil tries to crush Robocop
[url=http://i.solidfiles.net/8c507987e5.jpg]When Clarence tries to escape


-----------------------------------

POCOBOR

Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:33 am



-----------------------------------

Okay I'm a little too excited about this right now but I've been working on it off and on for years now.   I'm about 90% sure I found the location for the liquor store robbery.   The only inkling I've ever had to go on is the address given on movie-locations.com which shows 378 S Industrial Blvd.  Well there ain't much there in the way of gas stations/liquor stores so to make a long story short, I've used my Columbo-like detective skills and found a different (but similar) address from the description the website gave and the first thing I saw was a liquor store!   And going by the exterior layout and comparing it to the scene itself (the building size in general, layout of the doors and windows) I think I've found it.   Let me know what you guys think.  Sorry for the extra homework but all I can provide at the moment is the physical address that should take you right to it on google maps/street view.  Wish I could provide some comparison shots.  

The address is:   339 S Riverfront Bld.  Dallas, TX


-----------------------------------

fifth_beatle

Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:06 am



-----------------------------------

Well, crap! I didn't realize I had let my Quest Video Production site lapse. I will have to go back to my notes so I can get all the location addresses. Oh, by the way, we are hopefully going to be doing some additional shooting for some of the locations that were left off the first time we filmed (hopefully Bob Morton's house, for one). There is also going to be a 30th anniversary screening outside the City Hall, with a Peter Weller Q&A on September 10th, for anyone interested.

