Chicago, are you Home Alone?

[AlleyKat]

I love the "Home Alone" movies starring Macaulay Culkin. That stated, I am OBSESSED with the house used as the McCallister family's residence at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka.

Do any of you Disers know anything about the owners of that house?
Have any of you had the priviledge of being invited into that residence?

Zillow lists real estate information on the property, other than that, I've found nothing notable.

Thanks to any and all who provide information!

 

[roseprincess]

Sorry, I don't know anything about the house at all, but my kids and I do like the Home Alone movies

 

[AlleyKat]

Bumping because I'm hoping someone has a tad of information.

 

[Minnie_me]

I found this link that you might enjoy......

http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/h/homealone.html

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Alone

The Home Alone House, or more precisely 671 Lincoln Avenue,[2] is the three story detached house that was used while shooting the movies Home Alone (1990) and parts of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)[3]. It exists in Illinois in the inner-ring North Shore suburbs of Chicago, in the village of Winnetka which is located around 19 miles (30km) north of the city in New Trier Township, Cook County. The private property is worth just under $2.3 million as of August 2008, and was purchased by a single family on December 15th, 1988, who still own the house today. It was built in 1920 and boasts 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a fully-converted attic, a fireplace, a detached double garage and also a greenhouse.[4] It is listed as a Chicago-area tourist destination,[5] as well as being cited as an example of "How to Get Your Home in the Movies".[6]

 

[AlleyKat]

I found this link that you might enjoy......

http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/h/homealone.html

Thanks for sending me this but I've already "exhausted" any and all information that's available via the web.

I'm hoping and praying that SOMEONE either knows the house's owner and/or has actually been inside it.

I'm grasping at straws, but with almost 200,000 Dis members, I hoped at least one member had "the inside scoop".

 

[JR6ooo4]

I have not been inside that one, or the garage in highland park that ferris bueller pushed the ferrari out the back window.

But I have been in the school where the filmed the outside of "ferris bueller's day off". Four years I was inside that school. But the inside was not shot there. I think that was new trier (north?) in wilmette.

Mikeeee

 

[AlleyKat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Alone

Thanks Dan! Zillow lists the same information, complete with photos.

My goal is to find out who owns the house(what the homeowners profession is)and if the interior appears pretty much the same as it does in the Home Alone movies, nothing more.

 

[AlleyKat]

I have not been inside that one, or the garage in highland park that ferris bueller pushed the ferrari out the back window.

But I have been in the school where the filmed the outside of "ferris bueller's day off". Four years I was inside that school. But the inside was not shot there. I think that was new trier (north?) in wilmette.

Mikeeee

There are some great sites offering loads of information on the shooting locations of John Hughes movies.

I plan on visiting Chicago/Winnetka SOON and will make a point to visit all the shooting locations of Home Alone. I know cars are not allowed to "idle" in front of 671 Lincoln Avenue so walking s l o w l y down the sidewalk with camera in hand will be my modus operandi.

Several "genuis" filmakers have "doctored" the clip from the movie where the character of Kevin screams from the sting of the aftershave he slaps on.
On YouTube, they refer to it as a deleted scene as they have added a short bit at the end. The comments are laughable, making one realize that most folks don't pay attention!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Been by the outside of the that house on many occasions, its not far from my brother's house (he lives in Wilmette). I think my brother has attended the church that was featured in Home Alone (where Kevin sits with the older neighbor during the Christmas Even choir rehearsal). As I recall my brother saying, the family that lived there at the time the movie was made was paid around 100K to move out. They got all the gorgeus decorating done by the movie. I believe my brother said its a different family now. I doubt very seriously that all the decorating accents are still there, they would be sort of out of date now. But you can definitley drive by slowly, I have done it many times!

I'll ask him this week what he knows about that house and if I find anything out, I'll pm you!

The house that was used in the movie Ordinary People is also near him, up in that North Shore area of Chicago.

 

[AlleyKat]

its not far from my brother's house (he lives in Wilmette). I'll ask him this week what he knows about that house and if I find anything out, I'll pm you!

That's mighty generous of you! THANKS!

 

[mrsv98]

I have not been inside that one, or the garage in highland park that ferris bueller pushed the ferrari out the back window.

But I have been in the school where the filmed the outside of "ferris bueller's day off". Four years I was inside that school. But the inside was not shot there. I think that was new trier (north?) in wilmette.

Mikeeee

Oh lordy, did you go to GBN???!!! Class of '83

 

[rainy~daze]

I know cars are not allowed to "idle" in front of 671 Lincoln Avenue

you can drive past once, throw out a few nails, then drive past again, blowing out a tire. then get out of the car, with a dead cell phone battery and no jacket, go knock on the door and beg to use their phone to call AAA.

 

[mermaidlady]

I have not been inside that one, or the garage in highland park that ferris bueller pushed the ferrari out the back window.

But I have been in the school where the filmed the outside of "ferris bueller's day off". Four years I was inside that school. But the inside was not shot there. I think that was new trier (north?) in wilmette.

Mikeeee

did you go to Maine North? I went there from 1978-1981.

Go Norseman!!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Thanks Dan! Zillow lists the same information, complete with photos.

My goal is to find out who owns the house(what the homeowners profession is)and if the interior appears pretty much the same as it does in the Home Alone movies, nothing more.

Very seldom do they use actual home interiors for movie sets. This is true for many reasons. First, they would have remove all personal items from the area and anything with branding. For instance, I recently had a little film shot in my home for a local charity. They used my refrigerator in one scene. Everything in my refrigerator had to be removed or turned so that no labels show. If a product is recognizable, the film company must pay the owner of the product for its use in the film. It is called "branding".

Another reason they often do not use a real home is noise control. The smallest noises show up in the film audio. The sound of a refrigerator running can show up as a buzzing noise in the audio. A car driving by outside or a plane flying by can be a problem. A person mowing their yard in the area or a child yelling would also be considered a problem. Rain is a huge problem to film audio. Thus, production companies normally build the interior sets in a sound stage so they can have complete control. They use the outside of the real home for exterior shots.

I've learned a ton about film production recently and it is a fascinating process.

You might be able to contact the film production company about this, but I'll bet money that the interior shots were not made at the home.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

My goal is to find out who owns the house(what the homeowners profession is).

Why?

I'm sorry, but that sounds like borderline stalking. If the owners wanted it to be public knowledge, you would be able to find it much easier. Why on earth do you need to know their profession?

But since you will be in the area, you could always stop by the city office and peruse the land records.

 

[AlleyKat]

Why?
I'm sorry, but that sounds like borderline stalking.

Perhaps you should look up the definition of stalking.

Why on earth do you need to know their profession?

Did I state I need to "know their profession"? I stated it's a goal of mine, if it's not met, my life will go on as usual.

If you truly believe in asking "Lots of Questions", you'd realize a healthy curiosity is just that, nothing more.

Ask away, but don't misconstrue statements as you see fit.

 

[roseprincess]

I wouldn't know the profession of the family living at that house, but I'm guessing they are doctors or lawyers j/k

 

[marlynnp]

yeah, I know the owners and they'd like your full name and address so they can get a restraining order right away!

 

[AlleyKat]

I wouldn't know the profession of the family living at that house, but I'm guessing they are doctors or lawyers j/k

It's a career that generates a fabulous income, that's for sure!