"Kill Squad" was completed in October 1980, but the distribution was delayed until 1982. By June of that year, it was the 12th highest grossing movie in the nation. As of June 9th it raked in $465,572. There were 23 locations, and they spent one day per location except for the Vietnam, and Cement company scenes. Cameron Mitchell worked 3 days on the movie.
Locations in order of appearance:
1889 W San Carlos St. This was the Burbank Club and it's now Burbank Antiques. K & K Music sold musical instruments since 1973. Now, they sell DJ equipment.
510 S 1st St. The building used to be the Center for Employment Training. It is now MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana). The trees and grass are gone, replaced with concrete and metal picnic tables.
366 S 1st St. The pimp is standing in the doorway of Camera One Theater. They began showing art house films in the early 80s. In 2004, it became an Art Gallery. The movie poster "Passion Procession" was an adult movie Donahue directed in 1976. Next door was Eulipia restaurant which had a small stage for hosting jazz music. In 2016, it became Cafe Stritch. Down the street was the Pussycat Theater, which closed in the late 80s. This area had a reputation for being the seedy part of town.
1420 S Bascom Ave. The site was being razed when I filmed it. A huge fire swept through Dick's Center on May 20, 2020.
120 W Mission St. Santa Clara County Public Defender occupies this building.
1271 S First Street. According to their website, "The Car Store is family owned and has been operating since 1977", but the sign says "Since 1975". The "World Motors" sign in the movie is real, and the name appears in the credits. I guess I should expect that from a used car joint.
South Bascom Ave. If you were an engineer or ham/CB radio enthusuaist, then you remember Quement Electronics. It was a bustling spot for geeks, until competitors like Frys Electronics, The Good Guys and Circuit City opened. The Bascom Library now stands in it's place. The Night Owl sign is still visible at 961 S Bascom, but now it says "Checks Cashed" (A&D Money Market). Mike Xenos moved to San jose in 1972 and opened Mike’s XLNT Foods. It was very successful, until he retired in 1991.
1601 Meridian Ave. Gunther and his family fled Nazi Germany in 1938. He opened his deli on January 15, 1971. From Gunther's FB page: "Our store was a cameo in the movie Kill Squad. A brief segment was shot in exchange for catering a cast and crew bbq on one of the sets in Coyote Park."
San Jose State University. Chain link fencing has been added to the parking garage, but it's not gated. You'll notice a change to the first floor of Duncan Hall where the sniper rappels to the ground. The new wall is part of the seismic retrofit from 1997.
Other locations I didn't film:
Mission City Rebar. The original location is gone. 1597 Grant St, Santa Clara. You can see the DeLa Cruz Ave overpass in the backgorund. The sniper's water tower is gone too. It was near El Camino, and Harrison St.
Concrete Service is now CEMEX, 1555 Russell Ave, Santa Clara. I couldn't film here, since it's private property.
Vietnam scenes were shot at Coyote-Hellyer Park.
Rose garden scenes are obviously at the Municipal Rose Garden, 1649 Naglee Ave, San Jose.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The old building is still standing. 751 S Bascom Ave.
Gold Rush Country-Western. I found this location after I completed the video. An old newspaper article said that it had a mechanical riding bull made by Gilley's (Urban Cowboy) and cost $2 per person. It was at 610 Coleman Ave, and opened in spring of 1980.
Office parking lot where secretary Lola quits her job. I couldn't find this location.
After the Bascom Ave scene, the driver runs into a residential neighborhood. A white building resembling Wienerschnitzel is visible, as well as a Hudson sign. I found the location after I completed this video. The triangular building is still standing at 274 Gifford Ave.
26 авг 2024
