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# ''Nothing''
  
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# Honest Joe Statler's Fine Horses (in different location this spot actually empty)
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===[[1955]]===
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# Roys Record Store
 
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# Hal's Bike Shop
 
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# Lawerence BLDG
 
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# Essex Theater (as a mainstream movie house)
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# Hill Valley Police Department
 
# Hill Valley High School
  
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# Hill Valley Police Department
 
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# Hill Valley Police Department (owned by Biff)
 
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# Hill Valley High School (burned down 6 years earlier)
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# ''Unknown''
   
 
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===[[2015]]===
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# Eclipse - Contemporary & Traditional Lighting Store
 
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# Hill Valley Police Department
  
# Hill Valley Police Department
 
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== Unique places ==
  
== Unique places ==

Revision as of 19:50, 7 March 2010

Welcometohillvalley

Hill Valley - A Nice Place to Live

Hillvalleyhover2015

Hill Valley - A Nice Place to Live

Hill Valley, California, was the hometown of the McFly family, the Brown family, the Tannen family, as well as several thousands more.

History

Early settlement

The town of Hill Valley was first settled in 1850 and was incorporated in 1865. By the 1880s, it was connected by railroad to San Francisco. Construction of a new county courthouse was well underway in 1885, the year a new clock was dedicated for the building. The Shonash Ravine Bridge was completed in the Summer of 1886, around the same time the ravine was renamed the Eastwood Ravine Bridge (or Clayton Ravine Bridge, depending upon which timeline one focuses upon).

Rise and fall of town square

The area around the courthouse was developed in the following seventy years and by the 1950s had become the downtown of Hill Valley. A grass-covered town square was built in front of the courthouse, while stores, theatres and cafés opened on the surrounding streets. On Saturday, November 12 1955, at 10:04 p.m. PST, lightning struck the courthouse's clock tower, freezing the clock at 10:04. The clock was never repaired and as it became a landmark of Hill Valley over the years, it was preserved in its non-functional state by the Hill Valley Preservation Society.

By a few decades later, many of the town square businesses had moved or closed down. The new businesses which replaced them included a second-hand shop and an adult book store. The courthouse fell into a state of disrepair, while at night at least one homeless person slept on the town square park benches. To accommodate the growing need for parking space, the grassy park outside of the courthouse was converted into a parking lot. What happened to everybody's home town is obviously the same thing. They built the mall out in the boonies, and killed all the business downtown, and everything changed.

By the 21st century, the downtown area had experienced a revival as the courthouse was converted into the Courthouse Mall. Businesses began to move back into and around the town square and the parking lot was converted into a pond. The clock on top of the courthouse was still preserved at 10:04 due to the continuous efforts of the Hill Valley Preservation Society.

Signs that say "Welcome to Hill Valley" are seen in 1955 and 2015. Both signs have symbols representing the Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs. In addition, the 1955 sign has the logos of the Hill Valley Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Jaycees, Camp Fire Girls, American Legion Auxilary, the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, Optimist International, and Future Farmers of America while the 2015 sign has those of Crime Watch, the 4-H Club, and three other logos.

1985A

Due to the influence of the powerful and corrupt Biff Tannen, gambling was legalized in 1979. Tannen's toxic waste reclamation plants were built downtown, polluting the air and leading to pollution alerts to be issued. Tannen also bought off the police. Consequently, crime increased and biker gangs settled in the city. Hill Valley's public school burned down and the courthouse was converted into Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino & Hotel.

Location

Hill Valley was located in Northern California, 12 miles east of Grass Valley, and with railway links to San Francisco. U.S. Route 395 passed through Hill Valley with a directional route shield posted in Courthouse Square. The town was nestled in rolling foothills, with an apparently temperate, albeit semi-arid climate, and, although there was a desert within walking distance of the town, the nearby lake froze over in the winter.

The signs in Hill Valley also indicate that U.S. Route 8 can be reached from downtown, although that route is in Wisconsin. On the other hand, U.S. Route 395 and U.S. Route 6 intersect in Inyo County, California, near the town of Bishop, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Death Valley desert.

Recurring places

Many family businesses are passed down from generation to generation in Hill Valley. As a result, the city changes but remains similar from one generation to the next, as businesses are updated but rarely change.

The following is a list of such places.


1885

Clocktower1885

The Courthouse and Clock Tower, still under construction on September 3rd, 1885.

Some buildings shown in 1885 scenes are actually located further down the street in an area not shown in the first 2 movies.

  1. Hill Valley Courthouse & Clock Tower (under construction)
  2. Nothing
  3. Nothing
  4. Honest Joe Statler's Fine Horses (in different location this spot actually empty)
  5. Wells Fargo & Co
  6. Nothing
  7. Building under construction
  8. Nothing
  9. Nothing
  10. Nothing
  11. Nothing
  12. Unknown
  13. Unknown
  14. Marshal's Office
  15. Palace Saloon
  16. Unknown
  17. Unknown
  18. Unknown
  19. Livery and Feed Stable
  20. Building under construction
  21. Hill Valley Telegraph
  22. A. Jones Manure Handling
  23. Unknown
  24. Nothing
  25. Nothing
  26. Sheriff
  27. Hill Valley School
  28. Nothing

1955

Clocktower1955

The Clock Tower gets hit by lightning at 10:04 p.m. on November 12th, 1955.

  1. Hill Valley Courthouse
  2. Town Theater
  3. Holt's Diner
  4. Statler Studebaker
  5. Ruth's Frock Shop
  6. Jacobson & Field Attorneys at Law
  7. Western Auto Stores
  8. Bluebird Motel
  9. Elite Barber Shop
  10. Hill Valley Stationeers
  11. Zale's Jewlers
  12. J.D. Armstrong Realty
  13. Ask Mr. Foster Travel Service
  14. Bank of America
  15. Lou's Cafe
  16. Roys Record Store
  17. Texaco full-service station
  18. Hal's Bike Shop
  19. Lawerence BLDG
  20. Essex Theater (as a mainstream movie house)
  21. Hill Valley Telegraph
  22. D. Jones Manure Handling
  23. Twin Pines Ranch
  24. Lyon Estates (under development)
  25. Nothing
  26. Hill Valley Police Department
  27. Hill Valley High School
  28. Pohatchee drive-in theater


1985

Clocktower1985

The aging courthouse and non-functional Clock Tower on October 25th, 1985.

  1. Hill Valley Courthouse - Department of Social Services
  2. Town Theater (as a church)
  3. Elmo's Rib
  4. Statler Toyota
  5. Goodwill Industries
  6. Empty (entrance now barred up)
  7. Empty Store (Displaying Re-Elect Mayor Goldie Wilson Signage)
  8. Empty Store (formally Motel now displaying "Out of Business" Sign)
  9. Empty Store (Sign on window saying "We Moved to Twin Pines Mall")
  10. Cupid's Adult Book Store
  11. Abrams Brokerage Corporation
  12. Loans
  13. Ask Mr. Foster Travel Service
  14. Bank of America
  15. Lou's Fitness Aerobics Center (Origonaly Lou's Cafe in 1955)
  16. The Third Eye
  17. Texaco gas station
  18. Hog Heaven
  19. Broadway Florist
  20. Essex Theater (as an adult movie house showing "Orgy, American Style")
  21. Hill Valley Telegraph
  22. Unknown
  23. Twin Pines Mall (becomes Lone Pine Mall after Marty knocks down a tree in 1955)
  24. Lyon Estates
  25. Hilldale (under development)
  26. Hill Valley Police Department
  27. Hill Valley High School
  28. Unknown


Alternate 1985

Clocktower1985-A

The courthouse was converted into a casino by Biff Tannen in the alternate October 26th, 1985.

  1. Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino & Hotel (Where The Coruthouse Was Once Standing)
  2. Biffco Toxic Waste Reclamation Plant
  3. DeeDee Delight BAR
  4. Adult Toys
  5. Tanya Errotic Sex Goddess
  6. Bad Rap Bail Bonds
  7. SAGE
  8. Video Nude Hardcore Movies
  9. Unknown
  10. Hell Hole XXX
  11. Unknown
  12. Unknown
  13. Unknown
  14. Naughty XXX
  15. Unknown
  16. Unknown
  17. Unknown
  18. Unknown
  19. Unknown
  20. Unknown
  21. Unknown (Hill Valley Telegraph still in operation but most likely in a new location)
  22. Unknown
  23. Unknown
  24. Lyon Estates
  25. Unknown
  26. Hill Valley Police Department (owned by Biff)
  27. Hill Valley High School (burned down 6 years earlier)
  28. Unknown

2015

Clocktower2015

The historic Courthouse Mall on October 21st, 2015.

  1. Hill Valley Courthouse Mall
  2. Hill Valley Theater (closed)
  3. Fusion Bar
  4. Statler Pontiac Sales and Hover Conversions
  5. Hill Valley Gifts
  6. Simulex
  7. Sight Sound and Mind
  8. Mr Perfect All Natural Steroids
  9. Flying High Kite Store
  10. Eclipse - Contemporary & Traditional Lighting Store
  11. Pizza Hut
  12. True Blues
  13. Uniglobe Travel
  14. Hill Valley Transit (Second floor advertising Goldie Wilson Hover Conversions)
  15. Cafe 80's
  16. Blast From The Past Antique Store
  17. 7-Eleven (first floor) and Texaco automated Havoline station (second floor)
  18. The Bot Shoppe
  19. Hill Valley Surrogate Parenting Center
  20. Holomax Theater
  21. Unknown (building displaying Skyway Information)
  22. Unknown
  23. Unknown
  24. Unknown
  25. Hilldale
  26. Hill Valley Police Department
  27. Hill Valley Remedial School
  28. Unknown

Unique places

Despite Hill Valley's notable consistency, many businesses do appear and disappear over the years, as their services begin being needed or become obsolete. The following is a list of businesses that have no known equivalent in other time periods.

1885

1955

1985

1985A

  • Biffco Realty

2015

Behind the scenes

In addition to the main plot, the films contain many sight gags, verbal innuendos and detailed set design elements, from which a detailed and consistent history and geography of the area can be derived. The name Hill Valley is itself a joke, being an oxymoron, or contradiction in terms.

Shooting locations

Hill Valley Court House

The set of the Hill Valley courthouse at the Universal Studios backlot.

For Back to the Future, the producers considered filming the town square scenes in the real city of Petaluma, California, but soon realized it would be prohibitively expensive and impractical to alter a real place to suit the different eras.[1] Instead they filmed it on the Universal Studios backlot, where they had more control.[2] The main location, known as Courthouse Square, already existed and had been previously used for many films and television shows. [3] The Hill Valley courthouse can also be found in the movies Bruce Almighty, Gremlins, Sneakers, The Offspring's music video "Why Don't You Get a Job?" and even in an episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The clock tower itself, however, was a removable addition to the existing Courthouse building, one of many ways in which the structure has been redressed over the years to suit the needs of a production. Prior to Back to the Future, the backlot location was called Mockingbird Square, a reference to the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird.[4]

GoogleEarth-BTTFfilminglocations

Google Earth map showing filming locations for Hill Valley spread across a large area of Southern California.

Many of the cars that appear in the 2015 scenes are either modified for the film or concept cars. Examples include Ford Probe, Saab EV-1, Citroën DS 21, Pontiac Banshee Concept and Pontiac Fiero. Cars reused from other science fiction films include the "Star Car" from The Last Starfighter (1984) and a "Spinner" from Blade Runner (1982). Griff's car is a modified BMW convertible.[5]

For Back to the Future Part III, Hill Valley 1885 was filmed in Sonora, California. The producers were able to use the land rent free as long as they left the buildings there. They agreed to leave everything except the Clock Tower. Interestingly, on August 10, 1996, a lightning bolt struck the town and it burned down. An arson fire on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot on November 6, 1990 had previously destroyed much of Courthouse Square, the setting in which all the other time periods were filmed. However, the Courthouse itself survived the devastation.[6] Another backlot fire on September 6, 1997 again damaged Courthouse Square. In both cases, the backlot facades were then rebuilt. The Sonora location was not rebuilt. In addition, a February 14, 1999 fire at Whittier High School, where some (mostly exterior) scenes were filmed[7], destroyed the old men's gym there.

Other real-life shooting locations of Hill Valley landmarks include the following: [7]

See also Category:Filming locations

Appearances

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See also

References

  1. ↑ Template:Cite video
  2. ↑ Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, Q&A, Back to the Future DVD, recorded at the University of Southern California
  3. ↑ Gallery. Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour. Universal Studios Inc.. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  4. ↑ Courthouse Square. thestudiotour.com. www.theatrecrafts.com/. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  5. ↑ Template:Cite video
  6. ↑ Universal Studios Hollywood History File: November 6 1990. thestudiotour.com. www.theatrecrafts.com/. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 [[Bruce Gordon|Gordon, Bruce]] (1995). Back to the Future - For Real!. www.BTTF.com, reprinted from Hill Valley Telegraph #16. To Be Continued.... Retrieved on 2006-12-03.


v - e - d
Back to the Future film series logo
Media
Films: Back to the Future • Back to the Future Part II • Back to the Future Part III • Back in Time

Music: Back to the Future • Back to the Future Part III • The Back to the Future Trilogy (soundtrack)
Video games: Back to the Future (1985 computer game) • Back to the Future (video game) • Back to the Future Part II • Back to the Future Part III • Back to the Future Part II & III • Universal Studios Theme Park Adventure • Back to the Future: The Game • LEGO Dimensions
Other media: Back to the Future: The Ride • Back to the Future: The Animated Series • Back to the Future (musical) • Back to the Future: The Pinball

Characters
Marty McFly • Emmett Brown • Biff Tannen
Universe
DeLorean time machine • Hill Valley • Hoverboard • Nike MAG
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