Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

I have been an SJP fan since looooooooong before Sex and the City premiered. Back in grade school, my friend Nat introduced me to a little 80s flick starring Sarah Jessica Parker called Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and from that moment on I have been absolutely obsessed. Along with my other fave 80s movie, License to Drive, I literally think I watched Girls Just Wanna Have Fun at least once a week throughout my childhood. For those who have never seen it, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is a little bit Dirty Dancing, a little bit So You Think You Can Dance, with a little bit of The Cutting Edge mixed in – what more could you ask for? πŸ™‚ The movie is also CHOCK full of stars. Besides SJP, GJWHF co-starred Jonathan Silverman, Helen Hunt and my all time fave, Brenda Walsh herself, Shannen Doherty! So can’t wait for 90210 2.0 to premiere, but I digress. Anyway, I grew up believing that all of GJWHF was filmed in and around the Chicago area. So last week when I discovered that some filming took place at John Marshall High School, I decided to dig a little further to see if I could find some other LA locations from the movie. And I am happy to report that I was successful! πŸ™‚

In the very beginning of the movie, Helen Hunt takes SJP with her on a babysitting job so that the two of them can watch “DanceTV” together. While watching the scene where the girls walk to the house where they are to babysit, I noticed a street sign in the background which said “200 S. Plymouth Blvd”. So I did a little Zillow stalking and it turns out that there IS a South Plymouth Boulevard in Los Angeles. In that scene, the girls walk past a HUGE brick house on a large corner lot before making their way to their babysitting job at the house next door. When I zoomed in on Zillow to see a larger view of the homes on Plymouth Boulevard, I spotted the large brick house the girls walk past! So I immediately hopped in my car and set out to stalk the place in person. πŸ™‚

Pulling up to the house, I could not have been more excited. It’s pretty silly actually, as only one very brief scene took place at this location, but I was floored just the same! I felt like I was one step closer to finding the brick apartment building SJP’s character lived at in the movie – a location I have always wanted to stalk!

I am happy to report that the large brick house looked exactly the same as it did 23 years ago when filming took place. The home is very beautiful in person and it’s easy to see why filmmakers chose to use it in GJWHF as it definitely looks like it would be located in a midwest suburb.

The Plymouth Boulevard street sign that gave me my big stalking clue as to the home’s location is also still in the same exact spot it was during filming. πŸ™‚

After stalking the brick home, I made my way next door to stalk the house where HH and SJP babysat. Although only the front porch area of the home was shown during filming, it was easy to see that it was the same house used in GJWHF. You will notice the house number “217” in the background of the above screen capture. Those same gold house numbers are still there in real life. πŸ™‚

My next stalking mission is to find SJP’s apartment from the movie (pictured in above screen capture). Does it look familiar to anyone?? I have a feeling that this location is going to keep me up at night for the next few weeks. πŸ™‚

For those who have not seen Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, I highly recommend renting it. It is a GREAT 80s movie and just as much fun to watch today as it was in 1985. πŸ™‚

Until next time, Happy Stalking! πŸ™‚

Stalk It: The house SJP and HH walk by in the movie is located at 201 S. PlymouthΒ Blvd. in Los Angeles. The house where the girls babysit is located next door at 217 S. Plymouth Blvd.

9 Replies to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!”

  1. Do you know if any of GJWTHF was shot in Chicago? Ive always wanted to check it out, its been my favorite movie since well I can remember! Im going to have to check out the LA locations this winter when Im out that way!

    1. Hi Shannon,
      Amazingly enough, none of GJWTHF was shot in Chicago – it was filmed in its entirety in L.A. πŸ™‚ You should definitely stalk the locations while you are out here. They are some of my favorites.
      Happy Stalking :),
      Lindsay

  2. Archie’s is actually Johnnie’s Broiler but it was demolished 2-3 years ago, many residents complained that the new owner of the property was not aware of the history behind Johnnie’s and protested for days but it ended up being demolished…Johnnie’s Broiler (Archies Atomic Diner) was also used in can’t hardly wait, Heat etc. etc….Johnnie’s Broiler on wilshire was used in American History X.

  3. License To Drive is one of my fav 80’s movies. Can’t wait for you to stalk out some of those locations. Here’s a tip: Archies Atomic Diner – 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey CA 90241

  4. Lindsay,

    LOVE this movie too and its so great to know it wasnt filmed in Chicago as I had always thought as well. I love how the brick house looks just as it did all those years ago…..its really amazing! And its cool to see the 217 on the house next door. Its those little things in location stalking that I find to be SO cool, yet hard to explain to someone who isnt into the hunt.

    I hope someone willl help you find the apt. building. I know what its like to be on the prowl for a specific location. I know you’ll keep us posted.

    Kerry:)

  5. Ooh, you’re GOOD. I love how you tracked this brick house down. And it does look the same after all these years! How fun.

    I caught the second half of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” on cable the other night and it was such a kick to see all those stars looking SO young in it. -Julia

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