Now and Then: An Photo Essay on Locations from Cameron Crowe’s Singles (1992)
32 years ago on the 19th of September in 1992, a romantic comedy with the backdrop of the upcoming music scene that would take over world: Singles.
On February 25th, 1991, Mookie Blaylock (now Pearl Jam) played a benefit show for their injured tour manager Eric ‘ Gunny Junk’ Johnson supporting Alice In Chains’ Facelift Tour at the Off Ramp in Seattle. The cast members of a movie first met at this show. The movie, Singles was due to start filming in Seattle on March 11th, 1991.
The connection to this movie and the local music scene shaped life. From the love of live music, wanting to learn guitar (Drop D Tuning was a game changer) to becoming a self proclaimed historian of the Seattle 90s music scene.
Linda’s apartment. Per Zillow, the residence is still occupied! Please remember that people live there, so you’ll want to respect their privacy if you stop by.
Linda (Kyra Sedgewick) gets her car fixed at University Auto Repair (the bench was added which is scene throughout the film). The name of the business has changed over the years, but it’s still there at 5330 Roosevelt Way NE. Current business is Recon Inc NW.
The Coryell Court apartment building is located at 1820 E. Thomas Ave on the corner of 19th and E. Thomas Ave in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Please remember that people live there, so you’ll want to respect their privacy if you stop by. Back in 2015, there was an attempt to stage a screening of the film on VHS in the not-very-big courtyard, but it was canceled after more than a thousand people RSVPed via Facebook.
The Alice in Chains concert footage was shot in a warehouse on the Seattle Waterfront that the production turned into a club. Fun fact: The band refused to do playback and held live show instead.
The bench where Linda (Kyra Sedgewick) and Ruth (Devon Raymond) while sitting next to the statue “He” and “She” are a pair of bronze sculptures by Howard Garnitz. This is directly across the street from the SIFF Cinema Downtown.
Re-bar was the setting for the scenes, where Linda and Ruth head outside, after spotting Luiz cheating. Linda cries in Ruth’s arms in front of a wall graffitied with Mother Love Bone. Also, Cameron Crowe portrays the Interviewer talking to Cliff about Citizen Dick.
When Steve and David stop to for directions to SODO, they cross paths with a street mime played by Eric Stolz. For the longest time I thought it was Chris Cornell.
The Java Stop where Janet (Bridget Fonda) and Cliff (Matt Dillon) work was located in the O.K. Hotel, under the Alaskan Way viaduct in Pioneer Square (212 Alaskan Way S.). The building is now the O.K. Hotel Apartments and offers 42 residential and art studio spaces.
Steve (Campbell Scott) and Linda had “water” at the Virginia Inn in the Belltown neighborhood.
The couple seated across from them, making out heavily, were played by Paul Giamatti and Alicia Roper.
The grocery store where Steve (Campbell Scott) buys the pregnancy tests from Doug (Jeremy Piven) was the Wallingford Food Giant, now the QFC
Debbie arriving to Expect The Best ( 1936 1st Ave ) with local actor, Heather Hughes ( 1967‑ 2012) and Tim Burton in his only acting role.
Debbie Hunt’s biking scene takes her all over Seattle, starting at a restaurant ‘ The Sea Merchant’ at the end of Lake Union (maybe Duke’s Seafood) and circling around to Waterfront Park on the Sound. Her trip includes The Fremont Bridge, Post Alley and Myrtle Edwards Park.
Steve’s work was located at the “Spam Can” building (Currently Metropolitan Park building) right down from Capitol Hill at 1730 Minor Avenue North. drive centers on creating a. “Supertrain” to end the traffic congestion.
The map in the image below looks closely like the new Sound Transit Light rail. Steve meets the Mayor (Tom Skerritt) at Chandlers Crabhouse (901 Fairview Ave N).
Left: The Soundgarden concert footage was shot at the Central Tavern. Right: Bronze statue sculpted by artist Nick Marra showcases Chris Cornell in one of his iconic poses with his signature boots, dog tag, layers and long locks. The statue has been donated to MoPOP.
Steve and Linda see a film at The Admiral Theater in West Seattle (2343 California Ave SW) right before their car accident at the intersection of California Avenue SW & SW Charleston Street.
Linda Powell and Steve Dunne’s marriage proposal at Gas Works Park.
The Seattle music scene means the world to me. It gave a socially awkward teen an outlet to express himself through photography and art. I feel lucky to have lived in Seattle during the 90s music explosion. Looking forward to what the future brings to the Emerald City.
Special thanks to the team at TheUncool.com, who provided invaluable BTS content and some images for within this post.
