As one might imagine, its both a blessing and a curse.
I was in heaven.
It was actually the happiest time of my life.
Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker in 1993’s ‘Hocus Pocus.‘Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection
Being from California, it was the first time Id ever really witnessed that in real life.
Mick Garris (Co-screenwriter/Co-executive Producer):Taking a trip to Salem was the thing that exploded my imagination.
Id never been there before, and I went right before Halloween.
That trip was probably the biggest influence of all [on my script].
Its why the movie, in my head, had a lot more shadows.
William Sandell:We were in Salem on Halloween shooting on the tercentenary anniversary of the witch trials.
They were building the Salem witchcraft victims memorial while we were there.
They inscribed on each of the stones the last words that they said on the gallows.
This is the historical fact of the witch trials.
Then we also have a modern witch community and then we have the pop-culture witches like the Sanderson sisters.
We could tell all of our stories, right?
The witch trials, the golden age of Salem, andHocus Pocus.
That more pop-culture piece of what was filmed here and filmed in other places, but was about here.
Give the people what they want, so to speak.
David Kirschner (Creator/Writer/Producer):I remember soaking in the vibe of Salem.
That wed show up in New England and all the leaves would be gone or everything is still green.
It was hard to predict.
We filled a five-ton truck full of orange-painted leaves.
Thats a lot of leaves, but we used them.
Good old-fashioned movie making, right?
It was just really cool that we were able to go to New England; that set the tone.
It set the stage for a lot of really good historical discovery and layering.
Steve Voboril (Elijah):The locals in Salem were literally on set walking around like, Hi!
She says, This is your wand to protect you from the witches.
I still have it.
Russell Bobbitt (Prop Master):Were shooting in Salem.
I think its the scene where Max is riding his bicycle through town and he gets his shoes stolen.
This little boy walks up to me, hes got to be eight years old.
He goes, I know who you are.
I was like, Okay, this is weird.
He goes, I just love movies.
I pay attention to everything and Im just really into it.
I was like, Okay, weird, but he was just a nice little kid.
He had no fear.
He goes, I want to give you my phone number.
Can I have your phone number?
Im gonna stay pen pals with you.
He was really legit, so I said, Of course, well stay in touch.
Im married, I have kids, and I was like, Well, okay.
Weird moment number two.
I called the parents and theyre free-spirited people.
If you want to have him, great.
The kid comes out, we have a great time.
He comes to the set with me.
He goes back home.
Next year, he calls me again.
Im spending a week with Ivan Reitman and another week with Al Pacino.
Id like to spend a week with you.
I was like, Okay, Jeremy, come and visit.
He did this for many years.
He went to school for law, but now hes [Successionstar] Jeremy Strong.
There are a couple of floors that are very active.
Laurie Cabot, the official witch of Salem, had her crystal shop right by.
Id always wonder where they were going.
I would walk in the cemeteries at night and you could peek into these old crypts.
I really did a lot of research on Salem witches.
The horrible ways these women were treated.
I wish it wasnt in my head.
Accuracy wasnt that important to Kenny, but it was important to the art department.
Rosemary Brandenburg:Im definitely a research maven.
My father was a historian and professor of history.
My mother was an art historian.
I was dragged around to every museum in the world.
I love the process of finding historic detail.
Sometimes it puts me at odds with a director.
They were working strictly from what was available in the prop houses at the studios.
you’re free to see the same stove over and over again.
I just prefer primary references, as historians say; really going to the historical documents.
You rust them up and you stick them in the set.
We just really took it seriously.
Mary Vogt (Costume Designer):so you can exaggerate, you have to start with realism.
When you start doing any kind of research, the best thing to do is to read peoples diaries.
That is the closest to the truth.
Its not an interpretation, its actually there.
They usually mention the clothes and things they packed and things they did during the day.
Kate Fox:People dont realizeHocus Pocusis fiction, which boggles my mind.
We have lots of requests for, Wheres the Sanderson sisters house?
In LA on a soundstage.
William Sandell:Pioneer Village is the wildest thing of all.
It was a rainy, drizzly day.
No one was there.
I poke my head into one of the buildings and theres this woman sitting there darning something.
She says, Hello, good sir, come on in.
Is the weather so bad?
Im getting goose bumps right now just telling this story.
She says, Where are you from?
I said, Well, Im from California.
She says, Oh, I dont know where that is.
Where would that be?
I said, Well, its a bit far away.
He says, Oh, its Gods work, and keeps on hoeing.
I take pictures of everything.
I go back to the studio and I say, I gotta see Kenny right away.
I go into his office in LA and Im still in shock.
He says, Whats the matter with you?
Your eyes are all bugged out.
Im like, I just got back from the East Coast on a scout.
We gotta go right away.
It really was the coolest thing I ever saw.
(The houses inHome AloneandTwilightcame in first and second, respectively.)
We had a really fun crew that really got into it.
It was a very dramatic experience.
The movie also turned a private residence into one of the citys most Instagrammed sites.
William Sandell:I was looking for Max Dennisons house in Salem.
I picked that one because its so charming.
That house was actually right on the water on this beautiful little bay.
There was a big long scene where Max and his father have this heart-to-heart down on the beach.
I wanted to put them by the water because Salem is surrounded with water.
It was a huge important shipping port.
Everybody was a captain who was living in these marvelous homes.
Everything has a plaque, Captain so-and-so, 1801.
Theres just so much history there.
You just get a vibe.
Thats an important part of this conversation.
Theyre coming because they want to see the Sanderson sisters house, which doesnt exist.
Thats actually becoming a problem because so many visitors are going there.
We hit all the filming locations.
Governor Kim Driscoll:Everybody wants a picture in front of that house, thats for sure.
Thats probably the place most people go.
We now have to put up a police detail in front of the house.
I said, So do you hate me for picking your house for this thing?
She says, No, Bill.
We had the nicest talk, but I always wonder about that poor street.
Its just loaded with people getting their picture taken in front of their house.
She said, Everybodys pretty nice.
Nobody bangs on our door.
They just stand in the street and take a picture.
We painted a portrait of the Max Dennison house.
You see our painting in the movie, hanging in the hallway.
The owners still have that picture and its hanging in that same spot.
That was my gift to them.
Text copyright (C) 2024 by Disney Enterprises, Inc.
