Road Trip Diary: Finding 'Hocus Pocus' locations in Salem, Massachusetts

My daughter and I are big fans of the classic but corny Halloween favorite Hocus Pocus, so we were excited to have a chance to see in person some of the more iconic filming locations that are actual places in Salem, Massachusetts.

Max Dennison's house on Ocean Drive in Salem. The house overlooks the seacoast and is next door to the Salem Pioneer Village, where the 1690s village scenes were filmed. — Max Dennison’s house on Ocean Drive in Salem. The house overlooks the seacoast and is next door to the Salem Pioneer Village, where the 1690s village scenes were filmed. Photo © 2019 Keith Dotson.

The Old Town Hall at 161 Essex Street was the location of the Halloween party where Bette Midler enchanted the town's adult population with her rendition of "Put a Spell on You." — The Old Town Hall at 161 Essex Street was the location of the Halloween party where Bette Midler enchanted the town’s adult population with her rendition of “Put a Spell on You.” Photo © 2019 Keith Dotson.

The Ropes Mansion at 318 Essex Street provided the exterior of Allison's house, where Max and Dani talked Allison into visiting the old Sanderson house. — The Ropes Mansion at 318 Essex Street provided the exterior of Allison’s house, where Max and Dani talked Allison into visiting the old Sanderson house. Photo © 2019 Keith Dotson.

Salem Pioneer Village is a historic recreation of a 1690s-era New England village, situated on a picturesque piece of the Salem coast. This is where Thackery Binx ran after his sister, who was lured away by the Sanderson sisters' conjuring. — Salem Pioneer Village is a historic recreation of a 1690s-era New England village, situated on a picturesque piece of the Salem coast. This is where Thackery Binx ran after his sister, who was lured away by the Sanderson sisters’ conjuring. Photo © 2019 Keith Dotson.

Marblehead, Massachusetts: Location where the Bullies Steal Max’s Sneakers in the Cemetery

The scene where Max loses his sneakers on his way home from school was filmed not in Salem, but in nearby Marblehead, Massachusetts — in Old Burial Hill Cemetery. Below are two images for comparison.

First a screen shot from the movie Hocus Pocus showing the beginning of the scene in question. Did they really let that actor stand on top of an old tomb? The rock outcropping at left, and the tree in center frame can be used for comparison. Two white tombstones top left appear in my image as much more distant. It appears the set designer may have installed at least one artificial tombstone into the scene as well.

A screen shot from the movie Hocus Pocus showing the first meeting of Max and the two bullies. Did they really let that actor stand on top of an old tomb? — A screen shot from the movie *Hocus Pocus* showing the first meeting of Max and the two bullies. Did they really let that actor stand on top of an old tomb?

A photograph of the same location at Old Burial Hill taken in 2020. At center left is the leaning white headstone of Mary Doak, visible in the screen shot from the film. In the far distance at left are two matching white tombstones. Photo © 2020 Keith Dotson.

Thanks for reading!

Be sure to visit me on Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest, or on my website at keithdotson.com.

~ Keith

Marblehead, Massachusetts: Location where the Bullies Steal Max’s Sneakers in the Cemetery

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