Twin Peaks Film Location – The Palm Deluxe Hotel From The Missing Pieces

Phillip Jeffries checking into the Palm Deluxe Hotel in Buenos Aires

For years, I longed to see the deleted scenes in my favorite David Lynch film, Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me. Before The Missing Pieces was released in 2014, the closest I got to “seeing” these scenes was a script-to-screen comparison on Dugpa.com. One of those scenes included Special Agent Phillip Jeffries checking into The Palm Deluxe Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As it turns out, this brief scene was shot in Seattle, Washington at the same location as the FBI Office in the film.

ST. CABRINI HOSPITAL

Google Maps Aerial View of St. Cabrini Hotel location in downtown Seattle, WA
Google Maps

The crew used the former St. Cabrini Hospital once located at 967 Boren Ave in Seattle, Washington. This spot was confirmed by Brad Dukes, author of “Reflections: An Oral History of Twin Peaks” on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/itmebradd/status/1021157764314300419

Before the location was a hospital, it opened in 1907 as the Hotel Perry or Perry Apartments (see this article from Seattle historian Paul Dorpat)

Black and white photo of the Perry Hotel in downtown Seattle, Washington
Photo courtesy of John Cooper

Shortly after Brad’s confirmation, HistoryLink.org, the online encyclopedia of Washington State history, shared this photo on Twitter. More on that in a moment.

I figured the hotel scene was probably shot around the same location and time as the FBI Office scene. It would have been easier for David Bowie to shoot all of his scenes at one time (similar to how the crew shot Season 3).

So let’s break down the scene – both Jeffries checking into the hotel and his otherworldly return from the FBI Office in Philadelphia.

HOTEL LOBBY

A lady playing a harp in the lobby of the Palm Deluxe Hotel in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me with the subtitle "Buenos Aires"
Fire Walk With Me

The scene opens with a lady playing a song on a giant harp.

Two gentlemen talking in the lobby of the Palm Deluxe Hotel in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me
Fire Walk With Me
Two people checking into the the Palm Deluxe hotel at the front desk in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me
Fire Walk With Me

The camera pans from the harp to two gentlemen smoking to a couple checking in a the hotel’s front desk.

ENTER PHILLIP JEFFRIES

A couple is at the front desk of the Palm Deluxe Hotel while the camera looks down a hallway. A gentleman in a hat is sitting in a chair near the hall
Fire Walk With Me

The camera stops just past and hangs on a hallway. There is a seated gentleman who is also smoking on the left side of the screen. Take a closer look at the hallway.

A couple is at the front desk of the Palm Deluxe Hotel while the camera looks down a hallway. A gentleman in a hat is sitting in a chair near the hall. A red circle indicates the spot where David Bowie's red shoes are seen.
Fire Walk With Me.

This is one of my favorite details in this scene – Phillip Jeffries red shoes! He waits a beat before entering the hotel lobby carrying a suitcase.

JEFFRIES CHECKS IN

Fire Walk With Me

Jeffries checks in asking if Judy is staying there. He is given a letter by the Head Clerk (Hirsh Diamant) (what does it say?!), and a bellhop is called over to get his suitcase. Notice the couple in the hall.

Bell service employee in a floral print shirt carries luggage while Phillip Jeffries walks closely behind
Fire Walk With Me

Phillip and the bellboy pass through the lobby toward another set of stairs.

At this time, we return to Paul Dorpat’s website with an article from 2009. Fellow historian John Cooper shared a series of early 1900s postcard images of the Perry Hotel. Those postcard images is similar to the one shared by HistoryLink.

Colorized postcard of the Perry Hotel lobby in Seattle WashingtonPhoto courtesy of John Cooper

Colorized postcard of the Perry Hotel lobby in Seattle Washington
Photo courtesy of John Cooper

The above images are the ONLY images I found of this location. I searched everywhere on the internets but clearly no one took or published photos of the lobby at the Perry Hotel or St. Cabrini Hospital.

Now compare the scene below with the image above.

Bell services employee and Agent Jeffries leaving the hotel lobby while a couple follows closely behind
Fire Walk With Me

Those ornate windows! The stairs! The appear to match the postcard image. Oh, that couple from the hallway are now following them.

Colorized postcard of the Perry Hotel entrance in Seattle, Washington
Photo courtesy of John Cooper

Similar ornate windows can be seen on the hotel’s outside as seen in this rendered postcard image shared by John Cooper.

A couple dances through the hotel lobby in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me
Fire Walk With Me

The first part of the hotel scene ends with a couple performing a Tango in the lobby while being followed by musicians.

JEFFRIES REAPPEARS

Fire Walk With Me

We return to the hotel after Jeffries brief return to the FBI Office. This scene was also shot at the now demolished Cabrini Hotel. I love this shot of the vacant stairs prior to Phillips’ sudden return.

Fire Walk With Me

A twisted image of Phillip Jeffries is shown on the stairs as he is transported back to the Buenos Aires hotel.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries on stairs in anguish in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries on stairs in anguish in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

While researching this scene frame by frame, I found these two awesome images of Phillip Jeffries.

Fire Walk With Me
The Missing Pieces
Fire Walk With Me
The Missing Pieces

The scene cuts to a bellhop and maid (Dori Guterson) who are frightened by Jeffries sudden reappearance. These two scenes are the reason why I believe they were also shot in the Cabrini Hospital.

Most likely they could have shot the stairwell scenes either on the sixth floor or perhaps the second floor (that awesome stairwell must lead somewhere).

The more important clue is the teal door trim.

Fire Walk With Me

That same color trim is seen in the scene where Jeffries exits the elevator.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries on stairs in anguish in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.
Fire Walk With Me

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries on stairs in anguish in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

More of Jeffries on the stairwell. I’m guessing the crew added the scorched wall design behind him.

Once the scene cuts back to the bellboy, we get more clues that confirm the location.

Fire Walk With Me

Take a look at the ceiling tile, the carpet and the teal door trim. Additionally, look at the door color.

Fire Walk With Me

Now look at the hallway of the FBI Office set.

The crew added those heavy red drapes, oversized paintings and other decor to make it appear like it was a hotel hallway. Since this was a former hospital, there are metal bumpers along the bottom of some doors. These were probably meant to prevent medical carts from scratching the doors.

I close this article with a look at an anguished Phillip Jeffries unsure where (or when) he is. David Bowie gave such a memorable (albeit brief) performance!

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries making anguished faces in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries making anguished faces in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries making anguished faces in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries making anguished faces in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries making anguished faces in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

David Bowie as Agent Phillip Jeffries making anguished faces in Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me.

 

2 thoughts on “Twin Peaks Film Location – The Palm Deluxe Hotel From The Missing Pieces

  1. My mom was the maid! Her name is Dori Guterson. I’m not joking I promise. She said that she went eye liner shopping with David Bowie at Nordstrom’s, I wish there were pictures.

    1. @Ava – Wow!!! That’s awesome. Thank you for sharing. Did you mother do any additional acting? Do you know how she was cast? I can only imagine how incredibly wild that was to go shopping with David Bowie.

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