In a recent Setting the Stage article, I examined the Lucky 7 Insurance building exterior from Twin Peaks on Showtime. This time, I explore the actual southern California film location that doubles as the Las Vegas headquarters.
BUILDING LOCATION
In Part 6, we learn the address for Lucky 7 Insurance thanks to a business card attached to a photo of Douglas Jones that Ike the Spike stabs.
Lucky 7 Insurance
7600 Main Street, Las Vegas, Nevada
PH: 702-555-6170
There is no building in Las Vegas with that address.
The building’s exterior scenes were actually shot at 801 N. Brand Boulevard in Glendale, California. The approximate coordinates for this location are 34°09’28.0″N 118°15’21.2″W.
Building tenants include New York Life, Americas United Bank, and Search Agency. Construction was completed for the 13-story modern office building in 1986.
In August 2017, Blackstone Group listed the building, and one adjacent at 700 N. Brand, for sale. They were estimated to be sold for $124 Million. In January 2018, CBRE Global Investors purchased the buildings for $122 Million.
I visited this spot on May 26, 2019 after spending a day looking for film locations in southern California.
THE ROUNDABOUT
The first time we get a look at the building’s surrounding area is in Part 5 when Janey-E drops off Dougie for work.
The same general area is used again when Janey-E is seen waiting for Dougie in Part 7 and when she pulls up in a white BMW from Part 13.
In Part 7, cars are staged in a roundabout just in front of the building as Janey-E waits for Dougie.
The shot in Part 7 was captured using a jib to get that overhead shot with the statue looking down at Janey-E.
DOUGIE STUMBLES TO WORK
Janey-E sends Dougie on his way toward the office building which gives the first look at the exterior of Lucky 7 Insurance.
You will notice that the stainless steel sculpture in the courtyard is covered in a white tarp with red balloons in the series.
Titled “Triumph” by James Thomas Russell, this sculpture was commissioned by Allstate Insurance in 1997. It measures approximately 19-foot by 25-foot by 30-foot.
Russell, who died on May 21, 2017, created more than 150 commissioned pieces and works of art.
I’m guessing the production team couldn’t get the rights to use it in the series. It may also have been covered as it’s a sculpture associated with Los Angeles, not Las Vegas.
THE BRONZE STATUE
We get a first look at the bronze statue that’s a tribute to David Lynch’s father, Donald Lynch. The building in the background is actually a parking garage structure.
The statue, as reported in Vulture.com from October 2017, was actually a tribute to Donald Lynch, David’s father. Lynch shared this story at the Festival of Disruption 2017:
“My father, when he was 19, worked at a fire tower. They’re way up in the air,” Lynch explained during his Sunday-afternoon talk. “He had to hike once a week for five hours to get water and food, and then hike back, and then climb way up in this tower to scout out smoke and fire and call out to the firefighters if he saw anything. I’m not sure if he took the first selfie, but with a string he managed to take a picture of himself holding a pistol out with a stance, and that was the impetus for the statue.”With this image in mind, Lynch requested the custom-built work of art for Dougie’s scenes, although the aesthetic results were a little more mixed than he would’ve liked: “It doesn’t even look like him really,” he said, “but it’s the pose.”
Here’s a look at the approximate location of the statue and where Dougie imitates the statue.
There are several shots of the statue the show the man’s arm being strategically placed to cover the name “Hilton” on the building located next to Lucky 7 Insurance. In Part 5, you can see the partially covered name in the dusk shot.
NIGHTIME EXTERIOR
Part 5 also contains a nighttime shot of the building exterior. It’s the only time this shot is seen in the series.
By the end of Part 5, we see Dougie clutching his case files while staring up at the bronze statue in the courtyard.
Part 6 opens with Dougie still entranced by the statue and struggling with his suit jacket sleeve. A security guard questions him before taking Dougie home.
IKE THE SPIKE ATTACKS
Part 7 contains a lot of action in the courtyard. The image above shows the approximate location where several scenes took place.
Before being attacked by Ike the Spike, Janey-E escorts Dougie through the front glass doors. Part of the interiors for Lucky 7 Insurance were shot in this lobby including the coffee shop.
After stopping Ike the Spike, Dougie and Janey-E are interviewed by police officers. There is a short establishing shot outside the Lucky 7 Insurance building that shows the bronze statue with the Equinox building in the background.
ESCORTING DOUGIE
We get a long shot of Bushnell Mullins escorting Dougie to a limo in Part 11.
The limo driver from the Silver Mustang Casino in Part 4 makes a return appearance. After helping Dougie Jones into the vehicle, he drives away while Bushnell watches.
Before the Limo Driver helps Dougie and as they begin to drive away, we catch a glimpse of the parking garage entrance.
I close this examination of the exterior film location for Lucky 7 Insurance with a profile of Bushnell Mullins as he watches the white limousine drive away.
