I love a good challenge. For the longest time, I’ve wondered where the interior of Horne’s Department Store from Twin Peaks – Episode 1006 was shot. Thanks to a challenge from a long-time fan and fellow Bookhouse Boy, I have irrefutable evidence that I found it.
HORNE’S DEPARTMENT STORE EXTERIOR
We established in a previous article that the exterior of Horne’s Department Store which first appears in Episode 1005 was shot in downtown Seattle, Washington. The building has a pretty amazing connection to Snoqualmie Falls and I invite you to dig deeper after reading this article. Seeing the building, I knew the crew didn’t shoot the interior scenes at this spot.
A CHALLENGE TO FIND HORNE’S DEPARTMENT STORE INTERIOR
After publishing the article about the location of Jacques Renault’s apartment, long-time fan and author of the incredible Reflections: An Oral History of Twin Peaks, issued a challenge to me via Twitter.
This isn’t the first time a fellow fan issued a challenge which resulted in me finding the location (read how Travis Blue challenged me to find The Zone from Part 11).
After extensive research, it turns out that Brad’s assumptions were correct. It was like a lightbulb went off and I knew I had found it. More on that in a moment.
WHERE IS HORNE’S DEPARTMENT STORE INTERIOR LOCATED IN TWIN PEAKS?
The interior scenes were shot inside the grand ballroom at The Lodge at Malibou Lake. The address for this private event and wedding facility is 29033 Lake Vista Drive in Agoura Hills, California, and the approximate coordinates are 34°06’34.9″N 118°45’20.3″W.
The lodge was first constructed in 1924 for members of the Malibou Lake Mountain Club. Sadly, a fire in 1936 destroyed the original lodge so members rebuilt a slightly smaller lodge. The new clubhouse featured a ballroom with a fireplace that opens onto a large patio, a speakeasy poker room with a mural of original members, 18 inactive ensuite guest rooms, a swimming pool and tennis court.â€
Sometime in 2016, it appears the interior of the club house was remodeled. Thanks to the internet, older images of this place are still floating out there which helped me confirm the location.
THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS
To being this investigation, I rewatched the department store scenes from Episode 1006. The first time we see the interior is a wide angle shot with Audrey Horne “assisting” a customer with her co-worker Jenny nearby.
One thing that stood out to me were those massive chandeliers above the perfume counter. Ding! A lightbulb went off.
It didn’t take me long to find a match. Since this venue is a popular place for weddings, several Southern California wedding photographers and dee-jays have posted plenty of photos. I can’t thank West Coast Wedding DJ enough for having the shot above from January 16, 2018.
Taking a closer look at the two images, we can see that the chandlers appear to match along with the placement of the ceiling vents. The mantle above the fireplace in the distance looks to be partially covered inside Horne’s. Finally, the slatted walls also appear similar in both images.
Here’s another shot from inside the ballroom circa 2018. Richard Hoover designed the sets for this episode. I know the Twin Peaks crew is an amazing bunch of individuals. It’s highly doubtful, however, that they recreated all those previously discussed details (especially the two massive chandeliers) on a set.
Episodes 1004 – 1007 had multiple scenes shot around Malibou Lake Mountain Club including Timber Falls Motel, outside of Jacques’ apartment, the Gazebo at Easter Park, the inside of the Log Lady’s house and the Johnson house exteriors. From a practicality perspective, it stands to reason they would shoot as much as they could in this location versus moving all around Los Angeles.
THIS FLOORS ME
Okay, I’ve made my argument as to why I think this is the spot. Let’s examine one more clue – the flooring. As Emory Battis passes the perfume counter we can see the white tile floor.
In this shot of a wedding on May 27, 2012 from the Judy and Gavin Blog, we see similar tile squares (and those chandeliers are still hanging overhead).
Here’s a comparison image from Episode 1006 and the photo from 2012.
Today, the square flooring and those gorgeous chandeliers have been replaced. There flooring may have been added around 2016-2017, while the lighting was updated at some point in 2018-2019.
I love when Audrey Horne tells Mrs. Theodora Ridgely (played by Eve Brent of Tarzan fame and much more) to wear the perfume bottle around the neck as an accessory. The scene doesn’t identify the character’s name but the script and end credits do.
Notice the light peeking through the spot near the column and the mannequin in a red dress on the image’s right side.
That sliver of white light could easily be the windows on the right side of the ballroom.
VIEW OF OPPOSITE DIRECTION INSIDE THE STORE
Emory Battis is seen checking out other displays opposite the perfume counter. Mostly likely the red drapes in the distance are covering the front door to the facility.
This is a similar view from around where the perfume counter would have been located.
AUDREY HORNE TAKES A BATHROOM BREAK
For these scenes in the script, Jenny is not present and Audrey’s line about using the “little girl’s room” is missing.
HORNE’S DEPARTMENT STORE LOGO
After secretly watching Emory Battis and Jenny from Battis’ office closet, Audrey returns to the perfume counter. I love how the set is decorated to look like an actual department store. They would have purchased all of these items just for this brief scene.
Jenny is even carrying a maroon-colored Horne’s Department Store bag.
It’s complete with the Horne’s logo that is also found outside the store in Episodes 1005 and 1006. We see other banners and signs throughout this set with the logo. Reminds me of how the crew made all of those items (buckets, cups, signs, etc). for the Silver Mustang Casino in Season 3. So detailed!
INVITATION TO LOVE DISPLAY
As Jenny passes the counter, we see what looks like invitations … to love!
Those invitations appear to match the title card for the soap-opera-within-a-soap-opera.
There is even a cutout of Selena Swift as Jade (played by Erika Anderson) near a merchandise display for the soap opera.
Jade is sporting the same dress as the opening credits from this fake soap opera. I was really hopeful the Showtime Store would have released this standee.
BLACK ROSE’S NUMBER
Audrey and Jenny discuss the glass unicorn that Battis presented. Does Jenny not realize who Audrey is in this scene? Anyway, Audrey asks Jenny for Black Rose’s phone number as she did a “dumb thing” and “lost it.”
Jenny (played by Lisa Ann Cabasa) pauses for a moment. Maybe she is figuring out that Audrey is Ben Horne’s daughter.
Nope. She presents the card with Blackie’s number to Audrey who quickly transcribes it. In the script, Emory says to ask for “Special Ed” as he “takes care of all the young ladies.”
It looks to be the same card that Emory presented Jenny a few moments earlier. I wonder if this scene was also shot inside The Lodge at Malibou Lake (another mystery for another time).
What’s the number? It’s 613-2639, which is strange as I thought it would have been a “555” number (the prefix most commonly used in film and television). There’s no area code yet I wonder if this was an in-joke with the crew and it’s actually a working number. Quick searches didn’t reveal any connections to the show or a crew member.
JENNY DEPARTS HORNE’S DEPARTMENT STORE
Jenny departs after sharing Black Rose’s phone number. She walks by more displays set up inside the facility.
We even catch a glimpse of in-store signage advertising their “annual sale” currently in progress.
The scene closes with Audrey placing a call to the number. The script contains more action versus the broadcasted cut to Nadine watching Invitation to Love.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Hello, One-Eyed Jack’s. What can I do ya?
Audrey pauses. Should she continue? Yes.
AUDREY
Let me speak to Special Ed.
A freshly-scented find to add to the ever-growing list of Twin Peaks film locations.
