Petaluma has been a favorite movie location for Hollywood film-makers since the early 1900s, yet far and away we’re best known for American Graffiti, most of which was filmed here in the early summer of 1972. Not only is it a cinematographic masterpiece, American Graffiti is especially significant because it embodies the heart and soul of America during a wholesome time when growing up was uncomplicated by war, technology, drugs and gangs.

Hands of American Graffiti

Cruisin’ The Boulevard, Inc. and all of Petaluma is especially proud to honor this timeless, coming-of-age motion picture by establishing “Hands of American Graffiti”, a permanent tribute honoring the first of what we hope will eventually include all of the film’s stars; its writer and director Mr. George Lucas, and its producer, Mr. Francis Ford Coppola.

Patterned after the "star prints" in the forecourt of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Cruisin’ The Boulevard, Inc.’s "Hands of American Graffiti" will consist of individual concrete blocks, each bearing the hand prints, character name and actor name of one of the film's stars. Each block will be placed in the sidewalk in front of Boulevard Cinemas located at 200 C Street, Petaluma, California. A bronze plaque bearing key facts and summarizing the movie will accompany the sidewalk tribute.

Petaluma Filmsite Tour

In addition to American Graffiti, movies or portions thereof filmed here include The Farmer's Daughter (1947); Ground Zero (1972); Heroes (1977); Cujo (1983); Explorers (1985); Peggy Sue Got Married (1986); Howard the Duck (1986); Tucker, The Man And His Dreams (1988); Shadow Of A Doubt (TV-1991); Basic Instinct (1992); Lolita (1996); Inventing The Abbotts (1996); Flubber (1997); Mumford (1999) and others. It is also a favorite location for the filming of television commercials.

The Petaluma Visitor’s Center, Petaluma Historical Museum and Cruisin’ The Boulevard, Inc. are coordinating efforts to post commemorative plaques and signs at various locations in Petaluma where specific scenes of American Graffiti and other motion pictures were filmed.

In 2006 we welcomed Ms. Candy Clark, Mr. Bo Hopkins, Mr. Manual Padilla, Jr. and Mr. Paul Le Mat as our first American Graffiti stars to create the first four signature blocks. Thank you Boulevard Cinemas for being the initial sponsor of this tribute.

We also graciously thank Richard and Angela DeCarli for presenting Petaluma with its first “signed” Filmsite Tour location, Jerry’s Cherries Used Car lot, in memory of their father and mother, Victor and Marisa. A bronze plaque, immortalizing this location, will be placed here in the near future.

For those who may not be familiar with American Graffiti, the location where this inaugural ceremony took place (about 27 Petaluma Blvd. North) was Jerry’s Cherries Used Car lot in movie; the site of the film’s funniest and most memorable scene. Curt, played by Richard Dreyfuss, must pay his dues to become a member of The Pharaohs’ Car Club. Pharaohs’ President Joe Young, played by Bo Hopkins, coaxes a reluctant Curt to sneak under the police car parked in the lot and attach a cable its rear axle. In the next scene, the Pharaohs speed by in front of the lot while Curt yells out to the cops “Stand by for justice.” When the cops try to take off after them, the rear axle is ripped from beneath their car!

For more information or to become a “Hands of American Graffiti” or Petaluma Filmsite Tour sponsor, contributor or donor, please contact the Petaluma Visitor’s Center at (707) 769-0420; info@visitpetaluma.com or Cruisin’ The Boulevard, Inc. at (707) 762-3394; starprints@americangraffiti.net.