MELS DRIVE-IN

American Graffiti was an incredible movie released in August 1973. According to the book "The Cinema of George Lucas" it was filmed 6/26/72 - 8/7/72 in the California towns of San Rafael, Petaluma, Sonoma, Richmond, Pinole, San Francisco, Novato, Mill Valley, Berkeley, and Concord. The tagline was Where were you in '62? It was produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by George Lucas, who was selected to receive the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film.

American Graffiti received the following Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (George Lucas), Supporting Actress (Candy Clark), Film Editing (Verna Fields, Marcia Lucas), Writing (story and screenplay, based on factual material or material not previously published or produced) (George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck).

American Graffiti is number 77 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest movies.

The story. In 1962, teenagers cruise, wondering if they should leave their town to go away to college. The movie was re-released a few years later, with new footage of the car salesman constantly talking to Terry the Toad. This was one of the best movies I've ever seen.

Radio station XERB is mentioned throughout the movie.

This page has a great compliment for Wolfman Jack from Pete Fuentes and a portion of Wolfman's XERB radio show from April 12, 1970.

Wolfman Jack's website

RON HOWARD, CINDY WILLIAMS, IRVING ISRAEL RICHARD DREYFUSS
(left) Steve Bolander, Class of '62, Class President (Ron Howard) with Laurie Henderson, Class of '63, Head Cheerleader (Cindy Williams). He has some rough words with Mr. Kroot (Irving Israel), a school employee, who threatens to throw him out of school. But it doesn't matter, he graduated last semester.
(right) Curt Henderson, Class of '62 (Richard Dreyfuss)

RON HOWARD, CHARLES MARTIN SMITH Terry "The Toad" Fields, Class of '63 (Charles Martin Smith) has just found out he gets to use Steve's car for a few months, while he's away at college.

PAUL LE MAT SUZANNE SOMERS
(left) John Milner, Class of '60 (Paul Le Mat)
(right)The mysterious blonde in the Thunderbird (Suzanne Somers)


Debbie Medway***
(Class of '61)...........Candy Clark
Carol Morrison
(Class of '65)...........Mackenzie Phillips
XERB Disc Jockey
(Class of '51)...........Wolfman Jack
Joe......................Bo Hopkins
Carlos...................Manuel Padilla, Jr.
Ants.....................Beau Gentry
Bob Falfa................Harrison Ford
Police Officer Holstein..Jim Bohan
Budda....................Jana Bellan
Wendy....................Deby Celiz
Bobbie Tucker............Lynne Marie Stewart
Mr. Wolfe................Terry McGovern
Peg......................Kathy Quinlan
Eddie....................Tim Crowley
Mr. Gordon...............Scott Beach 
Car Salesman.............John Brent
Bozo.....................Gordon Analla
Station Attendant........John Bracci
Girl in Studebaker.......Jody Carlson
Man at Bar (Guy).........Del Close
Man at Accident..........Charles Dorsett
Kid at Accident..........Stephen Knox
Man at Liquor Store......Joseph Miksak
Bum at Liquor Store......George Meyer
Thief....................James Cranna
Badass #1................Johnny Weissmuller, Jr.
Clerk at Liquor Store....William Niven
Hank.....................Al Nalbandian
Dale.....................Bob Pasaak
Al.......................Chris Pray
Judy.....................Susan Richardson
Ferber...................Fred Ross
Old Woman................Jan Dunn
Old Man..................Charlie Murphy
Kip......................Ed Greenberg
Girl in Dodge............Lisa Herman
Mr. Kroot................Irving Israel
Jane.....................Kay Ann Kemper
Announcer at Dance.......Caprice Schmidt
Vic......................Joe Spano
Falfa's Girl.............Debralee Scott
Jeff.....................Ron Vincent 
Carhop...................Donna Wehr
Balloon Girl.............Cam Whitman 
Girl at Dance............Jan Wilson
Blonde in T-Bird.........Suzanne Somers
Herby & the Heartbeats...Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids

***(According to the movie trailer, 
Debbie's last name is Medway, but in the book,
The Cinema of George Lucas, her name is Dunham.)



  • The High School Reunion Collection, American Graffiti, Collector's Edition, includes a documentary, The Making Of American Graffiti. At www.amazon.com (verified 6/7/05)
  • The book, The Cinema of George Lucas by Marcus Hearn, has a great section with information, pictures and filming locations for American Graffiti. At www.amazon.com
  • Mel's Drive-In
  • Article about American Graffiti, some of the filming locations and some of the cars that were used
  • Clips and trailers for American Graffiti from Turner Classic Movies
  • How Flash Cadillac got to be in American Graffiti
  • Fan site for American Graffiti
  • Filming locations map for American Graffiti
  • Interview with Mike Famalette, owner of the '58 Chevy Impala driven by Toad in the 1973 classic film, American Graffiti. I like the interview but the type needs to be bigger on the subtitles.

CINDY WILLIAMS, RON HOWARD More American Graffiti
(movie released August 3, 1979)
Executive Producer, George Lucas

Now married with kids, Laurie (Cindy Williams) and Steve Bolander (Ron Howard) are arguing about the woman's role in the home. (pictured right)

Terry "The Toad" Fields (Charles Martin Smith) and Joe (Bo Hopkins) are part of the fighting military in Vietnam.

PAUL LE MAT John Milner (Paul LeMat) seems to be trying to find himself. He's attempting professional drag racing and finds a new love interest, Eva, (Anna Bjorn), who speaks no English.

Richard Dreyfuss doesn't appear in this film but his character of Curt is mentioned.

"American Graffiti" last updated 6/16/09

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