ChiTownJohn said:
2FAB,
Well the prison gate he came out of in the movie, or actualy the only prison gate like that at the Joliet prison i beleive, is on route 171 on the north end of Joliet. If your in downtown/ business district (I guess you'd call it) go north on 171 and you cant miss it. If you go on sunday the garage across the street wont have any cars there which may look better. You could see that in recent years they upgraded the gaurd post on top, but when you see the gate up close it's realy friggin' cool to be there.
On the North end of the prison is where they raise the flag in the begining, right there is also the light Elwood drives past for the first look at the Bluesmobile, and take a cruise around the south end going east and around the corner, kinda neat back there. But I'd save that after you got all your pic's because I'm not sure if they'll give ya a hard time should a cop see ya. Being it's closed I'd imagine not, so thanks and Cheers!!!
ok not to nit pick , but the flag raising is on the south side by the main entrance , there is nothing but wall on the north side , prisoners recieving on the west and jake's gate on the east
also .....
yes the prison gaurds will ask you what you are doing on the property, if you walk on the main entrance side or around the back by the prisoner's recieving entrance , if you go during the week watch out , they are there , some in a van some in cars , it is still state property and tresspasser's arnt very welcome , they are nice about it and tell you if you want to photgraph it you have to go 1 block south of the main entrance , that is city property and they dont care , take all the pictures you want . as for the garage on 171 that is still an operational radio repair and work site , and they will come out and investagate why you are on their property .
every ones best bet if you want to take some pictures is park on the first side street north of the prison you will see a house with a gravel spot by the road (north side of street ) park there its city property again , you can walk out to 171 and turn right and walk down the road there and take some pictures or do the same on foot from across the street . they usually dont bother you if you do this , but remember you cannot walk on the main entrance grounds to shoot pics , again state property. do it from the curb and they wont bother you .
i tell every one this for that is what happened to me when i shot pictures for the topic in the blues brothers movie forum called , where's jake? and i think there is one on the prison itself too .
just because its closed doesnt mean nobodys there , were talking about a fully operational (but closed down) prison here , not a run down falling apart shopping mall !