Cue the eardrum bursting Inception music now…
Friday the 13th, a superstitious mock-holiday that some believe started right after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A day rumored to haunt the world with bad luck and unfortunate circumstances, of course the annual or biannual 24-hours of peril would be the perfect title for a horror movie. It’s no surprise that 1980’s classic slasher flick Friday the 13th absolutely dominated at the box office and jump-started one of the genre’s most iconic villains into ten subsequent sequels and a 2009 reboot. Directed and produced by Sean S. Cunningham based on the script by Victor Miller, Friday the 13th was the #1 movie during its opening weekend in May 1980 and became a massive box office hit due to its charming landscape, groundbreaking gore, and a surprise reveal that still goes down in history. While principle photography of all the following sequels took place across America – Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, New York and Texas – and even in Canada, New Jersey is lucky enough to be the home-place of the iconic first film and prelude to Jason Voorhees.
Welcome to Blairstown, New Jersey; a cozy 32 square mile township in the middle of rolling hills of Warren County that contains a population of 5,800 according to the 2016 Census. Every shot of Friday the 13th takes place in and around Blairstown, which was already known for its historic district which dates back to 1825. Though Camp Crystal Lake aka Camp NoBeBoSco fails to embrace the film’s legacy – I’ll get to that later – the town has really come around in previous years and makes the day of Friday the 13th a town-wide event. This year, I inadvertently took a vacation during the week of Friday the 13th in October. With perfect timing, actor Randy Memoli (Gitchy, Gloom) discovered that Blairstown was hosting screenings of Friday the 13th on the day of Friday the 13th. Two tickets were immediately purchased and yesterday we hopped in my hoopty and took off on our incredible, highly anticipated adventure. Wading through miles of traffic, winding roads and herds of deer, we made it to Blairstown in one piece, but the sun was beginning to go down and we didn’t have much time before our screening began. The sight seeing and location visiting needed to happen then, and I made the decision to visit Camp Crystal Lake first, as it’s clearly the most iconic landmark in town.
But, here’s the thing. Since Friday the 13th was released, Camp Crystal Lake aka Camp NoBeBoSco was purchased by a very strict, very regimented, and most importantly very private Boy Scout organization. The camp grounds, its lake and its cabins are completely off limits to hikers and movie buffs, and any trespassing is enforced by a summons to court. Every so often, the owners of the land will offer a single day of tours, which is great except for the facts that tickets sell like hot cakes and are priced at a whopping $120 before processing and tax. With so many events already planned for my vacation, it just wasn’t in my budget, but I still wanted to visit the outskirts of the property. Following even more winding roads, I came across the sign for Camp NoBeBoSco and I have to say it was quite invigorating to stand outside the camp used in Friday the 13th. I can probably equate it to the feeling history buffs get when they stand at a battlefield or monument. However, no sooner than pulling over to the side of the road to get out and take a picture did not one but two SUVs fly out of the main entrance to question my motives. All I wanted was a picture of the sign, but the people running the camp grounds were even against that. I understand that the property needs to be watched with a hawk eye due to young campers getting in the crossfire of inappropriate adults wanting a scary thrill, but they’re sitting on a gold mine. If campers aren’t using the cabins and lake, why not charge for admission? After waving them off and down the road, I took a few snaps with my camera phone, jumped back in the car and headed back to Blairstown.
Possibly due to its location, Blairstown is a unique mom-and-pop town that I was unaware existed in 2017. It appears, respectfully, outdated and untouched by current trends and never-ending advances in technology. It was cute in an old fashioned kind of way. In the center of the city lies Main Street, a hub of activity home to local businesses, coffee shops, amazing pubs, and of course – almost all of the filming locations not inside Camp Crystal Lake. Main Street was already bursting with activity by the time Randy Memoli and I parked (he had to parallel park for me…), and it was quite the experience. It was like having a horror convention in the streets. It was like Jason Voorhees was having his own special day a la Michael Myers in Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. Literally EVERYONE was walking around in Friday the 13th and Jason Voorhees t-shirts. Businesses were offering special discounts to fans wearing said attire. Hell, a couple even finished a Friday the 13th themed wedding moments before we arrived. (and if you read this, please send pictures!) Before the sun went down any further, we decided to do Annie’s Path so we can document it with our own pictures. In Friday the 13th, Annie (played by Robbi Morgan) walks through Blairstown as Camp Crystal Lake’s new head chef desperately seeking directions to the ominous location. Of course, she never makes it there as she’s dispatched by Pamela Voorhees. Somewhat out of order, I walked over the bridge, down the hill, through the shops, through the archway and passed by the the store where Annie stops to ask for directions. I even passed by the movie theater, but I’d return later on.
Before going into the movie theater for the 6:30 showing of Friday the 13th, Randy Memoli (who was in a commercial for AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD) and I stopped at The Blairstown Museum, which happens to also serve as the gift shop boasting real, screen used props from the movie. Inside I stood next to the signed Monopoly board from the strip scene, stumps, props, and water from the lake and cabins, the letters spelling out DINER, and even a sweater that may or may not have been worn by Betsy Palmer. There’s also a ton of merchandise and memorabilia for extremely decent prices, so I encourage all film enthusiasts to stop by and drop a couple bucks if they ever find themselves in Blairstown. The shop didn’t have a t-shirt in my size, but I did buy a giant, chocolate covered Jason Voorhees decorated marshmallow because I was hungry. The shop workers were pleasant and enthusiastic about their job and that made me want to spend more money, but again… budget. Though I did stick my name in the drawing box for a blood covered chainsaw and Friday the 13th book with a foreword by Tom Savini. Pick me! Pick me! Outside, an animatronic Jason Voorhees was perched in front of a woodsy canvas and Camp Crystal Lake sign. Of course Randy and I took a picture with it before heading back to the movie theater.
Roy’s Hall Theater was the venue for our Friday the 13th screening. I felt like I was in another reality – watching Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th in the movie theater featured in Friday the 13th. During the Annie’s Path scene, Roy’s Hall is the brown building on the left when Annie goes through a curve in the road, and it has been painted bright blue since then. Built in 1913, Roy’s Hall is a single projector theater, concert center and meeting place with all the enmities including private bathrooms, a candy, popcorn and soda stand, and even a fully functioning bar. Yes, a bar! Roy’s Hall was doing serious business that day as the previous showing was sold out, our showing was sold out, and the two showings after ours were sold out. The theater’s capacity was probably around 150 people, so the turn out was absolutely massive for such a small theater in such an unknown town. Really, watching the movie on the big screen was my favorite part of the day. Since I wasn’t born until 1988, I missed out on the opportunity to see Friday the 13th and other iconic films in all their glory on the big screen. The seats were a little uncomfortable, but the crowd was wild and ready for the movie to begin. However, the anticipation grew in intensity when a special guest arrived. Mr. Ron Millkie, Officer Dorf himself, introduced Friday the 13th to TWO rounds of applause from the audience. Arriving in Camp Crystal Lake by means of motorcycle to look for the town crazy, Officer Dorf has THEE best one liners in the entire movie and his small but memorable appearances made him a stand-out. Since then, Ron Millkie went on to book featured and background parts in A Return to Salem’s Lot, New Jack City, Meridian, Satan’s Playground and Torture Chamber.
When the screening began, I realized how much Friday the 13th holds up after 37 years. The score by Harry Manfredini and the palpable suspense make this one a winner to this very day and it’s no surprise Friday the 13th is considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time. And the audience loved it. Perhaps maybe a little too much because of being intoxicated. Nevertheless, it made for a humorous and rambunctious screening as 150 people screamed, cheered and laughed at all the right moments. Oddly enough, Kevin Bacon in a speedo, Alice (Adrienne King) fortifying the cabin, and Betsy Palmer’s reveal got the biggest reactions from the audience. Officer Dorf’s arrival also received a huge response, but that could’ve been because Ron Millkie was watching with us. The entire movie became our own private entry in Mystery Science Theater 3000 as random viewers hollered hysterical comments from start to finish. It’s true – there will never be another movie with the same allure as Friday the 13th. After the screening, I paused for a meet and greet with Ron Millkie, and I wish I was less awkward when meeting new people because he was a genuine, stand-up guy who I was nervous to talk to. I’m glad I got a picture and autograph with him because it served to bring the whole experience home in a big way. Also after the screening, Randy and I were hungry and went to the diner used in the scene when Steve Christy (Peter Brouwer) takes shelter during the storm and is hit on by the cringe-worthy waitress. Surprisingly, the diner used in the movie was closed at 8:30PM despite being one of the biggest filming locations and the owners fully supporting the movie. As we were told by a lady at the market across the street, “the whole town closes down at 8:00.”
What a wonderful day and worthwhile experience. Until next time, Blairstown. Happy Friday the 13th!
