For years, I longed to see the deleted scenes in my favorite David Lynch film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Before The Missing Pieces was released in 2014, the closest I got to “seeing” these scenes was a script-to-screen comparison on Dugpa.com. One of those scenes included Special Agent Phillip Jeffries checking into The Palm Deluxe Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As it turns out, this brief scene was shot in Seattle, Washington at the same location as the FBI Office in the film.
WHERE IS THE PALM DELUXE HOTEL LOCATED?
The crew used the former St. Cabrini Hospital once located at 967 Boren Ave in Seattle, Washington. The approximate coordinates for this spot are 47°36’32.6″N 122°19’31.0″W.
This spot was confirmed by Brad Dukes, author of “Reflections: An Oral History of Twin Peaks” on Twitter. Shortly after Brad’s confirmation, HistoryLink.org, the online encyclopedia of Washington State history, shared this photo on Twitter. More on that in a moment.
VISITING THE LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
Here is the location as of January 23, 2020. But it didn’t always look this way.
LOCATION HISTORY OF THE PALM DELUXE HOTEL
According to Seattle historian Paul Dorpat, the building that once occupied the land opened in 1907 as the Hotel Perry or Perry Apartments.
“The Perry was built on the old Judge Hanford family home site … and the ornate seven-story apartment was also completed [in 1907] for its “first life” at the southwest corner of Madison and Boren … The Perry was purchased in 1916/17 by Sister Frances Xavier Cabrini – not then yet a saint – and converted into the Columbus Sanatorium and later the Cabrini Hospital.”
St. Cabrini Hospital operated in the Seattle area until November 30, 1990. According to the Seattle Times, the hospital struggled for two years to find a buyer. Owners at the time “had wanted to remodel the oldest part of the hospital, but were told by architects the repairs would cost more than $6 million.” The hospital stopped taking patients on November 1, 1990.
FILMING AT THE PALM DELUXE HOTEL ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1991
According to an article in the Seattle Times on September 22, 1991, David Lynch and David Bowie were reported filming in the former Cabrini Hospital. This means the crew shot in an unoccupied building since the hospital had closed almost a year earlier. I figured the hotel scene was probably shot around the same location and time as the FBI Office scene. It would have been easier for David Bowie to shoot all of his scenes at one time (similar to how the crew shot Season 3).
So let’s break down the scene – both Jeffries checking into the hotel and his otherworldly return from the FBI Office in Philadelphia.
LOBBY IN THE PALM DELUXE HOTEL
The scene opens with a lady playing a song on a giant harp.
The camera pans from the harp to two gentlemen smoking to a couple checking in a the hotel’s front desk.
PHILLIP JEFFRIES ENTERS LOBBY OF PALM DELUXE HOTEL
The camera stops just past and hangs on a hallway. There is a seated gentleman who is also smoking on the left side of the screen. Take a closer look at the hallway.
This is one of my favorite details in this scene – Phillip Jeffries red shoes! He waits a beat before entering the hotel lobby carrying a suitcase.
JEFFRIES CHECKS IN TO PALM DELUXE HOTEL
Jeffries checks in asking if Judy is staying there. He is given a letter by the Head Clerk (Hirsh Diamant) (what does it say?!), and a bellhop is called over to get his suitcase. Notice the couple in the hall.
Phillip and the bellboy pass through the lobby toward another set of stairs.
At this time, we return to Paul Dorpat’s website with an article from 2009. Fellow historian John Cooper shared a series of early 1900s postcard images of the Perry Hotel. Those postcard images is similar to the one shared by HistoryLink.
The above images are the ONLY images I found of this location. I searched everywhere on the internets but clearly no one took or published photos of the lobby at the Perry Hotel or St. Cabrini Hospital.
Now compare the scene below with the image above.
Those ornate windows! The stairs! The appear to match the postcard image. Oh, that couple from the hallway are now following them.
Similar ornate windows can be seen on the hotel’s outside as seen in this rendered postcard image shared by John Cooper.
The first part of the hotel scene ends with a couple performing a Tango in the lobby while being followed by musicians.
JEFFRIES REAPPEARS AT THE PALM DELUXE HOTEL
We return to the hotel after Jeffries brief return to the FBI Office. This scene was also shot at the now demolished Cabrini Hotel. I love this shot of the vacant stairs prior to Phillips’ sudden return.
A twisted image of Phillip Jeffries is shown on the stairs as he is transported back to the Buenos Aires hotel.
While researching this scene frame by frame, I found these two awesome images of Phillip Jeffries.
The scene cuts to a bellhop and maid (Dori Guterson) who are frightened by Jeffries sudden reappearance. These two scenes are the reason why I believe they were also shot in the Cabrini Hospital.
Most likely they could have shot the stairwell scenes either on the sixth floor or perhaps the second floor (that awesome stairwell must lead somewhere).
The more important clue is the teal door trim.
That same color trim is seen in the scene where Jeffries exits the elevator.
More of Jeffries on the stairwell. I’m guessing the crew added the scorched wall design behind him.
Once the scene cuts back to the bellboy, we get more clues that confirm the location.
Take a look at the ceiling tile, the carpet and the teal door trim. Additionally, look at the door color.
Now look at the hallway of the FBI Office set.
The crew added those heavy red drapes, oversized paintings and other decor to make it appear like it was a hotel hallway. Since this was a former hospital, there are metal bumpers along the bottom of some doors. These were probably meant to prevent medical carts from scratching the doors.
I close this article with a look at an anguished Phillip Jeffries unsure where (or when) he is. David Bowie gave such a memorable (albeit brief) performance!
My mom was the maid! Her name is Dori Guterson. I’m not joking I promise. She said that she went eye liner shopping with David Bowie at Nordstrom’s, I wish there were pictures.
@Ava – Wow!!! That’s awesome. Thank you for sharing. Did you mother do any additional acting? Do you know how she was cast? I can only imagine how incredibly wild that was to go shopping with David Bowie.