Twin Peaks Location – Eat at Judy’s Interior

I recently shared updated exterior location images from Eat at Rudy’s restaurant in Wilmington, California that served as the film location for Eat at Judy’s in Twin Peaks Part 18 on Showtime. This time, I explore the interior scenes at this Southern California restaurant.

WHERE IS EAT AT JUDY’S LOCATED?

Google Maps
Google Maps

As a reminder, Eat at Judy’s is actually Eat at Rudy’s located at 558 E Anaheim Street in Wilmington, California.

Three people inside a restaurant
Behind the Curtain – Part 18

According to the Behind the Curtain videos from Twin Peaks – From Z to A Collection, exterior and interior shots were done on October 26-27, 2015. A waitress who works at the location, David Lynch and crew were at this location for three days of shooting. The third day could have been set up and set decorating.

Eat at Judy's Exterior in Part 18
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's on May 25, 2019
May 25, 2019

On May 25, 2019, I visited the location for breakfast and to take photographs documenting the exterior and interior of this restaurant.

Coffee at Eat at Rudy's on May 25, 2019
May 25, 2019

Upon ordering my cup of hot, black coffee, I quickly realized  that I didn’t bring my laptop which contained all the photo references for the interior scenes (I was clearly excited to visit this location to be that absent minded). Luckily, I found video from Part 18 on YouTube and screen capped the scenes I needed.

EAT AT JUDY’S INTERIOR

Richard/Cooper parks his car
Part 18
Inside of Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Richard/Cooper had just left a strange motel in Odessa, Texas and spots Eat at Judy’s. The interior scenes begin when he parks his car.

The day I visited, there were two gentlemen sitting in the booths next to the door, so I couldn’t easily match the shot. Interesting to note that the door Richard/Cooper uses is the side entrance, not the main entrance to the restaurant.

OLDER COUPLE IN EAT AT JUDY’S

Older couple at Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's interior
May 25, 2019

The scene cuts to an older couple enjoying breakfast. The gentleman is played by “Okie Dokie,” a regular customer of Eat at Rudy’s for more than 20 years. His real name is Gary Sands and he was joined by Dorothy Mae, an actress who also appeared in OneRepublic’s “Love Runs Out” video.

AXE Body Spray Commercial
Photo from WelcomeToTwinPeaks.com Forum / AXE Body Spray Commercial

The newspaper that the lady is reading is from the fictional newspaper, the “Odessa Daily News.” In reality, the paper was used in a controversial AXE body spray add first published on March 24, 2016. Thank you to @Nina on the former WelcomeToTwinPeaks.com forums for finding the reference.

Wayback Machine
Wayback Machine

The newspaper was from the commercial “Shower Thoughts” created by the now defunct Generate/DEFY Media and Mindshare Entertainment. In the commercial, “Axe teams up with former NBA great Muggsy Bogues–the shortest guy to ever play pro at 5’3″–for a cameo in a 60-second spot that gets inspiration from one of the brilliant ideas that can come up in the shower.” Users on Reddit claimed the production company stole the idea from a Shower Thought thread and the commercial was quickly pulled about a week later.

What's Trending - Newspaper
What’s Trending – AXE Body Spray Commercial

I searched EVERYWHERE trying to locate a copy of the commercial. The closest thing I found (besides the screen cap from the WelcomeToTwinPeaks.com forum) was a brief clip in this recap YouTube video from What’s Trending. Most likely, the prop was recycled by possibly someone who worked on the AXE video. All they did was add “Odessa Daily News” as the masthead.

RICHARD / COOPER ENTERS EAT AT JUDY’S

Richard/Cooper inside Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's interior
May 25, 2019

Richard/Cooper walks into Eat at Judy’s and notices very few patrons. See how the tables were cleared in the episode.

Richard/Cooper inside Eat at Judy's
Part 18

He looks around the restaurant before sitting in a booth.

Richard/Cooper inside Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

RICHARD / COOPER IN A BOOTH AT EAT AT JUDY’S

He walks over to the booths along the exterior window and sits down.

Richard/Cooper inside Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

A waitress named Kristi (played by Francesca Eastwood) serves coffee.

Richard/Cooper at Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Richard/Cooper asks Kristi about another waitress who works at the restaurant.

Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

I couldn’t help getting a photo in the same booth. Note that it’s the second to last booth. They used different coffee cups in the episode and the photos along the back wall were replaced. My server said the crew completely redecorated the place to look more “Texas style.”

Kristi the waitress in Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Kristi says that another waitress hasn’t been to work for three days.

Richard/Cooper at Eat at Judy's
Part 18

Whatever his name in Part 18, he sure LOVES coffee.

Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Judy's
Part 18

Richard/Cooper watches as three cowboys harass Kristi. He tells them to leave her alone, which catches their attention.

Cook at Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's Kitchen
May 25, 2019

The impending scuffle catches the attention of a cook in the kitchen. Notice the silver coffee pot sign and fryer were added for the episode, while the spinning order thingy was removed.

THE COWBOYS AND RICHARD / COOPER

Cowboy 1 approaches Richard/Cooper
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Cowboy 1 (played by Heath Hensley, a stunt performer turned actor for this episode) approaches Richard/Cooper.

Richard/Cooper and Cowboy 1
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Cowboy 1 and Richard/Cooper exchange words.

Cowboy 1 draws a gun
Part 18
Cowboy 1 getting kicked
Part 18

Cowboy 1 then draws a gun which Richard/Cooper quickly grabs and then kicks him in his groin. This stunt is probably why Heath was hired to play Cowboy 1.

Cowboy 3 and Cowboy 2
Part 18

Cowboy 2 (played by Rob Mars) goes to draw a weapon as Cowboy 3 (played by Matt Battaglia) looks on. Like Heath, Rob is a seasoned stunt performer who was hired as an actor for this scene.

Richard/Cooper draws a gun
Part 18

Richard/Cooper draws his own weapon and aims it at Cowboy 2’s feet.

Cowboy 2's feet
Part 18
Cowboy 2's feet
Part 18
Flooring at Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

The camera cuts to Cowboy 2’s feet as a hole is blasted into his left boot. I tried to match the approximate spot where this stunt took place. My teenage son laughed as he watched me edit these photos. He couldn’t believe his father was this obsessive.

Cowboy 1 and 2 on the ground
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Cowboys 1 and 2 are on the ground, rolling around in pain.

Old couple at Eat at Rudy's
Part 18

The older couple gasps at the action unfolding before their eyes.

Cowboy 3 and Richard/Cooper
Part 18
Cop from Episode 2015
Episode 2.015

Matt Battaglia who played Cowboy 3 is no stranger to Twin Peaks. He was the cop who couldn’t spell “Jaguar” at the Marsh Mansion in Episode 2.015 from Season 2. I was particularly excited to see his name on the Cast list on April 23, 2017

Matt Battaglia at Eat at Judy's
Photo from The Mauve Zone

Matt shared this Behind-The-Scenes photo from filming at Eat at Rudy’s. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattBattaglia.

Richard/Cooper at Eat at Judy's
Part 18

Richard/Cooper gets Cowboy 3 to lay down his weapon.

Richard/Cooper at Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

He then crosses the restaurant as the three Cowboys are on the ground.

DEEP FRIED HANDGUNS IN EAT AT JUDY’S

Kristi watches from the kitchen
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Kristi the waitress watches from behind the counter. Notice they removed the giant refrigerator for the episode.

Richard/Cooper at Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Counter seating was also added to Eat at Rudy’s for the episode. It has since been removed.

Cups at Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

I noticed these Tuxton mugs while taking photographs at the restaurant.

Mug from Part 2
Mug from Part 2

They appear to be similar to the mug that Mr. C uses when having dinner in Part 2.

Richard/Cooper in Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Richard/Cooper glances around the counter area while the cook looks on.

Richard/Cooper in Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Notice the Texas toast in the background. Everything is bigger in Texas.

Fryer at Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Fryer at Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

He deep fries all three handguns. The fryer was added for the episode.

Richard/Cooper in Eat at Judy's
Part 18

The cook in the kitchen leaves.

Richard/Cooper in Eat at Judy's
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

Richard/Cooper continues watching his back while the handguns are frying.

Kristi and Richard/Cooper
Part 18

Kristi gives Richard/Cooper the address for the missing waitress.

Eat at Judy's
Part 18

We get one final look at the older couple who have yet to start eating their breakfast.

Richard/Cooper in Eat at Judy's
Part 18

Richard/Cooper crosses the restaurant passing the Cowboys as he heads toward the exit. I would love to have copies of those restaurant signs in the background.

RICHARD / COOPER LEAVES EAT AT JUDY’S

Richard/Cooper leaves
Part 18

Richard/Cooper leaves the restaurant, gets in his Lincoln Town Car and drives away.

Used Parts sign
May 25, 2019
Google Maps
Google Maps

The Used Parts sign is part Auto Recycling of Wilmington located at 418 East Anaheim Street.

Three Cowboys
Part 18
Eat at Rudy's
May 25, 2019

The Cowboys are in disbelief as they watch Richard/Cooper leave.

Thank you to the staff at Eat at Rudy’s for indulging me during my visit. They serve damn, fine coffee and I had an exception breakfast.

Author

  • Steven Miller at Twede's Cafe enjoying cherry pie and coffee

    A "Twin Peaks" fan since October 1993, Steven Miller launched Twin Peaks Blog in February 2018 to document his decades-long fascination with David Lynch and Mark Frost's wonderful and strange show. With his Canon camera in hand, he's visited numerous film locations, attended Twin Peaks events and conducted extensive historical research about this groundbreaking series. Along with fellow Bookhouse Boys, he dreams of creating a complete Twin Peaks Archive of the series and feature film. Steven currently resides in Central Florida.

    View all posts

5 thoughts on “Twin Peaks Location – Eat at Judy’s Interior

  1. Hi, I wanted to say that I love your blog. i use it as a source of inspiration when I do my twin peaks art. Especially vacant peaks part. A big thumbs up!

    1. @Maja – Thank you for the kind words! That’s one of my favorite series. Working on a few more Vacant Peaks articles now.

  2. Well Done Steve !
    Another fine set of detective work !

  3. Found your blog while trying to find out which episode my Dad was in. Okie Dokie’s given name is Gary Sands. He really enjoyed the experience.

  4. Love your work Steve! Appreciate you getting to the bottom of this 😎

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