Twin Peaks Film Location – Black Lake Cemetery

The Black Lake Cemetery in Twin Peaks appears in two episodes during the first two season of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s masterpiece. Today, I’m exploring the first appearance of this Southern California film location seen during Laura Palmer’s funeral in episode 1003.

FICTIONAL LOCATION OF BLACK LAKE CEMETERY IN TWIN PEAKS

According to the “Twin Peaks Access Guide to the Town,” Black Lake Cemetery (#10 on the map above) is located along the west side of Route 21 between Sparkwood Road and the Black Lake Dam.

The guide states the southwest corner of the cemetery is the oldest section containing the town’s forbearers. Civil War General and an officer of the Army of the Potomac, George MacDowell, was buried in 1882. His grave is 12 feet deep and accommodates MacDowell sitting on his embalmed horse, Prancer.

Leland and Laura Palmer’s plots are located at top of the hill and slightly to the south. Andrew Packard’s headstone, which was “carved of marble in a lovely butterfly grain,” represents “the grace and strength of one of Twin Peaks’ most revered citizens.” The access guide also notes the engraving on Clinton Marvaux’s marker: “Murlin, I told you I was sick.”

According to Wendy Robie in “Reflections” by Brad Dukes, the Marvaux’s marker may have actually been created for the episode but never appeared on screen:

“There were some rather humorous [gravestones] like ‘I told you I was sick!’ I wish I could remember some of them [laughs] but I was vastly entertained that day.” (Page 91)

WHERE IS BLACK LAKE CEMETERY IN TWIN PEAKS LOCATED?

In reality, the Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery served as the film location for episode 1003. This historic burial ground is located at 535 E Sierra Madre Boulevard in Sierra Madre, California. The approximate coordinates are 34°09’43.9″N 118°02’29.3″W.

I first visited this location in July 2010 after reading about the location on the former InTwinPeaks.com website. I returned to the area on October 12, 2020 with plenty of reference photos to identify the exact locations where scenes were shot.

HISTORY OF SIERRA MADRE PIONEER CEMETERY

Sierra Madre-founder Nathaniel Coburn Carter established the cemetery in the late 1880s. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Carter married fellow Lowell native Annetta Pierce in 1864 and together they would have five children.

Following struggles with tuberculosis, Mr. Carter headed west in 1870 to milder climate of California. According to Bryan Duffy’s, “History of the Sierra Madre Cemetery,” Nathaniel explored several areas of the western United States before purchasing portions of a ranch near San Gabriel in California around 1872. Two years later, he started organizing “Carter Excursions,” which brought groups of prospective East-Coast citizens by train to explore the Golden State.

Carter purchased additional land in 1881 including 845 acres of the Santa Anita Ranch from Lucky Baldwin, 150 acres from John R. Richardson, and another 108 acres from the Southern Pacific Railroad. Duffy continues in his book explaining

As part of the land purchases he made that year, he acquired 2.32 acres of land along Central Avenue, known today as Sierra Madre Boulevard. This land became the cemetery in 1884 with the first burial of a Civil War veteran named John Richardson. Members of twelve of the first seventeen families that lived in Sierra Madre are buried in the cemetery. Sadly, Nathaniel Carter passed away in September of 1904, at the age of 64. His wife Annetta passed several years later in 1917.

CARING FOR THE SIERRA MADRE PIONEER CEMETERY

Until 1911, the Cemetery had no formal caretaking operation in place.  At that time, The Sierra Madre Cemetery Association was established as an Arizona corporation.  Funds for the upkeep of the Cemetery were generated by the sale of gravesites and stock in the Cemetery.  It was at that time that official records of those interred were kept for the first time.

By 1938, most of the plots had been sold and the Cemetery Association had essentially become defunct.  The cemetery plot records were turned over to a local mortuary around this time.

In subsequent years, the cemetery fell into neglect, except for the efforts of volunteers, family members of those interred, local members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, and the City of Sierra Madre.

A new Sierra Madre Cemetery Association was organized in 1961, which has maintained the cemetery ever since.

The cemetery has served as a film location for other productions such as Alfred Hitchcock’s final film, Family Plot. You can also catch glimpses of it in the original Halloween. See IAmNotAStalker.com for more details about those film locations.

VANDALS IN THE CEMETERY

During my research, I discovered vandalism seemed to be a common theme throughout the 1970s. I found multiple reports where Saturday nights saw vandals destroying headstones, leaving beer cans and causing all sorts of damage.

Even in the year the episode was shot, vandals caused tremendous amounts of damage. Personally, I don’t understand why anyone would want to disturb the dead.

SCRIPT TO SCREEN – BLACK LAKE CEMETERY

Harley Peyton penned episode 1003, writing the first draft on September 26, 1989. Additional revisions to the script were made a few days later on October 3. Most likely this scene was shot at some point in October shortly after the script was completed.

Interestingly, the script contains several scenes not found in the broadcast version. For example, there are establishing shots of Black Lake Cemetery which show Laura Palmer’s burial site being prepared. The scene would have taken place before Ed and Nadine Hurley’s exchange.

18. EXT. BLACK LAKE CEMETERY – DAY
OPEN ON a lovely smalltown cemetery, the usual weathered headstones. ANOTHER ANGLE reveals Laura Palmer’s burial site. The freshly dug grave. A hydraulic frame used to lower the casket. And two WORKERS testing the hydraulics, one sitting on the coffin bed, the other raising and lowering it.

CUT TO:
19. EXT. BLACK LAKE CEMETERY – DAY
A gleaming hearse in the cemetery parking lot. A mortician supervises the unloading of Laura’s casket, for transfer to the grave. MUSIC over.

Other scenes include exchanges between Mike Nelson and Donna Hayward as well as Ed Hurley with Donna and Norma Jennings.

The Mauve Zone had several photos of a scene with the Palmer family being escorted to the funeral by Ben Horne.  See this article for an in-depth analysis  of what was cut from the scene.

This episode was Tina Rathborne‘s first foray into directing for television (she had previously directed 1988’s Zelly and Me staring Isabella Rossellini and David Lynch). She discusses this particular scene on page 36 of “Twin Peaks Unwrapped” by Ben Durant and Bryon Kozackza:

“The thing about the funeral scene is Gregg Fienberg, the producer, had said to me some time at the beginning of making the show that he was $200,000 in the hole. Then it came time to do the funeral scene and most of the cast was in it. We had tracks running through the gravestones. The way I had designed it is the characters were walking to the funeral, or many of them through the gravestones. Now being Southern California, it was hard to avoid the palm trees [So long shots were scrapped for just medium and close-up shots[. Greg had given me one day and at the end of the day, he said to me, ‘You just saved me $200,000. That was supposed to be three days, that shoot. You did it in one, and thanks very much.'”

Tina continued in Brad Dukes’ book “Reflections” (page 91):

“After we finished and [the footage] was logged, Toni [Morgan, the editor] told me, ‘Tina, I didn’t want to tell you this but I’ve never edited anything in my life.’ She was a writer and a journalist and just an extraordinary person. We loved working together. We finally condensed [the scene] as you saw (to the expressions of the mourners) and that was not at all what I had originally in mind.”

I explore the changes from the script to the screen for this scene in this article on Twin Peaks Blog.

GATHERED FOR LAURA PALMER’S FUNERAL

After a recycled establishing shot of fir trees blowing in the wind, we cut to a close up of Reverend Clarence Brocklehurst (only referenced as “Father Clarence” in the script). This transitions to a wide-angle shot of Twin Peaks residents gathered around Laura Palmer’s casket. This scene gives the first clue as to where it was shot in the cemetery.

I used the tennis courts and several gravestones to identify the approximate location where the casket was staged. In particular, look at the stones in the upper left corner of the episode image and compare them to the location image.

I was a little off-centered when I first visited the pioneer cemetery on July 13, 2010. I had the general ideas of where the casket was staged but I was over too far to the left.

GROUP SHOTS AT BLACK LAKE CEMETERY

While many shots in this scene are close up, there are a few additional medium shots that offer more insight into where things were shot. The image above shows Cooper reacting to Reverend Brocklehurst. In the background, you can see part of a mountain and some trees.

The publicity photos from this scene on The Mauve Zone give some additional clues. You probably seen similar shots to the one above used on merchandise in recent years.

This black and white publicity image provides some of the best looks where the mourners were staged.

In this location shot, you can see that mountain in the distance as well as some trees that may have been present in 1989. There is also a headstone that appears similar to the one found next to Shelly Johnson in the black and white photo.

JAMES APPEARS AT BLACK LAKE CEMETERY

Despite saying he wasn’t going to attend Laura’s funeral, James slowly approaches the gathering as Father Clarence speaks.

During my first visit to the cemetery in 2010, this was one location I could easily identify. The distinct Y-shaped tree and oversized headstone as clearly seen in the episode.

When I returned more than 10 years later, I lined up the shot. All that’s missing is a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department Ford Bronco in the background.

A headstone James passes is decorated with some kind of paper that covers the name. I’m guessing the crew added this as the name was easy to read. It’s the grave of Minnie B. Ashton who died at the age of 28 (1886-1913). Despite several searches, I was unable to locate information about her. My gut says she was the daughter from one of the first families who settled Sierra Madre. She was buried two years after the cemetery opened.

James continues watching the events unfold.

After spending hours in this cemetery, I knew I needed a selfie by James’ tree.

The shot of James Hurley by the tree was so iconic that there were several publicity shots taken during the filming.

JAMES HURLEY’S CLOSE-UP

The close-up reaction shot of James Hurley always bugged me about this episode. The lighting seems off and the tree he is standing in front of doesn’t match the tree from the cemetery.

When he runs toward Bobby Briggs, we catch a glimpse of the tree that has some kind of structure with an orange door in the distance. No such orange door exists at the cemetery. This got me thinking…

Most likely, this scene was shot at City Studios (now Occidental Studios) in Van Nuys, California. This is where the sets were constructed for the first two seasons. Next to the soundstage, you’ll find a Public Storage facility … complete with orange doors!

My guess is editor Toni Morgan needed this shot when the editing changed from medium and wide-angled shots to mostly close-up reactions. The crew probably took a tree from the set (maybe from outside the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department), moved it outside and captured James’ reaction.

MADDY’S SUNGLASSES

One small detail I love in this scene is the reflection of Laura’s grave in Maddy Ferguson’s sunglasses. It’s barely noticeable but I thought it was a nice touch (and perhaps a little foreshadowing).

AMEN! AMEN!

The Reverend finishes speaking which elicits a response from Johnny Horne.

“AMEN!” In the script, Johnny says the phrase three different times before Bobby “howls the repetition.”

YOU DAMN HIPPOCRITS

Robert Bauer (Johnny Horne in Episode 1003) reminisced about this scene in Brad Dukes’ “Reflections” (page 93):

“It was a really cool day and Dana Ashbrook just exploded on to the scene, coming off of Johnny’s line ‘Amen.’ He was young and raw and fucking fantastic. We met that day and became best friends to this day.

It was another one of those instances of it not being rehearsed to a tee, so all those actors responding in a very visceral real way in reaction to things that happened in the moment. No one necessarily knew the highs and lows of what it was going to be. Everyone’s at a really weird, fucked-up funeral where it’s supposed to be somber yet all hell breaks loose.”

This action takes place to the west of Laura’s grave area.

One publicity shot from The Mauve Zone shows a tombstone added to the cemetery by the crew. No such marker for Dorothy (1910-1956) or Robert (1907-1959) Finlason exists at Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery.

The area where this grave marker was added is shown above. In the episode, you can see part of a house in the distance.

Part of the Adams tombstone is barely visible when Bobby approaches the shocked crowd.

After making his statements, Bobby darts toward James Hurley.

Part of the unique tree and concrete platform are visible as Bobby darts off screen.

ANDY DOESN’T REACT

I love how Sheriff Truman, Agent Cooper and even Big Ed rush to stop the confrontation between Bobby and James, yet Deputy Andy Brennan just looks on while holding his hat.

Similar to an earlier shot, you can see part of the mountain in the distance.

YOU’RE DEAD!

James Hurley runs full speed toward the camera, which is supposed to be Bobby Briggs running at him. Notice the lighting and things behind James – additional points as to why I think the close-up was shot at City Studios. Also remember the girl with the brown leather jacket and purple scarf.

A similar view of the spot where James runs toward the camera. The shot should be over a little to the right (Guess that means I need to return to the location one day).

As Bobby is subdued by law enforcement and his dad, we see several extras in the background. I swear the tall gent with curly hair must be a stand-in for Michael Ontkean.

Big Ed holds back James from engaging Bobby. Behind him, we see one of the oversized tombstones.

I’m guessing the two tombstones behind the Finlason one were also added by the crew. These are probably some of those mentioned by Wendy Robie earlier in this article. I wish I could see the front of them.

In the distance, you can see two unique headstones indicated by red arrows from the location shot above.

LELAND PALMER LEAPS ON LAURA PALMER’S CASKET

While the confrontation between the boys is happening, the camera cuts to a mournful Leland Palmer who is looking at his daughter’s casket.

After he leaps, you can see the extra with the brown leather jacket and purple scarf again. This confirms that action took place to the west of Laura’s grave site.

I mean part of me wanted to bring a shovel and dig into the ground to get this similar shot. But that was probably too extreme of an idea.

It appears these two shots could have been captured at different times based on the lighting.

After Leland rides the casket up and down, the scene slowly fades as Leland disappears out of view. I lightened the image to get a better look at the giant rocks in the ground. It’s wild that those rocks may still be there today buried under ground.

We’ll return to Black Lake Cemetery later in Episode 1003 when Cooper speaks with Dr. Jacoby.