Made in Austin: Waiting for Guffman

From major box office hits to cult classics, Austin has provided a spectacular landscape for filmmakers to bring their vision to life. Visitors have flocked to destinations featured in iconic locally made films like "Dazed and Confused" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." With over 50 years of production, there are many film tourism locations in the Austin area to experience including those seen in "Waiting For Guffman."

About "Waiting For Guffman"

Master of the mockumentary Christopher Guest ("This is Spinal Tap") decamped in Lockhart to make "Waiting for Guffman," a comedic treat focused on community theater. When the town of Blaine, Missouri approaches its sesquicentennial, there's only one way to celebrate: with a musical revue called "Red, White and Blaine." Hoping the show will be his ticket to Broadway, impresario Corky St. Clair (Christopher Guest) rounds up a cast of enthusiastic but untalented locals (played by Guest regulars Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara and Parker Posey) to perform his masterwork. When Corky reveals that theater agent Mort Guffman will attend the opening, things really kick into comedic high gear. "Waiting for Guffman" was filmed almost 100% in Lockhart which played for Blaine. Lockhart is located about 35 minutes southeast of Austin and home to some killer barbecue!

Details: Sony Pictures Classics / Rated R / 84 minutes / Comedy, Mockumentary
Director: Christopher Guest
Cast: Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Bob Balaban and Eugene Levy
Streaming On: @YouTube, @FandangoNOW, @RedBox, @MicrosoftStore, @PrimeVideo, @GooglePlay, @iTunes, @VuduFans

Locations

Scene: Downtown Blaine

Waiting for Guffman screengrab showing downtown Blaine with a Chamber of Commerce sign and the Caldwell County Courthouse in the background

The movie opens with an overhead shot of the fictional small town of Blaine, Missouri where viewers see establishing shots of the massive silos and a classic Midwest downtown—which is actually Lockhart, Texas.

Location: Lockhart (805 N Pecos St, Lockhart, TX 78644)
 

Scene: The Title Theatre

Film screengrab showing a title card reading Waiting for Guffman in front of an old theatre building

The community theatre featured in the "Waiting for Guffman" is the Gaslight Baker Theatre, which still produces local plays and musicals today.

Location: Gaslight Baker Theatre (216 S Main St, Lockhart, TX 78644)
 

Scene: Blaine City Hall

Waiting for Guffman screengrab, showing the Blaine City Hall/Caldwell County Courthouse in a small town square

The Caldwell County Courthouse located in Lockhart’s downtown square stands in for the fictional Blaine City Hall. The building was also featured in "The Leftovers," "A Small Town in Texas," and "Where the Heart Is."

Location: Caldwell County Courthouse (110 S Main St, Lockhart, TX 78644)
 

Scene: Corky’s Apartment

Waiting for Guffman screengrab showing a red truck parked on the side of a two story building. The building has a metal staircase leading up to a white door Corky's Apartment

Probably one of the most iconic visuals in "Waiting for Guffman" is the diagonal staircase leading up to the apartment of main character Corky St. Clair (Guest). The building is located right off the downtown Lockhart square.

Location: Lockhart Square (101 S Main St, Lockhart, TX 78644)
 

Scene: Magic Carpet Travel Agency

Waiting for Guffman screengrab showing cars parked in front of an office with signs reading Magic Carpet Travel Agency

At the Magic Carpet Travel Agency is where we meet small business owners and local theatre crusaders Ron and Sheila Albertson (Willard & O’Hara), who are eager to participate in the next St. Clair (Guest) production. This building currently houses the Harrison Partner Realty office in downtown Lockhart.

Location: Harrison Partners Realty (110 E Market St, Lockhart, TX 78644)
 

Scene: Pearl & Son Dentist

Waiting for Guffman screengrab, showing the Pearl & Son Dentist building and a sign shaped like a smiling tooth in Lockhart Texas

The building where Dr. Allan Pearl (Levy) practices dentistry is still operating as a real dental office, now known as the Lockhart Smile Center.

Location: Lockhart Smile Center (308 S Main St, Lockhart, TX 78644)

Iconic Filming Location Map

 

Explore more iconic filming locations during your next visit to Austin. The Austin Film Tourism Guide has details on the where scenes from your favorite movie and television series were filmed in and around Austin.