Branded as an iconic holiday classic, "Home Alone" celebrates its 25th anniversary on Nov. 16. The film responsible for launching then 9-year old Macaulay Culkin to fame, the 1990 family-friendly Christmas comedy, is set in a red-brick Colonial style home in Winnetka, Illinois.
Realtor.com recently checked on the house that Kevin, the character portrayed by Caulkin, single-handedly defended with paint cans, blowtorch, miniature cars, and a tarantula against a pair of burglars.
Quarter of a century after the film's release, the residence at 671 Lincoln Ave. in Winnetka, IL is still doing well. The 4,243-square-foot four-bedroom home was sold for nearly $1.6 million back in 2012. While there is no Hollywood influence over the house, the former owners, Cynthia and John Abendshien, exerted effort to make it a wonderful home.
In a special article tribute by Chicago Magazine for the movie's 25th year, the production staff reunited to discuss "Home Alone" from a producer's perspective. Jacolyn Bucksbaum, the location manager, said in an interview that while scouting for a house for the movie, the Winnetka home was already profiled for another film, "Uncle Buck."
"After two weeks of looking, I said to Chris (Columbus, director), 'There was this one house I remember from Uncle Buck.' We pulled up to the house at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka and got out of the van. In two seconds, Chris said, 'This is it."
The Abendshiens were very vigilant during the five-month filming period. The couple were told that the contract allowed the production team to tear down walls without their permission if the movie required it. The Abendshiens remained constantly in the premises as the movie was shot. Although they were given an apartment for them to stay at, the owners only spent three nights there during the whole production.
"She (Bucksbaum) told us it was best if we remained on the premises," the couple said.