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Dan Aykroyd’s original title for the film was “Ghost Smashers”.
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The role of Louis Tully was originally written for John Candy.
The role of Peter Venkman was originally written for John Belushi.
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Ray Parker Jr. revealed that he had trouble writing the famous
Ghostbusters theme song until he saw a late night plumbing commercial
that began with ‘Who you gonna’ call?’
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There was an even more ferocious version of the Librarian Puppet
that was going to be used, but it was rejected. However, it was recycled
and used in another successful Columbia Pictures film released one year
after this one, ‘Fright Night’.
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Exterior scenes of the Ghostbusters headquarters were filmed at the
Hook and Ladder #8 Firehouse in the Tribeca section of New York City. It
remains a real firehouse today.
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Bill Murray played a bum in a scene that was left out of the film’s
final cut. The bum that Bill Murray played looks and acts just like his
character on Caddyshack (he even sports a golfing cap).
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Harold Ramis really had no intention of starring in the film, only
writing it. But he decided to star in this film as Dr. Egon Spengler
after he admitted to himself that he was the best person suited for the
role.
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All the college scenes were filmed at Columbia University in New
York, including the fictional Weaver Hall office/lab interiors. Ivan
Reitman decided to use an actual on-campus office instead of a
soundstage. Columbia University agreed to all this, on the condition the
school not be mentioned by name on-camera.
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As a practical joke, Harold Ramis and Dan Ackroyd weighed down Bill
Murray’s proton pack by 40 lbs. They just always thought Billy was
funnier when he was agitated.
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In Dan Aykroyd’s original rough draft of the movie, the story was
going to take place in the future with the Ghostbusters fighting ghosts
with magic wands. The version would cost “at least $300 million in 1984
dollars” according to Ivan Reitman. Ivan suggested to make the
Ghostbusters more like blue collar firefighters.
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The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man suits cost approximately $20,000
apiece. Three were made and all were completely destroyed during
filming.
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Though never referred to in the script, the green ghost the guys
bust in the hotel was dubbed “Onionhead” by the crew, because of its
horrid smell. Dan Ackroyd called it ‘John Belushi’s ghost’. The writers
for the animated show would later name the green spud: Slimer.
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Early publicity for the film was a teaser campaign featuring just
the “no ghosts” logo. As the campaign built, the Ectomobile was also
driven around the streets of Manhattan.
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The schedule for getting the movie into theaters for its scheduled
release date in summer 1984 was so tight, director Ivan Reitman said
that the final print included incomplete special effects shots and
glaring errors like “wires showing” but, “remarkably, people didn’t
care”.
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Dana’s apartment building actually exists at 55 Central Park West in
New York City. The government building is actually only 20 stories
high. For the film, matte paintings and models were used to make the
building look bigger and with more floors. The top of the building is
modeled after the top of the Continental Life Building in St. Louis, MO.
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The “marshmallow” goo was actually shaving cream. More than fifty
gallons was dumped on Walter Peck (William Atherton), knocking him to
the ground.
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- Until the release of ‘Home Alone’, Ghostbusters was the highest grossing comedy of all time.
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