Central Park

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Lore & Background

In the 1984 film *Ghostbusters*, 55 Central Park West appears as "550 Central Park West" — also known as The Shandor Building, The Shandor Apartments, or "Spook Central." It was the residence of the Ghostbusters' first client, cellist Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver). The storyline reveals the building had been designed and constructed by insane architect and surgeon Ivo Shandor, who founded and led a secret society in 1920, The Cult of Gozer, dedicated to the worship of Gozer the Gozerian. The building's appearance in the film differs from its actual appearance: eight additional floors and a large rooftop temple were added to exterior shots via matte painting by production designer/art director John DeCuir. The Gozerian Temple consisted of its massive, ornate shrine, altars, obelisks, and the iconic gargoyle statues depicting the Terror Dogs, Zuul the Gatekeeper and Vinz Clortho the Keymaster.

In Their Own Story

Since *Ghostbusters* first hit theaters in 1984, 55 Central Park West has been known as the "Ghostbusters Building." The film's storyline revolves heavily around the building. Dana Barrett, a cellist, lives there and becomes the Ghostbusters' first client. The team later learns the building was designed by Ivo Shandor, an insane architect and surgeon who founded The Cult of Gozer in 1920. The film's exterior shots added eight additional floors and a rooftop temple via matte painting, including the Terror Dog statues Zuul and Vinz Clortho. The building also appears in the 2003 Christmas film *Elf*, as the home of Buddy's human family.

Reader's Guide

The building at 55 Central Park West is a 19-floor housing cooperative on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Built in 1929 and designed by Schwartz & Gross, it was the first fully Art Deco structure on the street. Its facade changes shade from deep purple to yellow-white as it rises. The building is a contributing property to the Central Park West Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 1982. For fans of *Ghostbusters*, this is the real-world location that served as "550 Central Park West" — the Shandor Building. The film added eight floors and a rooftop temple via matte painting. The building also appears in the 2003 film *Elf* as the home of Buddy's human family.

Did You Know?

• 55 Central Park West was built in 1929 and designed by the architectural firm Schwartz & Gross.
• The building was the first fully Art Deco structure on Central Park West.
• In the 1984 film *Ghostbusters*, the building is called '550 Central Park West' — also known as The Shandor Building or 'Spook Central'.
• Eight additional floors and a large rooftop temple were added to exterior shots of the building via matte painting by John DeCuir.
• The building also appears in the 2003 Christmas film *Elf* as the home of Buddy's human family.