 The movie was based on a city in Indiana named Hammond. References  were made throughout the film to support this claim. Examples:  Harding school (on 165th St.) where Flick stuck his tongue to the  flagpole, Goldblatts department store, the mention of Griffith (a  city that borders Hammond), Cleveland Ave and other streets that are  located in Hammond. Although the movie was not filmed in Hammond the  houses and look of the film is very authentic.  Jean Shepherd (I) (qv) (Writer) grew up in Hammond.