Did Alfred Hitchcock Use the Ed Gein House as a Direct Film Set
Alfred Hitchcock did not recreate the Ed Gein house for any of his films. The real house at 1615 Second Avenue in Plainfield, Wisconsin, was not used as a filming location for any Hitchcock production. Hitchcock's primary studios were located in the United Kingdom and the United States, with major facilities at Pinewood Studios in England and various California soundstages. The director's visual style relied on studio sets, rear projection, and carefully constructed exterior facades rather than on-location shooting at private residences associated with true crime. The house itself was purchased by the Wisconsin Historical Society and later relocated to the Ed Gein House Museum, which operates as a tourist attraction separate from any film production history.
The misconception that Hitchcock recreated the Ed Gein house likely stems from the broader cultural impact of Gein's crimes on the horror genre. Ed Gein's case became public in 1957 when authorities discovered the remains of multiple women in his farmhouse. His story directly inspired Robert Bloch's 1959 novel Psycho, which Hitchcock adapted into a film. However, the Bates Motel and house in Psycho were constructed on the Paramount Pictures backlot in Los Angeles. The interior sets were built on soundstages, and the iconic exterior was a facade, not a copy of the Plainfield residence. Hitchcock's Psycho remains one of the most influential horror films, but it did not involve the actual Ed Gein property.
What Hitchcock Films Were Influenced by Ed Gein's Crimes
The Direct Connection Between Ed Gein and Psycho
The link between Ed Gein and Alfred Hitchcock centers on the 1960 film Psycho. Robert Bloch's novel was loosely based on Gein's murders and the macabre items found in his home. Hitchcock acquired the film rights and directed Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles in the production. The film's score by Bernard Herrmann, its shower scene, and its twist ending revolutionized horror cinema. While the story draws from Gein's real-life crimes, the physical house depicted in the movie was a purpose-built set at Universal Studios, not a recreation of the Wisconsin farmhouse.
Hitchcock's Psycho grossed approximately $50 million at the box office upon its initial release, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1960. The production budget was around $800,000, a modest sum that Hitchcock maximized through innovative camera work and suspense techniques. The film's success spawned multiple sequels, a 1998 remake directed by Gus Van Sant, and a continuous presence in popular culture. The 1998 remake did film some exterior shots near the actual Plainfield location, but Hitchcock's original 1960 production never used the real Ed Gein house or a replica of it.
Where Is the Real Ed Gein House Located Now
The Relocation and Museum Status of the Property
The actual Ed Gein house was moved from its original rural location to a site in Plainfield, Wisconsin, where it now operates as a museum. The Wisconsin Historical Society acquired the property and arranged for its relocation to preserve it as a historical artifact. Visitors can tour the house and view some of the artifacts associated with the case, though many of the more disturbing items were retained by law enforcement or transferred to the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory. The museum stands as a macabre tourist destination rather than a film set or a location connected to Hitchcock's work.
The house's transformation from a crime scene to a museum reflects broader public fascination with true crime and its intersection with horror cinema. The property is listed on various historical and true crime tourism databases. Its current status as a museum means it is open to the public for