Just after we meet Mr. Strickland, we get a glimpse into Marty's musical prowess as he plays the audition (Battle of the Bands) to play at the School Dance. Obviously Huey Lewis (who played the cameo role as the judge with the megaphone) wasn't hip to the fact Marty was rockin' his tunes... err, it turns out not to make any difference, as Marty, and his band the "Pinheads," were deemed to be "just too darn loud." Bob Gale, in the feature commentary included with the new DVD sets, remarks that this scene had to be created in order to establish our protagonist's guitar skill, so that they could show him inventing rockn'roll.. but more on that on a different page!

But you too, friend in time, can visit (and play air guitar on) the same stage taken by Marty McFly in 1985! All you have to do is head down the 5 freeway to Burbank, California. This location is actually right across the freeway from Doc's 1985 residence, and interestingly enough, the house from the Wonder Years is on the street that dead ends right into this park. But that's for the 'extras' section!!

Located right at the front of McCambridge Park, it's inside the Rec center. In fact, in the background of the shots below you can actually see the front door leading in to the lobby. The rec center is open to the public during reasonable afternoon and weekend hours, but don't expect to have the floor to yourself, the locals love to shoot hoops, and from experience let me tell you they don't like their games impeded by folks taking pictures. (Thus why we do not yet have a snapshot of the stage from the center of the room.) Expect more screenshots soon for comparison!

Oh - before I leave you I have to add - this is not the same location used for the interior of the High School Gym, which makes me wonder, why in the world would Hill Valley High School hold the auditions somewhere else? Oh the mysteries...