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Sam Spade's Office

If you dial the number in this abandoned office window "Sam Spade’s" secretary will ask you to leave a message.

Winters, California

Added By
Bruce Guelden
Night   Bruce Ferrari / Atlas Obscura User
Day   Bruce Ferrari / Atlas Obscura User
Street Scene   Bruce Ferrari / Atlas Obscura User
  Bruce Ferrari / Atlas Obscura User
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When the owner of a building in downtown Winters, California was trying to rent out his retail space, he found himself running into trouble with the City. The City required the building be earthquake proof and also comply to current building codes, a mandate that would cost the owner over $100,000. 

Unable or unwilling to fork over such a large sum, the owner decided to rent it out anyway. His new tenant was Sam Spade—the detective sleuth from the Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart. The owner also had Mr. Spade join the Chamber of Commerce.

The window to Sam Spade's office is best viewed at night. Internal lights within the building shine through the window and it appears as if Sam is working late at night on his latest caper. In reality there’s nothing behind the window except an abandoned space: a bare floor and some miscellaneous junk that has been collecting dust for years.

 

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Film Prank

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Added By

Bruce Ferrari

Edited By

hrnick

Published

August 23, 2016

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