September 27 - October 2, 1976
A chronological look at the fifth week of principal photography for Smokey and the Bandit.
(Hero image: Lakewood Fairgrounds or the Truck Rodeo.)
Introduction
The fifth week of production continued at the Lakewood Fairgrounds in Atlanta, where many of the film's climactic sequences were completed. The crew filmed the final fairgrounds scenes, the Truck Rodeo, and the dramatic return to the fairgrounds before moving back to the Old Hickory House and finishing the week in Cumming, Georgia, with the memorable "Rocking Chair" sequence.
Week at a Glance
| Day | Date | Filming | D/N | INT/EXT | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Mon, Sept. 27 | Final Scenes (Production) | D | EXT | Main |
| 25 | Tue, Sept. 28 | Truck Rodeo (Production) | D | EXT | Main |
| 26 | Wed, Sept. 29 | Break Through – Return to Fairgrounds (Production) | D | EXT | Main |
| 27 | Thu, Sept. 30 | Truck Stop Cafe (Production) | D | INT | Main |
| 28 | Fri, Oct. 1 | Rocking Chair (Production) | D | EXT | Main |
| 29 | Sat, Oct. 2 | Rocking Chair (Production) | D | EXT | Main |
Week 5 Map
(Interactive map coming soon.)
- 📍 Lakewood Fairgrounds – Atlanta
- 📍 Old Hickory House – Forest Park
- 📍 GA 400 & Highway 20 – Cumming
Highlights
- Filming concluded at the Lakewood Fairgrounds.
- Truck Rodeo sequences completed.
- Break Through / Return to Fairgrounds filmed.
- Production returned to the Old Hickory House.
- "Rocking Chair" sequence filmed in Cumming, Georgia.
Production Documents
This week's timeline has been reconstructed using original production scripts, surviving call sheets, behind-the-scenes photographs, newspaper archives, and interviews with cast and crew members.
Explore Week 5
- Final Scenes →
- Truck Rodeo →
- Break Through – Return to Fairgrounds →
- Truck Stop Café →
- Rocking Chair →
Navigation
← Week 4
Week 6 →
Related Sections
- Production Timeline Home
- Filming Locations
- Behind-the-Scenes Gallery (Coming Soon)
- Production Documents (Coming Soon)
