Pop star Madonna celebrated her 62nd birthday today. In 1985, she starred in the New York-based film, “Desperately Seeking Susan”, which featured her smash hit record “Into the Groove”. Thirty-five years ago, the song went to No.1 in the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for 4 weeks.

Final scene from Desperately Seeking Susan

Since the launch of otsoNY.com in November 2009, there has been a dedicated film location page for “Desperately Seeking Susan”, which used several New York locations including Battery Park, St Marks Place, West 19th Street, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Landmark Cafe at 158 Grand Street, Danceteria nightclub at 30 West 21st Street, 18 East 16th Street, Columbus Park and Bleecker Street Cinema.

Final scene from Desperately Seeking Susan

The closing scene of the film showed Madonna and her co-star Rosanna Arquette standing in front of building, surrounded by the media and being rewarded by an official. This location has never been posted on otsoNY.com or any other film location website. Now for the first time, otsoNY.com can reveal the location.

Newspaper image from the final scene of Desperately Seeking Susan

The only real clue was the number 135 printed above the door frame seen in the newspaper image, which lead searches in the Upper West Side and the confirmation that The Pythian at 135 West 70th Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway in the Lincoln Square neighbourhood of Manhattan was in fact the building upon which this final scene took place.

The entrance to The Pythian Building

The Pythian Building entrance

The Pythian Building at 135 West 70th Street

The location has now been added to the “Desperately Seeking Susan” film location page.