In 1987 when Richard Bates was a six year old with a face full of freckles, he first saw a movie that would have life-altering consequences. It’s name is “Short Circuit.”
“Me and my sister must’ve watched it a thousand times,” Bates said.
“Short Circuit” is about an experimental military robot who is humanized by a lightning strike and takes refuge with an animal caregiver played by Ally Sheedy.
Bates was immediately infatuated.
Not with Ally Sheedy.
But with her house in Astoria, Oregon.
“It was larger than life but still approachable because it wasn’t a big mansion or something,” Bates said. “And I just remember saying, ‘I like that house, mom.'”
Five times Bates visited the “Short Circuit” house. Then in 2019, after years of working for the railroad, he bought it. He’s been fixing it up, repainting the Victorian farmhouse to match its appearance in the movie, even adding a spiral staircase to the deck overlooking the Astoria-Megler bridge.
“There are days when I go out on the deck having coffee and I’m living on a set of my childhood,” Bates said. “It’s surreal. It’s amazing. ”
So amazing, Bates has gone out of his way to share the “Short Circuit” house. It’s available to rent on Airbnb and comes with its share of surprises. Like a display case full of movie memorabilia, including a miniature version of Johnny 5 that says things like, “Hey laser lips, your momma was a snowblower.”
“This is a 1/6 scale movie replica done by Titan Ross, my friend in Australia, ” Bates said. “He graciously donated this to me.”
There are Short Circuit sunglasses, local newspaper clippings about the making of the film, even tickets to a royal screening in London.
“Attended by Princess Diana and Charles on January 15, 1987,” Bates added.
Upstairs you’ll find his collection of “GI Joe,” “Star Wars,” and “He Man” action figurines.
“I feel like getting older is the art of maintaining your youth,” Bates said.
So far “Short Circuit” fans have made up about half of his Airbnb guests.
That doesn’t surprise McAndrew Burns of the Oregon Film Museum, who says every year thousands of nostalgic movie fans flock to Astoria.
“We caught lightning in the bottle in the 80s where we have just a lot of iconic 80’s films that were filmed here in Astoria and Clatsop County,” Burns said. “‘Free Willy,’ ‘Kindergarten Cop,’ ‘The Goonies,’ ‘Short Circuit.’ You can come to Astoria and step right into these movies.”
Short Circuit brought joy to Richard Bates’s childhood. Why would anybody ever want to grow up and leave that behind?
“It sounds corny but I feel like this house has brought me to life,” Bates said. “It was like a bolt of lightning to me. How cool is that?”
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This guy is living my dream. I had the same idea. 😂
Hey! A shout-out to Titan, always good to hear his models getting to fans
Very cool brother, Bates is the Man.
Such a cool house 🏠
Nicely done! Keep doing what you're doing Richard. It's gonna be great!
Rich is a great guy! He had an incredible vision to restore this house and he did it.
Looks like dreams do still come true in America.
Keep up the good work buddy!
I stayed in Astoria just up the hill from the Short Circuit house. I think that cabin style house that is across the street from it, that and the field were also used in the movie. It's kind of on this weird couple of turns in the road where Ally Sheedy's house/house guy now owns is.
I know that dude
That's awesome!🎉
Awesome. Good on him
Will make it there one day!
God I miss being an 80s kid
The key is looking at the world through childlike eyes ever day.
i'm saving up for the death star
Johnny 5 would be proud of him!
Needs a firebird and R.V on the drive to finish it off
So glad that the Short Circuit house was bought by somebody who can take care of it and make it really great for the fans! You've done a good job. Thanks Richard! Oh, and you're so right about trying to keep your childhood's joys alive. Watching this video brought tears to my eyes! I'm trying to go back in my head and in my heart to how younger me felt watching this movie over and over! You are not alone!
I had the chance to meet Richard in person when I visited the house in January. He was kind of enough to give me a short little tour while taking clips for an upcoming video I was filming of Astoria movie locations. Such a cool place with a fantastic view. I'd love to stay there one day.