 Principal photography for The Rocketeer lasted from September 19 , 1990 to January 22 , 1991 . Filming at the Griffith Observatory took place in November 1990 . The film ended up going 50 days over schedule due to weather and mechanical problems . Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens allied himself with director Joe Johnston and production manager Ian Bryce in an effort to be as heavily involved in the production process as possible and to try and secure as much artistic control as he could from Disney . Disney , in particular , was not enthusiastic with Stevens ' involvement . " I was on the set day and night " , Stevens reflected , " from pre @-@ production till post @-@ production ! And initially , I had to fight to prove that I was there for the benefit of the film , and not for my own ego . " 
