<Li> Nickerson is the location of the two adjacent houses used for the Owens family home and that of Mrs. Potts . It is where Hal (William Holden) "jumps a freight" to go to Tulsa and where Madge boards a bus in the last scene . </Li> <Li> Salina, for the opening scene where Hal jumps off a train, then meets Alan (Cliff Robertson) at Alan's father's large house . This location is also used for the Saline River (where Madge kisses Hal) and the scene where Hal escapes from the police by running under a waterfall . </Li> <Li> Sterling, where the pre-picnic swim in the lake was filmed . </Li> <P> The film's release was accompanied by a Time magazine cover story . </P>

Who got top billing in the 1956 film called picnic