Iverson Movie Ranch

Meet the Beatles: They're just about the only survivors from a little-known Southern California movie location ranch

2026-07-11T11:52:31.491-07:00

The Beatles: "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967)

As you probably know, the Beatles were a super-popular band back in the Sixties. It turns out they also have a small role in this story, although it's mainly about the Jack Ingram Movie Location Ranch in Woodland Hills, Calif.

"Have Gun — Will Travel": Charles Bronson on the Ingram Ranch in the 1962 episode "Brotherhood"

When Charles Bronson worked the ranch in the early '60s for a "Have Gun — Will Travel" episode, the Ingram Ranch was already starting to wind down a two-decade run as a busy filming location.

The Beatles perform in Hamburg's Star-Club, 1962

This was around the same time that an early version of the Beatles was still a bar band, hard at work at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, and almost nobody in America had heard of them yet.

The Beatles at the center of the age of psychedelia

The rise of the Beatles would coincide with the decline of old Western-oriented movie ranches, part of a sweeping cultural shift that would come to define the '60s — with the Beatles considered to be among the most important catalysts for that shift, helping to usher in one of the most colorful periods of the 20th century.

It's tenuous at best, but the Beatles have a connection to these trees

We'll be taking a detour from the Beatles here to talk more about the Ingram Ranch, so if you're mainly looking for Beatles content, you may want to scroll down until you see a picture of the Beatles in their "Sgt. Pepper" uniforms.

"Five Guns West" (1955): Mike "Touch" Connors and Dorothy Malone on the Ingram Ranch

Largely forgotten today, the Ingram Ranch wasn't one of the most famous movie ranches. But from the late '40s into the early '60s, back when Westerns were a mainstay of first the movie industry and then early network TV lineups, the low-budget Ingram operation was able to carve out a healthy slice of the filming location pie.

"Man Without a Star" (1955): The Ingram Ranch's distinctive sloping Western street

Ingram's makeshift Western town set offered production companies a cheap alternative to Southern California's backlots and higher-profile movie ranches, including places like Corriganville and the Iverson Movie Ranch.

"Son of Billy the Kid" (Western Adventures, 1949): Ingram Ranch high jinks

The ranch's budget-friendly pricing helped attract Poverty Row outfits like Western Adventures, which cranked out a series of Lash LaRue pictures from 1948-1952. Many of these B-Westerns were shot on the Ingram Ranch.

Jack Ingram — movie bad guy and Ingram Ranch founder

The Ingram Ranch was the pet project of Jack Ingram, a B-Western actor and stuntman who chalked up hundreds of screen credits, usually playing a bad guy in B-Westerns.

Poster for live Jack Ingram appearance

Ingram was cast so often as a heavy that he came to be billed as "the best bad man in motion pictures," as seen in this poster from back in the days when movie cowboys — even bad guys — made live appearances.

"Ridin' the Trail" (1940): Jack Ingram with Iris Lancaster

Here's a promo still for the obscure 1940 B-Western "Ridin' the Trail," which starred Fred Scott. That's Jack Ingram glaring menacingly at the lovely Iris Lancaster.

"Mark of the Lash" (1948): Lash LaRue and Suzi Crandall on the newly built
Ingram Ranch Western street

Ingram bought a former goat farm off Topanga Canyon Boulevard in 1944, recruited some of his movie cowboy buddies to help build Western sets, and had a movie ranch up and running within a few years.

Kenne Duncan, left, and Pierce Lyden

The story as it's been handed down to us is that the crew of mostly B-Western henchmen who helped Jack build the place was made up of familiar faces including Pierce Lyden and Kenne Duncan.

"Pals of the Saddle" (1938): Ray Corrigan, left, with Max Terhune and

John Wayne in an early film shoot at Corriganville

It's a pretty good bet that Jack Ingram got the idea for his location ranch from another movie cowboy and stuntman, Ray "Crash" Corrigan, who did the same thing several years earlier when he built Corriganville.

Corrigan hams it up with a movie camera at Corriganville

Ray Corrigan bought the land back in 1937 for what would become Corriganville, and began filming at the location ranch as early as 1938 — almost a decade before Jack Ingram would open his own movie ranch about 15 miles to the south in Woodland Hills.

A landmark movie rock looms in the distance

Readers may recognize Corriganville's "Gorilla Rock" in the background of this shot. The rock, which can still be found today in Simi Valley's Corriganville Park, appeared in countless movie and TV Westerns.

Flier inviting the public to the Ingram Ranch (ca. 1947)

But in 1947, Jack Ingram went a step further than even Ray Corrigan had gone. Almost as soon as filming began on his ranch, Ingram created a second revenue stream by bringing in tourists on Sundays — at 50 cents a head.

Is this where Ray Corrigan got the idea for a Corriganville theme park?

At the time, Ingram could legitimately claim that his ranch was "the only movie town in the world open to the public." This was still two years before Ray Corrigan would open Corriganville to tourists.

Visitors to the Ingram Ranch are treated to a stagecoach chase
during the "Woodland Hills Western Jamboree"

Ray Corrigan probably got a look at Jack Ingram's flier, and may have even milled about among the tourists visiting the Ingram Ranch. My hunch is that Ray would have made it out for the "Woodland Hills Western Jamboree," which the Ingram Ranch reportedly hosted for a few years.

Postcard for Corriganville, which opened to tourists in 1949

It didn't take long for Corrigan to set up a similar operation on his own movie ranch. In 1949, two years after the Ingram Ranch started taking in tourist dollars, Corriganville became a Western theme park.

Tourists explore Corriganville's "Silvertown" (ca. 1950s)

Corriganville got into the tourist business on a much larger scale than anything Ingram was able to pull off. With the heavily filmed Silvertown as its centerpiece, Crash Corrigan's movie ranch soon blossomed into a major tourist destination, drawing weekend crowds rivaling the turnout in the early years at Disneyland, which opened in 1955.

"Trackdown" (Four Star Productions): The Ingram Ranch's hotel and general store

Jack Ingram got out of the movie ranch business in 1956, handing over the Ingram Ranch to Four Star Productions, which was rolling out a number of early TV Westerns and needed a filming location.

Four Star Productions' four stars

Four Star Productions was an unusual television company, as it was literally run by four stars — four movie stars. Joel McCrea was initially involved but dropped out early in the company's formation, and it wound up in the hands of Charles Boyer, Dick Powell, David Niven and Ida Lupino.

"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958): The Ingram Ranch's distinctive Saloon

Four Star quickly grew into one of the most successful early television production companies, with a particularly strong lineup of Westerns. Besides "Wanted: Dead or Alive" and "Trackdown," the company's early Western hits included "Zane Grey Theatre," "The Rifleman" and "The Big Valley."

"Have Gun — Will Travel" (Filmaster): A fistfight draws a crowd on the Ingram Ranch's
"Crooked Street" in the season one episode "Winchester Quarantine" (1957)

Four Star also continued to lease out the ranch for use by other production companies, such as Filmaster, whose popular "Have Gun — Will Travel" shot regularly at the ranch.

"Have Gun — Will Travel" episode "The Last Laugh" (1958)

Over its six-season run from 1957 to 1963, "Have Gun — Will Travel" became one of the best showcases for the Ingram Ranch. This shot features a barn that found its way into just a handful of productions.

"Young Gun" (Have Gun — Will Travel," season 2): Jack Ingram's house

Another "Have Gun" episode offers one of the best shots we've seen of ranch owner Jack Ingram's house, which was part of the town set and was typically configured as a church when it appeared in productions.

"The Search" ("Have Gun," season 3, 1960): The Saloon as a stage depot

This shot from the episode "The Search," the final episode of "Have Gun — Will Travel's" third season, again shows off the Saloon, with its easily recognized curved facade. Here the Saloon building plays a stage depot.

The trees behind the Saloon building show up again

Once again, we get a glimpse of two trees behind the Saloon building — the same trees that framed Charles Bronson's hat in a shot higher up in this post. I'll encourage you again to keep these trees in mind as you read on.

"The Horse Mixup" ("The Roy Rogers Show," season 5, 1956)

Another popular series that made use of the Ingram Ranch was "The Roy Rogers Show." This shot includes the ranch's version of the Eureka Hotel and Cafe, a gathering place that had a recurring role on the show.

Sign on the front of the Ingram Ranch's "Eureka Hotel and Cafe"

The Eureka was run on the show by Dale Evans, whose name appears on the sign on the front of the building. But the building that was seen as the Eureka on the Ingram Ranch was just one of a number of different sets to play the Eureka during the run of "The Roy Rogers Show."

Another Eureka Hotel — this one located at Corriganville

Another Eureka Hotel, part of Corriganville's Silvertown, was also used on the show. While similar in appearance to the Ingram Ranch's Eureka, this was a completely different building on a different movie ranch.

Corriganville's Eureka Hotel — a fixture along the main drag in Silvertown

The building used for the Eureka at Corriganville was one of the major buildings along Corriganville's Western street, known as Silvertown. The Eureka building was more commonly seen as a saloon.

"Death Valley Days" episode "Stagecoach Spy": Corriganville's "Silver Dollar Saloon"

The Silvertown saloon became familiar to tourists visiting Corriganville as the "Silver Dollar Saloon," and often appeared as the Silver Dollar in productions, as seen in this example from "Death Valley Days."

An earlier incarnation of the Eureka Hotel and Cafe on "The Roy Rogers Show"

Other buildings also appeared from time to time as the Eureka Hotel, and we don't always know where they were located. We discussed this in a post about "The Roy Rogers Show" that you can see by clicking here.

Trigger freaks out at the sight of Pat Brady in a scary mask

If you do click through to the post about "The Roy Rogers Show" (here's that link again), watch for a sequence of shots in which Trigger goes wild after Roy's sidekick Pat Brady puts on a scary mask.

A blurry Trigger frantically tries to get away from Pat

The scary mask sequence is shot on the Ingram Ranch, and in this shot from the sequence, we see a blurry Trigger, about to roll out of camera range.

Behind Trigger, the Ingram Ranch Saloon — and the two trees

Behind Trigger, we again see the Ingram Ranch's familiar Saloon, and behind the Saloon building, one of the better views of those two oak trees we keep seeing.

The Beatles

By now you may be wondering what any of this has to do with the Beatles, since I mentioned them all the way at the top of this post. It's about those two trees.

The "Beatles" of Calabasas: Two rare survivors from the Jack Ingram Movie Ranch

Here are those same two old oak trees as they appear today — and the fact that they've survived is some rare good news about the Ingram Ranch. I took this photo of the trees on a visit to Calabasas in 2024.

The Beatles in concert: Paul and John lean in opposite directions

I call the two trees "the Beatles" because they lean away from each other, similar to how John Lennon and Paul McCartney used to appear onstage.

The Calabasas tree survivors appear to emulate the Beatles

As a movie historian, it's always exciting to me when I'm able to find anything from the old movies that managed to survive the ravages of development. In the case of the Ingram Ranch, which was almost completely redeveloped, it's a bit of a miracle to find the two old oak trees — and today there's even a younger "Ringo" behind them.

The similarities extend to the old trees' major limbs

Being left-handed, Paul held his bass to the left (his right), while John held his guitar out to the right (his left). Sure enough, the tree versions of the Beatles have their own "instruments" positioned in tribute to John and Paul.

"Five Guns West" (1955): An overview of the Ingram Ranch

But what makes the trees interesting from a movie history standpoint isn't any tenuous connection to the Beatles — it's their appearances in old movies and TV shows, along with the fact that they managed to survive.

The Beatles-like trees lurk in the background in "Five Guns West"

The trees' location on the Ingram Ranch, right behind the Saloon, makes it relatively easy to spot them. And those two old trees — the Beatles, as I like to call them — found their way into many productions.

Aerial view of the Ingram Ranch Western sets at their peak, in 1959

Unfortunately, there's also some bad news, which is that almost nothing else of historical significance has survived from the Ingram Ranch. The above aerial view from 1959 shows the layout of the Western town and other sets back when the ranch was still a working filming location.

The former location of the Ingram Ranch, after decades of development

This Google aerial shows what the site of the former movie ranch looks like today. The space where the town and other sets once stood is now filled with suburban homes.

Where the Western sets were located

The approximate footprint of the old Western sets is seen in this modern shot of what today is a residential section of Calabasas.

A typical suburban Calabasas neighborhood

In the current landscape, the location of the old movie ranch is centered around where two quiet residential streets, Waterford Way and Dunmore Drive, intersect.

Ingram Ranch's two main Western streets

Taking another look at the 1959 aerial photo, we can see that the Ingram Ranch's filming area was centered around two main streets. In my research, I refer to them as "Crooked Street" and "Slope Street."

The location of the two trees — "The Beatles" — in 1959

In the 1959 aerial, it's easy to see where the "Beatles" were positioned, behind the Saloon at the northeast end of the Ingram Ranch's "Slope Street."

The location of "The Beatles" in the modern landscape

Today the same trees can be found near the end of a cul-de-sac, across the street from some houses, along Dunmore Drive.

The Beatles of Calabasas — long retired now after a career in the movies

Other trees scattered about the suburban area presumably also go back to the filming days, but none are as readily identifiable in movies and TV shows as the two surviving "Beatles."

Where was Fort Abraham Lincoln in Paramount's "Warpath" (1951), about Custer's 7th Cavalry and the infamous Battle of Little Bighorn?

2025-04-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

"Warpath" (Paramount, 1951): Fort Abraham Lincoln

I let my curiosity get the better of me after I spotted "Fort Abraham Lincoln" in Paramount's 1951 Edmond O'Brien feature "Warpath," about the Battle of Little Bighorn. I wanted to know: Where was this movie fort?

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

First of all, there's a real Fort Abraham Lincoln — or at least a Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park — that's still standing today, just outside of Mandan, North Dakota.

Historical photo of the real Fort Lincoln, said to be from the 1870s

The real Fort Abraham Lincoln, originally known as Fort McKeen, stood at the North Dakota location, where it was once under the command of Gen. George Armstrong Custer.

Gen. George Armstrong Custer

Custer, as most Americans learned in school — at least until we started letting our smartphones and AI do all our thinking for us — was the Cavalry general who famously fought, and lost, the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Replica of Gen. Custer's house, as it stands today at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

The original buildings at Fort Abraham Lincoln are long gone now, replaced by modern replicas — including a replica of the house where Custer and his wife, Libbie, lived in the 1870s.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana

But Paramount skipped the North Dakota site entirely, opting to do the bulk of the location filming for "Warpath" in Montana, which was also the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Indian memorial at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Today the battlefield is part of the U.S. National Park Service. In addition to the Custer National Cemetery, the battlefield site today is home to numerous memorials to fallen fighters on both sides.

"Warpath": The movie version of Fort Abraham Lincoln

When it came time to pick a site for the movie version of Fort Abraham Lincoln, Paramount found a suitable location in Billings, Montana, about 60 miles west of the battlefield.

The fort's fancy sign — an obvious fake

The studio went all out to make sure the movie fort had a sign clearly designating it as Fort Abraham Lincoln. And by "all out," I mean they handed off the assignment to the special effects department.

The original Fort Lincoln, top, and the "Warpath" version

But in general, the movie fort bears some resemblance to the original Fort Lincoln.

Fort Lincoln in "Warpath," with its nearby butte

Luckily for us, the movie fort has an instantly recognizable butte behind it. This butte turned out to be the key to finding the location where Paramount set up its movie version of Fort Lincoln.

The same butte in present-day Billings, Montana

The butte is still there today, right in the middle of Billings. Known as Skeleton Cliff, it's located along 6th Avenue North near its intersection with Main Street/Highway 312.

Skeleton Cliff, along 6th Avenue North in Billings

The location was previously a fairgrounds, where the County Inland Empire Fair was held. But Billings has undergone a lot of changes since the early 1950s, and the old fairgrounds buildings are gone now.

Billings' modern MetraPark Arena

Today the former fairgrounds site is adjacent to the modern MetraPark fairgrounds complex, which has replaced the old fairgrounds as Billings' go-to location for big events like fairs and rodeos.

An enduring landmark confirms the filming location

Fortunately, Skeleton Cliff remains firmly in place as Billings continues to grow up all around it. And the sturdy butte leaves no doubt as to where Paramount set up its fort for "Warpath."

"Plan 9 From Outer Space": Why the "worst movie ever made" continues to fascinate and entertain us, all these decades later

2025-03-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

"Locationland," a fun new YouTube video series

We're excited to tell blog readers about a new YouTube series, "Locationland," which takes a fun look at filming locations around Southern California. You can find the series on the PBS SoCal YouTube page by clicking here.

Harry Medved visits a key "Plan 9" filming location, San Fernando's Pioneer Cemetery

The series is hosted by Harry Medved, a longtime SoCal filming location researcher and friend of the Iverson Movie Ranch Blog who has been a valued collaborator of ours for years.

"Plan 9 From Outer Space": So bad it's good?

"Locationland's" latest subject is low-budget producer-director Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space," an endlessly fascinating science-fiction and horror mashup considered by many to be the worst movie ever made.

Two books co-written by Harry Medved, both "honoring" "Plan 9 From Outer Space"

While "Locationland" pokes at some of the history and backstory behind "Plan 9," it's no coincidence that the show's host has already earned his own place in the film's history. Medved was a co-author on two books that helped cement "Plan 9's" place among the biggest turkeys of all time.

Vampira does what comes unnaturally in "Plan 9"

First released in 1957, "Plan 9" has pretty much owned the "so bad it's good" category for the past 60-plus years. Thanks in large part to its "worst ever" credentials — not to mention all the quirky casting, bad acting, cheesy special effects and godawful script — the film continues to inspire and engage its sizable cult following.

Poster for a "Spook Show" festival in Georgia

"Plan 9" has long been a staple of the "midnight movie" circuit, and is frequently at the center of film festivals celebrating kitschy horror and sci-fi "classics."

The "Plan 9 From Outer Space" computer game — check it out here

It has been the focus of countless parodies, remakes, stage revivals, table reads, at least one novelization, and as far back as 1992, a questionable attempt at a computer game. Click here if you can bear to see what a bad 1990s computer game based on a bad 1950s Ed Wood movie might look like.

An alien spaceship prepares to land in the Pioneer Cemetery in "Plan 9"

Fans of "Plan 9" have been tracking down its filming locations for decades, making pilgrimages to places like the Pioneer Cemetery in San Fernando, which served as a landing spot for alien craft in the movie.

The Pioneer Cemetery as it appears today

The cemetery is still around, although it has lost land to condos and other development over the years, while also suffering the effects of vandalism, minimal upkeep and the theft of headstones.

A typical San Fernando Valley home — forever linked to "Plan 9 From Outer Space"

One of the biggest draws for the "Plan 9" faithful is this unassuming house in suburban Sylmar, Calif., which was the home of "Plan 9" star Tor Johnson at the time the movie was being made.

Tor Johnson goes around scaring the heck out of people in "Plan 9"

A loyal member of Ed Wood's troupe of actors, Tor wasn't exactly the typical Hollywood leading man — and he's a prime example of that "quirky casting" we mentioned previously.

Tor considers what to do with Mona McKinnon in "Plan 9"

Known as a gentle giant, Tor was a professional wrestler whose larger-than-life "acting" was on display in a series of low-budget productions from the '30s into the '60s.

Tor finds the most obvious solution to the Mona problem

One of the many charms of "Plan 9" is its persistent reliance on shortcuts, including amusingly finding the most obvious way out of any situation. When the heat is on, Tor just dumps Mona on the ground.

"The Beast of Yucca Flats" (1961)

A few years after "Plan 9," Tor had a memorable turn as "The Beast of Yucca Flats," another "classic" that probably deserves its own location feature — and its own place on the "worst movies ever made" list.

Bela Lugosi looking uncomfortable outside Tor Johnson's house in "Plan 9"

Tor let Ed Wood talk him into using Tor's San Fernando Valley home as a filming location, setting the stage for a historic shoot featuring some of the last filmed footage of horror icon Bela Lugosi.

Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood's "Bride of the Monster" (1955)

After becoming addicted to alcohol and opiates, Lugosi was slumming it toward the end of his career and wound up in a series of low-budget productions, including another Ed Wood movie, "Bride of the Monster."

In test footage shot in 1956, Lugosi wanders around outside Tor's house in Sylmar

Ed Wood filmed test footage of Bela at Tor's house in 1956, before production began on "Plan 9." It turned out to be some of the last footage ever shot of the "Dracula" star, who died in August 1956.

More 1956 test footage of Bela Lugosi, later resurrected for "Plan 9"

Even though Lugosi was dead by the time Ed Wood got started on "Plan 9," Wood made Lugosi one of the stars of the movie, using the footage shot outside Tor's house and additional footage taken nearby.

Chiropractor Tom Mason pretends he's Bela Lugosi in "Plan 9"

To fill in some of the plot holes — and there would be plenty of them — Ed Wood hired his wife's chiropractor, Tom Mason, to double for Lugosi. Mason is seen throughout the movie hiding his face behind a cape.

The former Tor Johnson house as it appears today, in "Locationland"

Tor's old house is still standing, and today is a Mecca for fans of the movie. Much of "Plan 9" was filmed not far from the house, in the northeastern San Fernando Valley communities of Sylmar and San Fernando.

Harry Medved and Dana Gould meet with the current resident of Tor's house

In the "Locationland" episode — which you can click here to watch — Medved and comedian Dana Gould, a huge "Plan 9" fan, pay a memorable visit to the house.

"Plan 9 From Outer Space": South Brand Boulevard in San Fernando

Even though a number of "Plan 9'" shooting locations have been well-known among its fan base for years, the "Locationland" team set out in search of sites that were not generally known — and the Iverson Movie Ranch Blog was honored to take part in the search effort.

The San Fernando city limit sign in "Plan 9"

Our search was not in vain. One location we identified — with the help of the old San Fernando city limit sign — was this group of buildings in the 800 block of South Brand Boulevard in San Fernando.

The same location in modern times — with a new sign

The city limit sign has been updated since the "Plan 9" crew filmed in the area, and today a newer sign stands in exactly the same spot. The palm trees are still there too.

The buildings in "Plan 9" still stand, along Brand Boulevard

Several of the same buildings seen in "Plan 9" can still be readily identified along Brand Boulevard.

Officers pour out of the police station in "Plan 9," headed for their squad car

Another find was the building where this police station scene was shot for the movie. I believe this was the actual San Fernando Police Station back when "Plan 9" filmed here.

The police station in a recent photo — these days it's a VFW post

Today the building is headquarters for the San Fernando Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars, and people take dance lessons here on certain nights of the week.

"Plan 9": A distinctive background hill, but an elusive dirt road

One location we put a lot of effort into trying to find is seen in this sequence in which a police car kicks up dust as it speeds along a dirt road. This location proved challenging.

Another angle on the filming location

Another shot from "Plan 9" shows the same location from a different angle, with a different hill in the background.

Composite shot from "Plan 9" showing a wider view of the hills

By combining elements of both of the above screen shots, we were able to create a composite shot that provides a wider view of the background hills.

The same background hills in the 21st century

Then we were able to find those same hills in the real world, looking east from San Fernando. Unfortunately, the roads and other foreground features have changed so much since the '50s that it may be impossible to identify the exact filming location now.

The type of model kit used in "Plan 9 From Outer Space"

The "Locationland" episode adds plenty of amusing commentary on "Plan 9," along with fun facts about the movie, such as the model kit used by Ed Wood to create his alien spacecraft.

An ambulance speeds down Maclay Avenue through San Fernando in "Plan 9"

"Locationland" also zeros in on a number of other "Plan 9" locations, and fleshes out details on some of the locations discussed above. Click here to watch the episode.

Have you seen this gravesite? It's a toughie!

Many other "Plan 9" filming locations still remain to be found, which may be good news for fans of the movie who are ready to put boots on the ground and track down their own locations. Let us know what you find!

Where No Man Has Gone Before — not counting Paul Newman: Here's one more filming location for the original "Star Trek" TV series

2024-11-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

"A Private Little War" ("Star Trek," season 2, episode 19; first aired Feb. 2, 1968)

More than a half-century after the original "Star Trek" series was on TV, we've found what could prove to be the Final Frontier when it comes to filming locations for the 1960s sci-fi show.

Space — The Final Frontier

We're not talking about "Space — the Final Frontier," as it was described each week in the show's opening credits. We're talking about an obscure movie location in Southern California's Santa Susana Mountains that became one of those "strange worlds" explored by the Starship Enterprise during its three-season mission from 1966-1969.

The "Outrage Grotto": "Star Trek's" real Final Frontier?

Known among a handful of film historians as the "Outrage Grotto," this shady hollow was transformed in late 1967 into the Hill People's camp on the planet Neural for the 1968 "Star Trek" episode "A Private Little War."

The Outrage Grotto in 2024

Today the Grotto is on private property, and access to the site is restricted. That's one reason it took so long to find what may be the final puzzle piece in the quest to document the original "Star Trek" location shoots.

"The Outrage" (MGM, 1964) — filmed in the same location

The name "Outrage Grotto" is an ode to the weird and disturbing 1964 Paul Newman movie "The Outrage," which filmed its weirdest and most disturbing scenes in the same location in late 1963.

Paul Newman, Claire Bloom and Laurence Harvey in "The Outrage"

This was about four years before the "Star Trek" crew would set up shop in the Grotto. The Santa Susanas back then were headquarters for a number of movie ranches, but the Outrage Grotto, while technically on property once owned by a filming operation, was filmed only a handful of times.

The Hill People's camp on Neural

The place has changed a lot in the six decades since "The Outrage" and "Star Trek" were here on location, but the trees and rocks still hold plenty of clues — more than enough to confirm that it's the right location.

Deep in the Grotto, a two-trunked tree

Similarities among some of the "then" and "now" shots may already be revealing themselves. For example, take a look at this two-trunked tree, which survives today in the Grotto.

"Star Trek" tree has a familiar shape to it

We're almost certain that this is the same tree, although trees can fool us as they age. It also deserves mention that the location includes multiple V-shaped trees, something we'll delve into in more detail below.

William Shatner, left, in "The Outrage," with Howard Da Silva and Edward G. Robinson

Besides the unusual location, "The Outrage" and "A Private Little War" have something else in common: William Shatner appears in both productions. A few years before he became "Star Trek's" Captain Kirk, he played a preacher in "The Outrage."

"A Private Little War": Shatner returns to the Outrage Grotto as Captain Kirk

Shatner's work in "The Outrage" may or may not have figured into "Star Trek's" decision to shoot in the obscure Grotto four years later, but it seems unlikely that it's just a coincidence.

Shatner in the Grotto — with rocks and other features identified

Let's match up some landmarks to make sure we're in the right spot. In addition to the tree and the "jagged rocks" noted above, pay attention to the rocks labeled A through G.

The same spot in 2024, with multiple features confirming the location

The Grotto remains largely intact today, even though it has undergone more than its share of changes over the years. All of the features noted in the "Star Trek" screen shot can still be found at the site.

Everything is still there

Here's the same 2024 shot without all the labels, so you can get a better look at the features.

William Shatner and Nancy Kovack at the waterfall

Additional clues can be found throughout the Grotto, and throughout "A Private Little War." This scene from the episode finds Kirk being enticed by the seductress Nona in front of a rock wall and a small waterfall.

The waterfall location in 2024

We snapped this shot of the waterfall area on a research expedition to the filming location, and we noticed two rectangular indentations in the rock, visible near the center of the photo.

Rectangular indentations in the waterfall rock

These identifying markings in the rock may be manmade, and may have a connection to earlier filming at the site, but they do not appear to play an intended role in the "Star Trek" shoot.

The same rectangular indentations in "A Private Little War"

However, these same indentations can be seen in the "Star Trek" shot. They're harder to detect here, but they are definitely present, and they help pinpoint the location.

Identifying features on the rock wall

Other markers can also be identified in the screen shot, and these also match up with recent photos.

We're in the right place

The same features noted in the "Star Trek" screen shot can still be found on the rock wall.

The Mugato pops in, bent on ruining the party — which is a shame since it has its party hat on

Other rocks in and around the Grotto frame additional "Star Trek" scenes. The location where the ape-like Mugato appears in camp is another one that we can positively identify.

The Mugato's arrival site, photographed in 2024

The rock in the foreground is the same one where the Mugato — sometimes referred to as the "Gumato" — stood in the screen shot above.

Is that horn just a wee bit too big?

The Mugato's arrival is generally a big downer, and not just because people think the costumers could have pulled back a touch on the giant horn. But the shot provides clues in the form of markings on the background rock.

Where the Mugato dropped in

The same slashes in the rock can be seen in the recent photo, along with the spot on the foreground rock where the Mugato stood. In the intervening decades, a tree has grown up between these two rocks.

The Mugato approaches a V-shaped tree in "A Private Little War"

As the Mugato rumbles toward Kirk and Nona, other landmarks come into view — notably one of those V-shaped trees we mentioned. In this shot Kirk and Nona appear to be trying to hide behind the tree.

The V-shaped tree today — still holding on

The V-shaped tree can still be found at the location, although these days it's showing signs of age — especially the right half of the "V." Today the worn-out old tree also has a swing hanging from it.

The Mugato traverses the V-tree

The V-shaped tree plays a prominent role in the Mugato attack. In this shot the monster climbs through the tree to get at Nona.

Landmarks near the V-shaped tree

If we're unsure whether we've found the right tree, we can match up some of the nearby landmarks — notably a small rock to the right of the tree and a big rock in the background with a straight vertical edge.

Rock landmarks confirm it's the right tree

Both landmarks can be found in the "Star Trek" sequence.

Captain Kirk to the rescue — who saw that coming?

The captain's instincts and testosterone kick in at the sight of a scantily clad Nona on the ground. Kirk tackles the Mugato — its plush back horns be damned — in a brave attempt to save Nona from the powerful critter.

Kirk's heroism is commemorated in a Hallmark Keepsake Ornament

The Mugato attack and Kirk's heroic defense of Nona were an important enough event in the "Star Trek" universe to be honored by Hallmark with a Keepsake Ornament. Film historian Aaron St. John, who played a major role in identifying the shooting location, also tracked down this cool souvenir in an antique shop.

His back against the V-shaped tree, Kirk takes aim

Kirk soon realizes he's punching above his weight class and could use a better strategy. Eventually it dawns on him that he can just zap the thing with his phaser.

That one Mugato ... gone!

This way we also get treated to a quintessentially "Star Trek: The Original Series" special effect — Yeeee-haw!

Ooh ... his achin' back

From the looks of this shot, Kirk managed to throw his back out anyway. This posture may be painfully familiar to some readers — to me it "feels" like a fifth lumbar issue.

Kirk and McCoy on "Planet Neural" in "A Private Little War"

Other scenes in "A Private Little War" were shot elsewhere in the Santa Susanas. As we reported back in 2013, this shot and others in the episode were taken on the former Bell Location Ranch.

Bell Ranch in 2013

We took this matching photo of the "Planet Neural" location on an expedition to Bell Ranch in 2013 that was spearheaded by intrepid "Star Trek" location finder Larry Herdman.

One of the many locations we found in 2013 for "A Private Little War"

On that 2013 Bell Ranch trek — one of our first expeditions to the mysterious filming location — we were able to match up a number of shots from the "Star Trek" episode. Please click here to see that post.

Live long and prosper, fellow movie location nerds

It often takes the combined work of several dedicated researchers to track down these locations, and I want to give a couple of big shout-outs to Larry Herdman and Aaron St. John, without whose efforts we may never have figured out the locations for "A Private Little War." Thanks to everyone who had a hand in it! (Get it? A "hand"?)

Congratulations to the top 20 movie location websites

If you love movie history, we recommend checking out this list of the top movie location blogs and websites, posted by Feedspot. We're proud to report that the Iverson Movie Ranch Blog was named one of the top 20 sites of 2024.

We'll be headin' up soon to the historic movie town of Lone Pine, California — and we're hoping y'all can join us!

2024-07-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

This year's Lone Pine Film Festival, coming up Oct. 10-13, 2024

The tiny town of Lone Pine, Calif., is the site of some of the most spectacular filming locations around, and each year in October the town honors its place in movie history by hosting one of the country's top film festivals.

The picturesque Alabama Hills, just outside of Lone Pine

This year we'll be taking a deeper dive into the Lone Pine Film Festival than ever before, as we've been invited to lead a couple of fun movie and TV tours out in the historic and beautiful Alabama Hills.

Zane Grey's "Nevada" (1944): We'll be stopping off at all the key filming locations

One of our tours will focus on the 1944 Robert Mitchum-Anne Jeffreys Western "Nevada," a Zane Grey saga that filmed all over the Alabamas.

"Nevada" (1944): One of the many tour stops where we will be matching up the rocks

The tour will take us to the most important filming locations for "Nevada," where we can take a good hard look at exactly where every key movie rock is located — and marvel at the fact that almost nothing has changed.

Lone Pine: Still gorgeous, after all these years

One of the great things about Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills is that all the movie rocks are still there. The place is just far enough off the beaten path that it has escaped the kind of development pressure that destroyed many of California's other historic filming locations.

"Tremors" (1990): One of the Alabama Hills' most popular non-Westerns

Our other tour will be a departure from the Lone Pine Film Festival's traditional focus on Westerns. Dubbed "TV Sci-Fi and Beyond," this tour will take us to shooting locations for the TV shows "The Twilight Zone," "Star Trek: Voyager" and "The Time Tunnel," along with the movie "Tremors."

Matching shot from "Tremors," part of the "TV Sci-Fi and Beyond" tour

Here's a sample of the rocks we'll find and the matches we'll be making. On a recent visit to the Alabama Hills, I tracked down this location where three terrified people raced to escape a giant man-eating worm in "Tremors."

Sign up for tours by clicking here

The tour schedule for the 2024 Lone Pine Film Festival was recently finalized, and details on how to sign up are now posted HERE, on the festival's website.

Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Robert Mitchum and Richard "Chito" Martin in "Nevada"

Festival tours usually sell out quickly, so if you're interested, I recommend you sign up right away. We'll be doing two "Nevada" tours, on Friday, Oct. 11, and Sunday, Oct. 13.

"The Twilight Zone": See the spot where the delivery van plummets into the ravine

We will also have two installments of the "TV Sci-Fi and Beyond" tour, on Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12. Among the highlights will be an up close and personal look at the ridge where the delivery van met its fate in the 1961 "Twilight Zone" episode "The Rip Van Winkle Caper." Parts of the van may still be there!

Painting of the Confederate warship CSS Alabama, which gave the Alabama Hills their name

If you're wondering why a town in the Eastern Sierra country of California has a filming location called the "Alabama Hills," it has nothing to do with the state of Alabama. You can click here for more of that story — and more shots of the stunning Alabama Hills.

Stoney Point: A Chatsworth landmark's hidden movie history

2024-05-30T10:53:00.001-07:00

Stoney Point, Chatsworth's No. 1 landmark

Everyone who takes busy Topanga Canyon Boulevard through Chatsworth, Calif., drives past Stoney Point. Situated on the east side of Topanga near the 118 Freeway, it's the town's largest and best-known landmark.

A view of Stoney Point from the Iverson Movie Ranch (Cliff Roberts photo)

Sticking out above the flat San Fernando Valley, this high-rise sandstone rock formation is a close neighbor of the former Iverson Movie Ranch, sitting just across Topanga to the southeast.

"The Grapes of Wrath" (1940): Stoney Point crashes a promo still

The massive butte has a tendency to pop up in the backgrounds of movies and TV shows filmed on the Iverson Ranch. That's Stoney Point on the left in this promo still for John Ford's "The Grapes of Wrath."

How about putting a McDonald's on Stoney Point?

Longtime blog followers may recall that Stoney Point once came dangerously close to having a McDonald's on top of it — or worse. If you find that hard to believe, and who wouldn't, please click here for the full story.

Stoney Point for sale in the mid-1970s

Stoney Point was once offered for sale for $280,000. This real estate listing from about 1975 suggests installing a cable car to help bring customers to the top. And they were serious about it.

Rock climbing on Stoney Point

Miraculously, Stoney Point was saved from development, becoming an L.A. city park in 1982. Today it's a popular spot for rock climbers, and a system of trails — while not always easy to find — winds its way to the top.

"Seinfeld": Kramer and George on a TV version of Stoney Point

Stoney Point even made an appearance on "Seinfeld." In the 1993 episode "The Stall," Kramer and George go rock climbing on one of its steep faces, although closeups were shot on a soundstage with a fake rock.

"Seinfeld": A landmark rock meets a landmark sitcom

Wide shots featured in the "Seinfeld" episode show the actual Stoney Point, presumably with stand-ins, and not the series stars, hanging from Stoney's sheer cliff face.

"The Captive God": William S. Hart filming in Chatsworth, 1916

But Stoney Point's screen appearances go back way before "Seinfeld," and way before TV. We have to go all the way back in time to the silent era — more than a century ago — to trace its movie history.

An early screen appearance by Stoney Point

The William S. Hart feature "The Captive God," filmed in Chatsworth in 1916, included images of Stoney Point looming in the distance.

"The Captive God": Stoney Point at top right

Stoney Point is a little more recognizable in this screen shot from the movie.

Silent film-era crew on "mystery rock"

In at least one instance, a silent-era film crew hauled its cameras and other gear all the way to the summit of Stoney Point. This shoot resulted in a terrific behind-the-scenes photo, which baffled film historians for years.

Back when "knickers" were in style

Zooming in on the film crew, we can get a sense of how old the photo is, based in part on the movie equipment but also on the styles of clothing worn by the crew. The shot is clearly from the silent film era.

Plenty of other clues in the mysterious photo

The photo, which features a distinctive rock with a flat top, can still be found on a number of websites, often described as an "unknown location," or worse, credited to the wrong location.

The mystery photo, incorrectly identified as the "Iverson Ranch" and "1922"

Here's just one of the many examples of false information associated with this photo that can still be found online. The photo was not taken on the Iverson Ranch, and was not taken in 1922.

It's not true!

Sorry to make a big deal out of this, but it's important that people realize this information is incorrect. It's hard to get this kind of stuff right, so no disrespect to whoever posted the false info. But I wish people could resist the temptation to present "information" as fact when it's not actually true.

There are always exceptions, of course

We're just kidding around here, but we do make an effort to check our facts, and we don't mind saying something is "thought to be" if we don't know for sure. But when it comes to this photo, we know for sure.

Aerial view of Stoney Point (Google Maps, 2024)

When I began researching the old photo, it wasn't long before I became interested in a triangular rock located at the very top of Stoney Point.

The old movie rock in modern times

It turned out to be the same historic movie rock, which I was able to confirm on a recent expedition to the summit of Stoney Point.

The same movie rock, in the '20s and almost 100 years later

Taken almost a century apart, the two shots of the rock are so similar that I was practically standing in the footprints of the photographer who snapped the behind-the-scenes photo in the 1920s.

Jimmie Adams and Doris Dawson in "Swiss Movements" (1927)

I was also able to pin down which movie it was that was being filmed when the old photo was taken. It was a Jimmie Adams comedy short called "Swiss Movements," from Christie Film Co.

"Swiss Movements": Two actors and a "bear," out on a rocky ledge

This is the sequence the film crew was working on when the behind-the-scenes shot was taken. The scene features two actors trapped on a rocky ledge, being harassed by someone in a bear suit.

"Swiss Movements": Jimmie Adams dangles his legs over the edge

This shot appears only briefly in the movie, but this is the angle the crew was filming when they stood on top of the flat rock. Here we see the film's star, Jimmie Adams, trying to avoid being mauled by the bear.

"Swiss Movements": The climbers head back down the ledge

In another shot from the same sequence — taken from a different camera position — the "bear" is out of the picture and the two actors attempt to head down the rocky ledge.

Key rock features that make up the shot

Notice the pointed rock and angular slope indicated here. I found it interesting that the "Swiss Movements" sequence is essentially about rock climbing — the same thing Stoney Point is still known for.

The pointed rock and angular slope in modern times

Here are those same rock features in a photo taken on our recent visit to the summit.

The filming location in context

A wider shot provides some context for the scene, showing more of what the rocks look like as part of the extremely rocky environment atop Stoney Point.

Pinpointing the "Swiss Movements" scene

The yellow rectangle approximates how the pointed rock and angular slope are framed in the movie.

Setup for the "Swiss Movements" shoot

In another photo from our Stoney Point expedition, we see the same rocks the "Swiss Movements" crew would have found when they arrived at the location in 1927.

How the shoot was set up

The rock on the left, with its flat top, provided the ideal spot for the camera, reflectors and key members of the crew, while the actors worked on the slightly more perilous angular slope.

The remarkable photo from 1927

And luckily for us, a still photographer who was also on the scene snapped the shot that enabled us to put together how the sequence was filmed — right down to the spindly ladder everyone had to use to get up on that rock.

Jimmie Adams on the Stoney Point summit (1927)

"Swiss Movements" includes plenty of other shots taken on top of Stoney Point, although many of the rocks are still waiting to be found. Here's one other group of rocks we were able to match up on our recent hike.

Looking west from Stoney Point

When Jimmie Adams steps aside, we get a pretty good look at the cluster of rocks he was standing in front of. These rocks are situated along the western edge of the summit area.

The same rocks in modern times

I didn't get the exact same angle, but you may be able to make out the rocks from the movie — especially toward the right of the frame. We also get a better look at the Santa Susana Mountains to the west.

Identifying markers and matching rocks

Here are some of the key markers in the two shots, to make it easier to see how the rocks match up.

"Swiss Movements" (1927): Click here to watch the video

Here is the video of the comedy short "Swiss Movements." The movie includes many more shots taken on Stoney Point. Please let us know (in comments or by email) if you make your way up there and match up any shots.

Chatsworth Historical Society presentation on Stoney Point

For much more about the history of Stoney Point, including its movie history, please click here to see a presentation given in 2022 by Ray and Ann Vincent of the Chatsworth Historical Society — back before we knew the full story behind the "Swiss Movements" photo.

Where was the "Mystery Adobe Ranch"? One of the biggest mysteries about the early Western movies is finally solved

2024-04-22T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hollywood's "Mystery Adobe Ranch" of the 1930s

Back in the early years of the talkies, Hollywood discovered an obscure ranch outside of Los Angeles where film companies could shoot Westerns.

"Terror Trail" (Universal, 1933): A wide shot of the Mystery Adobe Ranch

Westerns were the most popular genre of the era, and the "Mystery Adobe Ranch," as it later came to be known, appeared in a number of the early talking Westerns, spanning a period roughly from 1932 to 1937.

"Terror Trail" (Universal, 1933)

The ranch enjoyed a brief but productive run as a go-to filming location, and can be seen in movies from Universal, Columbia, RKO, Mascot, Republic and other studios.

Buck Jones and Barbara Weeks in Columbia's "Forbidden Trail," filmed on the ranch in 1932

Early cowboy stars who made movies on the mystery ranch included Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Hoot Gibson, Charles Starrett, Bob Steele and Harry Carey.

The Mystery Adobe Ranch: Long gone!

By the time people like myself and my film historian colleagues came along and started trying to figure out where those old Westerns were shot, the "mystery ranch" was long gone.

Janss Conejo Ranch in the filming days (top), and Avenida de los Arboles
in Thousand Oaks, in modern times (bottom)

But that usually doesn't deter us. Most old filming locations — the buildings, at least — are gone now, but we try to figure out where they were anyway.

Janss Conejo Ranch — easy to identify, with or without the buildings

Sometimes it's a ridgeline that provides the best clue, as in this widely circulated "then and now" shot from the Janss Conejo Ranch, a historic filming location in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Janss Conejo's readily identifiable Mountclef Ridge

With Janss Conejo — known today as Wildwood Park — the ridge is especially distinctive, which makes pinpointing the location relatively easy. We usually don't have this much to go on — and usually don't need it.

"Terror Trail," 1933: Tom Mix on the Mystery Adobe Ranch, but where was it?

But the Mystery Adobe Ranch was different — a mystery so persistent that many of us feared it would never be solved. But everything changed earlier this month, when we had a breakthrough.

"Outlaws of the Prairie" (Columbia, 1937): Filmed on the mystery ranch

The first domino fell when Marc Wanamaker, who maintains the exhaustive repository of Hollywood history known as the Bison Archives, discovered a pertinent reference in some old Columbia files.

The Mystery Adobe Ranch: Could this be the "Holman Ranch"?

The Columbia document referenced something called the "Holman Ranch," noting that it was in Calabasas. Marc sent out word to a group of movie historians, and none of us had ever heard of the Holman Ranch.

Could this hill be somewhere in Calabasas?

They say two heads are better than one, and in this case we had about six heads involved. We all started doing follow-up, whether it was reaching out to local historians, scouring aerials or poring over old newspaper clippings.

The same hill, hiding in an obscure spot in Liberty Canyon

After Jerry Schneider found a historical reference to a possible location near Calabasas for a Holman Ranch, I went out to the location to see whether it was the right spot ... and bingo! It was a perfect match.

"Terror Trail" (1933): looking north from the Holman Ranch

This shot from "Terror Trail" shows a part of the old ranch, along with the hills to the north.

The same hills in 2024, seen from the former Holman Ranch location

Those hills are still there, and still look pretty much the same.

The Holman Ranch's trademark oak tree, in the 1930s

One of the best surprises from my visit to the site involves this huge oak tree, which was situated just in front of the main ranch house and made appearances in almost all of the movies filmed on the ranch.

The same oak tree in 2024 — a grizzled version of its former self

I was delighted to find that the giant oak tree has survived — and it hasn't really changed all that much, although today it looks like an older and possibly wiser version of its younger self.

Today the old ranch is accessible to hikers

The former ranch location has been preserved as public land, and today is part of Malibu Creek State Park. It's open to hikers, with an access point near Liberty Canyon Road and Park Vista Road.

Thanks, guys!

Congratulations to all the dedicated researchers who have been tracking this unusual filming location for years, and a big shout-out to everyone who was part of the great collaboration that finally solved the mystery.

How the family TV show "Fury" became an essential document of filming on the Iverson Movie Ranch throughout the late 1950s

2023-11-05T16:02:00.013-08:00

"Fury": William Fawcett, Bobby Diamond, Highland Dale, Peter Graves

The TV show "Fury," centered around the bond between a young boy and his horse, was one of the most important productions to shoot on the Iverson Movie Ranch during the late 1950s.

The Upper Iverson's Fury Set, home base for "Fury" (ca. 1955)

Hundreds of other movies and TV shows filmed on the ranch during the same period, but "Fury" became a fixture on the Upper Iverson, where a number of sets, including a complete ranch, were built for the show.

"Scorched Earth" (aired Nov. 12, 1955): First appearance by the Fury Set on "Fury"

Construction began in August 1955 on the Fury Barn, which would become the centerpiece of the Newton family's "Broken Wheel Ranch" — often referred to by historians and location researchers as the Fury Set.

"Fury" episode "Trial by Jury," 1956: The Newton family's "Broken Wheel Ranch"

In its first incarnation, the Fury Set consisted mainly of a single building — a large barn — along with a corral area, fence and gate, with a modest sign identifying the Broken Wheel Ranch. Other buildings would later be added.

"Return to Warbow" (Columbia, 1958): A rider and horse head toward the Fury Barn

The barn was fully functional, and besides being used for filming on other movies and TV shows, it was used by productions filming on the Iverson Ranch to board horses and other livestock overnight. The Iverson family charged 25 cents a night for each animal, the same rate they'd been charging for decades.

"Cimarron Strip" episode "Fool's Gold" (1968): The Fury Set

The Fury Set was available for filming by other productions whenever "Fury" wasn't shooting, and after the show wrapped in 1960, the set would remain in use on the Upper Iverson for another 10 years.

Burt Reynolds at the Fury Barn ("Gunsmoke" photo shoot, 1962)

Among the many well-known actors to be photographed at the Fury Barn was Burt Reynolds, who posed for a series of photos on the Fury Set in 1962 to publicize his run as the blacksmith Quint on "Gunsmoke." Please click here for more photos and details about Reynolds' "Gunsmoke" shoot.

"The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock" (1959): A supersized Dorothy Provine at the Fury Barn

The Fury Barn also had a memorable role in the Lou Costello comedy "The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock," starring Dorothy Provine as Emmy Lou, the giant bride.

Even the Fury Barn can't contain Emmy Lou in "The 30 Foot Bride"

This shot is almost all special effects, but it features a rapidly growing Provine popping out of a painted replica of the Fury Barn. The barn was supposed to be the only building big enough to hold Emmy Lou — but then even the barn proved too small as she kept getting bigger.

What's a giant bride to do?

Shots of Emmy Lou sticking out of the top of the building include a more detailed representation of the roof on the Fury Barn, but viewers distracted by a dripping-wet Dorothy Provine probably wouldn't notice the roof.

The 30 Foot Bride finds a rock big enough to hide behind

The movie also features a shot of Provine hiding behind the Sphinx, one of the Iverson Movie Ranch's largest and most famous movie rocks. We'll come back to the Sphinx in a moment.

Fury Barn and another strong female character in Neil Finn's "She Will Have Her Way" (1998)

Footage of the Fury Barn from "The 30 Foot Bride" was resurrected in 1998 for a music video. Click here for the rest of that story and a link to the video in a post we did back in 2012.

The movie rock "World of Outlaws," in the "Fury" episode "The Racers" (1957)

"Fury" aired on NBC from 1955-1960, and almost every episode featured footage shot on the Iverson Ranch — including nice shots of some of the location ranch's most interesting rocks.

World of Outlaws, viewed from the northwest

This shot features an unusual rock I call "World of Outlaws." The rock had been making an impression in movies since the '30s, but the angle shown in the "Fury" episode "The Racers" was relatively rare.

"Sundown Riders" (1944): World of Outlaws from about the same angle

A similar angle did turn up occasionally, including in the low-budget 16mm Western "Sundown Riders." But the quality of the circulating print doesn't do the rock justice — especially when compared with the "Fury" shot.

"The Maverick" (Allied Artists, 1952): World of Outlaws with its huge wing

A more common view of World of Outlaws can be seen in this promo still for the Bill Elliott Western "The Maverick," where the rock bears more of a resemblance to the dirt track racers that inspired its name.

Racer Mark Kinser in his "World of Outlaws" car (1991)

The rock's enormous "wing" and rounded body are reminiscent of the vintage sprint cars that used to race in the World of Outlaws series. Modern World of Outlaws cars no longer have that beetle-shaped back end.

The wing made World of Outlaws one of the most distinctive features of the North Rim

World of Outlaws was a standout in movies and TV shows, but the rock came to a sad end. It was destroyed in the late 1980s, when the former Upper Iverson began to be developed into a gated residential community.

Fury in trouble near the Sphinx in "Ten Dollars a Head" (1959)

Another good Iverson Movie Ranch rock sighting turns up in this sequence from the "Fury" episode "Ten Dollars a Head," shot on the Lower Iverson. The episode aired during season four.

The Sphinx in "Tell It to the Marines" (1926) (Bison Archives photo)

The Sphinx, the same rock Emmy Lou hid behind in "The 30 Foot Bride," appeared in countless productions going back to the silent film era. The huge rock can still be found in the Garden of the Gods on the former Lower Iverson.

Where Fury was tied up

The scene in which Fury is tied up in "Ten Dollars a Head" takes place near the northwest corner of the Sphinx, in the area indicated here.

Fury has just been lassoed by bad guys near a group of rocks situated at the west end of the Sphinx. The shot includes an "intruder rock" that we've discussed here before.

The rock was still seated on top of an elevated rock ledge when "Fury" filmed in the area in 1958, but it would later fall off its perch — most likely in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

Original position of the Intruder Rock (photographed in 2018)

We tracked the journey taken by the rock during an expedition to the site back in 2018.

The Intruder Rock in its new location (2018)

The intruder rock would land "standing up" in an area that was previously used for filming. It can still be found today in the same spot where it landed.

"The Lone Ranger" TV series: Cavalry guys in the same location where the rock would end up

Two Cavalry guys in the "War Horse" episode of "The Lone Ranger," filmed in 1949, could have been crushed — along with the "dead guy" behind them — if the rock had decided to fall a few decades ahead of schedule.

The "Fury" shot provides a good look at the jagged "front edge" of the rock as it appeared before it fell.

The jagged edge can still be identified in the 2018 photo, even though the rock rotated and wound up in a more vertical orientation.

The area near the edge of the rock includes a prominent triangular section.

The triangular section is also identifiable in the "Fury" shot. To learn more about the intriguing journey of the intruder rock, please click here to read our post about it from 2018.

The Iverson Ranch's "Midway House" — aka the "Fury House"

For most of the five-season run of "Fury," the Newton family lived in a house I call the "Midway House." It is also sometimes referred to as the "Fury House," but it appeared in many productions in addition to "Fury."

Footprint of the Midway House in the modern landscape

The name "Midway House" is based on the house's location — about midway between the North Rim and South Rim, two of the most heavily filmed areas on the former Upper Iverson.

The layout as it exists today — zoomed in on the Midway House area

Here's a closer look at that part of the contemporary satellite shot, showing the approximate footprint of the Midway House between the North Rim and South Rim filming areas.

The Newton family at the Midway House in "Fury"

The Newton family consisted of father figure Jim, played by Peter Graves, and his adopted son Joey (Bobby Diamond), along with B-Western veteran William Fawcett as Pete, the family's live-in codger.

The "other Midway House," a soundstage facade

During the show's first season, the Midway House existed only on a soundstage. When the Iverson Ranch Midway House was built in 1956 — in time for season two of "Fury" — the set builders made sure it looked almost exactly like the soundstage facade.

"Fury" episode "Pirate Treasure" (1956): Soundstage set or Midway House?

The two sets matched each other so closely that it can be difficult, and at times impossible, to tell them apart. However, we know this one was the soundstage facade because the real Midway House hadn't been built yet.

The real Midway House, in "Aunt Harriet" (1958)

Three seasons later, an older Joey again walked out the front door — only this time it was the actual Midway House on the Upper Iverson. Among the clues are some subtle differences in the porch column on the left.

"The Will" ("Fury," season 4, 1958): The soundstage facade

Whenever a shot of the Newton family home includes background features, it becomes much easier to tell whether we're seeing the Iverson Movie Ranch set or the soundstage facade.

"Fury" didn't quite nail the backdrops for the soundstage set

Here the painted background hills are pretty easy to spot, and we know we're seeing the soundstage set.

"The Model Plane" (1958): Joey and Pete arrive at the soundstage set

The fake hills used on either side of the house were virtually identical. Here again, the painted backdrop leaves no doubt that we're seeing the soundstage facade.

"Aunt Harriet" (1958): The gang arrives at the real Midway House

In contrast, here's a shot of the Newtons arriving home from the same side. This time it's the actual Midway House on the Upper Iverson.

The Upper Iverson's "Midway Rocks" loom in the background

We know it's the real house because the backdrop is much more realistic, and is made up of genuine Iverson Movie Ranch rocks. I call this rock cluster the "Midway Rocks."

Packy arrives at the fake barn in "The Model Plane" (1958)

"Fury" did the same thing with the barn, using a soundstage facade to stand in for the actual barn — especially when it came to shooting dialogue. Here too, they used the same cheesy backdrop we've already seen, with the same painting of generic hills.

"The Claim Jumpers" (1958): The real Fury Barn, with real background hills

It's pretty easy to tell the difference between the real barn and the fake one when you can see the background hills. These are clearly the real ones — and the real corral too, not just a little bit of fake fencing.

The Midway House appears in the "Have Gun Will Travel" episode "The Lady" (1958)

The late 1950s were a busy period on the Iverson Ranch, with TV Westerns booming while feature films remained strong. During this period the Fury Barn, Midway House and other structures built for "Fury" saw plenty of action in other productions too.

"The Gambler Wore a Gun" (1961): Midway House after "Fury"

The Midway House remained in place for a decade after "Fury" wrapped, and continued to appear in movies and on TV. It is believed that the building was one of the many casualties of the Clampitt Fire, which swept across the Iverson Ranch in fall 1970, destroying most of the remaining sets.

"Fury" episode "Man-Killer" (1959): A single set, or two sets?

One unusual thing about the Midway House is that it was located relatively far away from the "Fury Barn" by movie set standards, even though the two buildings were supposed to represent a single ranch on "Fury."

The main cast arrives at the barn — photographed from inside the barn

Because of the distance between the house and barn, the show had to be careful about how it filmed the two buildings. Some scenes would be edited specifically to give the impression that the house was right near the barn, while in other shots the camera had to be set up in just the right spot to avoid revealing the layout of the sets.

A prominent Iverson Movie Ranch landmark fills the background

This shot is taken from inside the barn, looking south, with Cactus Hill in the background. On the other side of the hill was the Lower Iverson, with Cactus Hill separating the Upper and Lower Ranches.

The Midway House remains hidden, by design

Shooting from inside the barn enabled the crew to get an interesting background in the shot, but it had to be photographed carefully to avoid showing the Midway House way in the distance.

"Fury" episode "The Map" (1959): Tight shot of the main cast at the Fury Barn

The show also relied a lot on tight shots to avoid revealing any clues around the edges of the frame.

The new kid, "Packy"

This screen shot from season five includes young Roger Mobley, who joined the show as a series regular in season four, playing Joey's friend Packy. In this shot everyone's presumably watching Fury do something smart.

Anita Ekberg rides out from the Midway House in "Valerie" (1957)

One of the more interesting productions to feature the Midway House is "Valerie," a United Artists Western starring Anita Ekberg and Sterling Hayden. The movie filmed during the period when "Fury" was still in production.

Anita Ekberg and Sterling Hayden on the Iverson Ranch in "Valerie"

The movie includes shots of Hayden and Ekberg taken on the Iverson Ranch's "Cactus Hill," which at times presents wide vistas of the Upper Iverson.

"Valerie": A bird's-eye view of the Upper Iverson

This wide shot from "Valerie" offers a rare elevated perspective on the Upper Iverson.

Juxtaposition of Midway House to the south and Fury Barn to the north

Among other things, the shot gives us a better sense of the distance between the Midway House and the Fury Barn. They were close enough to each other that "Fury" could get away with using them both, but the crew would have had to haul a lot of equipment back and forth, which must have been a hassle.

Looking northwest from Midway House — Anita Ekberg, with Rocky Peak in the background

Sterling Hayden was in plenty of Westerns and worked regularly on the Iverson Movie Ranch, but this was probably the only time the Swedish-born Ekberg appeared on the ranch.

Anita Ekberg in 1956, one year before she appeared in "Valerie"

For more about Anita Ekberg, "Valerie" and the movie's interesting use of sets on the Upper Iverson, please click here to see a post we did about "Valerie" in 2016.

The Fury Barn House ("Have Gun Will Travel," 1958)

The Fury Set continued to evolve throughout "Fury's" five-year residency on the Upper Iverson, and a number of buildings were added. In 1958 a second house was built, much closer to the Fury Barn.

"The Gambler Wore a Gun" (1961): The Fury Barn and Fury Barn House

I call this second house the "Fury Barn House" because of its proximity to the Fury Barn. The new building stood immediately to the east of the barn.

The Fury Set as the "Diamond D Ranch"

With the addition of the Fury Barn House, the Fury Set became a more traditional ranch set, with a house and barn next to each other. Here it plays the Diamond D Ranch in "The Gambler Wore a Gun."

A small section of the house's southwest face is visible behind the barn

The Fury Barn House was close enough to the barn's eastern side that it was often partially hidden behind the barn — and it could be completely hidden, if necessary.

"The Gambler Wore a Gun": All three of the main "Fury" buildings

This shot from "The Gambler Wore a Gun," filmed about a year after "Fury" wrapped its final season, includes all three of the major buildings that were constructed for "Fury."

"Fury" sets, built from 1955-1958

In the foreground is a section of the Midway House, on the right, with the Fury Barn and Fury Barn House visible in the distance. The shot again points out the distance between the Midway House and the other sets.

Packy's dad, Mr. Lambert, works on the family tractor outside the Fury Barn House

The Fury Barn House would become a well-used set for the Iverson Ranch, appearing in its share of productions over the next decade. But it was built for "Fury," where it played Packy's house starting in season four.

Packy arrives home on horseback (with a young riding double filling in for Roger Mobley)

In "The Littlest Horse Thief," the first episode of season four — and the first episode to feature the Fury Barn House — Packy unexpectedly arrives home with a horse.

"The Littlest Horse Thief" (Season 4, Episode 1)

Packy's mom and dad are surprised to see him ride up on a horse, and aren't exactly happy about it. Moments later, they will break the news to him that he can't keep it, setting in motion some high drama.

Nan Leslie, who played Stella Lambert, Packy's mom

Packy's mom was played by Nan Leslie, who had appeared opposite Tim Holt as the female lead in a series of RKO B-Westerns in the 1940s — amid word around Hollywood that Holt and Leslie were dating at the time. Packy's dad was played by at least two different actors: John Compton and William Leslie.

Packy rides past the side of the Fury Barn House — another front, ready to be filmed

A disappointed Packy (actually his double again) rides off to return the horse. As he heads out, we get a look at the southeast face of the Lambert house and can see that it's actually another front.

"Branded" episode "The Vindicators" (1965): Southeast face of the Fury Barn House

The house's southeast face wasn't in nearly as many productions as the southwest face, which we've been seeing as the front of the Lamberts' house. But here's the southeast face again, dressed up with a picket fence and a bunch of plants as a duded-up guy in a wagon comes a-callin' in the TV series "Branded."

"Branded": The Fury Barn House and Fury Barn

A wider shot from the "Branded" sequence shows how the house lines up with the Fury Barn, along with some familiar Iverson Movie Ranch background hills to the west — including Pyramid Peak on the left.

Claude Akins and June Lockhart "spark" on the southeast porch

It turns out the dude in the wagon is Claude Akins, and the lady he's calling on is June Lockhart. But even if Akins appears slightly smitten, he might just be using Lockhart to get information.

"The Cat" (1966): Another appearance by the house's southeast face

Another time the southeast face of the Fury Barn House found its way into a production — in color this time — was in the rarely seen movie "The Cat," released in 1966.

Poster for "The Cat," filmed on the Iverson Ranch

"The Cat" is about a big cat that's on the loose, but the movie is so rare I thought I'd better show the poster to prove it even exists.

Behind-the-scenes on "The Cat" (1966): Young Dwayne Redlin out walking his pal

Child actor Dwayne Redlin plays Toby, a young boy who befriends the wildcat. But friends or no friends, I have a feeling if this happened now instead of back in 1966, someone from Child Protective Services would have something to say about it.

"The Rocketeers" (1959): A rare use of the southeast face on "Fury"

The "Fury" TV series almost never used the southeast face of the Fury Barn House as a set, and this screen shot from "The Rocketeers" might offer a hint as to why. Can you spot a small blooper in the shot?

Hey, that shadow shouldn't be there!

The southeast face was used as the Rockwell home in the "Fury" episode, but the set may have been considered bad luck after the shadow of a boom mic found its way into the shot.

Midway House vs. Fury Barn House: Are they meant to look the same?

The Midway House and the southeast face of the Fury Barn House have too much in common for the design similarities to be purely accidental. The similarities can make things confusing for location research, but I believe they were done intentionally so that production companies could use the sets somewhat interchangeably.

Paladin and a friend arrive at the Fury Barn House in "The Lady" (1958)

Getting back to the more frequently filmed side of the Fury Barn House — its charming cottage-style southwest face — one of its first appearances besides "Fury" was in an episode of "Have Gun Will Travel."

Burt Reynolds drums up business for "Gunsmoke" in 1962

A few years later the house was part of that Burt Reynolds shoot for "Gunsmoke" that we mentioned earlier. More pics from Burt's "Gunsmoke" photo shoot on the Fury Set can be found here.

"The Shattered Silence" ("The Fugitive," Season 4, 1967)

One of my personal favorites among the TV appearances by the Fury Barn House was in "The Fugitive." The title card for Act IV shows a Jeep parked in front of the house.

David Janssen stands outside the Fury Barn House

Here we find the Fugitive himself, Richard Kimble, played by David Janssen, standing near the Jeep before heading into the house.

Inevitably, the cops show up

Eventually the police arrive, which tends to happen a lot on "The Fugitive" and is almost always a problem for Dr. Kimble.

The Fury Barn House's "charming cottage" side

The "Fugitive" episode includes some of the best shots ever taken of the Fury Barn House, where the southwest face, or "main entrance," now has its own picket fence, statues and plenty of foliage and is seen in beautiful color.

The Fury Cabin, west of the Fury Barn, in the "Fury" episode "Ten Dollars a Head" (1959)

One other structure to be added to the Fury Set was a small wooden cabin, probably built in the summer of 1958. It began showing up in "Fury" episodes early in season four, which premiered in fall 1958.

The jaw that launched a thousand fistfights

If that menacing jawline looks familiar, it's because it belongs to perennial B-Western heavy Leo Gordon. Although Gordon occasionally played good guys, in "Fury" he stayed in character by illegally rounding up horses.

Tough guy Leo Gordon (in tank top), in "Riot in Cell Block 11" (1954)

Despite frequent typecasting, the versatile Gordon — who reportedly spent five years in prison in real life for armed robbery — also found time for a successful career as a screenwriter and novelist.

"Tennessee's Partner" (1955): Gordon talks John Payne out of killing Anthony Caruso

Gordon worked many times on the Iverson Movie Ranch, including playing the sheriff in "Tennessee's Partner." Click here for a breakdown of filming locations for the movie's climactic sequence, as seen in the photo above.

The Fury Cabin, left, and Fury Barn, right ("Fury" episode "Aunt Harriet," 1958)

The Fury Cabin only found its way into a few episodes of "Fury," but it remained standing for more than a decade and would be put to good use in a number of other TV shows and movies.

"Oklahoma Territory" (1960): The Fury Cabin makes a cameo

Sometimes we just get a glimpse of the cabin in the distance, as in this example from the United Artists B-Western "Oklahoma Territory."

"Bonanza" episode "The Hayburner": Fury Cabin on the left

In other productions the Fury Cabin just happens to be there as someone rides past, as in this shot from the "Bonanza" episode "The Hayburner," which premiered Feb. 17, 1963. The shot is topped off by a section of the Santa Susana Mountains ridgeline to the west, including Rocky Peak at top right.

The Fury Cabin, showcased in "The Virginian," 1964

But a few TV series, including "The Virginian," have featured the cabin more prominently. Here the building is seen in the episode "A Bride for Lars," which first aired April 15, 1964.

Doug McClure as Trampas with Katherine Crawford as Anna, at the Fury Cabin

Series regular Doug McClure and guest star Katherine Crawford are seen hanging around the cabin in "A Bride for Lars." This shot provides some nice detail on the cabin's wooden exterior.

"The Fugitive" (1967): The Fury Cabin gets its own title card

Other closeups of the Fury Cabin can be seen in "The Shattered Silence" — the same episode of "The Fugitive" that featured the Fury Barn House, although the two sets are not associated with each other in the episode.

The cabin's resident hunting dogs await something or someone to hunt

In "The Shattered Silence," a reclusive older guy lives in the cabin with his hunting dogs. Once the fugitive enters the picture, it's not hard to imagine who the dogs might end up hunting.

"The Fugitive": The right side of the cabin has a new facade

By the time "The Fugitive" filmed the Fury Cabin, probably in early 1967, the structure's wooden exterior on the right side had been covered up by what is presumably fake brick material.

Three years earlier: The cabin's all-wooden exterior is seen in "The Virginian"

For most of the life of the cabin, including when "The Virginian" used the set three years before "The Fugitive," the exterior was all wood, including on the right side.

David Janssen and Laurence Naismith at the cabin

In "The Fugitive," the Fury Cabin's resident hermit, played by Laurence Naismith, initially takes in Dr. Kimble and the two men hit it off just fine.

Kimble tries to befriend the dogs

For a while, Kimble also gets along OK with those dogs. Meanwhile, the cabin gets plenty of airtime.

Yet another Fury Set title card

I won't give away the rest of the plot, but later on we get another title card with the cabin in it, featuring the familiar ridgeline of the Santa Susana Mountains to the west and a goat peeking over the corral fence.

"Cimarron Strip" episode "Fool's Gold" (1968): Fury Cabin in the foreground

Another show that spotlighted the cabin is the Stuart Whitman Western "Cimarron Strip," which lasted one season on CBS during 1967-1968. The "Cimarron" shoot would have taken place soon after the "Fugitive" shoot.

The front of the cabin in "Cimarron Strip," with brick facade still in place

This view of the cabin in "Cimarron Strip" reveals that the fake brick material seen in the "Fugitive" remained in place, although it's harder to see it in the "Cimarron" episode.

Fury Cabin, Corral and Pond in "Fool's Gold," looking west toward Pyramid Peak

The cabin and other elements of the Fury Set were featured in the episode "Fool's Gold," which was shot in 1967 and premiered Jan. 11, 1968. The corral was also spruced up, with what appears to be a new fence.

"The Fugitive": The goat may be on to something as it tries to escape the corral

Taking another look at the corral in "The Fugitive," we can see that the old fence had begun to lean — maybe from that goat butting up against it. It's also worth noting that the fenceposts were originally on the inside of the corral.

"Cimarron Strip": A bigger, better corral

When we next see the spread in "Cimarron Strip," the corral appears to have been reconfigured and expanded, with a sturdy new fence, new gates, a fresh coat of white paint and the fenceposts now on the outside of the fence.

"Fury Pond" in "Fool's Gold"

The "Cimarron Strip" episode also showcased a new Upper Iverson water feature, a small pond near the cabin. To date, this episode is the only production in which I've seen this pond.

"Cimarron Strip": The Fury Cabin reflected in the Pond

It's unknown whether the pond was created specifically for "Cimarron Strip" or just left over after a rainstorm, but the show used the new water feature to create one-of-a-kind shots showing the cabin reflected in the pond.

Upper Iverson's Hidden Valley Cabin in the "Fury" episode "Community Chest" (1957)

During the five seasons the TV show "Fury" spent on the Iverson Ranch, the series often ventured beyond the confines of its own sets, capturing shots of many of the movie ranch's other standing sets.

The Middle Iverson Ranch Set appears on "Fury" ("The Vanishing Blacksmith," 1959)

As we noted previously, some of the sets have certain design elements in common. This is true again of the main house on the Middle Iverson Ranch Set, seen here in a season five "Fury" episode. The house is not part of the Fury Set, but it bears a resemblance to both the Midway House and the Fury Barn House.

Iverson Pond as the backdrop for a rescue sequence in "The Witch" (1960)

"Fury" also made use of a number of the Iverson Ranch's existing water features. This rescue sequence in "The Witch" played out against the backdrop of Iverson Pond, which took the place of the Iverson Western street on the Lower Iverson after demolition of the street was completed in 1958.

Part of a major set that stood from 1937-1963

An interesting building can be seen in the background, largely hidden in shadows. It was part of a large set known as the "India Fort," built in 1937 by director John Ford for the Shirley Temple movie "Wee Willie Winkie."

Behind the scenes on "Wee Willie Winkie" in 1937 (Jerry England collection)

This is what the India Fort looked like during filming on "Wee Willie Winkie," when the set was still new. Click here to learn more about this historic set and other sets built on the Iverson Ranch for "Wee Willie Winkie."

A crane is used to rescue a horse from the Reflecting Pool in "The Witch"

A water rescue of a different kind also takes place in the same "Fury" episode, "The Witch." In this sequence a horse is lifted to safety after getting stuck in the Reflecting Pool on the Upper Iverson.

Impending disaster on the set of "The Adventures of Marco Polo," filmed in 1937

The position of the horse as it's being hoisted by a crane reminded me of this photo taken on the Iverson Ranch in 1937, during filming on "The Adventures of Marco Polo." This shot, which also involves a horse being lifted by a crane, captures the moment when a disastrous accident is about to take place on the set.

Promo still for "The Adventures of Marco Polo," taken just before the safety cables snapped

We examined the 1937 horse accident in detail several years ago on this blog. Please click here to see our full report on this disturbing chapter in Iverson Movie Ranch history.

Tagg stops at the Reflecting Pool in the "Annie Oakley" episode "Dilemma at Diablo" (1956)

We've also posted items previously about the Reflecting Pool, including one about Steve McQueen that you can see by clicking here; and an older post examining the above scene from the TV show "Annie Oakley."

Wrench Rock, the Reflecting Pool's closest neighbor, in "Annie Oakley"

The "Annie Oakley" sequence includes a nice shot of the gargoyle-like Wrench Rock, a survivor that remains one of the most interesting rocks on the former Iverson Ranch.

Wrench Rock in the "Fury" episode "Ten Dollars a Head" (1959)

Wrench Rock has also been featured in "Fury," including this sequence from the season 4 episode "Ten Dollars a Head." This shot and the other Wrench Rock shots above here showcase the rock's western profile.

"Saddle Tramp" (1950): Wrench Rock's eastern profile

The rock's eastern profile may be even more picturesque — I consider this the rock's "good side." This shot of Joel McCrea in "Saddle Tramp" can be seen at the top of each page of the Iverson Movie Ranch Blog.

Wrench Rock's eastern profile in 2018

Unfortunately, Wrench Rock's eastern profile has been hidden from view for decades by a large tree.

"Cade's County" (1971): Wrench Rock before the tree got to be a problem

Way back in the early 1970s, Wrench Rock was still being showcased in productions — and the tree that would later ruin the view of the rock from this angle was little more than a bush.

Wrench Rock gets a closeup in "Cade's County"

The charismatic rock's unusual profile remained fully visible in 1971, and was prominently featured in the "Cade's County" episode "The Mustangers," which premiered Nov. 14, 1971.

The young tree is not yet the nuisance it would later become

Please click here for a little more about Wrench Rock's appearance in "Cade's County" — where we also discuss the impact of the fall 1970 wildfires on the Iverson Ranch and other Southern California filming locations.

"The Tomb" (filmed in 1985, released in 1986)

By 1985, when a silly fantasy/horror film called "The Tomb" went on location on the Upper Iverson, the tree had started to be a problem, blocking much of the view of Wrench Rock's classic profile.

"The Tomb": Zoomed in on Wrench Rock, with its troublesome tree

Zooming in on Wrench Rock as it appeared in "The Tomb," we can see that the tree had begun to get in the way. It would get worse in later years, although by then it would matter mainly to fans of old movie locations.

Wrench Rock's eastern profile in 2023

Here's a surprise: The tree that has obstructed the view of Wrench Rock's best side since the 1980s is gone now. The tree was cut down earlier this year, restoring Wrench Rock's eastern profile to its former glory.

"Trail Drive" ("Fury," season five): Bobby Diamond rides Fury on the Upper Iverson

During the years that "Fury" filmed on the Iverson Ranch, the show occasionally captured accidental shots of an elevated camera platform that used to be in place on the Upper Iverson's North Rim.

The camera platform sneaks into the shot

The platform was situated a short distance west of the Fury Set, on top of a large pile of rocks I refer to in my research as Rocks Across the Way-West.

Rocks Across the Way-West in modern times

The rock formation is still standing on what was once the Upper Iverson's North Rim, but today it is part of an upscale residential neighborhood. The location sits behind guarded sentry gates, and access is restricted.

Rocks Across the Way-West (2015): Former location of the camera platform

I was able to get these photos of the Rocks Across the Way on an expedition to the North Rim back in 2015. This shot identifies where the camera platform was once located.

Remains of one of the old platform's anchor points

While nothing remains of the camera platform itself, a few reminders can still be found, such as anchor points for the platform's support posts along with ruts that apparently once held reinforcing cables.

"Three Masked Men" ("Roy Rogers Show," 1955): Who left that camera platform up there?

"Fury" wasn't the only production to inadvertently present views of the camera platform. It's pretty easy to spot — and hard to explain away — in this shot from "The Roy Rogers Show."

"Fury" episode "Gaucho" (filmed in 1959, aired in February 1960)

One of the better shots of the camera platform is in another "Fury" episode, "Gaucho," which includes this weird shot of a "guest horse" where the platform is in plain view at top left.

"Bat Masterson" episode "Incident at Fort Bowie" (1960): Three's a crowd

Most productions just ignored the "camera platform problem," or failed to notice it. Others made half-hearted attempts to disguise the platform, as seen in this example from "Bat Masterson."

Zoomed in on the platform, with its less than convincing "disguise"

The "Bat Masterson" crew didn't go to a whole lot of trouble, but if we zoom in we can see that someone at least made an attempt, adding fake foliage to try to help the platform blend in with the scenery.

Disney's "Elfego Baca, Attorney at Law" (filmed in 1958, aired Feb. 6, 1959)

Other production teams went to considerably more trouble, including one sent by Disney to shoot episodes of the "Elfego Baca" story for broadcast during season five of the long-running "Disneyland" TV series.

Nothing to see here!

The "Elfego Baca" team made a more robust, and more successful, attempt to cover up the camera platform than what "Bat Masterson" would manage about a year later.

"Rodeo King and the Senorita" (1951): Refusing to let the camera platform ruin the shot

Other productions came up with their own sometimes questionable strategies for dealing with the camera platform problem, as in the case of this lobby card for the Rex Allen B-Western "Rodeo King and the Senorita."

When in doubt, just white it out

The producers didn't want to waste a good action shot, but they clearly didn't want the platform in the picture. So they got rid of it with something that looks like Wite-Out — cheap and easy, but not the most subtle solution.

"Mercy Flight" ("Fury," season three, 1957)

One of the many unusual sequences shot during "Fury's" five seasons on the Iverson Ranch featured a small plane. The location wasn't large enough for takeoffs and landings, so any airplanes had to be trucked in.

"Mercy Flight": Touching down on an Upper Iverson chase road

The plane did touch down briefly on a wide chase road before taking off again right away. The chase road wasn't long enough for a full landing, but landings and takeoffs could be faked in this manner.

The plane heads east after its fake landing

Here the plane appears to take off toward the east, but again, this was only after a brief touchdown.

In the sky above the Upper Iverson

The plane then circled back over the Upper Iverson, a maneuver that was probably filmed repeatedly. This shot captures the heavily filmed Oat Mountain in the background, to the north of the Iverson Ranch.

Taxiing on the Upper Iverson, after the plane was trucked in

Shots of the plane taxiing or positioned on the ground had to be taken after trucking the plane to the location.

A major Upper Iverson landmark in "Fury"

The huge rock noted here has come to be known as "Prominent Rock," and is sometimes called "Medicine Rock." Because it towered over a major chase road, it can be found in a lot of movies and TV shows.

"King of the Mounties" (Republic, 1942): Prominent Rock again

The field below Prominent Rock was a popular spot to park small planes. This example comes from the Allan "Rocky" Lane serial "King of the Mounties."

"The Threat" (1949): Another light plane comes in for a fake landing

Another example of aviation filming in this corner of the Iverson Ranch can be found in the RKO crime drama "The Threat," which starred Michael O'Shea and Virginia Grey.

Buzzing a couple of Iverson Movie Ranch landmarks

In this case two Upper Iverson landmarks can be seen: Prominent Rock and Cap Rock.

Prominent Rock in 2016, from the same angle seen in "The Threat"

Both Prominent Rock and Cap Rock remain in place today, although they're becoming harder to see due to ongoing development and tree growth. This is a photo I took of Prominent Rock in 2016.

Cap Rock, circa 2010 — today even more of it has been covered up by trees

Cap Rock in the modern landscape is even harder to see than Prominent Rock, having been largely swallowed up by trees and other growth. This is a photo I took of it in about 2010, and the trees are bigger now.

"The Tiger Woman" (1944): More aviation-related filming at Prominent Rock

Still another example of a light plane parked near Prominent Rock can be found in Chapter 10 of "The Tiger Woman," a Republic serial that again starred Rocky Lane, with Linda Stirling in the title role.

The full western profile of Prominent Rock

I wanted to be sure to include this shot because it's taken from farther west than previous photos and showcases Prominent Rock's impressive western profile.

Prominent Rock's western profile in 2009

The best shot I have of Prominent Rock's western profile in modern times is probably this one taken in 2009. Here again, the trees and other foliage have grown since then, gradually swallowing up more of the rock.

"Fury" episode "Trail Drive" (1959): Prominent Rock provides just the right accent

Prominent Rock was used frequently as an artistic element by directors and cinematographers shooting on the Iverson Ranch, and "Fury" is no exception. This shot ran during season five.

"Golden Stallion" (1949): Nice use of Prominent Rock during a chase

The "Trail Drive" shot may have been inspired by this beautifully framed shot taken 10 years earlier for the movie "Golden Stallion" — or by any number of other shots like it.

"The Claim Jumpers" ("Fury," season three, 1958)

"Fury" also captured nice shots of some of the Iverson Ranch's lesser-known rocks during its five seasons on the location ranch. This scene was shot on the Lower Iverson, in the Central Garden of the Gods.

"Burt Lancaster Rock," Central Garden of the Gods

The screen shot showcases an unusual but largely overlooked rock, which I call "Burt Lancaster Rock." This entire location remains intact today and is open to the public.

"Ten Tall Men" (Columbia, 1951): Burt Lancaster on his namesake rock

The name "Burt Lancaster Rock" comes from a sequence in the Foreign Legion movie "Ten Tall Men" in which actor Burt Lancaster stands on the rock as he is confronted by a woman with a rifle.

Burt Lancaster Rock in 2019

This is what the location looks like in modern times, although I took this shot in 2019 and the area is quite a bit more overgrown today than it was back then. Burt Lancaster Rock is the one on the right.

"Ten Tall Men": Mahla lies in wait as Lancaster rides up

Other shots in the "Ten Tall Men" sequence provide additional context for the location as a whole and for Burt Lancaster Rock in particular. In this shot Lancaster arrives on horseback, unaware that he's about to be shot at.

Burt Lancaster Rock

It's hard to miss the weird-shaped Burt Lancaster Rock, but I've noted it here just in case. Once the shooting starts, Lancaster's character takes shelter behind the rock.

Jody Lawrance as Mahla, who has it in for Burt Lancaster's character

The woman trying to kill Lancaster's Foreign Legion sergeant is Mahla, played by Jody Lawrance. The daughter of a sheik, Mahla is a pawn in a struggle between her father and Lancaster's Foreign Legion outfit.

Mahla closes in from the east

The sequence is filmed in what I call "location verite," meaning that the characters are filmed where they're supposed to be and the camera moves, rather than the other way around. It may seem like a no-brainer, but a common shortcut on location shoots was to leave the camera in one place and move the actors instead.

The heavily filmed Old Yeller Tree

The cameras capture much of the Central Garden of the Gods in "Ten Tall Men," including shots looking east toward Mahla's position — and one of the best shots ever of the Old Yeller Tree.

Attack at Burt Lancaster Rock

Mahla charges Burt Lancaster's character in front of his rock, leading to a brief scuffle. The two bitter enemies would later find common ground.

Garden of the Gods Park, off Redmesa Road in Chatsworth, Calif.

Today the Central Garden of the Gods and Burt Lancaster Rock are part of a public park, although the Old Yeller Tree no longer exists. Here are the GPS coordinates for this location: 34°16'23.5"N 118°36'45.2"W.

"Fury": Peter Graves, Highland Dale, Bobby Diamond and William Fawcett

Believe it or not, there are still a few "Fury" rocks we haven't mentioned here, including some we've reported on before. For more about "Fury" on the Iverson Ranch, click here to see our post from 2014.

Kris Kristofferson's Silvertown adventure: How the legendary singer-songwriter helped document Corriganville "between the fires"

2023-08-09T16:59:00.010-07:00

Corriganville in its heyday, ca. 1950s: A thriving movie location and tourist attraction

Some readers may already know that Silvertown, the famed Western street at Corriganville in Simi Valley, Calif., burned down in fall 1970 in the Clampitt Fire, part of the enormous and wildly destructive Newhall-Malibu Fire.

"Have Gun Will Travel": Silvertown in 1957, overseen by "Gorilla Rock"

It's not as well-known that it took two fires, almost a decade apart, to finish off Silvertown. Several of the buildings at the northeast end of town survived the Clampitt Fire, only to be destroyed by another fire in 1979.

Corriganville's "Silvertown" today: The foundations survive, along with Gorilla Rock

If you visit Corriganville today, you will still find Gorilla Rock, and below it the foundations of what was once Silvertown. These foundations are all that has remained of the old Western town since 1979.

"Vigilante Force" (filmed in 1975, released in 1976): Silvertown "between the fires"

Lucky for us, what was left of Silvertown after the Clampitt Fire — and essentially what Corriganville looked like throughout the 1970s — was documented in a largely forgotten movie called "Vigilante Force."

"Vigilante Force" — great for locations, not so great for plot, screenplay, etc.

The fact that the movie is largely forgotten is probably just as well. Tastes vary, of course, but as movies go, "Vigilante Force" isn't exactly "Citizen Kane."

One of the many rare shots of 1970s Corriganville in "Vigilante Force"

But as a historical document peppered with unique and fascinating shots of Corriganville at a time when almost no filming was going on there, "Vigilante Force" deserves some kind of special Oscar.

Kris Kristofferson and Jan-Michael Vincent at Corriganville's "Barn No. 2"

The movie stars Kris Kristofferson and Jan-Michael Vincent as brothers who have what turns out to be a pretty significant beef with each other. But the real star of the movie, as I see it, is Corriganville.

Silvertown in the '50s, looking northeast

To get a better sense of what Corriganville was like in the '70s, let's start with a bird's-eye view of Silvertown, the movie ranch's Western street, when it was still going strong in the 1950s, before the fires.

Key features of Corriganville's "Silvertown"

Some of the key features in the shot are identified here — including Barn No. 2 and the Hotel, at the northeast end of town. Of the features noted here, only Ray Corrigan's house was destroyed in the 1970 fire.

A wide view of Silvertown in the 1950s, looking southeast

Now we've turned the angle around so we're looking southeast. From this angle we see a wide shot of Silvertown.

Buildings destroyed by the Clampitt Fire

As you can see in this shot, most of Silvertown was destroyed in the 1970 fire.

Buildings that survived Clampitt, but would be destroyed nine years later

The buildings at the northeast end of town survived, including the Horse Barn, also known as "Barn No. 2," and the Hotel, which was said to be a working soundstage. The surviving structures would all perish nine years later.

"Vigilante Force": The surviving buildings, filmed in 1975

Some of the best views we have of the Clampitt survivors are in "Vigilante Force."

These sets survived long enough for a last hurrah in "Vigilante Force"

The main surviving buildings seen in this shot are Barn No. 2, the Hotel and one side of the "Mexican Street." The southwest side of the Mexican Street burned down in the 1970 fire.

Remnants of Silvertown — still in place today

Also visible in the shot are the foundations of many of the Silvertown buildings that were destroyed in the 1970 fire. These foundations still look pretty much the same today.

Buildings that once stood on those foundations, circa 1958

Most of the foundations highlighted in the previous shot belonged to these structures at the southwest end of Silvertown. These buildings were fixtures of both Corriganville's filming business and its weekend tourist trade.

Kristofferson hangs out at the hotel drinking beer

The Silvertown building that gets the most screen time in "Vigilante Force" is the hotel, where Kristofferson's character, a decorated war hero, holes up for much of the movie.

Kristofferson and his Vietnam buddies bask in the ambiance of 1970s Corriganville

The hotel set had already deteriorated by the time the movie filmed in 1975, and the dress code was no longer being enforced.

Now appearing on the front steps of the Silvertown Hotel: Bernadette Peters!

Bernadette Peters also hangs out at the hotel, occasionally dressing up like a cop and playing guitar.

The first of several weird sightings of people in red marching band uniforms

One of the fun things about seeing the hotel in "Vigilante Force" is that even though the place was a wreck at the time, you could still see bits and pieces of how it used to look in better days.

What's left of the decor from the filming era still adorns the front of the hotel

For example, check out the decorative "white picket fence" treatment highlighted here — and try to ignore the people in the red marching band uniforms.

"Five Guns to Tombstone" (1961): The hotel in better shape, with the wooden strips intact

Here's a tiny bit of that same exterior decor item in a "someone's about to git strung up" scene from "Five Guns to Tombstone," filmed about 15 years before "Vigilante Force" — before the hotel began falling apart.

"The Young Guns" (1956): Russ Tamblyn and the decorative wooden strips

An even earlier Silvertown shoot, for the Western "The Young Guns," again showcases the hotel front's decorative treatment — with the wooden strips painted a darker shade back then.

The hotel's storefront facade, in "The Young Guns"

Also visible here is what might be described as a "storefront" facade on this part of the hotel building. Twenty years later, a dilapidated version of this storefront area will turn up in "Vigilante Force."

As usual, people congregate near the fridge

The rundown storefront area as resurrected for "Vigilante Force" has been downgraded to more like a screened-in front patio, but it has all the essentials — namely a refrigerator and canned goods.

Inside looking out — with a famous movie tree just outside

The movie really commits to this weird, trashy foyer, even shooting inside the junked-up room. This shot looks out through the patio screens toward the same hanging tree that was about to get some use in "Five Guns to Tombstone." We'll come back to the hanging tree a little later.

Another Clampitt Fire survivor ... sort of

One other item of interest in the Russ Tamblyn shot is the small cabin in the background. Situated at the northeast end of Silvertown, this cabin was in its share of movies, and surprisingly, it survived the Clampitt Fire.

OK, so it's a fixer-upper

Well, "survived" may be too strong a word. The cabin did escape the fire, but it had its own problems. For whatever it's worth, "Vigilante Force" documented the cabin's status as of 1975.

The little cabin in it heyday (Bison Archives photo)

The cabin was looking a lot sharper in the 1956 Columbia serial "Blazing the Overland Trail."

Tourists hang around near the little cabin and the nearby church

The cabin was one of the attractions for tourists visiting Corriganville, as was a nearby church. The church also appeared on screen pretty regularly — and it, too, survived the Clampitt Fire.

What was left of the church building in 1975

We know the church survived the fire in 1970 because we can see it in this shot and others from "Vigilante Force." It doesn't look as much like a church as it once did, but it's still standing, as of 1975.

The church in 1958, as it appeared in "Death Valley Days"

The church made many appearances in movies and TV shows. This shot comes from the "Death Valley Days" episode "Eruption at Volcano," filmed in 1958 and aired in 1959.

The deteriorating church in the mid- to late 1970s (posted by John Bickler)

This Internet photo reveals the condition of the church in the 1970s. Based on the shape it's in here and what we can see of it in "Vigilante Force," I'd say this photo was taken sometime after the "Vigilante Force" shoot, with just a little more deterioration evident here.

"Vigilante Force": Kristofferson eyes a church in the distance

Another church also plays a role in "Vigilante Force," and while this one is technically not at Corriganville, it's in the neighborhood — close enough that Kristofferson can watch what's going on there from Corriganville.

Zooming in on the church in "Vigilante Force"

As the camera begins to zoom in, we get a better look at the church. Both in the real world and in the movie, the church is a neighbor of Corriganville, and can even be filmed from the movie ranch.

A funeral is taking place at the church, not far from Corriganville

It turns out a funeral is under way at this church. In contrast to the previous shot, now a black banner has been added to cover up the real name of the church.

The same church as it stands today on Santa Susana Pass Road

I don't know what the church was called in the 1970s, but it's still standing today, on Santa Susana Pass Road near Kuehner Drive, and today it's known as the Church of God of Prophecy. The same rocky hill seen in "Vigilante Force" can still be seen behind the church.

The same church, in "Camper John" (1973)

The church also made an appearance in the fairly obscure 1973 movie "Camper John." The movie was later rereleased as "Prologue to Wounded Knee" and then rereleased again as "Gentle Savage."

"Vigilante Force": Corriganville history on display

Other shots in "Vigilante Force" connect with Corriganville history in various ways. For example, take a look at this shot of the perennially shirtless Kristofferson with actor Antony Carbone.

A historical artifact in the background

It's easy to miss, but if you look closely you can see an old chimney still standing in the background — a survivor of the Clampitt Fire.

Ray Corrigan's house and ranch buildings, circa 1937 (Bison Archives photo)

The chimney is gone today, but it was once part of Ray Corrigan's house. This photo was taken around the time Corrigan purchased the property in 1937, and shows the only buildings that were standing in the area before he began building Silvertown.

Barn No. 1, aka the Old Barn — part of Ray Corrigan's original ranch

Among those earliest buildings is "Barn No. 1," also known as the Old Barn. The buildings in this photo, including Ray's house, would later be incorporated into Silvertown, but they would all be destroyed in the 1970 fire.

The Old Barn in "Red River Robin Hood" (1942)

The Old Barn would go on to become a fixture of Silvertown, and would be seen in countless movies and TV episodes. But when "Red River Robin Hood" filmed at Corriganville in 1942, the barn looked kind of lonely without any other buildings around.

A booming Silvertown in "Gangsters of the Frontier," 1944 (Jerry England collection)

Just two years later, when "Gangsters of the Frontier" came to town, there was an actual town to come to. By then Silvertown was a bustling Western street with plenty of buildings — and plenty of action.

"The Quiet Gun" (1957): Looking southwest down the main street at Silvertown

Shots taken in the other direction — looking southwest — often capture some of Ray Corrigan's original ranch buildings in the background.

Original ranch buildings as part of Silvertown

I believe the Old Barn was moved from its original position, because it appears to be much farther from Ray Corrigan's house in later Silvertown shots than it did in the 1937 photo.

Barn No. 2 in "Vigilante Force," and another appearance by the marching band

Barn No. 2 was part of an expansion of Silvertown that took place between 1947 and 1952. The new barn was constructed of sturdier material than the old barn, but the main reason it survived the Clampitt Fire was probably because it was set off from the rest of the town.

"Fighting Lawman" (1953): Barn No. 2, the Hotel, Gorilla Rock and the Hanging Tree

Barn No. 2, seen here on the left, was still pretty new when it appeared in "Fighting Lawman." This shot from the movie also features the hotel's storefront facades, on the right.

Other features in the "Fighting Lawman" shot

Other features in the screen shot include Gorilla Rock, the hanging tree and the small cabin we looked at before. These features were at the northeast end of Silvertown, and they all survived the 1970 fire.

Corriganville's "preferred" hanging tree, in "Death Valley Days" (1959)

The tree at the northeast end of town was just one of multiple trees at Corriganville that became known as "hanging trees," but I think it was the main one. This tree made a big impression on me when I visited Corriganville as a kid, because it was used to stage live hangings for the tourists. Ah, the good ol' days ...

Bernadette Peters leans against the hanging tree in "Vigilante Force"

By the time "Vigilante Force" filmed in 1975, the hanging tree, which resided in a circular stone planter next to Barn No. 2, had grown to be enormous.

Kristofferson and Peters reflect on life's mysteries at the hanging tree

With the massive oak tree situated right next to the barn, cast members could easily be filmed looking pensive while seated on the planter or leaning against the tree..

The tree remains in place in 2023 — and is bigger than ever

On a recent visit to Corriganville, I was able to confirm that the old hanging tree is still alive and well, and still resides in its circular planter — near the surviving stone wall segments that once held up the barn.

The giant oak has what it takes to be a hanging tree

I also gained some insight into why this particular oak tree became the movie ranch's preferred venue for public hangings. It has the one essential feature every hanging tree needs: a high, sturdy horizontal limb.

Barn No. 2's surviving stone wall segments (2023)

The legacy of Barn No. 2 also lives on in today's landscape, its stone wall still intact below Gorilla Rock. The ruins of the barn are one of only a handful of surviving Silvertown relics that rise above ground level.

Firefighters hose off the remains of Barn No. 2 (L.A. Times photo by Ken Hively, 1979)

You may want to get out a hanky for this one, but here's a photo that ran in the Los Angeles Times on Nov. 2, 1979, capturing the demise of Barn No. 2. The photo was posted by John Bickler. The flattened building in the background appears to be the Hotel.

Corriganville's Robin Hood Lake, now a dry concrete basin, in "Vigilante Force"

One other Corriganville scene that caught my eye in "Vigilante Force" is a brief sequence filmed in the concrete basin that once held the location ranch's famed Robin Hood Lake.

A canoe paddles along Robin Hood Lake in "Last of the Redmen" (1947)

Scenic Robin Hood Lake was a common sight in productions filmed at Corriganville, with part of the scenery provided by a manmade stunt rock. The rock can be seen here directly above the front of the canoe.

"Jungle Jim" (Columbia, 1948): A fancy dive into Robin Hood Lake

The stunt rock was often used for ... (wait for it) ... stunts! And fancy dives too, in case they're two different things. This shot comes from the first in a series of "Jungle Jim" movies Johnny Weissmuller started making at Columbia as soon as he wrapped up his run as Tarzan at MGM and RKO.

Weissmuller, Sherry Moreland and Tamba the Chimp at Corriganville (1951)

Weissmuller spent so much time at Corriganville making "Jungle Jim" movies that people tend to think he filmed "Tarzan" movies there too, which as far as I can tell is incorrect. Surprisingly, Weissmuller actually made more "Jungle Jim" movies (13) than "Tarzan" movies (12).

A manmade rock complements the manmade lake

The "Vigilante Force" shot also features the stunt rock, and with the lake already dry in 1975, the shot provides a preview of what the lake and stunt rock look like today.

Robin Hood Lake and the stunt rock in 2023

Robin Hood Lake hasn't changed much since "Vigilante Force" filmed at Corriganville, and the fake stunt rock still looks about the same — as long as you don't look too closely.

The fake rock is showing its age

If you do happen to take a close look at the stunt rock, the "movie magic" is quickly stripped away and the rock's true nature is betrayed by pieces of concrete, wood and chicken wire popping out of it.

Corriganville Park — open to the public

Located at the end of Smith Road in southeast Simi Valley, Calif., Corriganville today is a regional park and a popular hiking area. It's open to the public, so check it out if you can — but watch out for poison oak!

Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

Before he decided to try his hand at acting, Kris Kristofferson was a heck of a singer-songwriter. Here's one of his classics — click on the arrow then click on the YouTube logo to watch it in a larger format.

Take a fun journey back to "Spartacus Draw" and Wildwood Park, on the former Janss Conejo Ranch in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

2023-06-30T10:26:00.009-07:00

"Spartacus" (1960): The "I'm Spartacus" scene, filmed in Thousand Oaks

A while back we reported on the filming location for the famous "I'm Spartacus" scene in Stanley Kubrick's 1960 gladiator epic "Spartacus." The scene was shot in Thousand Oaks, Calif., in a cactus-riddled pass through a ridgeline of volcanic rocks.

The same location in 2020: "Spartacus Draw" (Jerry Condit photo)

Today the site is known among film historians as "Spartacus Draw." This shot by photographer Jerry Condit reveals that it still looks pretty much the same today, although the cactus has come back in force.

Mountclef Ridge, in the "Bat Masterson" episode "A Grave Situation" (1960)

Spartacus Draw is adjacent to a well-known landmark, Mountclef Ridge in Wildwood Regional Park, a popular hiking area. Back in the '50s and '60s this was the Janss Conejo Ranch, a major filming location.

Mountclef Ridge in the modern world, at the end of Avenida de los Arboles

The location is easy to find today, at the west end of Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. This was a wildly popular shooting area, especially in the days of the early TV Westerns.

"Gunsmoke" episode "Cale" (1962): Matt and Chester ride out

Besides "Bat Masterson," episodes of "Gunsmoke," "Rawhide," "Laramie" and many other early Westerns were shot on the Janss Conejo Ranch.

They're headed for the draw!

Spartacus Draw is a common background feature in these productions. For additional photos and details about "Gunsmoke" and other TV and film shoots at the location, check out our post from 2020 by clicking here.

"Flaming Star" (1960): A battered Elvis at Mountclef Ridge

Plenty of movies were filmed at Janss Conejo too. Even Elvis Presley turned up at Mountclef Ridge — albeit in slightly damaged condition — in his 1960 Western "Flaming Star."

"Rawhide" episode "Running Man" (1961): Another "hair salon cowboy" rides up

Clint Eastwood was in a little better shape than Elvis when he rode the same prairie a year later in "Rawhide." Eastwood was still in his 20s when he took on what would become his breakout role as ramrod Rowdy Yates.

Eastwood as Rowdy Yates in "Rawhide": Keepin' it sharp on the cattle drive

The young Eastwood had yet to embrace the "rough around the edges" look that would soon come to define him through his "Man With No Name" character in Sergio Leone's spaghetti Westerns.

Two icons share the screen

At least he knew enough to keep a safe distance from Spartacus Draw, with its nasty cactus situation. Here's that link again for more about "Rawhide," "Flaming Star," "Gunsmoke," Wildwood, Janss Conejo and Spartacus Draw.

"Spartacus" and "Rawhide" shot in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

A really cool video about "Spartacus," "Rawhide" and Spartacus Draw was recently posted by Jim Carbonetti, with 3D motion footage, movie clips and some beautiful "then and now" fades. Jim reached out to let us know he took his inspiration from our 2020 post. His video work is just terrific! Check it out by clicking on the above image, or by clicking here.

I'm Spartacus! ... No, I'm him!

You might also enjoy revisiting our clip of the famed "I'm Spartacus" scene, which you can find by clicking on the above image or by clicking here.

"The Orville," Buster Keaton and "The Loyal Order of Riders" cross paths on a rocky hillside overlooking Chatsworth, Calif.

2023-05-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

"The Orville" (2017-2022 and counting): "Star Trek" with a few more laughs

The "Star Trek"-inspired sci-fi series "The Orville" has been quietly shooting in an out-of-the-way corner of the San Fernando Valley that has a history of filming dating back more than a century.

Progressive Insurance's "Loyal Order of Riders" campaign, running since 2021

It's the same location that serves as headquarters for "The Loyal Order of Riders," featured in a series of Progressive motorcycle insurance commercials that's been in heavy rotation since about 2021.

"The Paleface": Buster Keaton surveys the same corner of Chatsworth in 1922

But filming in this location is nothing new. More than 100 years ago, Buster Keaton romped all over these same rocky hills as he tried to fit in with the natives in his silent comedy "The Paleface."

The Loyal Order holds a secret meeting in Chatsworth

The Progressive commercials show a group of motorcycle riders circled up at a club meeting on a rocky plateau. The filming location is in Chatsworth, Calif. — just across the street from the former Iverson Movie Ranch.

"The Orville" (2017): A space vehicle lands near the riders' meeting place

The same location turns up on "The Orville." In the show's season one finale, "Mad Idolatry," a landing craft parks right next to the "Loyal Order of Riders" meeting site.

Riders arrive at the meeting location

For people who appreciate rocky filming locations, the Progressive spots give us more than we might normally expect from an insurance commercial.

Flo tries to blend in at the secret meeting

One of the riders in the Progressive ads is "Flo," a familiar character from a long-running series of Progressive Insurance commercials.

The club president calls the meeting to order

In many of the shots, including those showing the club leader presiding over the meeting, we see a display of interesting sandstone rock formations in the background.

A distinctive rock looms in the background

Pay attention to this rock — we'll be seeing more of it.

The spacecraft landing site and Loyal Order of Riders meeting location in 2023

This stunning rocky area is located a short distance south of Santa Susana Pass Road, about a half-mile west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth, Calif.

Private location where "The Orville" and the Progressive spots were filmed

The meeting location and landing site is just off a private road identified on maps as "West Santa Susana Pass Road." This area is not open to the public, but it has been in steady use as a filming location in recent years.

Video link for "Snake," one of the Progressive commercials shot in Chatsworth

You can click on the image above to watch one of the "Loyal Order of Riders" commercials for Progressive motorcycle insurance, featuring the rocky Chatsworth location.

"The Orville" (2017): Same rocks, different mode of transport

When "The Orville" dropped in on the same location back in 2017, the show brought along a grab bag of special effects, starting with placing a futuristic landing shuttle among those same rocks

Zooming in on the space shuttle landing site and bikers' meeting location in 2023

Here's another look at the shuttle landing site and "Loyal Order of Riders" meeting location, using a current 3D view from Google Maps.

Location where the space shuttle parks

The approximate landing spot for the space vehicle is noted here. I believe the shuttle was created through a combination of props and digital effects — in other words, it didn't actually land at the location.

Loyal Order of Riders site (blue oval) and "Orville" landing site (red oval)

This shot identifies the secret meeting location for the "Loyal Order of Riders," which overlaps a little with the landing location for the shuttle from the starship Orville.

Kelly and Malloy (Adrianne Palicki and Scott Grimes) step out of the landing craft

Two members of a landing party from the Orville emerge from the small shuttle vehicle after its arrival on a previously unknown planet. This part of the landing craft appears to be a prop.

Kelly and Malloy explore the newly discovered planet

As the landing party ventures out into the unknown world, the shuttle starts looking more like something that may have been added digitally to the shot.

Chatsworth landmarks surround the location

Meanwhile, we can see the ridgeline of the Santa Susana Mountains in the distance, to the northwest.

A familiar rock is part of the landscape

Behind the shuttle is a rock we've seen before — in the "Loyal Order of Riders" commercial.

Riders arrive at the secret meeting location

This is that same rock, seen as the bikers arrive for the "Loyal Order of Riders" commercial.

Another view of the meeting location and landing site

In a wider shot of the same area, it's pretty easy to once again spot the same rock.

"The Orville": Kelly explores the rocky area near the landing site

As the "Orville" episode continues, more of the new planet is revealed. Much of this world is set in the rocky bluffs surrounding the landing site and the "Loyal Order of Riders" meeting location.

A wide shot of the area as it appears in 2023

The area Kelly is exploring can be seen again in this Google Maps shot from 2023. The star marks the approximate location where Kelly is seen in the previous photo.

Zooming in on the rocky cove (Google Maps, 2023)

Taking a closer look at the location, we can identify the rocky cove that Kelly explored six or seven years earlier during the "Orville" shoot.

Some of the cove's distinctive rock formations

A number of the key rocks surrounding the cove are noted here, as they appear on Google Maps in 2023. The same rocks are identified below in the shot from "The Orville."

"The Orville" (2017): The same rocky cove

Here are those same key rocks as Kelly explores the cove. The outlines are color coded to match the outlines in the 2023 shot above.

A familiar "face" towers above Kelly in "The Orville"

As Kelly continues to poke around in this area, we again see some familiar rocks. Notice the unusually shaped rock tower highlighted here.

The same quirky rock figure also turned up at the riders' meeting

Remember this shot of the club president calling the "Loyal Order of Riders" meeting to order? There's that same oddly shaped rock, from a slightly different angle.

"The Orville," with the odd-shaped rock noted

The same rock tower is also visible in shots of the landing craft's location in "The Orville," with the space vehicle parked below a wide outcropping that includes the weird rock.

"Premature Electrification" spot for Ram Trucks

Filming continues today at this location, with car and truck commercials among the most common shoots. This photo comes from a Ram Trucks spot that's currently airing for the all-electric Ram 1500 REV.

Another appearance by the "weird rock," in the Ram Trucks spot

In another shot from the Ram Trucks commercial, we can easily identify, once again, the "weird rock."

Google Maps: The unusual rock continues to tower above the filming area

Taking another look at the bluff area as it appears on Google Maps, it's not too hard to find the weird rock, which is turning out to be a reliable identifier that pinpoints the filming location.

The location of the odd-shaped rock (January 2023)

We can place the filming area in a broader context by moving east and examining a shot taken earlier this year from Santa Susana Pass Road, looking southwest.

Another famous movie rock anchors a nearby butte

This area has been used as a filming location for more than a century. If you live anywhere near Chatsworth, you've probably seen this large, almost square rock, known to some locals as "Parachute Rock."

"The Paleface" (1922): Buster Keaton is thrown from Parachute Rock

The name comes from the rock's appearance in a Buster Keaton stunt from the silent film era. In his 1922 comedy short "The Paleface," Keaton is thrown from the top of the rock by an Indian.

Keaton "parachutes" to safety off the massive sandstone butte

Keaton avoids death by using an Indian blanket as a parachute. I don't know how the stunt was filmed, but it's a good bet that Keaton didn't really go over the edge of Parachute Rock. Even so, it looks good in the movie.

Unusual side view of Parachute Rock, looking north

The "Paleface" sequence features a compelling — and rare — side view of the formidable Parachute Rock.

Parachute Rock looking north again, in modern times

Parachute Rock still looks much the same a century later, although we hardly ever see it from this angle. You can match up the holes in the rock with the "Paleface" shot if that sort of thing interests you.

Western edge of the Iverson Movie Ranch in the early 1920s

Something else of interest in the "Paleface" sequence is the background. The sequence is filmed looking north, and captures the western expanse of the Iverson Movie Ranch in its early days.

The former Iverson Ranch in modern times, after going condo

In the modern era, this part of the former Iverson Ranch is filled with condos. Built in the late 1980s, the Cal West Townhomes complex today occupies much of the former Lower Iverson.

"The Paleface": A rare early look at key Iverson Movie Ranch features

The western border of the Iverson Ranch in the early '20s included a row of trees running north and south along the boundary line, and a road just outside the Iverson property line, along the west side of the trees.

"Williams/Johnson Road," along the western boundary of the Iverson Ranch

This road is sometimes referred to as "Williams/Johnson Road," a reference to two pioneer Chatsworth families whose homestead properties were situated along the road.

A view of the same road looking in the opposite direction (H.F. Rile photo, ca. 1912)

Another view of this historic road can be found among postcard photos taken in the early 1910s by H.F. Rile, a photographer who documented much of early Los Angeles.

A car travels south on Williams/Johnson Road

The H.F. Rile image may be the best photo in existence of Williams/Johnson Road in its early days. The shot is taken looking south, and includes an old car headed south on the road.

Looking south toward the filming location

While it's impossible to see in any detail, the photo also captures the "Orville" and "Loyal Order of Riders" filming location in the distance.

Filming site for the "Orville" episode and the Progressive ad

Zooming in on the old photo, we can identify the approximate site where the shuttle landed in "The Orville" and where "The Loyal Order of Riders" met — and we can even find the "weird rock," yet again.

Chatsworth Grade Road through Santa Susana Pass (photo by H.F. Rile, ca. 1912)

The H.F. Rile photos, which have been compiled and studied by researchers Ann and Ray Vincent of the Chatsworth Historical Society, also capture early views of the Santa Susana Pass, among other areas. We've featured Rile's work on this blog before — please click here to learn more about this photo.

A rare look at the gate, fence and trees along the Iverson side of the road

Rile's Williams/Johnson Road photo contains a number of interesting historical tidbits, including what appears to be a barbed-wire fence and gate separating the road from the Iverson Ranch.

Garden of the Gods, ca. 1912 — just as filming was starting up

The photo also provides an early glimpse of the Iverson Movie Ranch's Garden of the Gods to the southeast. The photo dates to around the time the rocky Iverson Ranch property was just beginning to be used for filming.

Garden of the Gods and the western edge of the Iverson Ranch (H.F. Rile, ca. 1912)

Another H.F. Rile photo from the same period — probably taken the same day — provides an even better view of the Garden of the Gods, and another look at the Williams/Johnson Road area. This shot is taken looking east.

Zooming in on the Garden of the Gods and the line of young trees

The photo presents the entire western profile of the Garden of the Gods, along with a better look at the trees along the property line. As they should, the trees look about 10 years younger here than they do in "The Paleface."

Today's Chatsworth Park South, looking east across the San Fernando Valley (H.F. Rile, ca. 1912)

A detailed presentation on the H.F. Rile postcards, put together for the Chatsworth Historical Society by Ann and Ray Vincent, can be found by clicking here or by clicking on the image above.

"The Paleface": Buster Keaton on the western edge of the Iverson Ranch

About 10 years after H.F. Rile's photos were taken, we again catch a glimpse of the Williams/Johnson Road area and the western boundary of the Iverson Movie Ranch in "The Paleface."

The western profile of the Garden of the Gods

We mainly see one tree and a small section of the barbed-wire fence in this sequence, including a single fencepost. We also get another look at the Garden of the Gods in the background.

Keaton is approached by Indians near the western edge of the Iverson Ranch

While the bulk of the action takes place on Iverson Ranch property on the east side of the fence, for these shots the camera would have been positioned on the west side of the fence, off Iverson property.

The same location from the other side, with the camera shooting west

Parts of the sequence are shot in the opposite direction, with the camera now back on the Iverson Ranch. In these shots we catch glimpses of the Williams property to the west.

Williams/Johnson Road, on the west side of the fence

We also again see Williams/Johnson Road, just on the other side of the Iversons' fence.

Buster Keaton climbs the tree in "The Paleface"

At one point during the shoot, Keaton climbs up into the leafy part of the tree and we get a look at the foliage. Based on the limited shots we have, I'd say it looks a lot like a eucalyptus.

The Indians contemplate what to do with Buster Keaton in "The Paleface"

While the Indians were gathered in this flat, grassy area, located west of the Garden of the Gods, they were also filmed from another angle. Here the camera is facing south.

Filming area south of Santa Susana Pass Road

In this shot we can again see the "Orville" and "Loyal Order of Riders" filming area in the distance, on the south side of Santa Susana Pass Road.

A familiar rock

If we want to, we can once again find the weird rock.

Another familiar rock, and another unusual angle

Parachute Rock also works its way into this shot, from another rarely seen angle, looking south.

"The Paleface" (1922): Another glimpse of the Iverson Movie Ranch

The Iverson Ranch continues to pop up in "The Paleface." In the sequence in which Keaton is thrown from the top of Parachute Rock, we catch a glimpse of another section of the movie ranch.

Historic photo showing Chatsworth's "Railroad Cut" area

This same part of the ranch also tends to turn up in old photos of trains rumbling through Chatsworth's "Railroad Cut." The sweeping curve of the tracks through this area makes it a popular spot for railroad photography.

Southeast corner of the Iverson Movie Ranch

Train shots taken looking north from this section of the railroad often include this corner of the Iverson Movie Ranch. The railroad tracks also pass just below the "Orville" and "Loyal Order of Riders" filming area.

Kelly surveys the newly discovered planet from high atop a rocky hill

Another high vista point surfaces in "The Orville" as part of Kelly's sojourn outside the landing craft. She eventually works her way up to the top of a mountain, giving her a wide view of a mysterious new civilization.

Kelly's location as it appears today, photographed looking west from Topanga

We can identify the exact location where Kelly stands on top of the mountain, although it's impossible to match the "Orville" shot without access to the site.

Kelly's view of the unknown planet, as it appears in the "Orville" episode "Mad Idolatry"

This is what Kelly sees, looking east from the mountaintop. It's described in the episode as a civilization that has evolved to the equivalent of the Earth's Bronze Age.

A familiar Chatsworth landmark

Here again, readers who are familiar with Chatsworth, Calif., may recognize a landmark or two. The most familiar of these is Stoney Point, a massive butte situated along the east side of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

The same location as it appears in the real world (Google Maps, 2023)

In the real world, the shot is taken looking east across the full expanse of the northern San Fernando Valley, with the town of Chatsworth in the foreground.

Key features of the shot, as they appear in 2023

Along with Stoney Point, Topanga Canyon Boulevard is one of the most prominent features of this corner of today's San Fernando Valley.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard as a river, in "The Orville's" Bronze Age world

In the show, Topanga has been digitally transformed into a river.

Primitive villages added to the landscape for "The Orville"

"The Orville's" version of the Bronze Age includes small hut villages on both sides of the river.

Riverfront villages of "The Orville's" Bronze Age

Zooming in on this part of the shot, we can take a closer look at those Bronze Age villages along the river. We can also make out a small bridge across the river, along with a couple of boats.

Where the villages would be added in post-production

This 2023 shot shows the approximate location where the hut villages would be placed for "The Orville." Needless to say, this was all done in post-production, with no actual construction taking place at the site.

The real-world location (2023)

Zooming in on the 2023 landscape, we can see what the village area looks like in today's world. Almost everything in this shot was removed digitally to make room for the hut villages.

Kelly returns to the hilltop hundreds of years later, with a second landing party

Various members of the Orville crew return to the hilltop location throughout the episode, and each time, due to the mysterious planet's existence in an alternate universe, centuries have passed on the planet.

Kelly and Ed look east from the vista point to a much more evolved planet

What the crew sees this time is a planet that has evolved to the equivalent of the 14th century on Earth. Once again, the shot is taken looking east across the northern San Fernando Valley.

The planet as it appears on this visit has evolved to roughly the 14th century

This view of the mysterious planet again includes Chatsworth's Stoney Point and the "Topanga River" version of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Zooming in on the 14th century civilization

By the 14th century, an elaborate structure, apparently a temple, has been built at the base of Stoney Point. This more evolved version of the civilization also has a sturdier bridge than the one it had in the Bronze Age.

The villages now resemble Medieval Europe

The hut villages along the river have grown into something that more closely resembles Europe in the late Middle Ages, with dense residential housing on both sides of the river.

The Orville landing party heads to town

On this visit to the mystery planet, the crew dresses up in period-appropriate costumes for a trip into town.

A scene reminiscent of the crucifixions in ancient Rome

In one of "Mad Idolatry's" most disturbing scenes, the Orville crew encounters some unfortunate souls who have been tied to stakes along the side of the road, the apparent victims of a barbaric form of justice.

A farmer driving a haywagon arrives from the other direction

When a farmer approaches on a haywagon, the crew flags him down, hoping he can tell them what these people did to deserve their fate.

The space travelers gather intel on what's going on in the mysterious new world

The farmer reveals why certain individuals in this society wind up in such dire circumstances.

Notice the background features highlighted here

The road sequence takes place a short distance from the shuttle landing site. The key to finding this road was matching up rocks and hills seen in the background.

The same background features (Google Maps, 2023)

Both of the highlighted background features can be found again in this 3D Google shot looking northeast from the filming location. Both highlighted areas are on the former Iverson Movie Ranch.

A Garden of the Gods rock peeks into "The Orville"

We have to zoom way in on this rock before we can see that it's a match, and even then, I get it if you still don't see it. But it checks out — it's the same rock, part of the Iverson Ranch's Garden of the Gods.

Filming location for the road sequence, southwest of the Iverson Ranch

After matching up the background features, we can identify a dirt road in Chatsworth where the sequence was filmed for "The Orville." For now, let's call it "Crucifixion Road."

"Crucifixion Road" and the Church at Rocky Peak

The road was built in the 1980s, around the same time the sprawling Church at Rocky Peak began moving into the neighborhood.

The infamous "Spahn Movie Ranch" location

But if the terrain looks familiar, it may be for an entirely different reason. One of the most famous places in this part of Chatsworth — for all the wrong reasons — is the former site of the Spahn Movie Ranch.

Isaac, the Orville's science officer and android, arrives at the vista point

After witnessing the mistreatment of local citizens, the Orville crew decides to drop off the ship's android, Isaac, on the mystery planet. Isaac begins by taking in the view from the usual vista point.

Isaac observes what is now a 21st century civilization

By this time the planet has caught up to Earth's 21st century, and the view from the top of the mountain includes not only an updated version of the temple, but also a number of modern skyscrapers.

At least one bridge has been relocated in the last 700 years

A new bridge has replaced the 14th century bridge, this one at the real-world intersection of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Santa Susana Pass Road.

A famous filming location to the northeast

The shot also captures a section of what was once the southeast corner of the Iverson Movie Ranch.

A modern city rises above the northern San Fernando Valley

The bulk of the planet's "21st century" development towers over what in the real world would be Granada Hills, Northridge and Porter Ranch.

The northern San Fernando Valley of the real world

The tall buildings and other "21st century" structures seem so familiar that it's easy to believe they might really be there — but in today's northern San Fernando Valley, no such structures can be found.

The Orville returns to the mystery planet in the age of quantum drive

The starship Orville visits the planet one more time, but by then the planet has caught up to the age of quantum drive — the same period in which "The Orville" is set. In this era, location footage is no longer needed.

"Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes": Another season, another unknown planet

"The Orville" does return to the Chatsworth filming location in season two, and again it's for a visit to an unknown planet. It's another planet with a lot of rocks — but it's not the same planet the crew explored in season one.

Seth MacFarlane and Michaela McManus, stranded on the unknown planet

This time the Orville's captain, Ed Mercer (series creator Seth MacFarlane), is stranded on the planet's surface with Teleya, a member of the Krill and a bitter enemy of Capt. Mercer and the Earth-based Planetary Union.

Santa Susana Mountains looking west from Chatsworth (Google Maps)

Much of the planet's surface is based on this section of the Santa Susana Mountains, south of Santa Susana Pass Road looking west from the Chatsworth filming location — a short distance west of Topanga.

A smooth plateau among the rocks

Notice the plateau area highlighted here in the blue rectangle. It's a little hard to see because the smooth terrain of the plateau blends in with the much rockier area in the bottom half of the frame.

"The Orville": The same plateau forms much of the background

The plateau becomes a sunlit slope when we see it in the show. If you wanted to you could match up any number of individual trees, as the landscape hasn't changed much in the five years since the episode was shot.

None of these rocky buttes are really there

Most of the rocky buttes rising above the terrain were created by special effects. In the old days this effect would have been achieved using a matte painting, but today it's a routine task handled by computer nerds.

A rocky real-world canyon

The bottom half of the frame consists of a rocky canyon that exists in the real world, and this entire area, including rocks, trees and other features, can also be seen in the Google Maps shot.

The same canyon on Google Maps

The canyon area is highlighted here in the Google shot, where the rocky terrain pops out more. The yellow rectangles identify the same area in the two photos above.

"The Orville": One of the area's landmarks can be found here

To highlight one of this area's most distinctive rock formations, note the part of the frame inside the rectangle.

Zooming in on Chatsworth's rocky Pinnacles area in"The Orville"

This shot zooms in on that part of the frame, and adds some light to make it easier to see the rocks. This especially rocky part of the Santa Susanas includes a number of large vertical sandstone spires.

The same rock formations on Google Maps

Here's the same area as it appears in a 3D view on Google Maps.

One of the area's most recognizable landmarks

The formation is topped by a group of rocks I call the Pinnacles.

"The Orville": The Pinnacles help identify the landscape of the unknown planet

One of the key landmarks of the Santa Susana Pass, the Pinnacles have been appearing in movie backgrounds since the silent film days.

"Roaring Rails" (1924): An early movie appearance by Chatsworth's "Pinnacles"

The silent railroad movie "Roaring Rails," starring Harry Carey, featured this shot of the Pinnacles almost a century ago, in 1924.

"The Terror of Tiny Town": A view of the Pinnacles from the Iverson Movie Ranch

This shot of the Pinnacles from the offbeat 1938 Western "The Terror of Tiny Town" was taken with the camera shooting southwest from the Iverson Ranch.

"They Died With Their Boots On" (1941): Garden of the Gods and the Pinnacles

In another scene filmed on the Iverson Movie Ranch, this striking shot features the ranch's famed Garden of the Gods on the left along with the Pinnacles, to the southwest, on the right.

"They Died With Their Boots On": Two neighboring landmarks

The camera's telephoto lens makes the Pinnacles appear closer to the Garden of the Gods than they really are, but even so, the shot emphasizes the proximity of these two dramatic rock formations.

"The Adventures of Spin and Marty" (Disney/ABC)

Another interesting shot of the Pinnacles, again taken from the Iverson Movie Ranch, can be found in the Disney TV series "The Adventures of Spin and Marty."

"Spin and Marty" episode "The Secret Ride" (1955)

In addition to the Pinnacles, the shot also contains a glimpse of the main set area at Spahn Movie Ranch. Both features are southwest of the Iverson Ranch, with Spahn Ranch just across Santa Susana Pass Road.

Toyota truck commercial (2022): The Pinnacles at top right

The Pinnacles continue to work their way into productions in modern times. Here's an example from a commercial for Toyota trucks that ran last year.

The Pinnacles, looming over the truck ad

You can't miss the Pinnacles in the background. But just in case, there's a big red arrow pointing them out.

The Pinnacles (2023): Huge sandstone pillars top the formation

I was able to get up close to the Pinnacles on a recent hike, and snapped this shot of the large rocks forming the landmark's distinctive peak. It's an impressive formation, but be warned that it's surrounded by poison oak.

"The Orville": Teleya and Mercer take refuge in a cave

Getting back to "The Orville," at one point in "Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes," Mercer and Teleya hide out in a cave, mainly to protect the sunlight-sensitive Krill warrior from the planet's intense daylight.

Cave set appears to combine a soundstage interior with location footage

The cave interior, presumably a soundstage set, is made up largely of fake movie rocks. But outside the cave entrance the Chatsworth location provides the rocky hillside and daylight conditions needed to make the plot work.

Capt. Mercer stands outside the cave entrance in "The Orville"

When Mercer steps outside the cave, we get a look at some of the rocks in the background.

A rock formation that might help pinpoint the shooting site

We can identify the location of the background by zeroing in on specific rocks. Notice the cluster of rocks highlighted here.

"The Orville's" background location for the cave sequence (Google Maps)

The same rock cluster can be found on Google Maps. We're still in the same general location where "The Orville" has been filming all along, in both season one and season two.

Once again, the filming takes place just east of the Pinnacles

Also turning up again in the Google Maps shot are the Pinnacles, although they're not visible in the cave shots from "The Orville." The Google shot is taken looking approximately west.

"The Orville": Mercer climbs the rocky hill to signal for help

When the time arrives to leave the cave area, Mercer climbs to a high point on the rocky hill to send a distress signal to the Orville. During this sequence the episode prominently features the area's sandstone boulders.

The character is dwarfed by the massive sandstone rock features

Mercer's position atop an enormous butte — the same butte that also contains Parachute Rock — is just a short distance from the original shuttle landing site and "Loyal Order of Riders" meeting location.

The filming location, looking approximately southwest (Google Maps)

This 3D shot from Google Maps pinpoints where Mercer is seen in the previous shot.

A busy filming area, today and 100 years ago

The same Google Maps shot also includes both Parachute Rock and the location we previously identified where the shuttle landed in season one of "The Orville" and where the Progressive Insurance ads were shot.

Mercer sizes up the logistics of a rocky hilltop

After a little more climbing, the captain arrives at a location that's high enough to begin setting up the equipment needed to send the distress signal.

A wide shot of Mercer's location — however, it's not the same location

The show engages in a little "movie magic" here. We need to see a wide enough shot to know that Mercer has reached the top of the hill. However, this shot is not taken in the same place as the previous shot.

This is probably not Seth MacFarlane

In fact, it's probably not really Capt. Mercer in the shot. This hill stands on the north side of the road, across from the main filming location, and it's likely that the show just sent over an extra or stand-in to pose for the shot.

Back at the filming location, Mercer sends out the signal

Meanwhile, they filmed the real Seth MacFarlane, as Capt. Mercer, sending out the distress signal back at the main filming location, on the south side of Santa Susana Pass Road.

Looking south toward the filming location (Google Maps)

I was able to pinpoint the location where Mercer sends the distress signal, which can be seen in this satellite shot taken looking south with the Santa Monica Mountains in the distance.

Other landmarks in the shot

Mercer's position is uphill from the Progressive Insurance filming location and shuttle landing site from season one of "The Orville." The shot also includes the well-known landmark Saddle Peak to the south.

A closer look at Mercer's position

Zooming in on the location, we can identify the specific rock where Mercer stands as he sends the distress signal.

The Chak'tal come after Mercer and Teleya

Ratcheting up the intensity as the episode approaches its denouement, a contingent of Chak'tal soldiers is hunting down Mercer and Teleya, and works its way up the rocky hill.

The Chak'tal close in on Mercer's position

Before help can arrive, the Chak'tal reach Mercer's signaling post, bent on killing both Mercer and Teleya.

Mercer shoots it out with the Chak'tal

A firefight breaks out between Mercer and the Chak'tal. We may think of Mercer mainly as a goofball, especially by starship captain standards, but it turns out he's a way better shot than the average Chak'tal soldier.

Help arrives — and we get a weird shot of the planet

The rescue shuttle finally arrives, and through the windshield — although I'm sure "windshield" isn't the right word — we get a different sense of the planet's landscape, consisting of pointy rock columns all over the place.

Rocky hill, meet computer graphics

The money shot for the effects team comes when the "pointy rocks" part of the landscape is spliced together with the actual hill across the road — as the firefight rages and the shuttle shows up at exactly the right moment.

That hill across the road is the Garden of the Gods

If you're wondering about that lovely rocky hill on the north side of Santa Susana Pass Road, it turns out to be the Garden of the Gods, on the former Iverson Movie Ranch.

In this corner, an Iverson Movie Ranch landmark

One of the better clues to the location is the distinctive ragged profile of Nyoka Cliff, one of the most heavily filmed rock formations on the former Iverson Movie Ranch.

And in this corner ... more landmarks

Other Iverson Movie Ranch landmarks also appear in the shot. You can learn more about Nyoka Cliff, the Sphinx and the Phantom by using the long index on the right side of the page or by clicking on the links in this sentence.

The firefight continues even as the shuttle arrives

Zooming in on the shot, we can see that the Garden of the Gods was bustling with extras, including Chak'tal fighters at lower left along with stand-ins for Mercer and Teleya holding the high ground at top right.

Across the road, the Chak'tal breach the signaling post

Meanwhile, any closeups or medium shots, such as this shot of a menacing Chak'tal soldier attacking Mercer and Teleya's position, were done in the main filming location on the south side of Santa Susana Pass Road.

Back in the Garden of the Gods, the rescue shuttle maneuvers into position

The action swings back and forth between the two locations, but all shots of the Garden of the Gods are taken with the camera crew shooting across Santa Susana Pass Road from the main location to the south.

To the south, the shuttle rescues Mercer and Teleya

The last few shots of the battle take place on the south side of Santa Susana Pass Road, where Mercer continues to shoot it out with the Chak'tal even as he and Teleya board the shuttle.

A final look at the Chatsworth filming location

One last deadly shot from Mercer takes down a Chak'tal fighter just as the shuttle door begins to close.

"Mad Idolatry" ("The Orville," season one): "Crucifixion Road" and an important rock

Remember that rock that helped identify what I called "Crucifixion Road" in the season one "Orville" episode "Mad Idolatry"? Now we have a new reference point and can further identify it.

The Sphinx, surfacing in two different "Orville" episodes

Thanks to its reappearance in "Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes," we now have a positive ID: The helpful rock is none other than the Sphinx, one of the most famous movie rocks on the Iverson Ranch.

"Stagecoach" (1939): An iconic shot of the Sphinx

You may be more familiar with the Sphinx from shots like this one from the classic John Ford Western "Stagecoach," showing the Sphinx from almost the opposite angle, looking south.

"Rockridge" filming operation, owned by the Church at Rocky Peak

Sometimes referred to as "Rockridge" or "Rock Ridge," the filming area where "The Orville," the Progressive Insurance ads and many other productions have been shooting in recent years is run by the Church at Rocky Peak, which owns the land where the filming takes place.

The San Fernando Valley's "hot corner" for movie ranches

This corner of Chatsworth and the Santa Susana Pass has long been, and remains today, a busy filming area, with movie ranches old and new practically bumping into each other.

Spahn Ranch in 1969 — click on the photo for more about its movie history

Much of what's been published about the movie history of Spahn Ranch has been grossly exaggerated. If you're interested in the real story, click here (or click on the photo) to read our previous posts about it — including its relationship with its closest neighbor back in The Day, the Iverson Movie Ranch.

Rebuilding Spahn Ranch in 2018 (Jerry Condit photo)

You may also be interested in director Quentin Tarantino's remarkable re-creation of Spahn Ranch at Corriganville in Simi Valley for his 2019 movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Click here or on the photo to see a series of posts chronicling that chapter of the Spahn Ranch story.

Monument Valley: How John Ford created the American West in "Stagecoach," "My Darling Clementine" and other classics

2023-03-12T18:27:00.012-07:00

Sunrise in Monument Valley (2022): The Mittens and Merrick Butte

For movie location enthusiasts with a soft spot for old Westerns, much of our love for the genre can be traced back to John Ford's work in Monument Valley.

John Ford in 1955, filming "The Searchers" at today's "John Ford Point"

The legendary director had such an impact on the valley that parts of the landscape wound up being named after him. The above site, where Ford was photographed in the director's chair during filming on his acclaimed 1956 Western "The Searchers," is known today as "John Ford Point."

John Ford Point in modern times

The view today from John Ford Point remains spectacular, and little has changed since Ford filmed there from the late 1930s into the 1960s. (Please click on these photos if you'd like to see them in a larger format.)

A view of Monument Valley from Hunts Mesa: So many buttes, so little time

Other views of the valley are equally spectacular. An expanse of Navajo land spreading out across the Arizona-Utah border, Monument Valley stands today as a towering symbol of the American West.

Looking southwest from Artist's Point in Monument Valley

But that wasn't always the case. Until John Ford took the point on Hollywood's migration to Monument Valley in the late 1930s, the region remained well off the radar of most Americans.

Harry Goulding, who brought Hollywood to Monument Valley

Legend has it that Ford became interested in Monument Valley through the efforts of Harry Goulding, who ran a trading post in the valley. Goulding courted Hollywood in an attempt to bring money to the region, which had been hit hard by the Depression during the 1930s.

Goulding soaks up a view of some of Monument Valley's northernmost features

The story is told that Goulding gathered up photos of the magnificent buttes he and his wife had fallen in love with years earlier and took them to Hollywood.

"Stagecoach" (1939): John Ford introduces the world to Monument Valley

One of the first filmmakers to see those photos was John Ford, who quickly recognized Monument Valley as the ideal backdrop for any number of the Great American Westerns he would soon make.

Monument Valley, captured in a promo still for Ford's "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (1949)

Historians today credit Ford with playing a key role in shaping the world's image not just of the American West but of America as a nation. That image was forged largely in Monument Valley.

"Stagecoach" (1939): Ford's epic showcases Monument Valley's "Mittens"

Examples of Monument Valley's iconic rock features can be found throughout much of Ford's work. This classic shot from "Stagecoach" makes the most of the Mittens, two of the valley's most familiar buttes.

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (1949): A return engagement for the Mittens

Ten years after "Stagecoach," Ford used a similar angle to film John Wayne and Cliff Lyons riding past the Mittens in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" — in color this time.

Henry Fonda at the Mittens in Ford's "My Darling Clementine" (1946)

Ford's integration of Monument Valley into landmark Westerns such as "Stagecoach," "Fort Apache" and "The Searchers," combined with Hollywood's powerful worldwide distribution reach, brought the mystique of the American West to an international audience, helping to influence impressions of the U.S. around the globe.

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (1949): West Mitten, Monument Valley

I recently caught an airing of "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" on TV, and was impressed with the prominent role played by Monument Valley in the film's storytelling. This shot shows the location where Ford chose to build his set for Fort Stark, with the West Mitten looming in the background.

Monument Valley's West Mitten Butte in 2005

This scenic shot of the West Mitten approximates movie angles seen in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." The film is the second installment in Ford's "Cavalry trilogy," following "Fort Apache" and preceding "Rio Grande."

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon": Is that a war party near the West Mitten?

The Mittens reappear throughout the movie. While a number of other Arizona and Utah locations are also seen, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" is one of Ford's best showcases for Monument Valley.

John Wayne rides past West Mitten in a still from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" is also the only film in Ford's "Cavalry trilogy" to be shot in color. But as was the practice at the time, promotional stills for the movie were released in black-and-white.

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon": The same spot featured in the promo still

This shot from the movie is taken from virtually the same location as the promotional still above. This angle, taken with the camera facing west, is less common than views of the West Mitten taken from the other side.

John Wayne amid some familiar landmarks in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"

Another shot from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" shows John Wayne with a distant butte near the center of the frame, along with a large mesa to the left.

The same background in 2018

The same mesa and butte can be seen again in this recent photo. The large mesa on the left is a section of Sentinel Mesa. The smaller butte has multiple names and includes a feature known as Bear and Rabbit Summit.

John Ford Point in modern times, including Merrick Butte

John Ford Point tends to be easy to recognize, with Merrick Butte, the large rectangular formation seen here near the center of the frame, dominating much of the landscape. This shot is taken looking north.

Major features to the north of John Ford Point

The features on display looking north from John Ford Point are a mix of Arizona and Utah landmarks. Merrick Butte and West Mitten are in Arizona, while Big Indian and Bear and Rabbit Summit are across the border in Utah.

Ford's "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964): Another visit to John Ford Point

In "Cheyenne Autumn," Ford placed a Cavalry unit atop John Ford Point to give the troops a wide view of the valley. In this shot about half of Merrick Butte is visible at the left of the frame.

Gore Verbinski's "The Lone Ranger" (2013): John Ford Point again

Contemporary filmmakers continue to take inspiration from Ford's use of Monument Valley, and continue to follow in his footsteps. Gore Verbinski's 2013 "Lone Ranger" remake with Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer was a critical disaster, but viewers who manage to sit through the movie are at least rewarded with some terrific scenery.

Charlize Theron and Seth MacFarlane at John Ford Point
in "A Million Ways to Die in the West" (2014)

One year after Verbinski's catastrophic "Lone Ranger" remake, Seth MacFarlane's gross-out Western comedy "A Million Ways to Die in the West" paid similar homage to Ford, once again making good use of John Ford Point.

All roads lead to "John Ford's Point"

John Ford Point today — also referred to as "John Ford's Point" — is a magnet for tourists ... so much so that if you visit here and don't stop for a photo op, something might be wrong with you.

Call it what you will

Is it "John Ford Point" or "John Ford's Point"? Take your pick — you can find plenty of evidence for either version of the name. It's just one example of the pervasive name confusion found all over Monument Valley.

John Ford Point in modern times, as a tourist attraction

A visit to Monument Valley in modern times usually means putting up with other tourists. In this photo we can see people standing on top of the point and cars creeping along a dirt road across the valley floor.

The Navajo rider appears at John Ford Point (Moyan Brenn photo, ca. 2011)

An added attraction these days is the occasional appearance by a mounted rider on horseback, often identified as a Navajo, who will ride out to the point for a small fee to pose for photos.

Photo ops abound today at John Ford Point

Almost any nostalgic photo fantasy can be fulfilled in Monument Valley for a small fee. Tipping is encouraged.

"The Searchers" (1956): Yei Bi Chei, center, and the Totem Pole

In this shot from "The Searchers," John Ford trains the camera on Yei Bi Chei, one of only a handful of features in Monument Valley that are still generally known by their Native American name.

Features seen in "The Searchers"

The shot also includes the Totem Pole to the right as the riders, dwarfed by the massive rock formations, are seen riding past Yei Bi Chei.

John Ford filming "The Searchers" near the Totem Pole

Ford was also photographed on the job in the vicinity of the Totem Pole during filming on "The Searchers." The Totem Pole can be seen to the left of the director's hat.

Ford on location on "The Searchers"

More than a few people who were involved in John Ford productions have said he could be hard to work with. You tell me: Does this guy look like someone who might be difficult?

"How the West Was Won" (1962): A return to a familiar location

Another Ford project, the 1962 epic "How the West Was Won," again filmed in the same area and again captured both Yei Bi Chei and the Totem Pole. Ford was one of four directors on the sprawling Western — I'm assuming he oversaw the Monument Valley sequences.

Yei Bi Chei and the Totem Pole in 2008 (Kenneth Christian photo)

Like the rest of Monument Valley's movie rocks, both Yei Bi Chei and the Totem Pole remain on proud display today and are among the natural wonders that draw a steady stream of tourists to the valley.

Three Sisters (2022): Some visitors may be more interested in the sign

Another rock formation that appears to have caught the eye of John Ford is known as Three Sisters.

Filming "The Searchers" in 1955 near Three Sisters

A behind-the-scenes photo taken during filming on "The Searchers" reveals that Ford had a camera track set up to shoot John Wayne and others as they rode near the distinctive rock formation.

"Cheyenne Autumn" (1964): The crew chows down against a picturesque backdrop

Several years later, crew members on another John Ford movie, "Cheyenne Autumn," spent their lunch break beneath the Three Sisters, not far from where the camera track was built for "The Searchers."

"The Vanishing American" (1925): Thought to be the first movie to film in Monument Valley

Ford's arrival in 1938 was a watershed moment for Monument Valley, but Ford wasn't the first director to film there. The movie that's usually cited as the first to showcase the valley is "The Vanishing American."

"The Vanishing American": Monument Valley in sepia tone

A silent Western directed by George B. Seitz, "The Vanishing American" includes shots taken in some of the same locations later filmed by John Ford.

"The Vanishing American": Yei Bi Chei and the Totem Pole

Ford may have even taken inspiration from "The Vanishing American" when he scouted his backgrounds. His use of the Totem Pole and Yei Bi Chei in "The Searchers" echoes this shot from the silent Western.

"The Man From Laramie" (1955): James Stewart takes a shot at Monument Valley

Once Ford elevated the profile of Monument Valley, it became standard operating procedure for anyone making a big-budget Western to try to work at least a few of the valley's picturesque buttes into the movie.

"Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968)

Foreign filmmakers soon got on board too. Italian director Sergio Leone, master of the spaghetti Western, made good use of the Monument Valley area in his classic "Once Upon a Time in the West."

Promo still for "Once Upon a Time in the West," depicting a hanging

Now, I hope you're sitting down, because this next item could cause fainting spells. I know I had a hard time keeping my balance when I first found this. It begins with an unsettling hanging that takes place in the movie.

Behind the scenes: Sergio Leone and his crew film a hanging

A man is hanged from a brick arch, and this unusual set piece, the arch, wound up being featured in promotional materials for the movie, including lobby cards, posters and even behind-the-scenes photos.

"Once Upon a Time in the West": The disturbing hanging sequence

The hanging was filmed in southern Utah, a short distance north of Monument Valley, and a number of the valley's most recognizable buttes can be spotted in the background in some of the movie shots.

German lobby card for "Once Upon a Time in the West"

The location where the sequence was filmed has been known to fans of the movie for some time, and the hanging arch remains one of the enduring images of a movie many fans place right at the top of the list of great Westerns.

Remnants of the hanging arch (January 2023)

Here's the part that might trigger some swooning: In what has to be considered a movie location miracle, the brick foundations of that arch are still sitting there in the southern Utah desert!

Monument Valley buttes — witnesses to the execution

The two sturdy brick structures that once supported the hanging arch remain in place just west of Highway 163. In this shot I've identified a few of the buttes that are also visible in the hanging sequence.

If you can find this old Navajo jewelry store, take a left here

The location is findable, but do your homework because it involves dirt roads and your adventure could easily go sideways. The best turnoff is 15.2 miles north of the Arizona border on Highway 163, next to a dilapidated Navajo jewelry store. It's one of about 6,000 similar ones in the area, so make sure you have the right one.

The adventure begins when you turn onto Old Airport Road

You'll be starting off on Old Airport Road, and will eventually want to take a right on Landing Strip — especially if you come to a T-intersection. But don't expect to see any street signs out there, and you may not want to take the Prius that day as it helps to have something with a little more ground clearance.

You know what you can do with all that global-positioning hoo-hah ...

The turnoff is also 2.1 miles north of Forrest Gump Point, which we will discuss below. If you're into this sort of thing — and rest assured, Tony Soprano was NOT — here are the GPS coordinates for the turnoff (37.116939, -109.957049), and the coordinates for the actual location of the brick remnants (37.128945, -109.973684).

The "7-minute drive" from the highway to the arch site, if you trust Google Maps (not advised)

The sojourn from Highway 163 to the hanging arch ruins should be about 1.7 miles, if you're lucky enough to find the most direct route. But you may want to take the long way around to avoid the downtown traffic.

"The Eiger Sanction" (1975): Clint Eastwood hangs around Yei Bi Chei and the Totem Pole

Not that Monument Valley is exclusively about Westerns. Clint Eastwood left his cowboy hat at home when he directed, starred in and reportedly did his own stunts for the action flick "The Eiger Sanction."

"The Eiger Sanction": Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy on top of the Totem Pole

An unusual sequence was filmed (mostly by helicopter) at the top of the Totem Pole, where Eastwood and co-star George Kennedy both appeared.

Behind the scenes: Eastwood, Kennedy and climbers aboard the Totem Pole

It has been reported that Eastwood made the climb up the Totem Pole himself, while Kennedy was dropped off at the summit by helicopter.

Two climbers, an actor and a climber-actor on a ridiculously terrifying movie shoot

These behind-the-scenes shots appear to be taken after Eastwood and two other climbers arrived at the summit, and after Kennedy was dropped off along with an ice chest and other supplies.

Eastwood, on the right, smiles for the camera while Kennedy considers throwing up

George Kennedy appears to be cowering in sheer terror — the same reaction any normal person would have.

Wait, what?!!? You brought a sixer up here?

Speaking of that ice chest (spoiler alert), while they're sitting on top of the Totem Pole, Kennedy's character reveals that he tricked Eastwood into carrying a six-pack of beer to the top of the landmark.

Clint gripes about his warm Olympia

However, there's no ice chest in the movie scene, for obvious reasons, and Eastwood's character complains that his beer is warm — even while Olympia gets a memorable product placement.

The actors drink to avoiding death — so far

Despite the lack of refrigeration, Eastwood and Kennedy manage to throw back some of the precious brew while also trying to avoid the "fast way down." I'm not convinced their characters would have benefited from consuming a whole six-pack before making the perilous descent back to ground level.

"Mission: Impossible II" (2000): Tom Cruise gets vertical in Utah

Tom Cruise managed to work his way up into some serious buttes too, in 1999 when he was making action master John Woo's "Mission: Impossible II." This footage was filmed some distance north of Monument Valley, at Utah's Dead Horse Point State Park, but there's a Monument Valley connection.

Metallica in Monument Valley for "I Disappear"

The "Mission Impossible II" soundtrack includes Metallica's "I Disappear," and when it came time to do the video, including splicing in shots from "M:I 2," footage of the band was shot in Monument Valley.

Metallica's "I Disappear": Click on the image to watch the video

Here's the video for "I Disappear," shot largely in Monument Valley, with additional location footage from the movie also featured. Click on the image above to see the video — I'd turn off the sound, though.

"National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983): Chevy Chase zigs when he should've zagged

The landscape in Monument Valley doesn't exactly scream "comedy," but "National Lampoon's Vacation" managed to squeeze a few laughs out of the location in the early '80s.

"National Lampoon's Vacation": Buttes galore

Some of the valley's buttes even made it into stylized posters for the hit comedy. There's a lot going on here, but you may recognize a few landmarks in the background.

"Bonjour les Vacances..." in France

The French version of the poster has a different title but all the same landmarks. Just as it did in the era of the Great American Western, Monument Valley continues to shape the global image of America.

The German title translates to "The Shrill Four on the Move"

A German poster for the movie offers a different take on the buttes of the American West — along with another title change. Is it just me, or did the Germans come up with a way better title?

"Back to the Future Part III" (1990): Monument Valley gets its own drive-in

When director Robert Zemeckis brought his mega-hit time travel franchise "Back to the Future" to Monument Valley in 1989, he turned a section of the valley floor into the Pohatchee Drive-In Theatre.

Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) plan a trip back in time

The kitschy, faux-deco Native American-themed outdoor movie palace, filled with sly gags and inside jokes, was supposed to represent California in 1955, but Zemeckis had his reasons for placing it in Monument Valley.

The DeLorean backs up near the exit to max out its running room

Some of the gags might not fly today, but again, it's 1955 in the movie, and the vibe of the Pohatchee is well-suited to both the period and Monument Valley — even though in the movie the theater is located in Hill Valley, Calif.

Outside the snack bar, the DeLorean is primed for a run to the Old West

In a way the drive-in is a metaphor for Monument Valley's enduring connection with Hollywood, and in particular with the Western, which has been central to the region's mystique since John Ford first filmed here.

Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, not quite properly dressed for his Wild West adventure

Suited up in a garish Western outfit that would make even a bad B-movie cowboy cringe, Marty braces for what should turn out to be a hair-raising trip back to 1885 and the Real West.

It dawns on Marty that the world doesn't know about Clint Eastwood yet

The drive-in sequence, like much of the "Back to the Future" series, is loaded with "Easter eggs," including references to future cowboy hero Clint Eastwood in the movie ads.

A couple of carefully chosen movie posters from 1955

A still unknown (in 1955) Eastwood had uncredited bit parts in both "Revenge of the Creature" and "Tarantula," two coming attractions featured in posters on display outside the snack bar.

"Revenge of the Creature" (1955): Clint Eastwood's first movie role

Eastwood was just 24 when he appeared as lab technician Jennings in "Revenge of the Creature," a sequel to "Creature From the Black Lagoon."

"Tarantula" (1955): Eastwood, now 25, plays a jet squadron leader

Though still uncredited a few months later when he worked on "Tarantula," Eastwood graduated to what might be considered a cooler role as a jet squadron leader.

What better place for a confrontation between a war party and ... a DeLorean?

The main reason Zemeckis set his drive-in theater in Monument Valley was to immediately evoke images of the Wild West once the DeLorean time machine landed in 1885. (Thank you, John Ford.)

Pohatchee Drive-In Theatre T-shirts

One thing Zemeckis probably never saw coming was that his drive-in would become a cottage industry. A perplexing array of Pohatchee merchandise has made it to market in the years since the set was torn down.

Pohatchee bumper sticker

If the T-shirt isn't enough of a commitment for you, you can go the bumper sticker route.

Alternate bumper sticker

I'm not sure this bumper sticker variation is really about safe driving, but I suppose it makes a statement.

Scale model of the Pohatchee Drive-In Theater

Someone even marketed a scale model of the Pohatchee Drive-In, at a higher price point than most of us would probably be willing to pay.

The must-have Pohatchee metal plate

Then there's this thing: a metal plate featuring the Pohatchee Drive-In. I have no idea what it's for, but I hope I don't find one next time I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with my water heater.

The Pohatchee Drive-In Theatre: Where is it?

But let's finally get to the part of this that matters (if "matters" is the right word), which would be finding the location. It turns out the Pohatchee set was built right in the middle of many of Monument Valley's most famous landmarks.

The same features today, to the north of the Pohatchee Drive-In Theatre

We can pretty easily match up the rock formations to the north of the drive-in. This 3D view from Google Maps includes all of the features seen in the movie shot above.

Some of the rock features are hidden behind the movie screen

The theater's movie screen was positioned at the north end of the drive-in, blocking out some of the landmarks.

These features are all visible in the drive-in shot from the movie

We can still see all of these features in the movie. Zemeckis hit a home run with his choice of locations.

Features north of the drive-in, in the movie shot

Here are the same features as they appeared in the movie, looking north from the drive-in.

1885, looking south from the future Pohatchee location, in "Back to the Future Part III"

After Marty drives the DeLorean back to 1885, the drive-in disappears in time and we get a look at the Monument Valley features to the south of the same location.

Artist's Point is approximately southeast of the drive-in location

A number of mesas and buttes can be seen, with Artist's Point probably the best-known feature in the shot.

Artist's Point in a 2023 Google 3D view

Here again we can use Google Maps to confirm the location.

This is the spot where Zemeckis built the Pohatchee Drive-In

Pulling back for a wider view, something unexpected comes into the shot. Notice the oval area where the terrain looks slightly more manicured than the surrounding desert. This is the Pohatchee Drive-In location.

The drive-in was situated a short distance southeast of Merrick Butte

Here's what the Pohatchee Drive-In Theatre location looks like on a normally oriented aerial map, with north on top. GPS coordinates for the location are 36.973626, -110.075840.

Sending Marty McFly back to 1885 — click on the image to watch the video

If you still haven't met all your Pohatchee needs, you can click on the above image to watch a fun two-minute clip of the drive-in theater sequence from "Back to the Future Part III," filmed in Monument Valley.

"Forrest Gump" (Paramount, 1994): Tom Hanks arrives at what will
soon become known as "Forrest Gump Point"

Recent decades have seen a steady stream of both Westerns and non-Westerns film in Monument Valley. A few years after "Back to the Future Part III," Robert Zemeckis returned with his Oscar juggernaut "Forrest Gump."

The same view today — looking southwest from Forrest Gump Point

The location where Tom Hanks' character ends his cross-country run, near the Mile 13 marker along Highway 163 in southern Utah, provides a wide vista of a number of major buttes.

Forrest Gump Point in 2021

"Forrest Gump Point," as it's known today, has become one of the region's most popular tourist attractions, and I don't think it's because of the fancy sign.

Forrest Gump Point in 2022

The view from Forrest Gump Point can be spectacular, depending in part on what the sky decides to do at just the right moment.

Key buttes to the southwest of Forrest Gump Point

Here are the IDs for some of the buttes visible from Forrest Gump Point. No judgment.

"Pontiac Moon" (Paramount, 1994): Those same buttes

Ever since "Forrest Gump," other filmmakers have made a point of shooting in that same area. A few months after Paramount's "Forrest Gump" shoot, the same studio ran a similar shot on a poster for "Pontiac Moon."

"Pontiac Moon": Hey, where'd you find the swell cafe?

This shot, also from "Pontiac Moon," shows the same buttes in what appears to be a more realistic alignment. I have a feeling they separated them digitally for the movie poster.

Poster for the 2016 indie drama "Monumental"

Contemporary filmmakers probably wouldn't mind if some of Forrest Gump Point's Oscar juju rubbed off on them. It sure worked for "Forrest Gump," which won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and three other Oscars.

"Vanishing Point" (Fox TV remake, 1997)

The car chase movie "Vanishing Point" captures the same buttes seen from Forrest Gump Point, but from the other side. Unless my high school geometry fails me, that means this shot is probably taken looking northeast.

In case you missed it

Sure enough, it's "Brigham's Tomb" again, showing its southwest profile this time. I don't know how Brigham lucked out and got that thing named after him, but I doubt the Navajo were consulted.

"Wild Wild West" (1999): Riding off into the sunset on a steampunk spider

About now you're probably thinking, "Yeah, but what about steampunk in Monument Valley?" Well, never fear! Director Barry Sonnenfeld took care of that little piece of business with his 1999 feature "Wild Wild West."

"Wild Wild West" (1999): Breaking down the spider gif

Even though all of the features look like Monument Valley, nothing is in the right place. I believe they used Monument Valley as the starting point, but mainly created this shot using computer graphics.

"Going! Going! Gosh!" (Road Runner cartoon, 1952)

Sonnenfeld wasn't the first filmmaker to generate a fake backdrop based on Monument Valley. Animators had been doing something similar for decades.

"Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z" (1956)

Almost the entire "Road Runner" universe appears to be patterned after Monument Valley.

"Wild and Woolfy" (Droopy cartoon, 1945)

And it didn't start with the Road Runner. Animation legend Tex Avery was putting Monument Valley-inspired backgrounds in his "Droopy" cartoons by the mid-1940s.

"Wild and Woolfy": Red and the Wolf

Avery may be best known for his sexy nightclub singer "Red," and for the Wolf, who routinely has his eyes pop out of his head and other body parts fall apart at the sight of Red..

"Wild and Woolfy": Droopy carries a reluctant Red past a Mitten

Click on the image above to watch a two-minute version of Avery's "Wild and Woolfy" featuring a number of Monument Valley-inspired buttes.

"Wild Wild West" (1999): Kevin Kline, Frederique Van Der Wal and at least one Mitten

Getting back to Sonnenfeld's "Wild Wild West," even if the special effects-heavy movie took a few liberties with its depiction of Monument Valley, it did film on location in the valley.

"Wild Wild West": Artist's Point ... "-ish"

But Sonnenfeld reached repeatedly into his bag of movie tricks. This shot has some kind of aerial contraption arriving at Artist's Point against a full moon. But wait a minute, what's wrong with this picture?

Artist's Point as it appears today

If you go to Artist's Point today, this is what it looks like. Either it's backward, or the movie is. And no, the shot isn't taken on the other side of the rock, which looks a lot different.

Corrected version of the movie shot

Needless to say, it's the movie shot that's wrong. Even though the butte comes in from the left in the movie, we can flip the shot to its correct orientation and see that the butte came in from the right when they shot it.

Will Smith as Special Agent James West: West Mitten and Merrick Butte

I should mention that almost everyone thinks the "Wild Wild West" remake stinks, and that it's considered the low point in Will Smith's career.

Will Smith and Chris Rock try out some improv on Oscar night 2022

Or at least it was ... until "the greatest night in television," as Chris Rock put it at the 2022 Oscars.

"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs": The Coen brothers' offbeat 2018 Western

In the decades since John Ford filmed in Monument Valley, the location has attracted a head-spinning variety of productions, from indie films to Hollywood blockbusters, from quirky Westerns to normal Westerns to non-Westerns, and from both U.S. and international filmmakers.

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" (2014)

Paramount's "Transformers" series is just one of the major film franchises of the 21st century to spend time on location in the valley.

Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West": Claudia Cardinale near Artist's Point

Since Sergio Leone broke the ice in the 1960s, Monument Valley has been a "must shoot" location for a steady stream of international productions.

"A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe" (Italy, 1975): Miou-Miou, deep in thought

Fellow Italian director Damiano Damiani was among the first to follow Leone's lead, bringing his Western comedy "A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe" to the valley in 1975.

Terence Hill, Robert Charlebois and Miou-Miou near Three Sisters

The movie is not well-known in the U.S., but it filmed extensively in Monument Valley.

Poster for "A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe"

Posters for the movie used artist's renderings of the Mittens and other Monument Valley features to let Italian audiences know they could expect to see the scenery of the American West.

Lobby card for the Italian and French production "2019: After the Fall of New York"

The Mittens turned up again — the real ones this time — in promotional material for the 1983 Italian and French action/sci-fi movie "2019: After the Fall of New York."

"Building Bridges" (2019): Balloons over Monument Valley

In the modern era, Monument Valley has seen a trend toward "outside-the-box" representations of its landmarks on screen. The German short "Building Bridges," for example, chronicles a balloon expedition above Monument Valley, presented as a metaphor for international relations.

"Building Bridges": A balloon's-eye view of Monument Valley

The movie features breathtaking images of the valley taken from above the clouds.

Two balloons meet at sunrise

"Building Bridges" focuses on a daring collaboration involving two balloons, decked out in the colors of Germany and the United States.

Crossing the bridge — no strings attached

Here we see the silhouette of a tightrope walker, untethered, attempting to make a crossing between the two balloons.

Niklas Winter concentrates on the mission

The man at the middle of the challenge is German slackline walker Niklas Winter. Should he happen to slip, he will be counting on the parachute on his back to save his life. I imagine right about now some of you are thinking, "Oh, he has a parachute — geez, even I could do that!"

Monument Valley's rocky buttes take to the sky

A poster for the movie features renderings of Monument Valley landmarks such as the Mittens and Merrick Butte as outcroppings sitting on top of hot-air balloons.

"Building Bridges": Click above to watch the video

If you'd like to see the "Building Bridges" video, click on the image above to watch it on YouTube. The clip runs less than 5 minutes.

"Cosmic Voyage" (1996): Rock climbers reach the heights

The 1996 documentary "Cosmic Voyage," overseen by the National Air and Space Museum and filmed in the IMAX format, focuses on astronomy but includes rock-climbing footage from Monument Valley.

I see it as a summit meeting, even though "summit" also means "highest point"

This shot gives us what may be our best look at that pinnacle with the funny name "Bear and Rabbit Summit," which we've seen a few times already. I can see the rabbit, but I'm not so sure about the bear.

Bear and Rabbit Summit, part of the Stagecoach formation

Bear and Rabbit Summit is part of this larger formation, which we've also been seeing a lot of. This formation has various names depending on who you ask, but all or part of it is also known as "Stagecoach."

The Milky Way rises above Monument Valley's "Thumb" (photo by Dale Boan)

Monument Valley's connection to astronomy, as suggested by "Cosmic Voyage," is no accident. The valley is one of the best places on the planet to take in the beauty of the sky above — especially the Milky Way.

The Milky Way above Monument Valley (photo by Tom Masterson, 2017)

In the right conditions, photos of the Milky Way above the valley can be so spectacular that it's hard to believe they're real. This one, posted by NASA, is definitely the real deal.

NASA's annotated version of the Tom Masterson photo

NASA also posted an annotated version of the photo, to help some of us land-lubbers get a better handle on what's going on in the sky above us.

"The Searchers" (1956): The Thumb

That photo of the Milky Way above the Thumb reminded me that John Ford included this shot of the Thumb in "The Searchers." You may recognize Ward Bond, second from right, and Ken Curtis on the right.

The Thumb as it appears in modern times

A recent shot of the Thumb shows that it hasn't changed much since "The Searchers" filmed here — although the lighting in this shot accentuates the feature's red clay roots.

A 3D view of Monument Valley looking north

The Thumb can be seen at bottom right in this recent bird's-eye view of a wide swath of Monument Valley, taken looking north. The nearest formation to the Thumb is known as Camel Butte.

Key Monument Valley features identified

I added labels to the shot to help work out the positions of the various rock formations — many of which have been featured in this post. You may want to click on the photo to enlarge it.

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon": Here comes trouble

Just about everything in that wide shot of the valley appears somewhere in a John Ford movie — and usually in more than one. In a sense, Ford's work can be seen as a tourism guide to the region.

Big Indian and Setting Hen, in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"

For example, the shot from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" includes not only "Big Indian" but also "Setting Hen" farther north. Both features are on the Utah side of the border, and the shot is taken looking approximately north.

"My Darling Clementine" (1946): Henry Fonda relaxes in Tombstone

Big Indian had appeared previously in "My Darling Clementine." In this promo still for the movie we see Henry Fonda, as Wyatt Earp, on the set for the town of Tombstone, built to the west of Big Indian.

Landmarks to the east of Tombstone

The background features in this shot are all located east of the Tombstone site. However, pinpointing the location where Ford built his set for Tombstone is no simple matter.

"My Darling Clementine": Tombstone's mayor (Roy Roberts) comes a-callin'

We do have this shot looking more or less in the opposite direction, which is a big help. At this end of town the background consists mainly of a mesa situated southwest of the Tombstone site.

An important landmark to the southwest of the Tombstone set

Rock Door Mesa provides a bookend at the far end of the Tombstone set. Today this huge landmark is situated near what might be described as the "commercial hub" of Monument Valley.

Rock Door Mesa in modern times — "downtown" Monument Valley

This shot matching the "My Darling Clementine" background is taken looking approximately southwest down Highway 163, toward the Arizona-Utah border. A number of buildings now stand in the area.

The Goulding name lives on in Monument Valley

Another thing you'll see along this stretch of road is signs for various "Goulding's" businesses — lodge, restaurant, RV park, museum ... you name it. The region's "commercial district" is part of the legacy laid down starting back in the '20s by Harry Goulding — the same guy who convinced John Ford to come check out Monument Valley.

This way to all the conveniences you tried to leave behind

If you're camping in Monument Valley and you need ice, there's a good chance you'll be buying it from a business with "Goulding's" in the name. Don't bother with the car wash, though — you'll just be getting it dirty again.

Approximate location of the Tombstone set from "My Darling Clementine"

I doubt that anything remains today of the Tombstone set from 1946, but if it did, it would be somewhere in this area, just off Highway 163 — probably not far from the KOA Journey campground.

"The Searchers": John Wayne and Walter Coy framed by two buttes

This shot from John Ford's "The Searchers" features two prominent Monument Valley landmarks: Gray Whiskers, on the left, and Mitchell Butte on the right.

Gray Whiskers and Mitchell Butte in modern times

Here's a recent shot of those same two buttes, looking south across Highway 163. The photo isn't an exact match for the movie angle, but it's in the ballpark. In this shot Agathla Peak is also visible toward the left.

Mitchell Butte, near the Navajo Nation Monument (2023)

Today Mitchell Butte is a part of the same neighborhood as the Navajo Nation Monument, along Monument Valley Road. This photo was taken in January 2023.

Mitchell Butte in "My Darling Clementine" (1946)

Mitchell Butte can be seen from that same angle in the John Ford movie "My Darling Clementine."

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon": John Wayne and Frank McGrath

Another favorite John Ford location can be seen in this promo still for "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." The shot is taken looking east, and in the distance we can see Bear and Rabbit Summit near the center of the frame.

The same location in modern times: Looking east through "the Gap"

I believe this location is known today as "the Gap." From this angle we can see Big Indian and Sentinel Mesa in the distance.

Comparing the two angles

The movie angle and the recent angle are not an exact match, but pretty close. Notice the highlighted section of Big Indian — we can call it the "southern slope."

Big Indian, partially visible in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"

The same section of Big Indian is also visible in the shot from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," although much of the formation is hidden behind Frank McGrath.

Frank McGrath as Charlie Wooster on "Wagon Train"

You may remember Frank McGrath as Charlie Wooster, the gruff but lovable cook on the long-running TV Western "Wagon Train." McGrath was on the show for its entire run, from 1957-1965.

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon": Turning the camera more toward the south

While Ford was shooting in the vicinity of the Gap for "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," he also filmed this angle highlighting more of the butte running along the southern edge of the Gap.

The same butte in recent years

Here's a more recent shot of the same butte, taken not far from where Ford filmed. As usual, not much has changed — other than the sky and the lighting, both of which were better in Ford's movie.

"The Searchers" (1956): Another look east through the Gap

John Ford returned to the Gap a few years after "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," once again shooting eastward, this time for "The Searchers."

The "Searchers" location in modern times: Goulding's Resort RV Park

Ford's filming location is not hard to find. Today it's right around the Goulding's RV Park.

"The Searchers": Souls are laid to rest in the shadow of Sentinel Mesa

We could keep going with "then and now" photos showcasing John Ford's great Monument Valley work, but it's your turn. I recommend getting out there yourself if you can, to see about matching up some of your own favorite movie shots or just to soak up the incredible scenery.

Sentinel Mesa as it can still be seen today

Early fall is a great time to go — start planning your trip now, and we'll meet you at Sentinel Mesa!

Jane Russell wouldn't do it without being on the Fez ... or would she? — The 1952 Bob Hope Western "Son of Paleface" reveals all

2022-12-26T17:38:00.003-08:00

Filmed largely on the Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, Calif., the 1952 Western comedy "Son of Paleface" featured a high-profile cast led by Bob Hope, Jane Russell and Roy Rogers ... and of course, Trigger.

Cecil B. DeMille, left, and Jerry Mathers ... as the Beaver

The lineup of uncredited bit players was interesting too, including a super-young Jerry Mathers — still about five years away from becoming famous as the Beaver on "Leave It to Beaver." Also on hand were Bing Crosby and Cecil B. DeMille ... yes, THAT Cecil B. DeMille.

"Have Gun — Will Travel" (1957): Richard Boone as Paladin, on "The Fez"

The main reason I'm bringing up "Son of Paleface" is to show off a particular rock at Iverson. You may have noticed, but with me, more often than not, it tends to be about the rocks.

The Fez (the rock), in the "Have Gun — Will Travel" episode "The Long Night"

I call it the Fez, and in "Have Gun — Will Travel," Richard Boone climbs on top of it to get the drop on some bad guys. The Iverson Ranch's Fez is upside-down from how we typically see the hat version.

A Fez (the hat)

You know — one of these things. The Fez — the hat, with its lopped-off cone shape and trademark tassel — tends to be Turkish, or North African.

Guy with a bad fake mustache, wearing a fez

When someone says, "Let me take you to the Casbah," and they really mean it — i.e., it's not said as a joke, the way it usually is around here, often with a "huh-HWAHHH" in an exaggerated French accent somewhere in the same sentence — there's a good chance that person is wearing a fez.

The Fez, as it appears in modern times

This is what the Fez — the rock — looks like today on its bed of rocks in the Garden of the Gods on the former Iverson Movie Ranch. The location is on public parkland, off Redmesa Road in Chatsworth, Calif.

Not that there'd be any doubt, but just in case, the Fez is highlighted here. You can find a map to this location near the bottom of this post.

See, it's shaped kind of like a fez, only upside-down. (They also come in blue.)

The character "Fez" from "That '70s Show," played by Wilmer Valderrama

The Wilmer Valderrama character "Fez" on "That '70s Show" has nothing to do with the Iverson Movie Ranch or the rock called the Fez, but I wanted to mention him here to commemorate his status as a cultural reference point.

"Fez" — one of the least-liked sitcom characters of all time

It's not exactly a positive cultural reference point, since almost everyone who ever caught an episode of "That '70s Show" hates the Fez character — with the possible exception of hard-core fans of the show, and how would they know? But like it or not, the Fez character did exist, and remains some kind of a reference point.

Wilmer Valderrama as Wilmer Valderrama on HBO's "The Sopranos"

No need to feel sympathy for Valderrama over his universally panned role. The actor has done just fine in his post-Fez years, even playing himself once on "The Sopranos."

Wilmer Valderrama and Mandy Moore

Much more famously, Valderrama has had a celebrated dating life, punctuated by high-profile dalliances with younger women including Mandy Moore, Lindsay Lohan and Demi Lovato.

Lyric video for Demi Lovato's TMI "29" (2022)

Apparently, not all of those relationships left both parties feeling warm and fuzzy. Lovato, who turned 29 last year, seized on the opportunity to crush Valderrama — albeit without naming names — in her song "29," seemingly accusing him of taking advantage of her when he was 29 and she was 17.

Valderrama and his partner, Amanda Pacheco

But the actor has since settled down with model Amanda Pacheco, and the couple had their first child, a daughter, in February 2021.

Jane Russell (1942)

While we're on the subject of gorgeous women, this is what Jane Russell looked like back in 1942 ... about 10 years before playing Mike Delroy, a character with an unexpectedly male-sounding name, in "Son of Paleface."

Jane Russell in a promo still for "The Outlaw" (1943)

Here's a famous promo shot of Ms. Russell for the 1943 movie "The Outlaw," produced and directed by eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes (with some uncredited help from legendary director Howard Hawks).

The promo shot has also circulated in this orientation. Choose your poison.

Russell apparently spent a considerable amount of time in the hay for the promo shoot, as a number of photos came out of it — each one more revealing than the rest.

But there wouldn't have been much point in getting her in the hay and NOT making the most of it. I mean, for promotional purposes, of course.

Howard Hughes

Now, before you assume that Howard Hughes, one of the richest and most powerful men in the world at the time, might have exploited the situation for some pre-#MeToo shenanigans, that question has been blowin' in the wind since the '40s and the answer, especially from Jane Russell, has always come back: "Absolutely not."

"Son of Paleface": Jane Russell's character, Mike "The Torch" Delroy, on the Fez

But rather than ruminate on the romantic lives of people who aren't here to defend themselves, let's get back to the rock. Here's a shot of Jane Russell's character standing on the Fez in "Son of Paleface."

The Iverson Movie Ranch's "Fez" in "Son of Paleface"

The sequence is shot day-for-night, so the details don't exactly pop out — but there's the Fez, behind some dry brush. As for the Jane Russell character, there's no way that's the actual Jane Russell.

"Jane Russell" — minus some of her feminine charms

We can be reasonably sure it's not actually Jane Russell because, first of all, it doesn't really look like her. In fact, if you ask me, I'd say it looks more like a dude. (Update: Maybe not! See comments below.)

Boys' club? Jane Russell, as "Mike," with Bob Hope and Roy Rogers in "Son of Paleface"

Sure, Jane's character is named "Mike," but in the movie, "Mike" is clearly not a dude.

That's not the Jane Russell I know!

If there's still any doubt about who might be standing on the Fez, it has to be a stunt person because he or she jumps off the rocks onto a nearby horse. Somehow I can't see Jane Russell agreeing to that.

Jane Russell with the Iverson Ranch projected behind her

Also, the Fez sequence is preceded by this shot of Jane, which appears to be done on a soundstage with better lighting and some of the Garden of the Gods rocks shown in rear projection.

Rock steady, the Fez remains stoic throughout the shoot

Oblivious to whatever is going on around it and whoever might be climbing on top of it, the Fez holds down its spot in the frame throughout the location shoot, and can still be found in the exact same spot today.

Spike, aka Old Yeller, stands on the Fez in a promo still for "Old Yeller"

Someone else who once stood on top of the Fez is Old Yeller — actually a movie dog named Spike, who played Old Yeller in the 1957 Disney movie that traumatized millions of young children.

Old Yeller defends his fallen human from some ill-tempered pigs

One of "Old Yeller's" pivotal sequences was filmed just a few feet from the Fez, where the dog waged a heroic battle against a gang of feral pigs.

Tommy Kirk agonizes over his wounded dog in "Old Yeller"

The outnumbered canine hero suffered serious injuries in the pig fight, sending the trajectory of the movie in a disturbing direction. I imagine at least a few of my readers recall the sad outcome as clearly as I do.

Things get heated for Elvis in the Garden of the Gods

The bloody encounter between Old Yeller and the pigs took place in the same Garden of the Gods location where Ronald Reagan was once gunned down and Elvis Presley romanced one of his many screen girlfriends. Click here for photos and details on all three storylines.

"The Utah Kid" (1930) — the Fez hides in the background

The Fez has been popping up in movies for close to 100 years, if not longer. One of the oldest examples I could find is this shot from the early sound Western "The Utah Kid."

The Fez, in sepia tone

"The Utah Kid" was filmed so long ago they were still releasing movies in sepia tone.

The Fez in the Johnny Mack Brown movie "West of Carson City" (1940)

Here's another glimpse of the Fez in "West of Carson City," which filmed all over the Iverson Movie Ranch.

"West of Carson City": Love blossoms on the Fez

People have been lured into standing, sitting, climbing, leaning and lounging on the Fez since Day One. In this shot Johnny and leading lady Peggy Moran avail themselves of its convenient flat surfaces.

Johnny Mack Brown, Peggy Moran and Bob Baker in "West of Carson City"

Here's a better look at some of the key players in a promo still for "West of Carson City."

"The Lone Ranger" (season 5, 1956-1957) — a rendezvous next to the Fez

Even the Lone Ranger and Tonto once shared a moment at the Fez, during the fifth season of the TV series — the only season of the show to be shot in color.

"The Big Steal" (1949): The Fez gets caught up in a gun battle

In 1949 the Fez found its way into one of only a handful of films noir to be shot on the Iverson Ranch, turning up along with Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer in "The Big Steal."

Colorized version of "The Big Steal"

I'm usually not a fan of colorization, but this is a rare occasion when it really added something because that old car looks great in baby blue.

Whoever drove that car up there is a hero

If you ever happen to visit this spot, take a moment to try to figure out how they got that car up there.

The Fez, top right, as part of the "Four Square Rocks" in 2011

When the Fez is viewed from this angle, we can see that it's part of an unusual grouping of more or less rectangular and square rocks — the "Four Square Rocks."

"The Wild Westerners" (Columbia, 1962)

The Four Square Rocks also turn up sometimes in the movies, as seen in this promo still for "The Wild Westerners." That's the Fez in the top right corner of the frame.

The Four Square Rocks and their larger neighbors

A wider shot reveals that the Four Square Rocks are one of the smaller rockpiles positioned near the base of Tower Rock and its imposing rock neighbors.

"Cherokee Uprising" (1950): Whip Wilson and Iron Eyes Cody pretend to fight

If this promo still were in color, I imagine the Fez might be red with embarrassment over this extremely fake-looking shot of a fistfight between Whip Wilson and Iron Eyes Cody.

The Fez is unable to hide in the background

The Fez would probably prefer to hide behind the dry brush again, but we know where to find it.

How to visit the Fez (Not the Wilmer Valderrama one)

The best way to get to the Fez is via the Garden of the Gods hiking trail. Park on Redmesa Road about a quarter-mile north of Santa Susana Pass Road, near the gate on the west side of the road. The rock's GPS coordinates are 34.273329, -118.612135.

Don't make me do it without the Fez on!

Here's a link to audio of the Steely Dan song "The Fez." If the song isn't already stuck in your head after all this talk about fezzes, give it a listen and maybe it will be.

Ancient rock carvings on the Iverson Movie Ranch? Chipping away at an unsolved movie mystery

2022-11-15T18:30:00.001-08:00

The mighty Sphinx, alpha rock of the Garden of the Gods (northern profile)

One of the unsolved mysteries on the Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, Calif., is the presence of carvings on the Sphinx, the dominant rock in the famed Garden of the Gods.

The Sphinx — southern profile (2022)

The carvings appear on the south side of the heavily filmed rock, and are plainly visible to anyone who might hike into the interior of the Garden of the Gods — provided they know where to look.

A closeup of the carvings (2022)

My immediate thought when I first encountered these carvings several years ago — and I know I'm not alone in this — was that they might be Native American in origin. (Spoiler alert: They're not.)

Location of the mysterious carvings

Native Americans have lived in California's San Fernando Valley for some 8,000 years, with certain Tongva, Chumash and Tataviam groups among those who are said to have inhabited the region around today's Chatsworth. The idea that these carvings might be thousands of years old, while a bit naive, is clearly enticing.

The carvings as they appear today (2022)

I first reported on the carvings back in 2014, and around that time I also began reaching out to experts on Native American petroglyphs to see whether they could shed light on just what we have here.

Burro Flats Painted Cave — a nearby example of legitimate indigenous rock art

The consensus among the experts was that the carvings are not ancient petroglyphs and do not appear to be the work of indigenous peoples. Relative to the genuine article, as seen here, they're probably not even all that old.

California Chumash rock art (Dan McCaslin photo)

So yeah, on second thought, no way the carvings on the former movie ranch are from thousands of years ago. Among other issues, they bear little resemblance to these painted examples of this region's ancient rock art.

Identifiable images in the Iverson Movie Ranch carvings

But it's an honest mistake, considering that the Iverson Ranch carvings include such recognizable items as a fish and a horse — images that one might reasonably expect would also turn up in bona fide petroglyphs.

The third figure — what is it?

I see this one as a bird, maybe even a chicken, although it's not quite as well-defined as the fish or the horse.

"Follow Me, Boys!" (Disney, 1966): 14-year-old Kurt Russell on the Sphinx

Keeping in mind that this is the Iverson Movie Ranch — accent on the word "movie" — it follows that, like most mysteries surrounding this fascinating and historic property, this one is another movie mystery.

The scene takes place in front of the same carvings

One of the advantages of trying to solve a mystery on a former movie ranch — and I imagine this is obvious — is the movies. We always have movies to look at, and TV shows too, when seeking clues to the location's history.

Kurt's character, Whitey, tries to talk some sense into a fellow Scout who fell down a cliff

So many productions were filmed on the ranch that the rock carvings are bound to show up in at least a few of them. And that's just what we find: a few movies — but only a few — that include shots of the carvings.

The carvings continue to appear behind the boys

Key questions I would love to have answered include these: When did the carvings first appear, and if they were created for a movie, which movie was it? And can we see it?

The other boy, Ronnie, played by Greger Vigen, is rescued thanks to Whitey's heroism

For the most part, the answer to all of those questions, unfortunately, is we don't know. But a number of clues have turned up in various movies and TV shows.

Zooming in on the fish, the horse and ... whatever the thing on the right is

You may have noticed that the rock carvings look "funny" in the "Follow Me, Boys!" screen shots, as though someone tried to paint over them — similar to what we might try to do today with graffiti.

It appears that an attempt was made to cover up the carvings

The masking, whether it's paint, charcoal, putty or whatever, appears to be an attempt by the "Follow Me, Boys!" crew to hide the carvings, which would say something about how badly they wanted to shoot in this location.

"Gunsmoke" episode "Honor Before Justice" (1966)

Around the same time as the "Follow Me, Boys!" shoot, the carvings also made a lower-profile appearance in an episode of the popular Western TV series "Gunsmoke."

What is it about 1966 and those carvings?

It's a rare occasion when the carvings can be seen in any production, and especially rare to see them pop out like this. Because of "Gunsmoke" and "Follow Me, Boys!," for a while I thought the carvings must be from the Sixties.

"African Treasure" (Bomba the Jungle Boy, 1952)

But the timeline shifted recently when my friend and fellow location historian Cliff Roberts found the carvings in the jungle movie "African Treasure." This discovery proves they were already carved at least by 1952.

Bomba traverses a perilous cliff in "African Treasure"

Monogram's "Bomba the Jungle Boy" series starred Johnny Sheffield, who previously played "Boy" in the Tarzan movies. As soon as he was old enough to fight his own alligators, he got his own jungle series.

Location of the carvings

The "Bomba" series filmed frequently on the Iverson Ranch, but it does not appear that the carvings on the side of the Sphinx were created specifically for "African Treasure" or any other "Bomba" movies.

Bomba works his way past the carvings

However, some shots in the Bomba sequence show the carvings with unusual clarity. The carvings are visible throughout a brief sequence in "African Treasure" in which Sheffield works his way along a narrow ledge.

A closer look at the carvings

It's the same ledge where Kurt Russell's character would later rescue the other Boy Scout in "Follow Me, Boys!" Zooming in a little, we can easily make out familiar figures such as the fish and horse.

There's plenty to see on the side of that rock

The Bomba sequence also taps into other parts of the mystery, especially in the area above the fish and the horse and above Johnny Sheffield.

Damaged area near the rock carvings

It's clear that something has happened to the rock in this area, but what is it?

A section of rock wall with a lot going on

Taking another look at the shape the rock is in today, we can see what appears to be scratched-out areas above and below the familiar rock carvings.

What stories is this rock trying to tell us?

The work isn't confined to the area with the fish, horse and bird, but extends across a wider swath of rock surface surrounding those carvings.

The identifiable images are just a part of the story

The area where we find the fish, the horse and other examples of the most recognizable carvings is right in the middle of something that looks almost like a rock carving battlefield.

The surface looks as though it's been sanded or chipped away in this area

Additional images may have once appeared below the fish and horse area, but they're gone now. This section gives the impression that any images previously found here were intentionally and permanently removed.

This section has also been worked and reworked

A similar situation can be found in the area above the fish and horse, where it looks as though someone carved slashes throughout this section, presumably in an effort to eliminate any existing images.

Notice the area above the fish and horse

Whoever may have been trying to eliminate the figures in this area seems to have given up on the task before it was completed, because we can still see remnants of the images.

Remnants of figures can still be seen

The figures in this area would probably form a nice complement to those in the fish and horse area had these not been scratched out. As far as the question of when any of this happened, it remains largely unknown.

The rock carvings area, circa 1926 (Bison Archives)

But an intriguing set of clues surfaced about two years ago when this old still photo turned up in Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives.

By the 1920s, activity can already be seen in the rock carvings area

The photo, believed to be from about 1926, shows assistant director Fred Fleck scouting a location on the Iverson Movie Ranch. But for our purposes, what's most interesting about it is what we can see behind him.

The rock has something to say — and has already had messages erased by the '20s

Zooming in on the vicinity of the rock carvings, it's immediately evident that activity has already taken place in this area — especially in the fish and horse area and in the section above it.

The "Razorback" — natural markings on the rock

One of the best ways to "navigate" between images of the rock as it appears today and an image from close to 100 years ago is by identifying a key natural formation on the rock.

The Arkansas Razorbacks logo, top, and the rock's naturally formed "Razorback"

I refer to this set of markings as the "Razorback," because it reminds me of the familiar image of a razorback pig — like the one that appears as the logo of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.

The natural "Razorback" formation: What is its relationship to the manmade carvings?

The Razorback, which is still easy to find on the rock today, can be helpful in locating key reference points between the photo of the rock in the 1920s and photos of the rock as it appears in 2022.

Using the Razorback to help navigate the rock

For example, we know that the fish is directly above the "ear" of the Razorback. Similarly, the horse is directly above the Razorback's hind leg.

Locating the future site of the fish and horse in the 1920s photo

Even though today's fish and horse do not appear to be in place yet in the 1920s photo, the Razorback helps point us to the area where they will later be found.

Rock "canvases" in the shapes of future carvings?

Work has clearly been done in the fish and horse area, but it's hard to be sure what we're seeing. While it appears that no figures have been carved yet, it almost looks as though the rock has been "prepped."

The rock carvings area circa 1926 (top) and in 2022

Meanwhile, the work that has already been done in the section above the fish-horse area aligns with the current condition of the rock. But again, it's hard to tell exactly what's going on here.

No sign of the carvings themselves circa 1926, despite all the "prep" work

The appearance of the rock in the 1920s suggests that it may have already been in use as some kind of "message board." But the carvings that we see today — both in the fish and horse area and in the section above it — appear to have been added later.

The Sphinx — southern profile, including the carvings area (2022)

The takeaway from all of this is that we still don't know what was going on with this intriguing expanse of rock in the early filming era — or for that matter, really in any era.

"Everyman" (Kinemacolor, 1913): Linda Arvidson and the Sphinx (Bison Archives)

However, it's worth keeping in mind that this was a filming location going back to the earliest days of the movie industry on the West Coast — at least as far back as 1913.

The Sphinx, in a 1913 promo still for the lost film "Everyman"

It's likely that secrets to the carvings' origins are hidden away in some of the silent movies filmed on the Iverson Ranch that are now lost — including movies we may never know were filmed on the ranch.

Location of the Linda Arvidson photo in 2020 — more than a century later

For the most part the location of the 1913 photo remains unchanged today — even the laurel sumac continues to thrive in that same spot. I did a post in 2020 about the Arvidson photo, which you can see by clicking here.

Garden of the Gods in 1920, during filming of "Man-Woman-Marriage"

Many other early movies also filmed in this area. One that still exists is "Man-Woman-Marriage," the source of this stunning behind-the-scenes shot.

A tantalizing view of the carvings area in 1920

The photo provides another early look at the carvings area, but like most of the material to surface from this period, it's not detailed enough to add anything about the carvings' origins.

Behind the scenes of "Man-Woman-Marriage"

The photo, which I received several years ago from Ben Burtt, includes more than its share of interesting features. Click here to see more about this photo and other "Man-Woman-Marriage" photos in a post from 2015.

"The Young Rajah" (Rudolph Valentino, 1922): Partially lost silent movie

An example of an important lost silent film — in this case a partially lost one — is Rudolph Valentino's "The Young Rajah" from 1922, which filmed at least one major sequence on the Iverson Movie Ranch.

Battle sequence from "The Young Rajah": This appears to be the only surviving shot

A large battle scene was filmed in the Garden of the Gods, but all of the video footage is lost. Partial versions of the movie can be found on YouTube, but the lone surviving battle photo clearly doesn't tell the whole story — and the photo is not detailed enough to reveal anything about the rock carvings.

A major shoot, complete with large fake rocks and many extras

It's clear from the number of extras, along with the fact that the studio went to the trouble to put up enormous fake rocks for the occasion, that this was a large-scale shoot. It's possible that the lost battle footage, should it ever turn up, could help shed light on the rock carvings.

"The Young Rajah" (Paramount, 1922)

I posted about "The Young Rajah" in 2018 — you can click here to see more photos and other info about the movie, including a detailed breakdown of the surviving battle photo.

Follow the trail off Redmesa Road to the rock carvings

To find the rock carvings, park near the trailhead on Redmesa Road in Chatsworth, Calif., about a quarter-mile north of Santa Susana Pass Road. GPS coordinates for the carvings are 34.273397, -118.612325.

Thank you, Fred Fleck, for pausing here, and Bison Archives, for preserving these photos

Whenever evidence surfaces from the silent film era — as it did just in the past couple of years with the "Everyman" photo from 1913 and the Fred Fleck photo from circa 1926, both from Bison Archives — it adds vital pieces to the jigsaw puzzle that is the early history of the Iverson Movie Ranch.

A multi-layered mystery

In the case of the rock carvings, the mysteries have multiple layers, which makes them that much more compelling. I encourage readers to offer your own theories in the comments section below.

A postcard from Lone Pine 2022: How a movie festival 200 miles away helped solve an old "Iverson Movie Ranch" mystery

2022-10-21T10:48:00.004-07:00

The Lone Pine Film Festival just wrapped up its 32nd year

We had a great time earlier this month at the Lone Pine Film Festival, which is still going strong in its 32nd year. Not only is Lone Pine one of the best film festivals in the U.S., I believe it also stands alone in that it's more focused on actual filming locations — and a lot of them — than any other festival in the world.

Dawn breaks in the Alabama Hills (Oct. 9, 2022)

The centerpiece of the festival — and of movie history in the Lone Pine area — is the Alabama Hills, a unique geological formation that first caught the attention of Hollywood more than a century ago.

Alabama Hills — a vast rocky landscape

"Alabama Hills" is the name given to a sprawling rocky area west of the town of Lone Pine in California's Owens Valley, where hundreds of movies and TV shows have been filmed over the past 100-plus years.

Painting of Confederate warship CSS Alabama, which gave the Alabama Hills their name

The area has nothing to do with the state of Alabama, but the name is a Civil War reference. The Alabama Hills are named after the CSS Alabama, which was sunk by the Union ship Kearsarge in 1864.

A typical Alabama Hills rock formation

California's Alabama Hills are known for their unusual rock formations, spread out across mile after mile of dramatic landscape. This area has stood in for the American West of the frontier days in countless Western movies, and remains an active filming location today.

Lone Pine Peak and Mount Whitney, west of the Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills are bordered on the west by the Eastern Sierra, including Lone Pine Peak and Mount Whitney, which lend additional scenic splendor to the location.

Mount Whitney keeps a low profile here

Almost everyone mixes up Lone Pine Peak and Mount Whitney at first — I know I did. Even though Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the Lower 48 States, the proximity of Lone Pine Peak makes it appear higher.

Lone Pine rock detective and tour guide Don Kelsen examines an Alabama Hills formation

The Alabama Hills aren't the only thing that sets the Lone Pine Film Festival apart from run-of-the-mill movie festivals. A key to the annual event's enduring popularity is that Lone Pine is a gathering of not just movie fans, but movie location fans — including some who really know their stuff when it comes to Lone Pine.

"The Last Posse" (1953): One of hundreds of filming locations documented by Don Kelsen

A case in point is master Lone Pine rock finder Don Kelsen, who has been involved with the movie festival — and with uncovering historic Alabama Hills filming locations — for something like three decades.

The "Last Posse" location in modern times, photographed by Don Kelsen

I've reported before on Kelsen's spectacular movie location finds — you can click here to see some of his stunning Alabama Hills "then and now" shots.

"Gunga Din" — 1939 epic filmed in the Alabama Hills

High-profile Lone Pine movies such as "Gunga Din" and "Bad Day at Black Rock" are well-documented, so on my recent visit I made a point of seeking out locations for productions that don't normally get as much attention.

Jeep commercial featuring Lone Pine Peak and the Alabama Hills, 2018

One thing I've been seeing a lot of lately is car commercials shot in the Alabama Hills. Ads for Jeep, Acura, Chevy trucks and other makes have been capturing breathtaking Lone Pine scenery in recent years.

The same location in October 2022 — not quite the same angle, but in the neighborhood

I took this photo approximating the location of the Jeep commercial from my campsite in the Alabama Hills on Sunday morning, Oct. 9.

Click on the video above to watch the Jeep spot

Here's the 30-second Jeep commercial that features the beautiful Alabama Hills shot, which appears at 0:19 in the ad. Click on the image above, then click on YouTube in the bottom right corner for the best look at the video.

Rabbit Dry Lake in the same Jeep commercial

Other parts of the Jeep commercial are shot at Rabbit Dry Lake in Southern California's Mojave Desert. We explored this location back in 2019, in a post you can see by clicking here.

Randolph Scott arrives in the Alabama Hills in the opening to the 1957 Western "The Tall T"

Unique movie tours of the Alabama Hills, such as the Del Gaudio brothers' "Tall T" tour, have long been among the biggest attractions at the Lone Pine Film Festival.

The same location in 2022, one of the many highlights on the Del Gaudios' "Tall T" tour

These fascinating tours give the general public a chance to experience the excitement of seeing stunning filming locations up close, and to benefit from the knowledge and legwork of veteran Lone Pine explorers.

Mike Del Gaudio breaks down a filming site for "The Tall T"

When you spend time in the Alabama Hills with location hunters like the Del Gaudios, you're bound to learn a thing or two — but more important, you're likely to get caught up in their passion for movie locations.

John Del Gaudio stands in for Richard Boone, illustrating a key shot in "The Tall T"

The Del Gaudio brothers, who travel from the East Coast each year to conduct tours, flip burgers and whatever else the festival needs, have perfected a tandem approach to revealing the finer points of the Alabama Hills.

Richard Boone's character, Usher, rides through the same pass in the movie

A movie like "The Tall T," filmed almost entirely in the Alabama Hills, offers countless shots that can be matched up against the current landscape — and it's a landscape that remains largely unchanged since the peak filming years.

Tour participants follow along with their "Tall T" photo brochures

Visitors participating in the movie tours receive photo brochures containing screen shots from the movie so they can see exactly where everything was filmed and line up their own matching photos.

Randolph Scott on the Anchor Ranch in Lone Pine — note the horse stable behind him

A scene early in "The Tall T" finds Randolph Scott on the Anchor Ranch, a cluster of old buildings in downtown Lone Pine that was historically used for filming.

The same stable building in 2022

To my surprise, much of the old ranch remains intact today — if "intact" is the right word. The old stable isn't in the best shape these days, but it's still recognizable as the same building seen behind Randolph Scott in the movie.

"Conquering Comes Standard" Jeep commercial, circa 2018

One of my favorite locations I visited during this year's festival was from another Jeep commercial. When I showed this shot to Don Kelsen, he knew right away where it was.

The Jeep location in October 2022

Here's a matching shot I took at the Jeep location — probably my best match from the latest Lone Pine expedition.

Promo still for the 1938 serial "The Lone Ranger": Chief Thundercloud and Lynne Roberts

Another highlight for me from this year's festival has a connection to the Iverson Movie Ranch. I spent a long time searching for the location of this photo after someone suggested years ago that it was taken on the Iverson Ranch. It turns out it wasn't shot there after all.

The same rock in 2022, in the Alabama Hills

Thanks to Greg Parker — another extremely accomplished Lone Pine rock hunter and tour guide — the elusive rock was found earlier this year in the Alabama Hills. I took part in an expedition to the site on Oct. 9.

"The Lone Ranger" (1938): The movies' original Tonto in the Alabama Hills

A second promo still from the same photo session also turned up some time ago, with Chief Thundercloud standing on top of the rock and Lynne Roberts, the serial's leading lady, on the right.

The mystery rock — a mystery no more

The serial "The Lone Ranger" was filmed both on the Iverson Movie Ranch and in the Lone Pine area, among other locations. But the promo stills with the distinctive rock were definitely taken in the Alabama Hills.

John Del Gaudio basks in the presence of Chief Thundercloud's rock

A number of veteran Lone Pine researchers, including the Del Gaudio brothers, took part in the pilgrimage to the rock, with Don Kelsen leading the expedition.

"Thundercloud Rock" in its natural setting (Oct. 9, 2022)

After wondering for years where this rock might be, I have to admit it was pretty exciting to finally see it in person.

Lone Pine, one of the best-kept secrets of the Eastern Sierra

If you missed this year's Lone Pine Film Festival, you might want to start making your plans early for next year. The motels in town fill up fast, but there's also camping available in the historic Alabama Hills.

The Lone Pine Museum of Western Film History

Meanwhile, Lone Pine's Museum of Western Film History is open year-round, and is a must-see. You can pick up a brochure there for $2 that'll show you the way to many of the most important filming locations.

Where to go, how to get there and what to do once you're there

Two places to keep up on what's going on with the Lone Pine Film Festival, and to start making plans for next year's event, are the Lone Pine Film Festival website and the festival's Facebook page.

See you on the rocks at Lone Pine 2023!

If you do plan to go to Lone Pine 2023 — and for that matter, if you're headed to just about any historic filming locations in the SoCal area — shoot me an email ahead of time and maybe we can arrange to meet up.

I 💗 Lone Pine

As for me, I'll be going back for sure — and sooner than later. Seems I left my heart-shaped rock arch in the Alabama Hills.

A Mojave Desert nightmare in "Hot Rods to Hell"

2022-09-20T14:09:00.007-07:00

"Hot Rods to Hell" (1967): Plenty of hot rods, and sufficient hell

Is it a mid-20th century metaphor for the settling of the Wild West? Who knows! But this much is clear: "Hot Rods to Hell" is one of the classics of the much-loved juvenile delinquent genre.

Jeanne Crain gets hysterical while Dana Andrews responds to an emergency by "resting his eyes"

If a Juvenile Delinquent Movie Hall of Fame existed, they'd need a whole wing for "Hot Rods to Hell." But your own mileage may depend on your level of tolerance for ... um, I almost said "bad acting," but let's just call it "camp."

"Blackboard Jungle" (1955): Fanning the flames of juvenile delinquent paranoia

"Hot Rods to Hell" is what "Blackboard Jungle" might've been if they moved it to the weekend.

"West Side Story" (1961): A seminal juvenile delinquent movie
and a fun musical rolled into one

It's what "West Side Story" would have been if they took out all the singing and dancing, the choreographed knife fights, the racially motivated gang warfare, Natalie Wood, and replaced it all with hot rods.

"Rebel Without a Cause" (1955): What is it with Natalie Wood and her bad boys?

"Hot Rods to Hell" is what "Rebel Without a Cause" could have been if they took out all the great writing, directing and acting, moved it to the desert ... and they'd have to take out Natalie Wood again.

A souped-up '58 Corvette tears up the Mojave Desert in "Hot Rods to Hell"

On one level it's just the saga of a typical American family headed West, where they get hassled by a gang of teenage misfits in fast cars. But the movie's "classic" status is cemented by footage of hot rods kicking up dust all over Southern California's Mojave Desert.

Desert driver's ed, lesson one: high-speed tailgating

Those hot rods wouldn't seem so hot if it weren't for one not-so-hot rod that lunks along throughout the movie. It's a green Plymouth Belvedere hauling around a family strictly from Squaresville, and in this movie all the kids love saying things like "Squaresville."

"Hot Rods to Hell": A beginner's guide to torturing out-of-towners

The movie is essentially a how-to manual for aspiring troublemakers, with step-by-step instructions on how to bug the heck out of anyone driving a slower car or bringing an ugly luggage carrier into the desert. We can only hope these lessons were never taken to heart by any real-world teenagers with actual driver's licenses.

The Typical American Family adds a blown tire to its list of problems

As if they didn't already have enough to freak out about, the Phillips family suffers a hair-raising blowout, requiring most of them to overact. This becomes a recurring theme throughout their desert adventure.

The beleaguered Belvedere limps into Charlie's Gas & Oil

Thank goodness they were fairly close to a service station, even if it's the same place the hot rod punks hang out. Pay attention, kids, because this is what we used to call a "service station."

The Feed Store in Wilsona Gardens, 2022 (formerly "Charlie's Gas & Oil")

The old gas station from "Hot Rods to Hell" is still there, but it's not a gas station anymore, and the whole place has been remodeled at least a few times over the past half-century — including the addition of a roof.

Still a Wilsona Gardens landmark

These days Charlie's Gas & Oil is a feed store, but a few telephone poles, a big butte out back and some of the station's original dirt confirm that we're in the right place.

Oddly enough, it's the windows that give it away

About the only thing that's still the same on the building itself is the windows — even though they now have metal security bars. Meanwhile, the old "slider" soda machine has been replaced by a broken-down Snapple unit that looks as though it probably had a cardboard "free" sign on it that blew away years ago.

Another "upgrade" gone wrong

I know I'm not the only one around here who still pines for the good ol' days. What would you give to slide a Coke through the metal maze on one of those vintage soft drink machines again?

Soon after arriving at Charlie's, everyone tries to calm down from the overacting incident

For some reason Mrs. Phillips seems determined to soothe her young son Jamie, the only member of the family who didn't lose his mind when the tire blew.

Trouble awaits at Charlie's gas station — for the legal department

The movie's crew apparently scoured the location ahead of time for any unsponsored branding that might give the legal team a headache back at the studio. Unfortunately, they tried to cover everything up with black electrical tape, and they made a hot mess of it.

First attempt at a tape-over job

You may think I'm being harsh by calling it a "hot mess" — especially if you're from England and would have preferred the British slang term "dog's dinner." But follow the timeline and draw your own conclusion.

They botched it!

Zooming in on the screen shot, we can spot problems right away with the crew's low-budget, low-effort masking procedures. The electrical tape handiwork is OK, up to a point, but they could have used another strip or two. Meanwhile, covering up the Phillips 66 badge may have been too much to expect from a black Marks-A-Lot.

Second attempt: A squared-off logo tape-over job

At some point during the shoot, someone with a smidgeon of authority apparently noticed the screw-up, and some poor crew flunky had to redo it — probably after getting yelled at. Of course, they weren't about to reshoot anything they already had in the can.

Third time's almost the charm (but when you have a Marks-A-Lot, I suppose you're gonna use it)

That lower management person was apparently a real stickler, because they made the poor crew do it a third time — and I have to think additional yelling was involved. This time they finally finished covering up those letters, but they also made the Phillips logo look more like a badge again, wasting more ink in the process.

After all that hard work, the branding gets into the movie anyway

I think the desert heat must've been getting to them, because they still managed to screw it up. Nobody bothered to turn the oil rack around for the Belvedere's grille closeup, so all the original signage — including an un-Marks-A-Lotted Phillips 66 badge and an untaped Trop-Artic oil logo — is right there on full display in the movie.

Was Charlie's really a Gulf station?

Other examples of the crew's "that's good enough" set-decoration policy can be found elsewhere at Charlie's Gas & Oil. The generic "gas" sign looks like a movie prop, but it wouldn't be a total surprise to find out there's a Gulf sign under that temporary banner.

Then there's the Texaco theory

Didn't we already figure out Charlie's is really a Phillips 66 station? Well this gas pump sure looks like it wears the Texaco star. The station's fixtures are such a hodge-podge, either it's all fake movie stuff or this gas station has a long-standing policy of breaking up with its corporate partners and keeping their equipment.

Awkward moment for the Phillips family?

It might look as though family patriarch Tom Phillips, on the right, is leaning forward to check out his 16-year-old daughter's impressive derriere — and getting busted by his wife to boot! But that's not what's happening here.

Nothing to see here!

I don't suppose it helps matters any that Tom has to haul his daughter and her rear end all over a desert full of testosterone-fueled hot rod boys. But Tom's just bent over in pain from a back injury, which plagues the poor guy throughout the movie.

Ernie takes a good long gander at Tina Phillips as she sways by

Besides, if there's any leering or ogling to be done at this gas station, Ernie will see to it that it gets done.

Beneath Ernie's button-down shirt beats the heart of a punk

A word of warning about high school hot rodder Ernie, played by Gene Kirkwood: Don't let his good grooming and schoolboy face fool you — he's mean!

This may be true, technically, but is it really that big a deal?

One of the more perplexing signs the movie crew put up at the gas station is this one making sure everyone knows that Charlie's Gas & Oil is the "last chance until Hanesburg." So, where are we again, exactly?

Stuck inside East Hanesburg with the Hanesburg blues again

OK, so we're not exactly in the middle of nowhere, we're just in East Hanesburg. But still, it must be at least a couple of miles from regular Hanesburg. Better top off the tank before you roll outta there, Tom.

Charles P. Thompson as Charlie in "Hot Rods to Hell"

You may have spotted this old geezer wandering around the gas station. That's Charlie, who runs the station, and he's played by an actual Charlie and actual geezer, veteran actor Charles Thompson.

Charles Thompson with Steve McQueen in "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1960)

Thompson never quite rose to the status of "geezer icon" — you know, the Clem Bevans, Cyril Delevanti, Burt Mustin level. But Charlie had his moments.

Charles Thompson as Asa Breeney, with Jim Nabors and Andy Griffith (1962)

Charlie may have found the inspiration for his mechanic's outfit in Gomer Pyle's wardrobe when Thompson played Asa Breeney in "The Bank Job," one of his seven guest appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show."

Charlie uses a wrench to make a point, prompting Ernie to strike an Elvis-like pose

Thompson's Charlie character in "Hot Rods to Hell" is a beaten man. He's fed up with the local hot rodders, but even though he wields a big wrench, he knows he's helpless to do anything about them.

The ghastly trio regroups at Charlie's

We have to give Charlie credit for trying, though. When Duke and Gloria show up in Duke's 'Vette to pick up their henchman Ernie, Charlie ambles over with a tire iron so he can lecture the bratty high-schoolers.

Gloria's need for speed has been satisfied — momentarily

Gloria, who's prone to alarming mood swings, is exhilarated for the time being, presumably from racing around the desert in a hot rod, which all the local kids apparently spend every waking moment doing.

Gloria (Mimsy Farmer) and Duke (Paul Bertoya) soak up Charlie's sage advice

Duke, who's way too old to be in high school — actor Paul Bertoya was 28 at the time — listens attentively to Charlie's words of wisdom as Gloria braces for another mood swing.

Charlie's advice falls on deaf ears

The well-dressed and impeccably coiffed hooligans react to Charlie's lecture the same way they react to almost everything: They laugh it off. These kids laugh so much I'm starting to think they might actually be having fun.

"Ah, you're old, Charlie. How would you know?"

Then Gloria, ever the philosopher, delivers one of the movie's most memorable lines, which pretty much sums up the code by which all the young desert rats live.

The San Gabriel Mountains loom to the south as the 'Vette makes a dramatic exit

And on that meaningful note, they go roaring off into the desert to raise more hell. That's a reference to the movie's title, in case I was too subtle about it.

The view from Charlie's looking southwest across 170th Street

Next thing we know, we're getting the 50-cent tour of Wilsona Gardens attractions. First up is Piute Butte, across the street from Charlie's.

Piute Butte in 2022, viewed from the former Charlie's location

Needless to say, all of these landmarks are still there — where else would they be? This is the eastern slope of Piute Butte seen from 170th and Avenue K-4 — the same corner where Charlie had his gas station.

"Extradition, Part 2" ("Gunsmoke" episode, 1963): Piute Butte's southern profile

Piute Butte is one of the most important movie landmarks in the western Mojave Desert, and it pops up all the time in Westerns and other productions. We've featured it before — click here to see more of Piute Butte.

The Phillips family Belvedere hits 170th Street headed north

Around the same time the hot rodders roll out from Charlie's, the Average American Family of Four also gets back on the road — unfortunately for them. As they pull out we see a distinctive butte to the north.

The same location in 2022

I tracked much of the Phillips family's desert outing on my own recent visit to Wilsona Gardens, and found most of the buttes and other rock features, including this one at the north end of 170th Street, still intact. I was only mildly disappointed that I did not encounter any sociopathic hot rodders.

"Wagon Train" episode "The Duke Le May Story" (1959)

The small butte at the north end of 170th Street turns up from time to time in Westerns too. Here's an appearance by the butte in the TV series "Wagon Train."

Looking north from Lake Los Angeles

The butte is located due north of the town of Lake Los Angeles, about five miles up 170th Street.

The 170th Street butte, seen from Saddleback Butte State Park (William Sharpe photo)

The 170th Street butte is adjacent to Saddleback Butte State Park, and while it's formidable in its own right, it's dwarfed by other formations in the area — including Saddleback Butte itself.

Drag racing up 170th Street outside Lake Los Angeles

In "Hot Rods to Hell," the west end of Saddleback Butte, positioned to the southeast of the 170th Street butte, sneaks into the frame at times when the camera shoots north up 170th Street. This shot includes just a small section of Saddleback Butte.

That can't be good!

Duke's Corvette constantly looks as though its engine is about to explode. The hot rod continues to be driven hard throughout the movie, but it keeps spewing ominous blue smoke the whole time.

Here comes Joe with his '56!

We get a better look at Saddleback Butte when Joe, another ranking member of the local hot rod delinquents club, arrives in his '56 Chevy to help terrorize the Phillips family.

The same location in 2022: 170th Street East and Avenue K

Today the spot where Joe joins the 170th Street terrorization party runs along the fence setting off Saddleback Butte State Park, near the campground area. That's the western slope of Saddleback Butte in the background.

"Wagon Train" episode "The Clayton Tucker Story" (1960): Saddleback Butte's southern profile

Saddleback Butte is in a lot of productions, most often seen from the south and the Lake Los Angeles area, as in this shot from "Wagon Train." Click here for more about Saddleback Butte.

"Wagon Train": Saddleback, right, and the 170th Street butte

Another shot from the same "Wagon Train" episode, with only about half of Saddleback Butte visible, gives some idea of the size disparity between Saddleback and the smaller butte at the north end of 170th Street.

Zooming in on the background, because who doesn't enjoy the occasional blooper?

Taking a closer look at the "Wagon Train" shot, we can see something that looks like a modern farm vehicle in the background. OK, so it's a production error, but we've all seen worse.

Tiny movie towns on the outskirts of Lake Los Angeles

The action we've been looking at so far is centered in and around Wilsona Gardens, a tiny desert community on the northern outskirts of Lake Los Angeles. Also noted here is nearby Hi Vista, which was the focus of a recent post about the "Kill Bill Church" and other standing movie sets.

Wilsona Gardens, where much of "Hot Rods to Hell" was filmed

Zooming in on Wilsona Gardens, we can pinpoint the former location of Charlie's Gas & Oil. The satellite shot also gives a sense of some of the buttes and other features surrounding the town.

"Hot Rods to Hell" locations in and around Wilsona Gardens

The map quickly becomes too "busy" if we try to point out all the "Hot Rods to Hell" locations, but here we can see where Joe enters the picture in his '56 Chevy, along with some of the key buttes and roads.

Tom gets the Belvedere a little squirrelly as the hot rod punks keep him boxed in

The addition of Joe's '56 Chevy to the festivities ratchets up the unpleasantness level for the Phillips family. Here Tom struggles to maintain control of the Belvedere as Joe and Duke work together to box him in.

Advanced driver's training: Proper use of the wrong side of the road

These shots from the "boxing in" sequence are taken looking north up 170th Street, where the smaller butte at the north end of the street continues to be showcased.

What's that white thing?

In some of these shots we can just make out a white object, possibly a building, way in the distance.

It appears to be an arch

Here we get about as good a look at the distant object as we can find in the movie, and it's good enough to tell that it is indeed a manmade structure, apparently an arch.

The arch as it appeared in 2014 (Philip Sustachek photo)

It turns out this arch is a local landmark, part of a set of stone ruins situated north of Avenue J. This shot from 2014, looking south, shows that the arch remained more or less intact at that time, but was showing signs of wear.

The remains of the arch in 2022 — defying gravity even as the old building falls apart

One side of the arch has since fallen off, as I discovered on my recent visit to the location. The San Gabriel Mountains to the south can be seen in both of the above two photos.

South face of the stone ruins (2022)

I took this shot from the front of the ruins looking north. The missing piece of arch puts a crimp in the property's aesthetic groove, but we can still see that the old stone building once had a prime location below that butte.

"Hot Rods to Hell": The kids race west on Avenue K-8, with Saddleback Butte behind them

The hot rodders appear to race each other all over the desert, but in reality they stick mainly to one particular route. Part of that route involves tearing down Avenue K-8 west of Wilsona Gardens.

Avenue K-8 and Saddleback Butte in 2022

The road looks about the same today, albeit with enough cracks and patches that it may no longer be suitable for hot rod racing. Saddleback Butte, meanwhile, hasn't changed a bit since "Hot Rods to Hell" filmed here in 1966.

The road hangs a right as they approach the turnaround

This route includes a bend in the road that also marks one of the hot rodders' main turnaround points, where Avenue K-8 takes a turn to the north and becomes 160th Street.

Duke whips into the turnaround area as we look north up 160th Street

The hot rodders typically make a big display of kicking up dust — and in the case of Duke's Corvette, spewing more blue smoke — whenever they hit the turnaround at the end of each lap.

The turnaround point in 2022: Still plenty of room to kick up dust

This turnaround area is still there, and various tire tracks suggest that it may still be getting some use as a turnaround.

Location of one of the main racing routes

This action takes place along Avenue K-8 near 160th Street, just west of Wilsona Gardens and not far from Charlie's Gas & Oil. If you're following on Google Maps, note that Google misidentifies 160th Street as 152nd.

Location of the turnaround

The turnaround spot where Duke kicks up dirt can still be found at the bend in the road.

Street sign at the bend in the road: 160th Street East and Avenue K-8

A street sign at the turnaround lets everyone know this is 160th Street at Avenue K-8, despite what Google Maps might want people to think.

Drag racing up 150th Street

Another favorite stretch of road is 150th Street south of Avenue M. In this shot we see Duke's Corvette — with Gloria attached to the roll bar, as usual — racing a couple of the kids' greaser pals in an old roadster.

Looking south to Lovejoy Buttes

The feature that dominates the background is the northern slope of Lovejoy Buttes, one of the area's most prominent butte formations.

150th Street and Lovejoy Buttes in 2022

Lovejoy Buttes continues to provide a backdrop to the south if you're traveling on this stretch of 150th Street.

The two hot rods race north up 150th Street, running the Phillips family off the road

One problem the hot rodders have with the family in the Belvedere is that they keep getting in the way of the most important thing in the kids' lives: hot rod racing. In this sequence a race between two hot rods suddenly becomes a game of "chicken" with Mrs. Phillips, forcing the Belvedere off the road.

The same location in 2022: 150th Street, south of Avenue M

We can easily pinpoint the location where the encounter takes place because the same big clump of rocks is still there by the side of 150th Street.

The Belvedere kicks up some dust of its own after being run off the road

The car comes to a stop near the big roadside clump, prompting a spontaneous family meeting.

Family meeting in the Belvedere

After talking things over, Team Belvedere decides that as long as they're parked anyway, sort of, this would be a great time to take a break from all the driving and the getting hassled by juvenile delinquents.

Note the rock in the rear window

This meeting is filmed at the actual location, and underscoring that point is a rock that appears in the rear window of the Belvedere. We will see it again in just a moment.

Time to toss the football around

The kids get out of the car right there to play some catch, at young Jamie's insistence. Mom and Dad, meanwhile, commiserate about what a bummer this trip is turning out to be.

Another major butte surfaces

While this action is taking place, we get a look at yet another of the region's major rocky buttes. In fact, this one goes by the name "Rocky Buttes."

Rocky Buttes, immediately to the west (2022)

As you may have already guessed, Rocky Buttes is another rock formation that remains right where it's always been, as I was able to confirm on my recent visit to the site.

An idyllic desert setting for a game of catch — just don't back up, Tina!

Tom eventually joins the kids in the flinging of the pigskin, delighting Jamie while earning a typically teenage "who gives a flyin' half-a-crap" response from Tina.

Tina, played by Laurie Mock, has some thinking to do

Tina's not exactly the football type — plus she's dealing with a crisis of conscience. She's secretly drawn to the hot rod life herself, although the last thing she wants to do is admit it to her traumatized parents.

A lumpy rock formation peeks in over Tina's shoulder

But while she's thinking things through, at least they put her in front of an interesting rock — the same rock we saw a moment ago through the rear window of the Belvedere.

The same rock formation in 2022

And like just about all of the rocks in the area, this one is still there too.

Tina's rock, just off 150th Street

Tina's "thinkin' rock" is tucked in behind the main roadside clump.

Tom can do this with his eyes closed!

Daddy Tom was something of a football hero in high school, but he's not exactly feelin' it these days.

Looking northeast from the football tossing area

The shot of Tom is taken with the camera shooting northeast, and captures two buttes that may be starting to become familiar sights: Piute and Saddleback.

The same buttes in 2022, from about the same angle

Here again we were able to duplicate the shot on our recent visit to the location, and we can see that, once again, not much has changed.

Location of the football sequence

The football tossing scenes take place alongside 150th Street on the western edge of Lake Los Angeles, a short distance south of Avenue M.

Buttes of the western Lake Los Angeles area

A number of key buttes can also be found in this area, including Rocky Buttes, adjacent to the football tossing location, and a smaller formation I call "Longview Butte," south of Avenue O.

More hot rods join the feeding frenzy

Longview Butte gets some screen time during a sequence in which the number of menacing hot rods multiplies. That's Longview Butte on the right, as the hot rodders speed west on Avenue O.

Making good use of the road's wide shoulders

I believe the filmmakers chose this particular stretch of road because it features smooth dirt shoulders on both sides of the road, enabling them to line up as many as four hot rods side by side.

Looking east down the same stretch of Avenue O in 2022

"Longview Butte" is my name for this small butte west of Lake Los Angeles. The butte is located near Longview Road, which is an alternative name for 135th Street East.

The hot rodders raise the intensity level of their terror tactics

The hot rods quickly catch up to the Phillips family in their overmatched Belvedere. It doesn't take long, because first of all, it's a '61 Belvedere, but on top of that it's running on one of Charlie's spare tires.

The same location in modern times, with modern traffic (Google Maps)

The terror continues to play out on Avenue O, a little west of the previous location, near 110th Street. This is about as far west as "Hot Rods to Hell's" Mojave Desert shoot would go.

Two familiar buttes in the background

Even though this stretch of road doesn't have much in the way of landmarks, we can spot enough of them to figure out where it is — including partial views of Longview Butte and Lovejoy Buttes.

A lesser-known Mojave Desert landmark

The same movie shot also provides a glimpse of the area where Big Rock Wash crosses Avenue O and the road dips a little before going up a slight rise as it continues east.

The hot rodders show off their precision driving skills

Now the movie presents the hot rod club at full strength, with no less than six hot rods weaving back and forth around a terrified Phillips family with the precision of an Olympic synchronized swimming team. Who's teaching that driver's training class, Joie Chitwood?

Poster for the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show (circa 1956)

I realize almost nobody will get that Joie Chitwood reference, and some readers may even be tempted to look it up. But I'm so old that I'm convinced I know what I'm talking about.

Chitwood's '58 'Vette catches some air

The Joie Chitwood Thrill Show even had its own 1958 Corvette, just like "Hot Rods to Hell." The Chitwood operation didn't see a need for a roll bar, but then, they didn't have Gloria to haul around.

The troublesome Corvette arrives at Makeout Rock

"Hot Rods to Hell" found its way on a few occasions into what today is midtown Lake Los Angeles — especially when the randy teenagers would visit what I like to call "Makeout Rock."

Does this mean we'll finally see some real action?

If there's one thing wild desert teenagers like to do almost as much as racing hot rods, it's making out, and being anywhere near Makeout Rock seems to instantly awaken those urges.

Gloria starts getting friendly with Duke while the youths are parked next to Makeout Rock

Even the moody Gloria hears the call of the wild whenever she finds herself in close proximity to the rock.

Ernie looks on in disgust as things heat up

But three's a crowd when the love mojo's about to boil over, and unfortunately for Ernie, he's the odd man out.

Ernie braces for his marching orders

Ernie knows what's about to happen as soon as Duke and Gloria crawl out of the 'Vette — he's about to be told to take a hike.

Duke and Gloria go at it while Ernie awaits the command to beat it

The tender moment when Duke is about to tell Ernie to get lost is captured in a promo still for "Hot Rods to Hell," with Makeout Rock prominently featured in the background.

Makeout Rock in "Wagon Train" (1963)

"Hot Rods to Hell" isn't the only production to showcase Makeout Rock, although it may be the only one to show people actually making out there. Most of the other ones are Westerns.

"The Blane Wessels Story"

Back in 1963, "Wagon Train" viewers watched settlers fight to the death with the Cheyenne at the same rock in the episode "The Blane Wessels Story."

"The Virginian" (1965): Makeout Rock on the right, with Water Tower Rockpile

An episode of "The Virginian" captured Makeout Rock in the same shot as another nearby Lake Los Angeles rock feature, Water Tower Rockpile.

"Beyond the Border" ("The Virginian," season four)

Readers who caught our first Lake Los Angeles post, back in July, will be familiar with the widely filmed Water Tower Rockpile, including how it got that name. Click here if you'd like to refresh your memory.

This is as close as "Hot Rods to Hell" comes to showing on-screen sex

In contrast to just about every movie made in the past 40 or 50 years — especially ones about wild teenagers — there's no on-screen sex in "Hot Rods to Hell." This shot of Duke with his shirt off makes it clear what's been going on, but it might as well be radio because the audience has to use its imagination.

As Gloria's moods go, this one's about to be epic!

But it doesn't take much imagination to figure out that the couple's rendezvous behind the rock didn't go well — at least not for Gloria. She's suddenly mad as a wet hen, and feels some more philosophizing coming on.

Duke puts his shirt on while Gloria contemplates the nature of existence

As we learned elsewhere in the movie, Gloria's mood swings tend to be accompanied by deep philosophical revelations, and this one is no exception.

Here it comes ...

After weighing the pros and cons of her latest unsatisfying escapade at Makeout Rock, Gloria realizes that this is the perfect moment to bring up Every Teenager's Complaint About His or Her Home Town.

Gloria morphs into the spokesperson for teen angst

Duke, who's satisfied with a life of hot rodding and taking Gloria to Makeout Rock, pretends to listen while Gloria announces her Big Revelation: There's nothing to do around here!

The Mojave Desert: A harsh land

I've been spending time in that same area lately, and I have to admit, Gloria has a point. If I had to live in the middle of the Mojave Desert, I might be driven to antisocial behavior too.

Probably not the first lovers' spat at Makeout Rock

Gloria begs Duke to take her somewhere exciting, like Las Vegas. This provokes an argument between the young lovers, because Duke knows the 'Vette would never make it to Vegas without that ring job he's been putting off.

Let's go find that Belvedere!

Duke eventually talks Gloria out of her Vegas fantasy and, after yet another mood swing, Gloria gets excited about picking up Ernie and getting back to torturing the Phillips family.

Midtown Lake Los Angeles in modern times (Google Maps)

Some readers may be starting to wonder where Makeout Rock is in today's landscape, and I'm afraid I have some bad news: Makeout Rock didn't make it. (Pause to appreciate the irony.)

Here lie the bleached bones of Makeout Rock

This bleached-out and mostly demolished pile of rocks near a residential area in midtown Lake Los Angeles appears to be what's left of Makeout Rock. The shot looks northeast with Phantom Hill in the background.

Composite shot from "Hot Rods to Hell": Makeout Rock, left, along with other formations

Back in the peak filming years, Makeout Rock was part of an undeveloped landscape filled with striking rock formations. Most of the other nearby rockpiles have fared better than Makeout Rock.

Rock formations around 170th Street in midtown Lake Los Angeles

One of Makeout Rock's neighbors is a formation I refer to in my research as "Rock 15." It can be a challenge to keep coming up with names for every key rock, so sometimes I get lazy and just hand out numbers.

"Hot Rods to Hell": Rock 15 on the right

If you ask me, it kind of looks like a "Rock 15." Regardless, Rock 15 is another formation that hasn't exactly had an easy time of it since they started building houses in this area in the 1970s.

Rock 15 today: Hiding in some lucky homeowner's backyard

But unlike Makeout Rock, Rock 15 remains recognizable today, part of the current residential landscape of central Lake Los Angeles. Today Rock 15 sits in the backyard of a Lake Los Angeles home.

Rock 15, with Fire Station Butte to the southwest

This shot is taken looking approximately southwest, about 90 degrees off from the angles seen in "Hot Rods to Hell." But despite the variation in the angles, we can discern features on Rock 15 that confirm its identity.

How to make sure it's the right rock

One of the best identifying features is this small rock that forms sort of a "nose" on Rock 15.

The "side view" of Rock 15, if we want to think of it that way

Returning to a view of Rock 15 in "Hot Rods to Hell," about 90 degrees off from the backyard angle, we can easily find the same small "nose" feature.

It's as plain as the nose on Rock 15's face

It may not seem like much, but in combination with the fact that everything else about the rock also matches, the "nose" knows it's on the right rock.

"Gunsmoke" episode "Help Me, Kitty" (1964): Rock 15 with a broken-down set

Rock 15 may be retired now, but it did have a Hollywood career beyond just "Hot Rods to Hell." Here's a shot of the rock in "Gunsmoke," where it had a broken-down wooden set thrown together in front of it.

Another one of the area's many unusual rock features

You may have already spotted this rather elaborate pile of rocks lurking in the background in some of the "Hot Rods to Hell" shots. This rock feature still occupies a prominent roadside position in Lake Los Angeles.

"Glenfall Brain" in "Hot Rods to Hell"

A while back I started using the name "Glenfall Brain" for this formation, for no better reason than it looks kind of like a brain and it's located along Glenfall Avenue.

Glenfall Brain in modern-day Lake Los Angeles

You can't miss Glenfall Brain if you're driving through the heart of Lake Los Angeles. It's just west of 170th Street, the main drag through town, at the spot where Glenfall forms a frontage road to 170th.

The heart of historic movie town Lake Los Angeles

I took this shot in December 2021, looking north, with Piute Butte in the distance. The shot also captures some of the businesses of downtown Lake Los Angeles.

Glenfall Brain, behind the M&G Burgers sign (2022)

It's an impressive rock formation, and one with a respectable Hollywood resume.

"Wagon Train" episode "The Andrew Hale Story" (1959)

"Wagon Train" was among the earliest of the TV Westerns to blaze a trail to Lake Los Angeles and the Western Mojave. Here's a season two shot of wagonmaster Ward Bond with the Glenfall Brain behind him.

"The Clayton Tucker Story" ("Wagon Train," season three, 1960)

"Wagon Train" continued to visit Lake Los Angeles throughout its eight-year run, and continued to feature the Glenfall Brain. This shot captures the "brain" at top left, with Alpine Butte in the distance, to the west.

"Incident at Phantom Hill" (1966)

A similar angle, again showcasing the Glenfall Brain along with Alpine Butte, can be found six years later in the Western feature "Incident at Phantom Hill," from Universal Pictures.

The Belvedere arrives in Hanesburg — still being harassed by those annoying teenagers

In case you're wondering — and I can't imagine that you would be — the Phillips family did finally make it to Hanesburg. This was one of just a handful of locations that required them to leave the Mojave Desert.

The same intersection as it appears today — looking southeast down Motor Avenue

The "Hanesburg" footage was shot in the Palms neighborhood of West Los Angeles, mainly around the intersection of Motor Avenue and Palms Boulevard.

You say you like palm trees? Fuhgeddaboudit!

In contrast to the Mojave Desert locations, this neighborhood has changed a lot since "Hot Rods to Hell" filmed here in 1966. For example, all those palm trees are long gone now — even though the town is still called "Palms."

Wait a minute! Something did survive

But if we look hard enough, we can spot a few clues that pinpoint the location. The best one may be this building.

Palms Elementary School: Everything but the palms

The building is still there, part of Palms Elementary School on Motor Avenue.

This is what happens when you look too closely

This may be the best thing going on in Palms that day — even better than a surviving building. Check out what's happening way down the street. It's super-small, so we'll have to zoom in.

Ha ha — those traffic cops are working the movie shoot!

I'm sure these officers weren't supposed to be seen on camera, since they're obviously on hand to manage traffic for the movie shoot. But there they are, keeping motorists from driving into the filming area. Classic!

Promo still for "Hot Rods to Hell": The 'Vette gets sideways — and not in a good way

Inevitably, all good joy rides must come to an end. The studio probably should have put out a spoiler alert in connection with this promo still for "Hot Rods to Hell," but the cat's out of the bag now.

An embarrassing and potentially fatal life lesson for the hot rod punks

Sure enough, at one point the Corvette runs into a little difficulty and winds up in a ditch. Not that it makes up for the Phillips family's suffering, but at least it's a convenient way to put a bow on it.

The butte at top right marks the spot

Needless to say, the location for this important development is of some interest, and like most of the locations seen in the movie, the clues are there to help us pinpoint it.

Looking north up 150th Street in modern times (Google Maps)

A seemingly inconsequential rock mound, which happens to be the westernmost point of Piute Butte, identifies the location: We're on 150th Street, immediately south of Avenue M.

The crash site, looking south down 150th Street

The Corvette crash is sometimes referred to as the "bridge crash" because it happens on this narrow bridge along 150th Street. But it's not a real bridge, just some fake guardrails that were installed temporarily for the movie.

The crash site in 2022

This is what the location looked like when I stood in the middle of the road a few weeks ago trying to get a matching photo. It's reasonably close, considering I had to dodge 18-wheelers to get the shot.

The same roadside rock clump seen in the football tossing shots

One point of interest is this roadside rock formation — the same feature we saw when the Phillips family got out of the car to toss the football around, only this time we're seeing it from the opposite side.

A more shadowy figure, but it's the same rockpile

Here's the roadside clump in the movie shot. If some of these screen shots appear washed out it's because the crash sequence was filmed day-for-night and the shots had to be lightened to be visible here.

And away we go — one Corvette and two stunt punks

Here's a movie shot of the Corvette flipping over the guardrail — almost the same moment captured in the black-and-white promo still posted above. I'm sure we're all glad Gloria wasn't in the car at the time.

Tom starts counting the ways to say "Told ya so!"

One good thing about the crash is it gives Tom a chance to finally do the gloating he's been waiting all day to do.

Officer Better-Late-Than Never makes his usual late entrance

A Highway Patrolman who has basically been a useless appendage throughout the movie arrives at the crash site too late to help out — after Tom and the two bloodied and suddenly remorseful hot rod hoodlums have already worked out an arrangement.

Piute Butte in 2022

The officer's arrival, framed as it is by Piute Butte to the northeast, gives us one last opportunity to admire the feature's refusal to change. My photo is taken from slightly farther south, but it's in the ballpark.

The street sign helps pinpoint the crash site

One thing the movie shot captured that I didn't get in my photo is the street sign at the corner of 150th Street and Avenue M. The sign underscores that the crash site is immediately south of Avenue M.

"Hot Rods to Hell" filming locations along 150th Street

Both the crash site and the football tossing site are noted on this map, along with key roads and rock features. The crash site is about one-third of a mile north of the football location.

Car chase video from "Hot Rods to Hell"

Above is a 12-minute video clip posted by the fun YouTube account Car Chase Wonderland 2 showing much of the Mojave Desert action in "Hot Rods to Hell." Drive safely!

Careful with that bazooka, Marshal Dillon! (Movie history of Lake Los Angeles, Part 2)

2022-07-29T18:07:00.004-07:00

"Kill Bill": Deadly Vipers observe festivities inside the Two Pines Wedding Chapel

When we wrapped up Part 1 of our in-depth look at Lake Los Angeles movie history, we were about to delve into the story behind the "Kill Bill Church." (Please click here to see Part 1.)

"Kill Bill": Does anybody here object to the wedding? Absolutely!

Located in Hi Vista on the northern outskirts of Lake Los Angeles, this small church — or what looks like a church — is the most famous movie location in the Greater Lake Los Angeles area.

Sanctuary Adventist Church, 2015 (Jerry Condit photo)

In recent years it became known as the Sanctuary Adventist Church, but it does not appear to be currently operating as a church. The building's ownership has changed hands a few times over the years, and I get the impression the church part of the operation may have slipped through the cracks.

Film here, but you'll want to move the truck

The building is still available for filming. When I was out there earlier this month the "film here" signs were out in force. These signs are a common sight now in the Mojave Desert, especially around Lake Los Angeles.

The Adventist Church with its sign displayed in 2015

Did you notice the sign for Sanctuary Adventist Church in Jerry Condit's 2015 photo?

Sign now stashed behind an old bench — or is it a church pew?

Today that same church sign is stashed behind an old bench that has been sitting out on the building's front deck for years. Meanwhile there they are again: at least three "film here" signs, prominently displayed.

Hi Vista, Calif. — location of the "Kill Bill Church"

Located on East Avenue G at 198th Street East, about 10 miles from downtown Lake Los Angeles, the "Kill Bill Church" has a storied past that even some of the most rabid "Kill Bill" enthusiasts don't know about.

Hi Vista Community Hall (ca. 1960s): The building that would later become the "Kill Bill Church"

The building used to be the community center for the town of Hi Vista. There's scarcely a town out there today, so it's unexpected that they would have ever needed a community center. But they definitely had one.

"True Confessions" (1981): A new look for Hi Vista's community hall

The structure's present-day appearance can be traced back to the Robert De Niro-Robert Duvall movie "True Confessions." The old community hall received a new bell tower, new facade treatment and other modifications to give it the look of a Spanish-style Catholic iglesia in the film.

De Niro and Duvall inside the future Kill Bill Church in "True Confessions"

In what may be the building's first movie appearance, "True Confessions" showcased both the interior and the exterior of what was now a "church." A movie church, anyway.

The movie demonstrates that this building works as a church

In the real world the building had yet to be transformed into a church at the time "True Confessions" came along. The interiors we see in the movie, well sometimes those Hollywood set dressers just outdo themselves.

Duvall and De Niro emote against the backdrop of Hi Vista

Since these interior scenes were filmed inside the actual building and not on a soundstage, the scenery outside the windows and front entrance is Hi Vista in all its glory.

"True Confessions": A poignant stroll in Hi Vista

When De Niro and Duvall wander outside to visit the church cemetery, we get a good look at the east side of the community hall/church building, where the set design continues the iglesia theme.

Across East Avenue G, another building of interest

We also get a partial glimpse of a building across the street, which remains in place today and is another filming location. We'll take a closer look at this building in a moment.

"Road to Nowhere" (Talking Heads music video, 1985)

Following the "True Confessions" shoot the Hi Vista Community Hall retained its new "churchy" look out front, even after it lost the cross and bell. It went back to being a community hall, and also continued to be used for filming — including this appearance four years later in the music video for the Talking Heads song "Road to Nowhere."

The original banner: They don't make 'em like that anymore

I don't know why I find this amusing, but it also appears that they dragged out the exact same banner they were using back in the 1960s. I mean, that is the same banner — the closer you look, the more the same it is.

David Byrne of Talking Heads (L) has an imaginary meeting with the community center guy

David Byrne may have been quietly cursing everyone involved with "True Confessions" after he drove all the way out to the desert only to find the "community center" he'd heard so much about now looked like a Catholic iglesia on the outside. I mean, that's just one possibility.

"Road to Nowhere": The community hall as a community hall

The music video focuses mainly on the building's interior, and we can see that the pews from "True Confessions" have been removed, along with any other items suggesting a church on the inside.

Talking Heads video: Is it art imitating life, life imitating art, or ... "Let's just see what happens"?

The interior of the building looks just about exactly like a small town community center. The sequence "feels" like the video director just filmed a community event already in progress, perhaps the desired effect.

The "Road to Nowhere" choir (Hi Vista Community Hall, 1985)

Intended or not, it's appropriately "on the nose" that a group of either local residents, music video extras or Talking Heads family members would convene in the Hi Vista Community Hall to lip-sync about a "road to nowhere."

OK, so it's not all Hi Vista locals

It eventually occurred to me that's David Byrne in the back (circled in yellow), and the other band members are also planted here and there in the choir.

"Road to Nowhere" (1985): Leaving Hi Vista, headed east

The next shot in the video is just a kid in a swimsuit walking down a desert road, which is not only, once again, "on the nose," but also location verite. The shot is taken looking east along Avenue G, with the kid walking away from the real-world location of the Hi Vista Community Hall.

The same road to nowhere in July 2022: Avenue G through Hi Vista

I took my own shot when I was out that way earlier this month, confirming that Avenue G running through the heart of Hi Vista, Calif., is indeed the iconic "road to nowhere."

"Road to Nowhere" — click to watch the video

It's a cool video — and you can check it out on YouTube by clicking on the image above. I'll give you a Heads-up, though: All the good Lake Los Angeles and Hi Vista footage is in the first 40 seconds. Yes I said "Heads"-up.

"Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" (2011)

The Hi Vista Community Hall wound up in a few other productions over the years, but the defining event in its career as a filming location — so far — has been its role as the Two Pines Wedding Chapel in the "Kill Bill" movies.

A high point for Hi Vista

The building even turns up in the poster for "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair," Quentin Tarantino's four-hour-plus director's cut combining the two volumes.

Posters for the first two "Kill Bill" movies, starring Uma Thurman (2003 and 2004)

"Kill Bill Volume 1" and "Kill Bill Volume 2" were filmed more or less simultaneously, from 2002-2003. What was essentially a four-hour movie was then split into two movies, which were released separately in 2003 and 2004.

"Kill Bill": There will be blood in the Two Pines Wedding Chapel

Like "True Confessions" and the "Road to Nowhere" video, "Kill Bill" shot both the interior and the exterior of the Hi Vista Community Hall, where a notorious wedding massacre would take place.

"Kill Bill": Massacre at the community hall

If you're familiar with the "Kill Bill" movies, you won't be surprised to see that the interior of the Hi Vista Community Hall becomes the setting for a bloodbath.

Interior of the Hi Vista Community Hall (Peter Paulsen photo)

This is what the same space looked like more recently — after the dead bodies and most of the fancy wedding chapel stuff had been cleared out. You can match up things like the ceiling beams if you're so inclined.

Terrific Hi Vista-themed folding chairs

What really caught my eye — keeping in mind that I'm not exactly normal — is the "Hi Vista"-branded metal chairs. I'd love to rent some of these for my next watch party.

Hi Vista Improvement Association?

I love that the good citizens of Hi Vista may have seen fit to create an "improvement association" — especially when their town is already as amazing as it is. The thought that they may have then stenciled it on their folding chairs is just the icing on the cake — or maybe I should say the Liquid Paper on the cake.

"Kill Bill": The community hall decked out as the Two Pines Wedding Chapel

This is what the building's exterior looks like in "Kill Bill" — essentially what it still looks like today, other than having a better paint job back then. This shot would have been taken during filming in 2002 or 2003.

The same building in 2015 — the Sanctuary Church period

Here's Jerry Condit's 2015 photo again for comparison. As I mentioned, the paint job on the old building isn't so good these days. You might also notice that the Joshua tree out front has gotten a lot bigger.

The community hall in July 2022: Still a church ... or just a filming location?

It's now seven years later, and the paint job has only gotten worse. Also, besides the "film here" signs all over the place, it has that dorky truck parked out front, blocking the view of the building.

The front deck: A gift from "Kill Bill" to the building's owners

Check out the front deck area, which was added around the time of the "Kill Bill" shoot. After "Kill Bill" the owners of the building kept the deck in place.

"Inferno," 1999: The community hall, still without a front deck

We can be pretty sure the deck was built specifically for "Kill Bill," since it didn't exist yet just a few years earlier when Jean-Claude Van Damme's "Inferno" filmed in Hi Vista.

"Kill Bill": Looking south from inside the chapel

When "Kill Bill" was on site, the production made good use of the deck — another reason to believe it was built for "Kill Bill." Here's an unusual shot taken from the interior of the wedding chapel looking out toward the front deck.

A Lake Los Angeles landmark makes an appearance

Juxtaposing the interior and exterior of the building, along with "Kill Bill" stars David Carradine and Uma Thurman, the shot also captures the Lake Los Angeles landmark Saddleback Butte to the south.

"The Oath" ("Bonanza" episode, 1966): Little Joe KO'd in Lake Los Angeles

We usually see Saddleback Butte from the other side, like in Lake Los Angeles Part 1, when we spotted it in a "Bonanza" episode where Little Joe was splayed out near the relay station.

Lake Los Angeles, Hi Vista and Saddleback Butte, all lined up

We previously noted the relationship of Hi Vista and the Kill Bill Church to downtown Lake Los Angeles. Now we can add that Saddleback Butte is positioned exactly halfway between the two sites.

Is it just me?

Funny, I can't look at this aerial shot of Saddleback Butte without seeing a scorpion. Maybe it's just me.

"Wagon Train" (1960): Saddleback Butte, as seen from Lake Los Angeles

Here's a nice shot of Saddleback Butte from the "Wagon Train" episode "The Clayton Tucker Story," with the butte filmed from the south, as usual. We still haven't seen the last of Saddleback.

"Kill Bill": Arriving at the chapel with a dashboard full of shades

Looking west down Avenue G, this shot from "Kill Bill" adds some perspective to the Hi Vista location shoot. You may recognize the community hall/wedding chapel on the right.

Arriving in Hi Vista in 2015 — the place hasn't changed much (Jerry Condit photo)

Jerry captured a similar angle on his expedition to Hi Vista in 2015. Here we see not only the Sanctuary Church on the right, along the north side of Avenue G, but also some of the old buildings across the street, on the left.

"True Confessions": The building catty-corner from the church

Remember that building across the street from the Kill Bill Church that we first noticed in "True Confessions"? It turns out it's the centerpiece of a present-day movie set — and one of the buildings in Jerry's 2015 photo.

The building from "True Confessions" — and other movies (2015)

This is the same building seen in "True Confessions," although it has received more than its share of abuse since then, including a series of movie-related "renovations."

"True Confessions": Better days for the grocery store across the street

One of the best views of the building when it was still in decent shape is also in "True Confessions," when Duvall first arrives at the church. Across the street, the structure appears as a small grocery store. I'm told that at one time the building was an actual grocery store, so it's possible what we see here is its true identity.

Obligatory "Old dude from the Valley" comment

By the way, Duvall's 1959 Plymouth Fury in "True Confessions" is NICE! I'll try to make sure we see a little more of it driving around the desert.

"Gordon's Body Shop" (drone shot by Michael Montague, 2019)

Today the former grocery store is the centerpiece of a group of deteriorating old structures known as the "Gordon's Body Shop Movie Set." The main building, which according to local legend may have also been a gas station at one time, is situated on the southwest corner of Avenue G and 198th Street, catty-corner from the Kill Bill Church.

Ghost town ... or movie set? Maybe a little of both

The Gordon's "movie set" is a quintessential desert survival story: A bunch of old buildings outlive their original purpose and then, rather than face the wrecking ball or admit that they're now nothing more than a ghost town — because where's the profit in that? — they get a second chance working part time in showbiz.

"Inferno" (1999): Van Damme prepares to hand out a beatdown

The grocery store building resurfaces as Eli's Emporium in "Inferno," where Hi Vista plays the town of ... (wait for it) ... Inferno! Eli's is sort of a headquarters for a gang of thugs, so you have to peer around a series of knife fights, shootings, beatdowns and flying kicks to actually see the building.

"Inferno": The body shop provides the backdrop for a martial arts clinic

Here's a wider shot of Gordon's Body Shop as Eli's Emporium, although even an airborne Van Damme tends to block the view of the building.

The same building in 2012, beat to heck but ready for its closeup (Google Maps)

Whatever it once was, clearly it was once something. As of 2012, a "film here" sign was visible on the front of the building, along with a phone number to call for filming inquiries.

Gordon's Body Shop (Angela Witzke photo, ca. 2016)

By 2016 the "Body Shop" signage could be seen on the front of the building. My hunch is the sign was added for filming, rather than for an actual body shop, since the sign wasn't there in 2012 and it doesn't look like the shop did any business in the meantime.

Gordon's Body Shop in July 2022: Still branded as a body shop

I noticed on a recent stop in Hi Vista that the "Body Shop" sign can still be seen on the front of the building, along with one of the ubiquitous "film here" signs.

Whatever you do, don't ask if this is 19756

Also on prominent display is a large and informative sign probably put up by someone who's tired of having to give directions to the trailer out back.

The "Gordon's" sign — you may have to squint to see it

It doesn't jump right out, but the sign on the front of the building does say "Gordon's" Body Shop. If you happen to know of a production that featured the movie version of Gordon's Body Shop please let us know, either by commenting below or by sending me an email. (iversonfilmranch@aol.com)

"Kill Bill" — another view to the east

Back across the street on the "Kill Bill" front deck, there's more movie history to be found in either direction along Avenue G. Looking east in this shot of Carradine on the deck, notice the hill in the distance.

"Road to Nowhere" video (1985) — looking east down Avenue G

It's the same hill that looms in the background in the Talking Heads video, all the way down at the end of the "road to nowhere."

Van Damme, living the "Road to Nowhere" dream in "Inferno"

We get a similar shot in "Inferno," only Jean-Claude Van Damme is walking in the other direction down Avenue G — headed for the town of Inferno and a whole movie's worth of trouble. Thanks to the use of a telephoto lens, that hill in the background looks a lot larger here than in the "Road to Nowhere" video.

"Kill Bill": Looking west down Avenue G; Uma Thurman as "The Bride"

Shots of Uma Thurman during the front deck scene are taken in the opposite direction, with the camera shooting west down Avenue G.

A small building that settled for bit parts

It appears that the small building on the left was part of the "Gordon's Body Shop" compound and occasionally worked its way into productions — at least in the background.

"Inferno" (1999): Another movie appearance for the small building

The small building did wind up in "Inferno" — but like most of the shots of Hi Vista in that movie, we again have to look for it around the edges of a martial arts workout.

The "Gordon's Body Shop" compound, 2019 — including the building from the Uma shot

Michael Montague's drone's-eye view of the "Gordon's Body Shop" area reveals that the small building remained standing as of 2019, a short distance west of Gordon's.

Landmarks to the south of Hi Vista

As long as we're hovering above the compound, I'll point out a couple of distant landmarks. The drone shot is taken looking southwest, and both Saddleback Butte and the San Gabriels can be seen to the south.

The small building in 2012 — no "film here" signs

One thing I noticed about the small building is that it didn't have the "film here" signs that can be seen all over Hi Vista — at least not in 2012.

The small building in 2012 — still waiting for its big break

Even so, I have a feeling that if someone had wanted to film the building at the time, it could have been arranged.

What's left of the small building, as of July 2022

But not anymore. Like a number of structures in and around the Gordon's Movie Set area, the small building was recently demolished. This is all that was left of it when I stopped off in Hi Vista earlier this month.

"Inferno": Another Hi Vista building turns up in the background

In the same "Inferno" shot where the small building turns up on the left, another Hi Vista building, a house, makes an appearance toward the right of the screen.

"True Confessions" (1981): Duvall passes a green house as he drives toward the church

The same house surfaced almost two decades earlier in the opening sequence of "True Confessions." As Robert Duvall drives east down Avenue G in his Plymouth Fury, he passes a green house on the north side of the road.

"Kill Bill": Where the house would have been if it were still standing

The house was gone by the time of the "Kill Bill" shoot, but even so, shots of Uma Thurman in front of the church echo the opening sequence in "True Confessions."

Zooming in on the house and the old van — pea-soup green?

I have to wonder whether it's more than a coincidence that both the house and the van seen in "True Confessions" are painted something close to the pea-soup green we kept finding in Lake Los Angeles Part 1.

Club Ed in 2016: A pea-soup-green paint scheme that keeps coming up

Any connection to Club Ed or the Four Aces diner would be a stretch, since those sets didn't exist yet in 1980. But apparently someone who lives in the area really likes that color.

What remains of the green house

That pea-soup green house is gone now. This is what was left of it as of a few years ago: a crumbling foundation and an unusually tall tree stump.

"Inferno" (1999): Jean-Claude Van Damme and the green house

The green house would have been demolished between 1999 and 2002, based on the fact that it was still there when "Inferno" filmed on Avenue G but it was gone by the time "Kill Bill" filmed just a few years later.

Hi Vista holdouts?

The group of small structures outlined here in yellow, above Uma's left shoulder, would have previously been hidden behind the green house. This is apparently a small residential area, and it's still there.

The same residential area in July 2022

I didn't get particularly good shots of this residential area when I was in Hi Vista earlier this month, but this is more or less what it looks like today.

The "tall tree stump": A reminder of the green house that no longer exists

The "unusually tall tree stump" I mentioned in connection with the ruins of the green house is still there too, still standing guard over the ruins.

The mailboxes of Hi Vista in 1980

One of the minor background features in the "True Confessions" sequence is this group of mailboxes.

Hi Vista's mailboxes in 1999: United they stand

The mailboxes pop up again almost 20 years later in "Inferno," and they've evolved. Each mailbox appeared to have its own stand in 1980, but they now share a common wooden stand.

The same mailboxes in the early 2000s

The same mailboxes can be seen in the Uma shot, and we can assume that they continue to evolve.

The mailboxes continue to hold their ground in July 2022

As of July 2022, the mailboxes remain in place near the corner of Avenue G and 198th Street, and it appears they still share that wooden stand we first noticed in "Inferno."

"Kill Bill": A Hi Vista telephone pole showcase

When Uma is filmed in a slightly different position, other background features come into view — including the row of telephone poles along Avenue G.

Familiar Rings

The telephone pole at the corner of 198th Street has four metal rings near its base, and the next one to the west has three rings, although you may have to click on the photo to see them.

"True Confessions": Telephone poles tell no tales — or do they?

The configuration of the rings was the same two decades earlier, as seen in "True Confessions." It's a minor detail, but I was able to use it to help track the positions of some of the nearby structures.

"Inferno": Corner of Avenue G and 198th

The four rings were also visible in 1999 in "Inferno," adorning the telephone pole adjacent to the mailboxes and nearest the corner of Avenue G and 198th Street.

As of July 2022, the telephone pole is starting to shed its rings

By the time of my latest visit to Hi Vista, the number of rings on that particular pole had dipped slightly, to what I would call about three and a half.

"Kill Bill": Attention to detail on the deck of the wedding chapel

Back on the front deck of the "Kill Bill Church," I want to point out this closeup of Uma. Besides being a nice shot of the actress, it features one of the deck's support posts in great detail, full of nooks and crannies. Since the deck was brand new, it would have had to be purposefully "distressed" to get this look.

"Kill Bill": Another piece of the Hi Vista movie puzzle

We still have at least one more mystery building to figure out — did you happen to notice it in this "Kill Bill" shot? It's another movie building, and I was able to piece together some of its filming history.

Location of the mystery building, corner of 200th Street and Avenue G

The mystery building was situated on the southwest corner of Avenue G and 200th Street, where it was oriented at a 45-degree angle, with the length of the building running northwest to southeast.

Southwest corner of 200th Street and Avenue G in July 2022

If you were to visit that site today, as I did earlier this month, all you would find is this vacant lot — no sign of a building, and not even the foundation of a building.

"Inferno": The Hi Vista Diner in 1999

That's because the "mystery building" was not a real building. It was another movie set — the Hi Vista Diner, one of Hi Vista's most elusive sets.

"Inferno" (1999): Jean-Claude demonstrates a flying kick outside the Hi Vista Diner

The Hi Vista Diner is a key location in "Inferno," which contains some of the best — and probably rarest — movie shots of the diner. It's a good bet that the diner was built for "Inferno," although its origin story is unknown.

"Inferno": The Hi Vista Diner and the Kill Bill Church

One minor issue is that when we see the diner in "Inferno," it's directly across the street from the future Kill Bill Church, and not down at the corner of 200th Street, about a block away, where we see it in "Kill Bill."

Downtown Hi Vista: Avenue G and 198th Street, in "Inferno"

But it's not really an issue, because sets get moved around all the time. Sometime after filming was completed on "Inferno," and before filming took place on "Kill Bill," the diner was moved a short distance east to 200th Street.

Hi Vista Diner and Gordon's Body Shop, seen from atop the Kill Bill Church

The diner's location near both the Gordon's Body Shop building and the future Kill Bill Church is integral to the story in "Inferno." It makes sense that the diner would have started out in that location, but it also makes sense to later remove it from that spot to facilitate filming of the other sets.

A peek behind the scenes at just how sturdy that new wooden cross might be

There's a lot to like in this overview shot from "Inferno," including what appears to me to be a look at how the flimsy wooden cross was added to the top of the future Kill Bill Church for the movie.

Looking southwest from the bell tower: a sprawling movie set

Just about all of the buildings of the "Gordon's Body Shop Movie Set" saw action in "Inferno," but most of these buildings no longer exist.

Saddleback Butte, to the southwest of Hi Vista

I imagine many readers are familiar with Saddleback Butte by now and are tired of my pointing it out — but just in case we have a few stragglers, there it is again.

"Inferno": Jean-Claude Van Damme delivers a high kick in Hi Vista

We saw this same angle from "Inferno" a while back, but let's take a closer look at what's going on over at the Hi Vista Community Hall.

Pat Morita rings the bell, distracting the bad guy

Not only does the building have a new bell and flimsy wooden cross, presumably both installed specially for "Inferno," but it also has Pat Morita — the wise Mr. Miyagi from "Karate Kid" — ringing the bell to help the hero.

"Inferno": Pat Morita up top, along with the community hall's new cross and bell

There's Morita again, on the roof of the community center, where he's found almost a perfect sniper's post. We also get a better look at the building's temporary bell and flimsy new cross, which is too small for that building.

The old sign for the diner (photo by Troy Paiva, 2007)

The Hi Vista Diner existed for only a few years, approximately from 1999-2007. A number of variations on its name can be found, including High Vista Diner, Hi-Vista Diner and High Vista Cafe.

A crumbling Hi Vista Diner in 2007 (Troy Paiva photo)

Lucky for us, photographer Troy Paiva came across the Hi Vista Diner in 2007 and posted some incredible night shots of it. His photos were taken when the diner was at its second location, at Avenue G and 200th Street.

A different name for the diner on either side of the sign (Troy Paiva photo)

Paiva noticed that the sign read "High Vista Diner" on one side and "High Vista Cafe" on the other. This discovery reinforces what we already knew about the building — that it was always a movie set and never a real diner.

Night shot of the cafe (Troy Paiva photo)

The two-sided sign was presumably just a way to make the building that much more versatile as a movie set. The timing of Paiva's visit was especially fortunate since the building would be demolished less than a year later.

"Inferno": A small crowd gathers to watch Van Damme beat up a guy

In a sequence from "Inferno" that we examined above, some of the movie's characters are standing just outside the doorway of the diner watching Van Damme deliver a flying kick to a hapless thug.

The ice machine is cool, too, but get a load of that round portal

When the camera zooms in on the spectators, we catch a glimpse of a unique feature of the Hi Vista Diner: the round window, or "portal," at the left of the frame.

Inside the Hi Vista Diner, 2007 (Troy Paiva photo)

When Paiva photographed the building in 2007, he captured this interior shot of the "portal." Paiva's photos of the Hi Vista Diner can be found on Flickr as part of his excellent Antelope Valley album.

"Kill Bill": Carradine and Thurman hash things out on the deck of the wedding chapel

We still haven't exhausted the location details we can learn from "Kill Bill" shots taken on the wedding chapel's front deck — but we're getting close.

"Kill Bill": The view looking south across Avenue G from the chapel

One feature across the street may be hard to recognize at first, but it doesn't quite match the rest of the landscape.

What the heck is that thing — and is it still there?

If I had to guess, I'd say it looks like an old chimney — and sure enough, that's what it turns out to be.

"Inferno": The diner in its original spot, immediately west of the chimney

The same chimney appears in some of the "Inferno" shots, and it locks in the position of the Hi Vista Diner when it was still in its original location.

The chimney and the diner are close neighbors

The chimney turns up during the beatdown sequence where folks are gathered at the ice machine, and we can see that it's super-close to where the diner was located.

One of the better looks at the chimney in "Inferno"

The chimney is all that remains of what presumably was once an actual building — possibly a commercial building, given its location near the old grocery store and across the street from the community hall.

The old chimney in July 2022

I confirmed that the chimney is still standing when I visited Hi Vista earlier this month.

The chimney and Gordon's Body Shop: Original location of the Hi Vista Diner

In a wider shot, taken looking west, we get a sense of the proximity of the chimney to Gordon's Body Shop, on the right. The Hi Vista Diner was originally situated between these two structures.

The view to the east: The chimney and a nearby rock formation

Here we're looking at the chimney from the opposite side, with the hills to the east visible in the distance and a small rock formation toward the right of the frame.

Hi Vista's "Elephant Rock"

While I was in Hi Vista a local resident pointed out to me that he thought the rock formation near the old chimney looks like an elephant — and I agree.

"True Confessions" (1981): Duvall in Hi Vista with his '59 Fury

We'll be moving on now from Hi Vista, but I mentioned that I'd try to work in a little more of Robert Duvall's choice 1959 Plymouth Fury. Here it comes, from the opening sequence in "True Confessions."

Duvall at the wheel of the Fury, navigating the Mojave Desert

Duvall is deep in thought as he's driving through the desert to meet his brother, played by Robert De Niro. We see Joshua trees whizzing past the window, a sure sign he's in the Mojave Desert.

"True Confessions": 1959 Fury vs. Mojave Desert

The Fury is seen barreling down a desert road, giving us a chance to try to figure out where it is. Thanks to the distinctive rocky buttes all over that area, it's relatively easy.

Key features seen in the movie

The San Gabriels let us know the shot is taken looking south, but the key to this location is identifying Alpine Butte. Once we have the butte nailed down, we can figure out that the Fury is headed north on 140th Street, on the northwestern outskirts of Lake Los Angeles.

The same location in 2012 (Google Maps)

One of the coolest things about the "True Confessions" shot is that Duvall is actually headed to Hi Vista. In the real world he's about eight minutes away, and just has to hang a right on Avenue G.

If you're on the mailing list, you've already seen this (click here to be added)

I've been teasing here and there about Marshal Dillon showing up in Lake Los Angeles with a bazooka, and it really did happen — that is, if you consider Matt Dillon and James Arness to be the same person, like pretty much everyone in the world does.

"Them!" (1954): James Arness draws bazooka duty

That's Marshal Dillon there on the left — OK, James Arness — doing his best to aid in the blowing up of giant ants in the sci-fi classic "Them!" I hope the other guy let him fire off a few rounds.

James Arness, as FBI agent Robert Graham, admires what he hopes is a blank

It looks like Agent Bob is relegated to "helper" status on this project. But look how impressed he is with that whopper he just pulled out of the carefully labeled "loaded projectiles" box.

Zooming in for a fact check

I didn't make that part up. It clearly says "loaded projectiles" right there.

Brian Duffy in "Palm Springs" (2020): Are bazookas in Lake Los Angeles a "thing"?

"Them!" wasn't the only movie to bring a bazooka to Lake Los Angeles. Just a stone's throw from where "Them!" filmed, the comedy "Palm Springs" explored a similar theme more than 65 years later. I can't help wondering whether they got the idea from the giant ant movie.

Sizing up the enormous ant hole in "Them!"

The target of all the bazooka activity in "Them!" is this giant ant hole. Sean McClory plays Major Kibbee, whose unpleasant job it is to peek down into the hole, apparently to determine whether it's worth blowing up.

"Them!": A distinctive ridgeline helps narrow down the ant hole location

The best thing about this shot is that it shows the location of the giant ant hole, along with a few landmarks. The shoot took place in Lake Los Angeles, even though in the movie it was supposed to be the New Mexico desert.

The same markers in the ridgeline in 2022 (Lovejoy Buttes)

I found my way to the former ant hole location in June 2022, and those same background rocks were still there, marking the area where the ant hole action was filmed.

The tree that once stood guard over the ant hole is gone now

I wish I could tell you that Joshua tree is still there, but sadly, its former home is now merely a place where a tree once stood. Joshua trees commonly live about 150 years, but I fear the desert has long since swallowed up the remains of this one.

"Them!": Key rock clumps in the vicinity of the ant hole

Fortunately, we still have more durable landmarks out that way — the rocks.

The same clumps in 2022

This shot is taken at something close to the same angle used in "Them!" The two rock clumps highlighted in the movie shot are still there today, about where they should be.

The giant ant hole smolders after taking bazooka fire

The ant hole is seen smoking after being worked over by the bazooka. For us movie location fans, a fun element is that they keep changing the camera angle, showcasing different rocks each time.

The same location in 2022

The shooting location is relatively unchanged today — if you look closely, the above two shots are a match. The whole filming area for "Them!" is in the southwest corner of the sprawling Lovejoy Buttes.

Time to find out whether we got the queen

At one point some unfortunate "Them!" cast members have to put on super-cheap hazmat suits so they can crawl inside the nest and size up the damage.

The same rock formation seen in the "hazmat" shot

Once again, it's easy to identify the location since the rocks in the background look exactly the same today.

Amid the chaos and movie rocks, a budding romance

Eventually James Arness starts to notice that he's attracted to the main ant expert's brainy daughter, played by Joan Weldon. He starts chatting her up in front of that same group of rocks we've been looking at.

"Them!": James Arness hits on the scientist's daughter

During this critical conversation, Arness pretty much ignores the real ant expert — the pretty young scientist's father, played by Edmund Gwenn, on the left — opting instead to discuss "giant ants" with his daughter.

The same ridgeline in 2022

The ridgeline we first see behind Arness matches up well with today's landscape. This is a photo I took in June 2022 in the same location.

Bits of scenery that manage to peek through between Arness and the others

These three sections of the local terrain can be matched up with the shot from "Them!"

The same rock features in "Them!"

The same three sections of the landscape are highlighted in the screen shot from the movie.

The ant scientist reminds James Arness that the future of the human race is at stake

Gwenn's character finally gets the FBI agent's attention, reminding him of that little matter involving the ants — and diverting some of that testosterone that was previously aimed at his daughter.

Matching shot of the location as it appears in 2022

The shot is taken looking north, and we see another section of the Lovejoy Buttes.

Rocks matching the shot of Gwenn, Arness and Weldon

These two rock formations match up especially well with the shot from "Them!"

The same rock formations as they appear in "Them!"

Those same two formations are highlighted here in the screen shot from the sci-fi classic.

"Them!": Giant ants vs. helicopter at Lovejoy Buttes

One thing we hardly ever see in these location shots is the ants, suggesting that most of that footage was shot on a soundstage. But we at least see this one encounter between an old-fashioned helicopter and the monster ants.

What's up with these ants' faces?

These two ants have completely different faces. Were the filmmakers being unusually progressive about giving the ants unique identities, or were they just using whatever fake ants they could find in the prop department?

The same ridgeline seen in the helicopter shot (June 2022)

Parts of the same ridge we saw behind James Arness when he was making his move also provide the backdrop for the helicopter-ant encounter. The section highlighted here offers the best match with the copter shot.

The same section of the ridge, in "Them!"

The closely matched ridgeline indicates we're seeing just about the same angle.

Is this where the giant ants were based?

Putting together the various angles, we can approximate the location of the ant hole. However, pinpointing the hole is no simple matter — and it's possible that multiple ant hole locations were used in the movie.

Major buttes in and around Lake Los Angeles

The Lovejoy Buttes are the dominant system of buttes in the town of Lake Los Angeles, dwarfing the heavily filmed Phantom Hill and Queensglen Butte, which we examined in Part 1, and even larger than the major buttes on the outskirts of town, such as Alpine Butte and Rocky Buttes.

Zooming in on Lovejoy Buttes

The Lovejoy Buttes span a swath of desert from 145th Street on the west to 170th Street on the east, and extend north and south from just below Avenue O to Avenue Q.

Approximate filming location for "Them!"

Much of the filming at Lovejoy Buttes was historically concentrated around the west end and southwest corner of the formation, which is where the shoot for the giant ant movie "Them!" took place.

Another nearby filming location

The filming location for "Them!" is just up the road from the "Four Aces" movie set, which we explored in detail in Lake Los Angeles, Part 1.

The "Motaur" fills up at Four Aces in Lake Los Angeles — see Part 1 for details

In case you missed Lake Los Angeles Part 1, you can click here to see it. Part 1 includes not only tons of rocks (literally tons), but also some beloved modern movie sets, such as Club Ed, Four Aces and Belle's Diner.

Getting to the bottom of Lake Los Angeles (Movie History of Lake Los Angeles, Part 1)

2022-07-22T14:27:00.010-07:00

Lake Los Angeles, Calif. — a historic movie town that deserves to be famous

The first thing we may want to clear up about Lake Los Angeles is that it's not a lake. It's a town. And as strange as it might sound, the town of Lake Los Angeles has no lake.

Lake Los Angeles, circa 1970s: Back when the town had an actual lake

Oh sure, it did have a lake, once upon a time — decades ago. The town was even named after the lake. Unfortunately, the lake dried up, leaving behind a town that's, well, dry and has zero lakes left.

The former lake area as it appears today (July 2022)

In the same spot where people were once photographed happily swimming and boating, today there's nothing but a Joshua tree and a bunch of scrub brush fighting to survive in the scorching desert heat.

Lake Los Angeles with the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance, to the south

Another odd bullet point about the town of Lake Los Angeles is that it's not part of the city of Los Angeles, despite having the city as part of its name. If you're keeping score, that means Lake Los Angeles is 0-for-2 when it comes to getting its name right: No lake, and no Los Angeles.

We know this is an old sign because nobody would use those creepy colors now (circa 1966)

But at least Lake Los Angeles is in the right county. The town is situated way up in the northeast corner of Los Angeles County, in the Antelope Valley — once known as the "Gateway to the Inland Empire and North L.A. County," as if that was ever a thing.

Lake Los Angeles — officially part of the "Palmdale/Lancaster Urban Area"

With a rich but widely overlooked filming history, this small Mojave Desert town of some 13,000 inhabitants and just one traffic signal sits about 15 miles east of its much larger neighbors Palmdale and Lancaster.

"Them!" (1954): Filmed in Lake Los Angeles, but you wouldn't know it from IMDb

In movie location listings, Lake Los Angeles is often misidentified as Palmdale or Lancaster, or else it gets mixed up with other desert towns that are even farther away, such as Victorville and Mojave.

"Kill Bill": Deadly Vipers at Sanctuary Adventist Church in Hi Vista, outside Lake Los Angeles

Calling it Palmdale or Lancaster may not technically be "wrong" in some cases, but even so, it misses the point. Lake Los Angeles is its own place, with its own movie history and its own distinctive screen presence.

Buttes near downtown Lake Los Angeles (2022)

The big draw for filmmakers, who have a habit of suddenly needing a rugged desert landscape, is the region's abundance of rocky buttes. Before it became Lake Los Angeles, the area was known as "Los Angeles Buttes."

"Wagon Train" episode "The Nancy Palmer Story" (1961): Those same buttes

Hollywood discovered the region way back in the silent film era, but the town's filming heyday came in the 1960s, when TV Westerns including "Wagon Train," "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "The Virginian," "Rawhide" and others routinely roamed the nooks and crannies of Lake Los Angeles.

The streets of Lake Los Angeles are steeped in movie history

The movies came to town too, especially the Westerns — as commemorated by some of the town's street signs. This one recalls the 1969 Western feature "Mackenna's Gold," along with the TV series "Rawhide."

"Incident at Phantom Hill" (1966): Filmed in the heart of Lake Los Angeles

The Western "Incident at Phantom Hill" was filmed right in the middle of town. That's Noah Beery Jr. on the right, and the movie also starred Robert Fuller, Jocelyn Lane, Dan Duryea and Claude Akins.

Lake Los Angeles' "Phantom Hill" in 2021

This impressive butte in the center of Lake Los Angeles, which I refer to as "Phantom Hill," was a focal point for filming and is featured prominently in "Incident at Phantom Hill." You'll notice that the above two shots match.

"Extradition, Part 1" ("Gunsmoke" episode, 1963): Phantom Hill

The same butte can be found in many productions. Here it is in the two-part "Gunsmoke" installment "Extradition," about a tough desert crossing. The primary location shoot for both parts took place in Lake Los Angeles.

Phantom Hill in "Chuka" (1967): Same butte, same angle

The 1967 Western "Chuka," starring Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine and John Mills, captures Phantom Hill from a similar angle to the one seen above in "Gunsmoke."

"Mackenna's Gold" (Columbia, 1969) — Filmed in "midtown" Lake Los Angeles

The residential street "Mackennas Gold Avenue," identified above on a street sign, is named after the wide-screen Columbia Western "Mackenna's Gold," filmed in Lake Los Angeles in 1967 and released in 1969.

Phantom Hill, in "Mackenna's Gold"

Once again we find Phantom Hill playing a central role. The big-budget Western features a cast that includes Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Julie Newmar, Raymond Massey, Eli Wallach and Edward G. Robinson.

"The Oath" ("Bonanza" episode, 1966): Relay station near the foot of Phantom Hill

Phantom Hill used to have two old cabins nearby that turned up in movies and TV shows, often playing a relay station. In this shot from "Bonanza" the sign on one of the buildings reads "Overland Stage Line & Depot."

A cranky Little Joe (Michael Landon) at the stage depot in "The Oath"

Here's a shot of Michael Landon outside the stage depot, with Phantom Hill in the background. The sour expression on Little Joe's face gives us a clue as to what's coming next.

Michael Landon in another meaningful brawl — just outside the stage depot

That's right — Little Joe gets into one of his many "Bonanza" fistfights, probably his only one in Lake Los Angeles.

Whoops! Didn't see that coming

Little Joe loses this one, running his lifetime record in Lake Los Angeles fistfights to 0-for-1. Meanwhile we get a chance to admire the fake movie bricks covering the stage depot building.

Saddleback Butte, a key landmark north of town

We also get our first glimpse of Saddleback Butte, just to the north of Lake Los Angeles. It's one of the area's major landmarks.

"Help Me, Kitty" ("Gunsmoke" episode, 1964): The same relay station building

The fake bricks were just one of a variety of surfaces used on the relay station set. When the same building appeared two years earlier in "Gunsmoke," the skin on the building was wood.

The relay station set as "Brant's Trading Post" in "Incident at Phantom Hill"

The relay station set was made up of actual buildings, not movie facades, and they stood in place for decades. In the years before these structures were converted into a movie set, they would have served some purpose in the real world — my guess is it was a house and small barn.

"The Jonas Murdock Story" ("Wagon Train" episode, 1960)

The old cabins were removed sometime around the end of the 1960s, and today the Lake Los Angeles fire station stands where the two buildings used to be, near the corner of 170th Street and Lake Los Angeles Avenue.

The Lake Los Angeles fire station, in the middle of what was once a busy filming area

Here's the fire station that replaced the two movie buildings, photographed on a recent visit to Lake Los Angeles. The photo is taken from behind the station looking east, toward another large butte adjacent to Phantom Hill.

"Gallagher's Sons" ("Bonanza" episode, 1962): Queensglen Butte

This shot from "Bonanza" shows the same area about 60 years earlier. Queensglen Butte in the background is almost a perfect match for the fire station photo, even though this TV screen shot carefully avoids the movie buildings. In the "Bonanza" shot the relay station would be just off camera to the left.

Central Lake Los Angeles, showing Queensglen Butte and Phantom Hill (Google Maps)

An aerial view of central Lake Los Angeles reveals that Queensglen Butte — that's my name for it — is much larger than Phantom Hill, its more heavily filmed neighbor to the northwest.

Location of the fire station, also the former location of the movie buildings

The aerial map also pinpoints the location of L.A. County Fire Station 114 — the same location where the movie relay station once stood.

Queensglen Avenue, bisecting Queensglen Butte

Another feature I want to point out on the aerial is Queensglen Avenue, which bisects Queensglen Butte on both the east and the west and is the reason I started identifying it as Queensglen Butte.

Queensglen Butte in the "Wagon Train" episode "The Duke Le May Story" (1959)

Similar shots to the "Bonanza" shot can also be found in a number of other Westerns. From an episode of "Wagon Train," here's Queensglen Butte looking east again, zoomed in a bit more than in "Bonanza."

The "Wagon Train" location in 2022

Today the "Wagon Train" angle is a close match for the view looking east along Lake Los Angeles Avenue toward the intersection with 170th Street.

"Help Me, Kitty": The relay station's remote desert location

A wide shot of the area from "Gunsmoke," looking north this time, puts the relay station in context. Here we see the buildings as part of a barren desert vista.

Amanda Blake and Betty Conner take the scenic route in "Help Me, Kitty"

The relay station plays an important role in the "Gunsmoke" episode, in which Amanda Blake and guest star Betty Conner find themselves stranded in the desert. Their ordeal plays out entirely in Lake Los Angeles.

Piute Butte, north of Lake Los Angeles

The ghostlike image of a background feature, barely visible behind the two women, is Piute Butte, another important movie landmark located a short distance north of Lake Los Angeles.

"Extradition, Part 2" ("Gunsmoke): Piute Butte looms in the background

We get a better look at Piute Butte in another "Gunsmoke" episode, "Extradition, Part 2." Its easily recognized "high-low" profile makes Piute Butte an important background feature, as it tends to be one of the first indications that a shoot took place in Lake Los Angeles.

"The Mountain of the Sun" ("The Virginian," 1963)

Here's a color shot of Piute Butte in an episode from the first season of "The Virginian."

"No Tears for Savannah" ("The Virginian," 1963): Gena Rowlands with Piute Butte

In another episode of "The Virginian," this time from season two, we see a suffering Gena Rowlands framed by Piute Butte. It would appear Lake Los Angeles is once again the setting for a desert ordeal.

"No Tears for Savannah": Piute Butte on the right, horizontally flipped

Elsewhere in that same "Virginian" episode we again see Piute Butte, but this time it is flipped horizontally — presumably so the audience won't recognize it as the same butte seen in the Gena Rowlands sequence.

Piute Butte in 2022

Piute Butte as it appears today looks just about the same as it does in movies and on TV, although in today's world it's likely to turn up with barns and other contemporary Lake Los Angeles structures in the shot.

"Help Me, Kitty": Kitty and Hope approach a desert relay station

The Amanda Blake/Betty Conner desert trek in the "Gunsmoke" episode "Help Me, Kitty" includes an interesting sequence as the two women make their way toward the remote relay station.

The relay station that stood where the fire station is today

This is the same desert relay station where Little Joe lost a fistfight in "Bonanza" and where "Incident at Phantom Hill" and a number of other movies and TV shows filmed key scenes.

A familiar background feature peeks over the horizon

It's easy to miss, but the very top of Piute Butte is also visible during this sequence. The bulk of the feature is concealed below the horizon line, with the shallow slope at the left of the frame helping to block it out.

"Water Tower Rockpile," seen behind the relay station in "Gunsmoke"

The closest landmark to the relay station is a nearby pile of rocks, seen here just behind the buildings. I've been calling this rocky clump "Water Tower Rockpile," as suggested by the next photo.

The same pile of rocks, photographed in 2021

"Water Tower Rockpile" can still be found in the center of Lake Los Angeles, and today you can't miss that there's a water tower standing right next to it. The tower looks old, but it was just put up in the past 10 years.

Central Lake Los Angeles: Water Tower Rockpile and the water tower

Taking another look at the map of central Lake Los Angeles, we can pinpoint Water Tower Rockpile and the nearby water tower. I know I'm repeating myself, but this spot was historically one of the busiest filming areas in town.

"Extradition, Part 2" ("Gunsmoke," 1963): Water Tower Rockpile

It's no surprise, then, that Water Tower Rockpile turns up repeatedly in movies and TV shows filmed in Lake Los Angeles. This shot is taken looking approximately southwest.

Water Tower Rockpile, at the center of the action

The rockpile is something of a shapeshifter, taking on different profiles depending on the camera angle. But that's it right in the middle of the "Gunsmoke" shot.

"No Tears for Savannah" ("The Virginian," 1963): Water Tower Rockpile

The same year Water Tower Rockpile turned up in "Gunsmoke's" "Extradition," it also appeared in "The Virginian." That's the rockpile on the left, from the same episode we examined previously that featured Gena Rowlands.

The San Gabriel Mountains, south of Lake Los Angeles

The "Virginian" shot is taken with the camera facing south, and includes a glimpse of the San Gabriel Mountains in the background. This mountain range has also proved helpful in identifying productions shot in Lake Los Angeles.

The San Gabriels in January 2022

Throughout the winter months, the scenic San Gabriels to the south provide a snow-covered counterpoint to the arid Mojave Desert landscape of the Lake Los Angeles region.

San Gabriel Mountains ridgeline south of Lake Los Angeles (July 2022)

In a photo taken later in the year, after the snow had melted, we can pinpoint two sections of the San Gabriels that match the "Virginian" shot. Notice the areas highlighted here in red and blue.

"The Virginian": Matching ridgelines in the San Gabriels

These are the same sections of the ridgeline that frame Water Tower Rockpile in "The Virginian."

Cadillac Lyriq commercial airing in 2022: San Gabriels in the background

Almost 60 years after this stretch of the San Gabriels turned up in "The Virginian" and other TV Westerns, a shot from a current TV commercial lets us know that the Lake Los Angeles region continues to be used for filming.

Shooting location for the Cadillac spot (Google Maps)

While it's not always possible, in this case we can confirm the exact location even without visiting the site. Here's the same location seen in the Cadillac commercial, which I was able to pinpoint on Google Maps.

Features found on Google Maps that match the Cadillac ad

Here I've highlighted the same Joshua tree and butte seen in the Cadillac spot, along with a distinctive section of ridgeline in the San Gabriel Mountains to the south.

The same features as they appear in the Cadillac commercial

In the screen shot from the Cadillac commercial, we can see that the Joshua tree, butte and ridgeline all match. The shot is taken on 240th Street East near Avenue N, on the outskirts of Lake Los Angeles.

The same location in July 2022

Even though I succeeded in finding the site on Google Maps, naturally I wanted to check it out in person. I visited the location earlier this month, and was able to confirm that it still looks pretty much the same — including the tree.

Video of the Cadillac Lyric commercial

Here's a link to the 30-second Cadillac spot on YouTube. Click on the thumbnail above and you should be able to watch the commercial, which includes a number of shots of Lake Los Angeles and the San Gabriels.

"Palm Springs" (2020): The Highway Patrol harshes someone's desert vibe

No, this isn't a snapshot from one of my recent excursions to Lake Los Angeles. It's a screen shot from the 2020 Andy Samberg comedy feature "Palm Springs," filmed in Lake Los Angeles.

Snow on the San Gabriels to the south

Once again we see the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains to the south, including the same ridgeline we matched up in the Cadillac commercial. But let's dig a little deeper into this traffic stop sequence.

Bummer: Samberg and Milioti in handcuffs

The CHP encounter in "Palm Springs" escalates to the point where Samberg and companion Cristin Milioti are handcuffed and ordered to wait by the side of the road while officers conduct a search.

"Palm Springs" traffic stop: NOT Palm Springs

This wide shot from the movie gives us an overview of the location of the traffic stop, looking west.

The scene of the crime (Google Maps)

As we did with the Cadillac commercial, we can again pinpoint the shooting location on Google Maps. The shoot takes place on 150th Street East, on the western edge of Lake Los Angeles.

Features seen on Google Maps that match the "Palm Springs" traffic stop

A number of details match up nicely, even though the Google Maps shots are several years older than the "Palm Springs" screen shots. It seems Google hasn't visited this stretch of road since 2012.

"Palm Springs": The same bushes and butte, six or seven years later

The same bushes and distant butte to the west can be found both on Google Maps and in "Palm Springs."

Google Maps: Matching up some of the less obvious features

By taking a closer look at the Google Maps shot from a few years earlier, we can track the gradual evolution of this remote desert location.

The desert reveals its secrets in "Palm Springs"

The movie shot reveals that the diagonal road on the left, heading southwest, has been well-traveled since 2012, and today is more fully carved out. Meanwhile a distant bush still clings to its position along the other dirt road.

The "Palm Springs" traffic stop location in June 2022

I recently visited the site in person and took my own photos of the traffic stop filming site. I even captured a dramatic sky on a day when intermittent lightning storms buffeted the desert around Lake Los Angeles.

Features seen in the "Palm Springs" traffic stop sequence

The same features seen in "Palm Springs" can be identified in my own photos. But I think this is one case where Google Maps might actually work better than going to the location in person.

The same location, looking southwest

Here's another Google Maps shot taken from the same location, but this time we're looking southwest to a formation known as "Rocky Buttes."

Key sections of the Rocky Buttes ridgeline to the southwest

Note the sections of the distant buttes highlighted here in blue and yellow.

"Palm Springs": The same sections of distant features

The highlighted buttes are almost an exact match for the "Palm Springs" shot. If you've been dying to make a bad pun where the word "butte" is pronounced like "butt," I recommend getting it out of your system now.

"Palm Springs": The original traffic stop, looking southeast

Here's where I think things get even more interesting — but I hope you won't think I'm some kind of weirdo when you find out what I'm so excited about. I mean, sure, it's weird, but so what. It's OK because I call it research.

Google Maps (2012): Scene of the traffic stop

This Google Maps shot matches up with the original shot of the "Palm Springs" traffic stop — but the one thing that locks in this stretch of road as the exact location of the movie shot, more than anything else ...

Google Maps: Cracks in 150th Street East, in 2012

... is the cracks in the asphalt. The cracks as they appeared in 2012 can be seen in the Google Maps shot, and even though they get a little worse as the years roll by ...

"Palm Springs": The same cracks in the road

... they're still recognizable as the same cracks several years later in "Palm Springs." More than the telephone poles, the San Gabriels or any of the distant buttes, the cracks in the road pinpoint the location of the shoot.

"Club Ed," located at 42848 150th St. East, Lake Los Angeles (2016)

One of the Lake Los Angeles region's better-known movie sets, "Club Ed," is situated on that same stretch of 150th Street, about a half-mile north of the "Palm Springs" traffic stop site.

VHS cover for "Eye of the Storm"

The set is said to have been built for the 1991 thriller "Eye of the Storm," starring Dennis Hopper, Craig Sheffer and Lara Flynn Boyle. If you remember 1991, you may recall we were still watching VHS tapes back then.

"The Devil's Rejects" (2005): Trouble at Club Ed

Club Ed has been filmed many times since then, and remains an active movie set today. The paint job, usually something close to pea-soup green, is often the first clue that you're seeing Club Ed in a movie or TV show.

Club Ed with its "Easy Rest Inn" sign (Graham Gilmore photo, 2011)

If you're headed up 150th Street East on the outskirts of Lake Los Angeles, you'll know you've arrived at Club Ed when you spot the "Easy Rest Inn" sign along the side of the road.

"Eye of the Storm": Early depiction of the Easy Rest Inn

A rendition of the sign can be found on the VHS cover for "Eye of the Storm."

"Quicksilver Highway" (TV movie, 1997): Club Ed's pale period

Club Ed hasn't always been green. When it appeared as Myra's Place in the horror anthology "Quicksilver Highway," it was ... um ... well, I'm not sure that color has a name. Come to think of it, I'm not sure it's a color.

Will Yun Lee and Christina Milian at Club Ed in "Torque" (2004)

When the set was transformed into Earl's Blue Plate Diner for the motorcycle action movie "Torque," it sported a bright yellow paint scheme.

Club Ed in June 2022: It's just easier being green

I confirmed on a recent visit to Lake Los Angeles that Club Ed is currently awash in something close to its trademark faded green. The building is also looking appropriately ragged these days, even if the effect is dampened a bit by the presence of a late-model red truck.

Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes: 23% (That's bad)

If you're thinking Club Ed seems to have a penchant for schlocky, low-budget horror and action movies, you won't get an argument out of me. In researching the set's movie history, I kept running across some of the lowest Rotten Tomatoes ratings I've ever seen.

"Four Aces": Available for filming

We can't talk about Club Ed without also mentioning "Four Aces," another active Lake Los Angeles filming location. The combo diner, gas station and motel is located at 145th Street East and Avenue Q.

Four Aces in a current Dodge commercial

In recent years this location has been a magnet for commercial shoots. I found this shot of the motel area in a Dodge commercial that's currently airing, themed "Hwy 93 — Summer's Highway."

Jack in the Box commercial for Jack's Roost Fries (2022): Four Aces

A series of Jack in the Box spots premiered in June 2022 featuring the Four Aces gas station, the adjacent Lovejoy Buttes and some of the surrounding terrain.

Lovejoy Buttes and some familiar Joshua trees (Google Maps)

Once again, the background can be matched up without ever leaving the living room. Here's a Google Maps shot containing the same Joshua trees and buttes as the Jack in the Box screen shot.

The same background features seen in the Jack in the Box commercial

Two of the same Joshua trees seen in the Jack in the Box ad are highlighted here, along with Lovejoy Buttes. Here again, the Google Maps shot is from 2012, almost 10 years before the Jack's commercials were shot.

The same Joshua trees seen on Google Maps

The same two trees are noted here. Joshua trees tend to hold their shape reasonably well over the years, so they make decent indicators for stuff like this — provided the production isn't super-old.

The San Gabriels to the south in a new ad for the Double Bacon Cheesy Jack Combo

Other spots in the new Jack in the Box campaign feature the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance, along with a series of large billboards that were added digitally. This shot finds Jack and his companions traveling east on Avenue Q at 145th Street, with the cameras set up across 145th Street from the Four Aces location.

Avenue Q at 145th Street (June 2022): Where the Jack in the Box ad was shot

I took this photo on a visit to Lake Los Angeles in June, capturing the same stretch of road seen in the Jack in the Box ad. The photo includes several of the same features seen in the commercial.

Joshua trees and other matching features

Besides the San Gabriels in the background, matching features include the scrawny Joshua tree circled here in light blue and the more hardy Joshua tree with a double-arrow street sign in front of it, circled in yellow.

The same features in the Jack in the Box spot

The scrawny Joshua tree and the more hardy tree are easy to spot in the Jack in the Box commercial.

The Joshua tree with the sign in front of it (June 2022)

Here's a better look at the more hardy of the two Joshua trees — the one with the sign in front of it.

No Jack in the Box billboard found at the site

One thing that doesn't match at all between the commercial and the site visit is the ginormous billboard, which was added digitally and never really existed at the location.

Four Aces Movie Set: Talk about a "hardy" Joshua tree

On the other side of Avenue Q from the non-existent Jack's billboard, the Four Aces Movie Set is open for business — complete with a monster Joshua tree that dwarfs our so-called "hardy" one across the street.

The diner at Four Aces, because one puke-green movie set is never enough

The Four Aces diner has the pea-soup-green motif in common with Club Ed, an indication that the two sets are in cahoots. I believe both sets have the same owner.

Featured in the current Dodge ad: A vintage Four Aces sign?

Ordinarily I would assume that the Dodge folks or their ad agency came up with the "Kold-Draft Ice" sign, but since it's that same pea-green color yet again, maybe it's something Four Aces keeps around for special occasions.

The massive Joshua tree in a Progressive Insurance "Motaur" commercial

Progressive Insurance shot a number of its entertaining "Motaur" commercials at Four Aces a few years ago, including prominently featuring the giant tree.

Progressive's "Motaur": Half man, half motorcycle

The Motaur ads revolve around a character who's half man, half motorcyle, played by actor Terrence Terrell. The spots were in heavy rotation back in 2019 and 2020, and I believe they continue to air.

The Motaur fills up, with Lovejoy Buttes in the background

Several of the most familiar Motaur commercials are based in the gas station section of the Four Aces set, with backgrounds that show off the surrounding buttes and desert flora — especially the Joshua trees.

Joshua trees: Always ready for their closeup

I wouldn't be surprised if you're starting to recognize some of those trees. These are the same two Joshua trees I highlighted above in one of the Jack in the Box commercials.

A Motaur among the Joshua trees

Here's a better look at one of the trees to the east of the Four Aces gas station — the one that was mostly hidden behind the gas pumps in the previous shot.

Same tree, different commercial

Here's the highlighted tree again, as it appears in the Jack in the Box spot. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, these wide shots work best if you click on them to see a larger version of the photo.

"Palm Springs": Cristin Milioti fuels up at Four Aces

The characters in "Palm Springs" also made a pit stop at the Four Aces filling station, crossing paths with both the Jack in the Box campaign and Progressive's Motaur spots.

Mystery Christmas bell?

First of all, there's the "bell," which looks to me like an out-of-place Christmas decoration. I have no idea why it's there, but it pops up in both "Palm Springs" and the Motaur ads.

The Motaur dazzles a couple of kids, but what about that bell?

This Progressive spot provides a less cluttered look at the "bell," near the center of the shot.

Four Aces in June 2022: No sign of the bell

The "bell" will probably remain shrouded in mystery. I noticed on a recent stop at Four Aces that, whatever it was, it's no longer there.

"Palm Springs": The Four Aces gas station, looking south

The "Palm Springs" shot also has a lot in common with one of the Jack in the Box ads. The gas pump area at Four Aces is oriented at a 45-degree angle, and can be shot with two completely different backgrounds — the San Gabriels to the south, as seen here, or Lovejoy Buttes to the east, as in some of the commercials.

Jack in the Box ad: Across the street from Four Aces, looking south

The "Palm Springs" gas stop is shot looking south, so a number of the same features turn up that were also seen in this Jack in the Box spot. The angles are different because this shot is taken from a little farther east.

Motaur joy ride: More trouble on 150th Street?

"Palm Springs" also shares its traffic stop location with one of the Motaur spots. In this Progressive ad, the Motaur goes for a ride on 150th Street, zipping past the spot where the CHP encounter went down.

The Motaur rides past a Lake Los Angeles landmark

As the Motaur travels north on 150th, we again see the Rocky Buttes on the right.

"Palm Springs": Just not a particularly fun spot

These are the same buttes we identified previously in the "Palm Springs" traffic stop sequence.

Motaur spot on 150th Street, Lake Los Angeles

Here's a video of the Progressive Insurance "Motaur" commercial shot on 150th Street. Click on the red arrow thingie, then on the word "YouTube" at bottom right, to view it on YouTube.

Four Aces in 2022: The eastern face of the "Gas Food Lodging" sign

In what is at best a mildly interesting footnote to the Jack in the Box shoot at Four Aces, I confirmed recently that the big Four Aces sign out on the corner reads "Gas Food Lodging" on both sides.

The sign's western face — some of the words are messed up

The lettering is in much worse shape on the west side of the sign than it is on the east side — especially the word "Food." Could be normal wear and tear, but an alternate theory is that the sign was damaged during a shoot.

The "Gas Food Lodging" sign's messed-up western face: Normal wear and tear?

It occurs to me that the shoot for the Jack's Roost Fries ad may be the culprit. In the commercial the sign reads "Gas Lodging," so the word "Food" was removed from the sign.

No food at Four Aces, in the world according to Jack in the Box

Of course the word could have been blotted out digitally, but I imagine it was easier at the time to just ask the people running Four Aces to take down the word "Food" from that side of the sign. The sign's pretty old, so the letters could have easily fallen apart while being handled.

... and the sign would never be the same

I get it — it's Jack's commercial, after all. But however it went down, I can't help thinking it's kind of silly, if it's true, that Jack in the Box simply did not want anything in the commercial that might promote a food outlet other than Jack's — even a fictional diner that was part of a movie set.

"Belle's Diner" (July 2022): Another roadside distraction

Club Ed and Four Aces aren't the only "famous movie sets" around Lake Los Angeles. It's the kind of place where anything that looks like an old abandoned roadside business might turn out to be an active filming location.

"Breakdown" (1997): Kurt Russell at Belle's Diner, east of Lake Los Angeles

Case in point: "Belle's Diner." Following up on a lead I found in Harry Medved and Bruce Akiyama's excellent guidebook "Hollywood Escapes," I located the old building in the Kurt Russell movie "Breakdown."

"Breakdown": Kurt Russell and Jack Noseworthy at Belle's

Some of the distant hills and other background features can also be spotted in the movie. For example, notice the small gray hill visible above the old green pickup truck and Jack Noseworthy's right shoulder.

Belle's Diner in July 2022: The same gray hill

In this shot I took earlier this month, the same small hill can be seen on the right. You may have also noticed that the Belle's Joshua tree is still standing, some 25 years after it turned up in the Kurt Russell movie.

Belle's Diner in 2012, with its rusted-out roadside sign (Google Maps)

One minor disappointment from my visit to Belle's is that I was hoping to get a good look at the old roadside sign, which was still intact as of 2012, if "intact" is the right word. Even then the old sign was clearly well past its use-by date, but that just made it more interesting.

All that's left of the old metal sign in 2022

Sadly, this is all that remains of the sign today — a piece of metal sticking up out of the ground. At least it pinpoints where the sign used to stand.

Belle's Diner: Keeping it green, like so many other desert movie sets

Belle's is located on 240th Street East, midway between Avenue O and Avenue P. It's the same road where the Cadillac Lyriq commercial was shot, and the Joshua tree in that ad can be found 1.3 miles north of Belle's.

Sanctuary Adventist Church, 2015 (Jerry Condit photo)

This small church is probably the single most famous movie location in the Lake Los Angeles area. In recent years it's been the Sanctuary Adventist Church, but it was made famous by the "Kill Bill" movies.

"Kill Bill": The Deadly Vipers at Sanctuary Church

There's a great backstory behind the so-called "Kill Bill Church," but we've run out of room here so we'll have to save that part of the Lake Los Angeles story for Part 2.

But wait — there's more!

The good news is that Part 2 and Part 3 of the movie history of Lake Los Angeles are posted now, with more in the works. Click here to see Part 2, focusing on Hi Vista, the Kill Bill Church, the giant ants of the sci-fi classic "Them!" and more. You'll also see Marshal Dillon himself, James Arness, with a bazooka no less. Then if you're up for a wild romp around the roads of the western Mojave Desert, click here to check out Part 3, about the juvenile delinquent movie "Hot Rods to Hell." It's a thrill ride, so you may die laughing!

"Hollywood Escapes": Check it out!

If you appreciate stuff like Club Ed, Four Aces, Belle's Diner and the Kill Bill Church, I recommend picking up a copy of "Hollywood Escapes," which you can find on Amazon. Would you be interested in a book that could provide you with a lifetime's worth of Southern California movie locations you could visit? Here it is!

Darby Hinton returns to the Iverson Movie Ranch, where he learned to shoot the Kentucky Long Rifle from "Daniel Boone" at age 7

2022-05-19T22:26:00.006-07:00

Fess Parker as Daniel and Darby Hinton as Izzy in "Daniel Boone" (1964-1970)

Actor Darby Hinton, who many readers will remember as young Israel Boone on the TV series "Daniel Boone," recently paid a visit to the Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, Calif.

Daniel Boone shows Izzy how to hold the Kentucky long rifle in "Doll of Sorrow" (1965)

It was a homecoming for Hinton, who shot some memorable scenes on the movie ranch back in 1965. The beloved NBC frontier series was still in its first season at the time, but Darby was already a veteran actor at age 7.

Darby, as Izzy Boone, tries to hold up the rifle on his own

The youngster struggled with the heft of the iconic firearm, also known as the Pennsylvania long rifle. The famed flintlock weapon could be a lot to handle for even a grown man, much less a 7-year-old boy.

Darby Hinton and "Tick Licker" return to the Iverson Ranch in 2022

Earlier this month, Hinton revisited the Iverson Ranch, where he was schooled by Fess Parker in the proper use of the long rifle more than a half-century earlier. The actor surprised us by bringing along "Tick Licker."

Darby with "Tick Licker" at a key filming location for "Doll of Sorrow"

Legend has it that the real-life Daniel Boone nicknamed his hunting rifle "Old Tick Licker" — a name Hinton still uses for his own long rifle, a prized souvenir from his six seasons on the TV show.

Artist's depiction of Daniel Boone and "Old Tick Licker"

Daniel Boone reportedly once claimed the rifle was so accurate he could shoot a tick off a bear without harming the bear. The tall tale became a part of frontier lore — and the backstory behind the "Tick Licker" nickname.

Henry Fonda wields the long rifle in John Ford's "Drums Along the Mohawk," 1939

The long rifle has been a staple of Hollywood's representations of frontier life for decades.

Daniel Boone sets up an impromptu stand to help Izzy steady the rifle

But when young Israel Boone got his first chance to fire "Old Tick Licker" in the episode "Doll of Sorrow," things did not go as planned.

A wagon races out of control after the horses were startled by the shot

Izzy hit his target, but the shot frightened a team of horses driven by a traveling merchant, who just happened to be passing through the area with his wagonload of goods.

The merchant's wagon plunges down a hill

The wagon ends up crashing down a hillside in the Iverson Gorge, destroying the merchant's wares.

Edward Binns, as traveling merchant Seth Jennings, watches as his goods are ruined

The merchant, played by Ed Binns, turns out to be an especially short-tempered fellow, and he does not take it well when he loses not only a wagon, but a full load of merchandise.

It's "swing first and ask questions later" as the merchant and the frontiersman go at it

Binns' character, Seth Jennings, picks a fight with Daniel Boone before either Daniel or Izzy has a chance to explain and try to make good on the merchant's losses.

Izzy keeps a safe distance as the grownups sort things out

The two men get into a nasty fistfight as young Israel Boone finds a safe spot where he can follow the action.

A vicious punch from Jennings sends Daniel to the ground

With the element of surprise on his side, Jennings lands some good punches in the early rounds.

Izzy reacts to seeing his father take one on the jaw

Young Israel Boone grimaces at the sight of his dad in distress.

This time it's Daniel who lands a solid shot, sending Jennings to the mat

As the fight continues, the tide turns, signaling that Boone will eventually prevail.

Izzy reacts to a good punch from his dad

Young Darby Hinton shows a full range of emotions as Izzy tracks the ebb and flow of the fight.

Izzy and Daniel share a moment after Daniel's victory

Even in a fight scene, the popular family-oriented show featured moments of tenderness and father-son bonding.

The parties talk things over after the fight

The action in the "Doll of Sorrow" sequence takes place in a section of the Lower Iverson just off the main trail into the Garden of the Gods. I've been calling this area "the Arena" in my research since I first ran across it years ago.

The Arena as it appears today

The Arena remains completely intact today, with a number of the rocks being immediately recognizable.

A rock star is born

For a few years now, I've been referring to this rock in my research as "Darby Hinton Rock," because it's the spot where Darby, as Israel Boone, cheered his father on while Daniel and Ed Binns' character slugged it out.

Darby Hinton, stationed at the rock in "Doll of Sorrow"

The rock is conveniently positioned right off the main trail into the Garden of the Gods, on park property, where it is accessible to the public during daylight hours.

Darby Hinton returns to "Darby Hinton Rock" in 2022

I've been wanting to find a way to make the "Darby Hinton Rock" designation more formal for some time now, and when I reached out to Darby, he agreed to help out.

The rock's most instantly identifiable feature: the crack

One of the rock's distinguishing features is this small crack, which makes it easy to identify.

Izzy stands next to the crack in "Doll of Sorrow"

You can't miss the crack in some of the closeups of Izzy when he was standing near the rock.

Darby checks out the crack in the rock

I also got a nice shot of Darby while he was taking a look at the crack. Darby suggested it might be appropriate that a rock named after him would be a little cracked — but then, I think that would be true for yours truly too.

Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys, Calif. — where San Fernando Valley memorabilia roars back to life

If you plan to be in the Los Angeles area on May 28, you can learn more about Darby Hinton and Darby Hinton Rock as part of a special presentation we will be giving at the incredible Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys.

Famed director King Vidor oversees his town built for "Billy the Kid,"
filmed in 1930 in what today is Porter Ranch

Besides delving into Darby's film and TV career and unveiling all the details on Darby Hinton Rock, the presentation will peel back some of the secrets from the 110-year movie history of the San Fernando Valley.

"E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982): Taking flight over Porter Ranch with an alien in a basket

The presentation kicks off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, but come early so you can spend some time browsing the sprawling Valley Relics Museum. The presentation is included in the museum's general admission price of $15.

"Malibu Express" (1985), starring a ripped Darby Hinton

This is your chance to find out all about the guest of honor's surprising career trajectory in the years after "Daniel Boone" — and maybe even ask Darby what it was like to star with five Playboy Playmates in "Malibu Express."

Flier for May 28 presentation, with guest of honor Darby Hinton

I hope all my blog readers will come on up and say howdy!

We will be giving a presentation Saturday, May 28, on the Movie History of the San Fernando Valley — and honoring actor Darby Hinton from the TV series "Daniel Boone"

2022-03-28T19:13:00.003-07:00

Special presentation Saturday, May 28, at Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys, Calif.

The webmaster of the Iverson Movie Ranch Blog will present "Movie History of the San Fernando Valley" at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys, Calif., with special guest Darby Hinton, who starred as Izzy Boone, Daniel Boone's young son, on the popular TV series "Daniel Boone" from 1964-1970. I hope you'll come up and say howdy!

Please click here for tickets.

Whatever became of this gorgeous filming location seen in "Gunsmoke," "The Virginian," "Rawhide" and other Westerns?

2022-01-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

"The Virginian" episode "The Girl in the Shadows" (1969)

This stunning filming location, where cattle were put through their paces in TV Westerns during the 1960s, was almost lost to history. In modern times this forgotten land has been nearly impossible to find — until now.

The same Southern California location in summer 2021

We tracked down this location in 2021, making our first expedition to the site last summer. Matching the angles today is tricky, but this photo includes much of the same terrain seen in the shot above from "The Virginian."

Note these two sections of the ridgeline

Breaking down the contemporary ridgeline into two sections helps bring into focus how the 2021 photo matches up with "The Virginian."

Ridges "A" and "B" in "The Virginian"

Taking another look at the shot from "The Virginian," the same two ridge sections can be identified. From this angle some of the hills farther south emerge and can be seen between Ridges "A" and "B."

A row of "fuzzy trees" appears in "The Virginian" episode "Ride a Dark Trail" (1963)

One of the location's trademark features is these unusual trees. This shot comes from the season two episode "Ride a Dark Trail," but the same footage was recycled throughout multiple seasons of "The Virginian."

"The Virginian" — "The Executioners," 1962: Up close with one of those "fuzzy trees"

The trees really show off their plumage in closeups — especially on "The Virginian." The show's nine seasons, all of them in color, have survived in beautiful picture quality that puts most of the early TV Westerns to shame.

"50 Days to Moose Jaw" ("The Virginian," 1962) — out amongst the "fuzzy trees"

The trees may be a variety of valley oak, one of the most prevalent oak trees in Southern California. However, unlike most valley oaks, these distinctive trees tend to have foliage extending from top to bottom.

"Ryker" ("The Virginian," 1964): The heavily filmed "Crossroads Tree"

One of these trees, seen here just right of center, was filmed more often than most, presumably because of its strategic location where a couple of old movie roads meet. I call it the "Crossroads Tree."

The Crossroads Tree sits in a familiar spot, below Ridge A

You might recognize our old friend "Ridge A" hovering above the Crossroads Tree.

"Gunsmoke" episode "The Hostage" (1965): The Crossroads Tree from a reverse angle

The Crossroads Tree also found its way into "Gunsmoke." If you look carefully at the tree as it appears here and in the "Virginian" photo above, you can see that it's the same tree, photographed from opposite directions.

"The Hostage" ("Gunsmoke," season 11): A closer look at the Crossroads Tree

In an action shot from the same "Gunsmoke" episode, we get a better look at the Crossroads Tree.

"Rawhide" episode "The Photographer" (1964): There's that tree again

The Crossroads Tree turns up yet again in "Rawhide." Here it is reversed again from the "Gunsmoke" angle and more or less matches the "Virginian" angle.

A future movie star heads toward the Crossroads Tree on "Rawhide"

One of the fun things about the old TV Westerns is all the famous actors who found work on them early in their careers. I wonder whether any readers will be able to ID this skinny future megastar from the back.

He turns sideways, and dadgum if it ain't Clint Eastwood

The next time we see him it's a side view, suggesting someone wanted us to see his face but didn't want to change the camera setup. Eastwood's star power surged during the years he played Rowdy Yates on "Rawhide."

Clint draws nearer (my God!) to tree

Someone must have been barking out commands to Clint, "Turn left, now turn right," so they could get shots of him from all angles as he zigzagged his way to the Crossroads Tree. I like to think a large megaphone was involved.

"The Executioners" ("The Virginian"): Same footage also seen in "Ride a Dark Trail"

The trees often appear in straight lines, suggesting they were planted. Based on their size and maturity, it's most likely that this planting occurred back in the early days of the ranch era, possibly as far back as the 19th century.

Example of a mature valley oak — thought to be a relative of the trees in "The Virginian"

While I was researching the trees in "The Virginian," trying unsuccessfully to figure out exactly what they were, I was surprised to learn that trees in the valley oak family can live up to 600 years.

"Fifty Days to Moose Jaw": Two of "The Virginian's" fuzzy trees look on at an Old West funeral

But the trees in "The Virginian" wouldn't have to worry about putting anything away for their retirement. Within a few years after location filming ended on the show in 1970, they would all be gone.

"The Big Deal" (1962): Doug McClure and the other Shiloh Ranch hands work a few cattle

"The Virginian" filmed in this mysterious location many times — far more frequently than any other show. And it's a good thing it did, because this is the only way we can get a decent look at the place today — including its trees.

"The Awakening" ("The Virginian," 1965): A valley that will soon be swallowed up

The entire valley no longer exists — "fuzzy trees," Crossroads Tree, grazing land, movie roads and everything else. But it wasn't destroyed by suburban development, the usual culprit in Southern California.

The same location today: Las Virgenes Reservoir

Instead it was destroyed to make room for something else entirely. The valley was flooded and filled with water in the early 1970s, creating the scenic Las Virgenes Reservoir in southern Westlake Village.

Two triangular peaks sit side by side in 2021

To get an idea of how things line up today with the valley as it appeared in "The Virginian" and other shows in the 1960s, we can track the two triangular peaks noted here.

The triangular peaks in 1965

You can't miss the same two peaks in the screen shot from "The Awakening." This was just a few years before they began filling in the valley with water.

By a conservative estimate, everything below the line would be underwater now

Comparing the two shots, we can take a first whack at estimating where the waterline would be in the "Virginian" photo — in other words, how much of the valley would soon be consumed by the reservoir, and it's a lot.

The view to the south of Las Virgenes Reservoir

The good news is that a number of landmarks remain in place above the waterline. Thanks to these features we can figure out, more or less, where filming took place when this was still a valley.

"Castle Mesa," looking south across Las Virgenes Reservoir

One of the landmarks I keep seeing a lot of is this flat-topped peak. I don't know whether it has a real name, but I finally had to start calling it something so I settled on "Castle Mesa."

A closer look at "Castle Mesa"

The idea is that, well, it's a mesa ... and it kind of looks like a castle with that one "tower" sticking up. I realize it's a stretch. Anyway, it keeps popping up in "The Virginian," "Gunsmoke" and other shows.

A heartbreaking farewell below Castle Mesa in "The Awakening"

A poignant scene plays out in front of Castle Mesa between Roberta Shore's character, Betsy, and her buddy Randy, played by Randy Boone, in the 1965 "Virginian" episode "The Awakening."

Castle Mesa stands as silent witness while the young'uns "have a moment"

The episode, which aired early in season four, marks Roberta Shore's departure from "The Virginian," as Betsy marries a preacher and moves away — leaving lovestruck Randy more than a little disappointed.

"Gunsmoke" episode "The Hostage" (1965): Matt's fate hangs in the balance

Castle Mesa, seen here at top center, made a habit of witnessing big TV moments. Here it oversees a high-stakes standoff in "Gunsmoke" as Marshal Dillon is held hostage by a gang of escaped prison inmates.

"South Shore Butte"

A short distance northwest of Castle Mesa, along the south shore of Las Virgenes Reservoir, stands a major rock outcropping that serves as another of the area's key landmarks. I call this feature the "South Shore Butte."

The South Shore Butte in summer 2021

With a strategically important position in the valley, the South Shore Butte could be photographed from multiple directions, making it one of the most frequently filmed background features in the area.

"The Hostage" ("Gunsmoke"): The South Shore Butte oversees the drama

Here's an appearance by the butte in "Gunsmoke," with the rock outcropping prominently featured at top right.

"The Executioners," 1962 (first episode of "The Virginian")

In a wider shot filmed from almost the identical angle, the South Shore Butte shares the screen with a line of those fuzzy trees. This was the first of many "Virginian" appearances by the outcropping.

"The Executioners": Four fuzzy trees, all in a line

The four trees can also be seen in a number of "Virginian" episodes, always perfectly lined up. It's a bit of a sad footnote that every one of those trees on the valley floor ended up submerged and ultimately drowned.

A mystery rider approaches

This shot also features a guest appearance on the premiere episode of "The Virginian" by a pretty big star in his own right. Can you tell who it is from this distance?

Hugh O'Brian, right, works the future site of Las Virgenes Reservoir

It's Hugh O'Brian, TV's Wyatt Earp, who stirred up trouble on the premiere episode of "The Virginian" soon after wrapping up his successful six-year run on "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp."

"The Executioners": Castle Mesa on the right

With the South Shore Butte being filmed from multiple angles, it sometimes swapped positions with Castle Mesa. In this shot from "The Executioners," as in most of the "Virginian" shots, the mesa is seen to the right of the butte.

"The Awakening": Castle Mesa on the left

But Castle Mesa could also be seen to the left of the South Shore Butte, as in this shot from "The Awakening."

From a contemporary vantage point, Castle Mesa is typically on the left

In the shots I took at the site last summer, the mesa was positioned well to the left of the South Shore Butte. With all that water in the way, I didn't have the luxury of roaming the valley the way the production crews did.

A key hill is hiding in the shot

Taking another look at that last shot from "The Awakening," I want to call your attention to this low hill, barely noticeable at the far right of the screen.

"The Awakening": Another shot of the low hill

This shot from the same sequence, looking farther west, cuts out both Castle Mesa and the South Shore Butte, but offers a better look at the low hill.

An island out in the reservoir (2021)

This is why that low hill is significant — notice the island out in the reservoir in this shot from my summer 2021 visit to the location. I was able to determine that this island is in fact the top of that low hill.

The island before it was an island

The valley as it appeared then and the reservoir as it exists today are so different that it's difficult to match up features like this hill. But its identity is confirmed by some of the surrounding features.

Another marker alongside the reservoir

In particular, this low hill along the shore, situated southwest of the island, can also be identified both in the 2021 photo and in the screen shot from "The Awakening."

"The Awakening": Both the island and the shoreline hill can be found

Here's the shot from "The Awakening" again, with both features identified.

Revised estimate based on the new information: Even higher than we first thought

Now that we're able to identify the island and the shoreline hill, we can take a better-educated guess at the current water level — and our new estimate comes in a little higher than the previous one.

The fate of the fuzzy trees is sealed

One thing's for sure: The trees on the valley floor never stood a chance.

The "W-Ridge," shaped like a shallow W

Positioned directly above the future island and future low hill along the shore in the same "Virginian" shot is a distinctive section of ridgeline shaped like a shallow version of a letter "W." I call it the W-Ridge.

"Ryker" ("The Virginian," 1964): The rocky W-Ridge

We get a good look at this rocky ridge in the "Virginian" episode "Ryker." While the ridge's credentials as a letter of the alphabet may be weak, its lofty elevation makes it one of the area's more important landmarks.

A yellow "W" tracks the subtle shape of the ridge

The "W" shape is subtle, but the shallow yellow "W" here underscores the shape of the W-Ridge.

"It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (1964): Another "Big W" of the movies

The big "W" at Las Virgenes Reservoir is less obvious than another famous "Big W" from the movies — the one in "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World," released the same year as "The Virginian's" best "Big W" episode, "Ryker."

"The Virginian's" Big W: Still in place in 2021

But unlike "Mad Mad World's" Big W, which was located at Portuguese Point in Rancho Palos Verdes and no longer exists, "The Virginian's" Big W can still be seen today, looming over Las Virgenes Reservoir.

Las Virgenes Reservoir's star-studded South Shore

In this shot from our site visit last summer, the W-Ridge can be seen directly above the South Shore Butte.

The Virginian, left, and a guest star in "50 Days to Moose Jaw" (1962)

Here's an appearance by the W-Ridge in the season one "Virginian" episode "50 Days to Moose Jaw."

You might know his face, but do you know his name?

The actor appearing as "Slim Jessup" in that episode had a distinguished career in the movies and would later become most closely identified with a long-running role on a TV cop show.

"Barney Miller" (1975-1982): Cast photo with James Gregory as Inspector Frank Luger

James Gregory appeared in more than 30 movies and hundreds of TV episodes in a career stretching from the 1940s into the 1980s, but he's probably best remembered today as Luger on "Barney Miller."

"Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (1970): James Gregory as Ursus

Gregory also rocked the ape armor as Ursus in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes."

"The Executioners" — first episode of "The Virginian" (1962)

The floor of the valley wasn't particularly rocky as Western movie locations go, but it did have one "rock star" — a widely filmed boulder positioned at the mouth of a small canyon and shaped like a giant skimming rock.

The rock's name foretells its fate

During the course of my research into the valley I took to calling this feature "Underwater Rock," a name that provides a pretty big clue as to where this is headed.

"Ryker" ("The Virginian," 1964): Underwater Rock in drier days

The rock may have been sitting high and dry back in the filming days, but just like the rest of the features anywhere near the floor of that gorgeous valley, today it's at the bottom of the reservoir.

"The Drifter" (1964 "Virginian" episode): Shootout at Underwater Rock

Location sleuth Aaron St. John and I put our heads together in researching the Las Virgenes Reservoir area, and we probably spent more time trying to figure out Underwater Rock than we did on any other feature.

"Ride to Misadventure" ("The Virginian," 1968): Underwater Rock, center

If you think it's hard to find old movie rocks under normal conditions — and it usually is — suffice to say that when they're underwater it's a LOT harder.

Las Virgenes Reservoir (Google Maps)

To begin with, that's a big reservoir, and that rock could be just about anywhere. But before you invest in scuba gear and underwater radar, I'll cut to the chase: To my surprise, we figured out the rock's location.

The result of many hours of intense (but fun) research

After a number of false starts, Aaron and I concluded that Underwater Rock was — I mean IS — located pretty much in the spot indicated here.

"Gunsmoke" episode "Winner Take All" (1965): Action in Hourglass Pass

One reason we were able to pinpoint Underwater Rock was because of its position near the mouth of a narrow canyon that was a focal point for filming. We call this area Hourglass Pass.

A gathering place for the valley's movie rocks

Hourglass Pass was a place where Underwater Rock could blend in with other rocks. This was clearly the rocky filming location of choice for production teams working in the valley.

"Winner Take All" ("Gunsmoke"): Ambush rocks across the pass from Underwater Rock

On the other side of the pass were these rocks where would-be ambushers could grab the high ground.

Hourglass Pass: Home to Underwater Rock and a few good trees

Not that grabbing the high ground was such a great idea. It's one of those strategies that tend to look good on paper, but it can also leave you exposed.

A moment later ...

Can't say we didn't warn ya there, Pard!

"Winner Take All": Looking south through the mouth of the pass

The "Gunsmoke" sequence highlights a number of features of Hourglass Pass. Here we're looking south toward the valley floor, with a heavily filmed movie tree posted right outside the pass.

"The Big Deal" (season one episode of "The Virginian," 1962): A reverse angle

This shot from "The Virginian" captures the same tree from the opposite direction. Now we're looking north as two riders emerge from Hourglass Pass. The hills in the background are about where the dam is today.

Looking north up Hourglass Pass

We saw all of these same features in the "Gunsmoke" sequence. Since the tree is situated just outside Hourglass Pass and we need something to call it, let's keep it simple and call it the "Hourglass Tree."

"The Drifter" (1964): A stripped-down version of the Hourglass Tree

This shot from "The Virginian" makes the point that the "fuzzy trees" shed their leaves when they feel like it. The Hourglass Tree may be even more impressive in this threadbare state than it is with its full plumage.

"The Photographer" ("Rawhide," 1964)

"Rawhide" also got in on the act, filming in Hourglass Pass. In this sequence a wagon heads north through the narrow pass and we see the ambush rocks at the top of the frame.

The hills have eyes!

Anyone else see the face of a lioness here, or is it just me?

"Ryker" ("The Virginian" season three, 1964): Cattle head into Hourglass Pass

Cattle are being driven north into Hourglass Pass in this shot from "The Virginian." The two fuzzy trees we see near the mouth of the pass are both trees that we have seen before.

Two heavily filmed trees captured side by side

We know the Hourglass Tree is positioned just outside the mouth of the pass, but thanks to this sequence we also now have a good idea of the location of the Crossroads Tree — a short distance south of the Hourglass Tree.

"Winner Take All" ("Gunsmoke"): Botched ambush at Hourglass Pass

Remember the "Gunsmoke" sequence where a would-be bushwhacker gets blasted off the top of a rock? This shot looking south through Hourglass Pass gives us another perspective on the trees just outside the pass.

Two of the valley's most important movie trees

We've already identified the Hourglass Tree from this angle, but now we can also identify the tree hiding behind it as the Crossroads Tree. These two trees were probably the most frequently filmed trees in the valley.

"Six Graves at Cripple Creek" (1965): Clu Gulager finds a burned cabin

One of the rare occasions when a set was put up for a "Virginian" episode filming in the valley can be found in the season three episode "Six Graves at Cripple Creek," where a burned-out cabin is featured.

The burned-out cabin's location is pinpointed by the Crossroads Tree, on the left

A wider shot of Clu Gulager, as Emmett Ryker, arriving at the cabin site reveals that the set was built near the Crossroads Tree, placing it just outside of Hourglass Pass.

"Six Graves at Cripple Creek": Things heat up at the Crossroads Tree

The Crossroads Tree gets a number of closeups during the sequence, including when Ryker's party comes under fire and a startled horse rears up near the tree.

How did that limb get there?

Guest star Sheilah Wells takes cover behind a spare limb that has been conveniently placed near the base of the Crossroads Tree in case any womenfolk find themselves in danger. Gulager, meanwhile, plays the hero.

Sheilah and her movie prop tree limb

A closer look at the limb, with Sheilah still hiding behind it, suggests that the movie prop is an actual tree limb. But I'd still be willing to bet money that it didn't fall out of the Crossroads Tree.

Hourglass Pass and the Hourglass Tree in "Six Graves at Cripple Creek"

Moments later we also catch a glimpse of the Hourglass Tree as Gulager heads north up Hourglass Pass.

"Last Grave at Socorro Creek" (1969) — not to be confused with "Six Graves at Cripple Creek"

Most of the "sets" built in the valley for "The Virginian" were pretty minor — like the occasional mound of dirt with a grave marker, as seen in the season seven episode "Last Grave at Socorro Creek."

Shiloh Ranch on the Universal backlot in "The Executioners" (1962)

That's because "The Virginian" filmed much of its outdoor footage on the backlot at Universal Studios, where they already had plenty of sets — including the set for the Shiloh Ranch, which was used throughout the series.

Shiloh in season three's "Hideout": Same clouds as a couple of years earlier

The producers cut corners wherever they could, including recycling the original footage of Shiloh throughout the run of the show. When we see Shiloh again in season three, the clouds haven't moved an inch since season one.

"With Help From Ulysses" (1968): Those are some mighty persistent clouds!

And again in season six — the lighting keeps changing, but the clouds refuse to budge. These exact same clouds, along with the tree branch, can be found in any number of episodes, because it's all the same footage.

Where was the grave located, and who is that actress?

Taking another look at "Last Grave at Socorro Creek," we can examine where the grave was located — but meanwhile, do you recognize the actress yet who played the recently widowed Kate Burden?

The Virginian arrives, with a familiar landmark in the background

The first part of the mystery is solved when the Virginian drops in to look after the Widow Burden. The South Shore Butte places the grave location near what today would be the south shore of the reservoir.

James Drury, as the Virginian, visits the grave of his friend

As the Virginian and the widow mourn the sudden death of Bill Burden — and rekindle some of their old feelings for each other — we get a little better look at the acclaimed actress who plays Kate Burden.

Ellen Burstyn, as Kate Burden

I imagine a handful of readers will have figured out by now that it's Ellen Burstyn, still relatively early in her career. Burstyn would go on to win an Oscar and multiple Emmys, among countless other accolades.

"Gunsmoke" episode "The Hostage": The view to the west, and a famous neighbor

One rock feature adjoining the reservoir area is famous in its own right, at least among locals. But this striking outcropping is rarely associated with the valley now occupied by Las Virgenes Reservoir.

The nearby landmark maintains a low profile

This well-known rock formation not only has survived intact, but is still being used for filming.

"Six Graves at Cripple Creek": The same background rock formation

When we saw that horse rearing up near the Crossroads Tree a while back, the same formation could be seen in the background, at the right of the frame.

Wide shot of the reservoir today, looking west

Viewed from Las Virgenes Reservoir, the rock feature is positioned today at the body of water's "business end," the west end, where the reservoir's dam and operational facilities can be found.

The reservoir's "industrial" section — and its famous neighbor

Here's a better look at this rocky landmark in modern times, as seen from the shore of the reservoir. If you know the area you may have already figured out what it is, but I have to admit it took me a while to dial it in.

The Big Reveal

Time for the big reveal: It's the Lake Eleanor Sentinel, and this is about as close to it as we dare try to get to it on a hike around Las Virgenes Reservoir.

"Gunsmoke": The Crossroads Tree, center, but notice the silhouette at top right

Remember this "Gunsmoke" shot showing the Crossroads Tree? We talked about it higher up in the post.

A helpful marker in the distance

Now that we know what to look for, we can tell from just a ghostly outline that it's the Sentinel, standing watch over the goings-on in the valley. The landmark once again lets us know that the shot is taken looking west.

"Ryker" ("The Virginian," 1964): Two riders head west

The Sentinel had a habit of popping up at random moments whenever filming was going on in the valley. In this shot from "The Virginian," the outcropping surfaces near a spot where two roads diverge.

Pointing out the obvious

I probably didn't need to point it out, but that's the tip of the Sentinel at the center of the shot — the only recognizable feature in the frame as the two buddies go their separate ways.

"Tarzan and His Mate" (1934): Elephants march below the Lake Eleanor Sentinel

The Lake Eleanor Sentinel has been appearing in movies since at least as far back as the early 1930s, although it's almost always shot from the other side, as seen in "Tarzan and His Mate."

One of the earliest film appearances for the picturesque outcropping

This side of the Sentinel is usually associated with filming in the vicinity of another lake, Lake Sherwood, even though the Sentinel is named after still another lake, Lake Eleanor.

The Lake Eleanor Sentinel in 2020 (Jerry Condit photo)

Here's a beautiful black-and-white shot of the Lake Eleanor Sentinel taken in 2020 by photographer and filming location researcher Jerry Condit. This angle matches the view of the Sentinel in "Tarzan and His Mate."

Lake Eleanor and the Lake Eleanor Sentinel, along Highway 23

This photo captures the tiny but scenic Lake Eleanor along with the Sentinel rising above it. Lake Eleanor itself is barely a puddle compared with its much larger neighbors Lake Sherwood and Las Virgenes Reservoir.

The profile we see from Las Virgenes Reservoir

You might recognize this part of the Lake Eleanor Sentinel's profile from the "Gunsmoke," "Virginian" and Las Virgenes Reservoir shots above, even though the angle of this shot is a little different.

Farmers Insurance commercial "Doggone" (2021)

The Sentinel's filming career continues today, with the landmark turning up just last year in a Farmers Insurance commercial. Click on the video above to watch the 30-second spot — and be sure to click on "full screen."

The Lake Eleanor Sentinel's latest star turn

Here's the "money shot" from the Farmers commercial, showing a crashed car along Highway 23 with the Lake Eleanor Sentinel looming conspicuously in the background.

The Lake Eleanor Sentinel in 2020, photographed from Highway 23

Just by coincidence, I was out that way in 2020 and snapped this photo of the Sentinal, accidentally creating a shot that's almost a match for the commercial. Of course, the lighting is a lot different, among other things.

Google aerial view of the "Three Lakes Region," showing the location for the insurance spot

Highway 23, where the ad was shot, is also known through here as Westlake Boulevard. The highway winds its way through the mountains south of Thousand Oaks, becoming Decker Canyon before it ends up in Malibu.

The "Three Lakes Region's" three major lakes

The region's three major lakes are all manmade. Of the three, Lake Sherwood is by far the oldest, dating back to 1904. Westlake Lake — the lake so nice they named it twice — was built in 1969. And I'm being facetious when I say "so nice," as I'm holding a grudge over its displacement of prime filming terrain. Sound familiar?

A lake among lakes — and a sentinel among ... um ... well, lakes

Situated right in the middle of all this water are Lake Eleanor and the Lake Eleanor Sentinel. I don't mean to be unkind to Lake Eleanor, but it's so small it doesn't even rank as one of the Three Lakes Region's three lakes.

Trail to Las Virgenes Reservoir: Start at the Pentachaeta Trailhead in Westlake Village

As for the main lake that's the focus of this post, Las Virgenes Reservoir, the best way to access the former filming area is from the Pentachaeta Trailhead, off Triunfo Canyon Road just east of Lindero Canyon Road.

How the sausage is made

A big shout-out once again to Aaron St. John, my collaborator on this project. It sure helps to have someone to bounce my crazy ideas off of and get even crazier ones bounced back — sometimes they turn out to be right!

Follow the hoofsteps of "The Virginian" through the valley

If you'd like to see video of the valley that lies beneath today's Las Virgenes Reservoir, the best place to look is in the TV series "The Virginian." Seasons 1-4 and season 7 may be the best for location shoots in the valley (especially season 1), but it can be seen throughout the run of the show.

The above image used to symbolize that we had links below. I believe the skeleton is a missing link of some kind. The links that used to be here are no longer viable, as you can see below. But the "link" image above still has a place here.