Brandeis Movie Ranch -- Bunkouse

As I mentioned in earlier posts the three most identifying features on the Brandeis Movie Ranch were the Western Street (Hickeyville -- http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/06/brandeis-movie-ranch-hickeyville.html); the Caretaker's House (http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/06/brandeis-movie-ranch-caretakers-house.html); and the Bunkhouse seen above in a screen capture from Santa Fe Stampede (1938)

To be perfectly honest I've never figured out exactly where on the ranch it was located; I suspect it was most likely on the lower (southern) part of the ranch.  I believe it might have also been in the same group of rock outcroppings as the Caretaker's House.

The thing that makes the Brandeis Ranch Bunkhouse easy to spot is the unusual ramp and rustic railing leading to the front door as you can see above in a screenshot taken from The Feud of the Trail (1937).

As you can see in this capture from Bill Elliott's The Last Bandit (1949) the Bunkhouse was nestled right up against a huge cluster of rock outcroppings and -- like the Caretaker's House -- was almost completely concealed in a shady grove of oaks.

In another screenshot taken from a scene in The Last Bandit (1949) we get a close-up look at the flimsy rustic railing and the front door.

Tim McCoy was one of the actors most often lensed on the Brandeis Ranch, so it's no surprise that the Bunkhouse was used in a lobby card photo (above) to promote Ghost Patrol (1936).

As I pointed out the Bunkhouse was surrounded by rocks and trees.  Here's screenshot from Outlaws' Paradise (1939) that gives us a look -- camera left -- of a shark-fin shaped boulder towering above.

This final screen capture also from Outlaws' Paradise (1939) that gives us a look -- camera right -- of another boulder towering above the Bunkhouse.  This side also has a small boulder field running right down to the hitching rail.

Here's a link to my short YouTube clip from Outlaws' Paradise (1939) that gives you a look at the Bunkhouse and the surrounding area: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BroRdD7DWg4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Stay tuned...

For additional information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)

Family history mystery photographs

I'm betting most folks have a mystery photo or two in an old family album or a box of grandma's treasures.  I have a couple of beauties that I'm sure someone would be thrilled to have.

Great Northern Railway steam locomotive #1305 and it's crew

With the aid of a magnifying glass I've discovered the photo above is a Great Northern Railway locomotive and it's crew.  The cab has number 1305 and below the number are smaller letters GNRT.  

I'm guessing the photo was taken around 1900, and based on my family histories I think it was taken possibly in Nebraska, Idaho, Montana or Iowa.

This is a great photo that was mixed in with my Bailey and Brown family photos.  If anyone has any idea who, what, where, why, when or how... please share.

Update:  Got a nice reply from Bill Sornsin, Great Northern Railway Historical Society

Unsure of the location but likely somewhere in Montana, perhaps Whitefish.

We can tell you the 1305 was a GN class F-9 2-8-0, built 1903 by

Alco-Brooks, rebuilt 1925 into class C-3 0-8-0 switcher 881, sold for scrap

1/31/50.  So we know the picture was made between 1903 and 1925.

I'm including the authors of "Steam Locomotives of the Great Northern" on my

reply, because F-9 photos are uncommon due to the early rebuild. We'd love

to have a high-resolution scan for our archives and website, if you have one

(full credit provided of course)

Regards   --- Bill Sornsin, GNRHS

I sent them a copy


WWII British Naval Officer

Who is this gentleman?  I know he was my grandfather's cousin.  I believe he is wearing a WWII British Naval Lieutenant's uniform.  

A few surnames of grandfather's cousins would be: HEAD, AVERY, MORRIS, CUMMIN, GILBERT, POPE, BROWN, ASHDOWN, BARLING, and FRENCH.

Second cousin surnames could also be: WILKIE and BUTCHER.

If anyone has any idea who, what, where, why, when or how... please share

Best Chatsworth Movies -- Perils of Nyoka (1942)

Perils of Nyoka (1942) is a Republic movie serial directed by William Witney.  It starred Kay Aldridge as Nyoka the Jungle Girl, a character who first appeared in the Edgar Rice Burroughs-inspired serial "Jungle Girl" (1941).  The success of the original serial prompted the sequel Perils of Nyoka in 1942.

Plot:

Intrepid Nyoka Gordon is in the jungle searching for her father (lost on a previous expedition).  Dr. Larry Grayson (Clayton Moore) is interested in locating the tablets for their medical value, and assists Nyoka in her attempt to discover the lost Golden Tablets of Hippocrates. 

The tablets containing medical knowledge of the Ancients are believed to be buried with a vast treasure of Gold.

Also hunting for the tablets are Queen Vultura ("Queen of the Desert and Ruler of the Arabs") and her Arab ally Cassib.

Cast:

Kay Aldridge as Nyoka Gordon

Clayton Moore as Dr. Larry Grayson

Lorna Gray as Vultura

Charles Middleton as Cassib

William 'Billy' Benedict as Red Davis

Forbes Murray as Prof. Douglas Campbell

George Pembroke as John Spencer

Tristram Coffin as Benito Torrini [Chs.1-10]

Robert Strange as Prof. Henry Gordon [Chs. 4-15]

Kenne Duncan as Abu, expedition headman

Georges Renavent as Maghreb, Vultura's high priest [Chs.1-4,7,9,15]

John Davidson as Lhoba, Tuareg high priest [Chs.4-7,12-13]

Ken Terrell as Ahmed, Arab henchman

George J. Lewis as Batan, Arab henchman (as George Lewis)

Art Dupuis as Hassan, Arab henchman

Republic re-released the serial in 1952, under the new title of Nyoka and the Tigermen.  In 1966, it was re-released for television, but this time the title was changed to Nyoka and the Lost Secrets of Hippocrates.

Most of the filming took place on the Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, but a few scenes were lensed at nearby Corriganville.

For an Iverson Movie Ranch historian it doesn't get much better than this serial.  Virtually early corner of the Iverson Ranch appears somewhere in this film.

The cliffhanger scene (on the edge of Nyoka Cliff) -- Nyoka trying to escape Vultura's killer ape -- is one of the best ever filmed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeTkHHaPZVI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

But, a close second has to be the famous "bridge scene" filmed next to Turtle Rocks on the upper Iverson Ranch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GzdaOLgBms&feature=youtube_gdata_player

If you like Cliffhangers they don't get a better than this one, and I heartily recommend seeing it.

By the way… Emil Van Horn played the ape named 'Satan' in Perils of Nyoka.

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)

Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Kirby Grant

Kirby Grant (1911-1985) was an American cowboy actor, best remembered for his starring role in the flying cowboy adventure series "Sky King" (1951) on television.

Grant had been a child prodigy violinist from Silver Bow County in Montana, and in 1939 won a contest -- "The Gateway to Hollywood" -- which earned him a movie contract with RKO.  

He moved to Universal in 1943, where he played lead roles in several B-musicals.  In 1945, he was selected to replace Rod Cameron (who moved up to more important roles) as the star in a series of seven B-Western films.  Those films made him an action star which eventually led to his starring role "Sky King."

Kirby Grant's Santa Susana locations filmography:

Bad Men of the Border (1945) - Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight and Armida - PRC

Code of the Lawless (1945) - Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight and Jane Adams - Universal

Feudin' Rhythm (1949) - Eddy Arnold, Gloria Henry, Kirby Grant, Isabel Randolph and Carolina Cotton (Corriganville) Columbia

Gun Town (1946) - Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight and Lyle Talbot (Iverson Ranch) Universal

Gunman's Code (1946) - Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight and Jane Adams - Universal

Lawless Breed (1946) - Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight and Jane Adams - Universal

Rustlers' Roundup (1946) - Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight and Jane Adams - Universal

Trail to Vengeance (1945) - Kirby Grant, Fuzzy Knight and Jane Adams - Universal

Supporting roles:

Red River Range (1938) - John Wayne, Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune  (Corriganville) Republic

Indian Territory (1950) - Gene Autry, Champion, Gail Davis  and Pat Buttram (Corriganville) Columbia

Television: 

"Sky King" (1951) TV Series - Kirby Grant [as Sky King], Gloria Winters and Ewing Mitchell (Iverson Ranch) NBC 1951-1952, ABC 1952-1954, CBS 1959 (72 episodes, 1952-1959)

'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' is a continuing series about "six-gun heroes that performed on movie location ranches in Chatsworth, California.  For more information about Chatsworth filming locations see http://www.cowboyup.com/ to find information about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland - 2010 and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas - 2008.

Index for 'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' -- Chatsworth's Six-Gun Heroes

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/05/reel-cowboys-chatsworths-six-gun-heroes.html

Brandeis Movie Ranch -- Caretaker's House

I've been collecting movies lensed in Chatsworth for well over a dozen years, and I'm continually finding new films with scenes shot on the Brandeis Ranch.  The busiest filming era on the Brandeis Ranch was 1935 to 1942, but a few films were shot even later.  The last movie filmed there was Treasure of the Ruby Hills (1955).

Three of the prominent features that help identify the ranch are the Western street (known as Hickeyville, see http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/06/brandeis-movie-ranch-hickeyville.html); the bunkhouse, and the caretaker's house seen in the screenshot above from a scene in Prairie Moon (1938).

The caretaker's house had a slight or low pitched roof, wood siding, and in early films had a rustic wood rail fence leading to the front door.  Upon closer examination you can see chicken-wire applied to the fencing to keep out pests.  Even the extravagant estate homes today have resorted to the use of tight meshed wire to keep out the large rattlesnake population in the area.

The caretaker's house was located on the lower (southern) portion of the ranch a good distance from the home of the Brandeis family which has never been seen in a movie.  In the composite photo above the vertical fence line just (right of center) separated the Iverson Ranch to the east (right) from the Brandeis Ranch on the west (left).  In the photo above it's pretty easy to find the treelined entry road leading to the Brandeis home because it is at a 45 angle and parallels a naturally treelined creek (also running more or less at a 45 angle).  The caretaker's house was located on the east side of gigantic rock outcropping to the south of the entry road leading to the Brandeis home.

This redacted photo (taken in 2010) shows you what the area looks like today.  The Ronald Reagan freeway nows runs contiguous to and immediately south of the rock outcroppings that were next to the caretaker's house.

The screen capture above taken from a scene in Bill Elliott's The Last Bandit (1949) gives you a fairly good look at the rocks just south (left) of the caretaker's house.  Now, compare this screenshot with the redacted photo above.

In this early movie still from Heir to Trouble (1935) Ken Maynard is sitting on the rustic fence (chicken-wire plain to see).

Here's another look at the rustic fence and entry to the caretaker's house in a lobby photo promoting Tim McCoy's Roarin' Guns (1936).

In a publicity photo from The Red Rope (1937) Bob Steele is sitting on the rustic railing.  The house is almost completely surrounded and partially covered with live oak trees that populate the ranch.

The screenshot above from Adventures of the Masked Phantom (1939) gives you a better look at the patio area in front of caretaker's house.

In this final shot from The Last Bandit (1949) you get a good look at the north elevation (right side of the house), but as you can see the patio and rustic railing are now missing.

A few more films that prominently featured the caretaker's house include The Singing Cowboy (1936), The Feud of the Trail (1937), Lightning Carson Rides Again (1938), Whirlwind Horsemen (1938 ) and Straight Shooter (1939).

To learn more about the ranch's history see my post at http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/01/cowboy-culture-six-degrees-of_23.html

As you know I've wrapped up my 'Meanwhile back at the ranch' posts about Iverson Ranch features, but there's still lots to share about other Chatsworth movie filming locations.  Stay tuned...

An index for all of the Iverson 'Meanwhile back at the ranch' posts is located here:

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/05/chatsworths-rock-stars.html

For additional information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)

Best Chatsworth Movies -- Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) is a story based on a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.  This impressive Warner Brothers film was directed by Michael Curtiz, and stars Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland and Patric Knowles

Major Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) countermands orders and leads a suicidal attack to revenge a previous massacre of men, women and children.

Plot

In 1854, Major Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) of the British Army's 27th Lancers and his brother, Captain Perry Vickers (Patric Knowles), are stationed at Chukoti in India.  Perry falls in love with his brothers fiancee Elsa (Olivia de Havilland) and betrayers him.

While visiting the local rajah -- Surat Khan (C. Henry Gordon) -- Geoffrey saves the rajah's life from a leopard while hunting. 

Later, inhabitants of Chukoti -- mostly dependents of the lancers -- are massacred by Kahn and his forces.  Kahn then joins with the Russians, who are fighting the British in the Crimean War.  Kahn spares Geoffrey and Elsa from slaughter to repay his debt to Geoffrey for saving his life.

Major Geoffrey Vickers learns that Surat Khan is with the Russian forces battling the 27th Lancers, so he secretly replaces the written orders of Sir Charles Macefield (Henry Stephenson) to the commander of the Light Brigade, Sir Benjamin Warrenton (Nigel Bruce). 

Vickers orders the famous Charge of the Light Brigade (a suicidal attack) so the lancers can avenge the Chukoti massacre.

Cast

Errol Flynn as Major Geoffrey Vickers

Olivia de Havilland as Elsa Campbell

Patric Knowles as Captain Perry Vickers

C. Henry Gordon as Surat Khan

David Niven as Captain James Randall

Nigel Bruce as Sir Benjamin Warrenton

Spring Byington as Lady Warrenton

Donald Crisp as Colonel Campbell

Henry Stephenson as Sir Charles Macefield

G. P. Huntley as Major Jowett

E. E. Clive as Sir Humphrey Harcourt

Robert Barrat as Count Igor Volonoff

J. Carrol Naish as Subahdar-Major Puran Singh

Walter Holbrook as Cornet Barclay

Princess Baigum as Prema's Mother

Charles Sedgwick as Cornet Pearson

Scotty Beckett as Prema Singh

George Regas as Wazir

Helen Sanborn as Mrs. Jowett

The vast majority of the film was lensed at Lone Pine and the Ahmanson Ranch (Lasky Mesa), but there is a spectacular 2 minute battle scene filmed at the Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth.  

See the Iverson scenes here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8L1p3nAVTQ

Kahn's forces on Three Ages Rock with Nyoka Cliff in the distance.

Major Vicker's (stunt double) overpowers one of Kahn's leaders with Bill Rock in the background.

Members of the Light Brigade drag brush -- raising dust -- and giving the appearance of a large British force arriving.  Three Ages Rock is on their right, and Nyoka Cliff is in the distance.

From a camera position near Overhang Rock (on the left) you can see dust rising in the gorge.  The Garden of the Gods is in the distance.

As Kahn's rebel forces retreat we get a good view of the back side of Devil's Doorway in front of them.

Major Geoffrey Vickers posing as Kahn's leader (who he overpowered) urges the rebels to flee the coming British forces.

As Major Vickers rides back to rejoin the Light Brigade passes Overhang Rock.  In the distance is Crown Rock (far right) and 'The Wall.'

So if -- like me -- you are a fan of Iverson Ranch movies this one is worth watching.

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)

Summer schedule

Dear blog follows...  I just want to let you know that I'm cutting posts down to about three per week.  It's getting hot, and I need to go fishing.

But, stay tuned...  Lots of good new posts are coming:

Chatsworth's best movies... Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

Meanwhile back at the Brandeis Ranch... caretaker's house

Reel cowboys of the Santa Susana...  Kirby Grant (Sky King)

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)

Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Joel McCrea

Joel McCrea (1905-1990) was an American actor who made movies for more than 50 years.  While still in high school he began working as a stunt double, and handled horses for cowboy actors Tom Mix and Bill Hart.

He got his first leading role in 1929 -- just as sound was being ushered in -- and by 1930 he was under contract with RKO where his versatility won him lead roles in everything from drama to comedy.

McCrea was probably best known for his cowboy roles, and was quoted saying, "I always felt so much more comfortable in the Western. The minute I got a horse and a hat and a pair of boots on, I felt easier. I didn't feel like I was an actor anymore.  I felt like I was the guy out there doing it." -- TCM Movie Database

He made more than 90 films, but just a handful were lensed at Santa Susana locations:

Gunfight at Dodge City, The (1959) starring Joel McCrea, Julie Adams and John McIntire - United Artists

Gunsight Ridge (1957) starring Joel McCrea, Mark Stevens and Joan Weldon (Bell Ranch)(Iverson Ranch) United Artists

Oklahoman, The (1957) starring Joel McCrea, Barbara Hale and Brad Dexter (Iverson Ranch) Allied Artists

Saddle Tramp (1950) starring Joel McCrea, Wanda Hendrix and John Russell (Iverson Ranch) Universal (photo at top of post is also from Saddle Tramp)

Wells Fargo (1937) starring Joel McCrea, Bob Burns and Frances Dee (Iverson Ranch) Paramount

'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' is a continuing series about "six-gun heroes that performed on movie location ranches in Chatsworth, California.  For more information about Chatsworth filming locations see http://www.cowboyup.com/ to find information about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland - 2010 and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas - 2008.

Index for 'Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas' -- Chatsworth's Six-Gun Heroes

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/05/reel-cowboys-chatsworths-six-gun-heroes.html