Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Rex Reason

Rex Reason (1928 - ) is an American actor who was born in Germany, but moved to Los Angeles at a young age.  He attended Hoover High School in Glendale, California.  Rex appeared in several films and television shows during the 1950s and 1960s.  His best known Santa Susana locations film is probably Badlands of Montana (1957).

His Santa Susana locations filmography includes:

Yankee Pasha (1954) starring Jeff Chandler, Rhonda Fleming and Mamie Van Doren (Corriganville) Universal

"Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers" (1956) TV Series -- episode: The Imposter (1957)

Badlands of Montana (1957) starring Rex Reason, Margia Dean and Beverly Garland (Iverson Ranch) 20th Century-Fox

"Trackdown" (1957) TV Series -- episode: The San Saba Incident (1957)

The Rawhide Trail (1958) aka The Lonesome Gun starring Rex Reason, Nancy Gates and Richard Erdman (Iverson Ranch) Universal

"Wagon Train" (1957) TV Series -- episode: The Myra Marshall Story (1963)

Was Great Granddad A Viking King?

Vikings invading Great Britain

In 2011, I ordered both maternal lineage (MtDNA) and paternal lineage (Y-46) DNA tests from ancestry.com.  

The results suggested mom's ancient ancestors may have migrated to Europe settling in present-day Basque Country and other parts of Europe, and dad's ancient ancestors probably lived in present day Scandinavia.

In 2013, I ordered a revised and improved test that suggests my ethnicity is 53% Western European, 21% Irish, 20% English and Scotch with trace amounts 4% from the Iberian Peninsula and 2% from Scandinavia.

Focusing on my 2% from Scandinavia

Scandinavia is perched atop northern Europe, its natives referred to throughout history as “North Men.” Separated from the main European continent by the Baltic Sea, the Scandinavians have historically been renowned seafarers. Their adventures brought them into contact with much of the rest of Europe, sometimes as feared raiders and other times as well-traveled merchants and tradesmen.

The Vikings -- norsemen from Scandinavia -- sailed most of the North Atlantic, reaching south to North Africa and east to Russia, Constantinople and the Middle East, as looters, traders, colonists, and mercenaries.  Vikings under Leif Ericson, heir to Erik the Red, reached North America, and set up a short-lived settlement in present-day L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. 

Longer, more established settlements were formed in Greenland, Iceland, Great Britain, and Normandy.

In early 2014, I found family tree sources supporting my 2% Scandinavian ancestry.  To be absolutely honest any ancestry that goes back beyond modern records (18th century and later) is a bit murky to me -- and in my opinion -- must be viewed with some suspicion as to their complete accuracy.

That being said I found evidence that suggests I have viking ancestry that goes back to Halfdan "Hvitbein" Olafsson King in Uppsala, born 704 in Romerike, Buskerud, Norway; married about 735 to Asa Eysteinsdatter in Vestfold, Norway, and died 750 in Vermaland, Norway.

If I am truly descended from Halfdan "Hvitbein" Olafsson King in Uppsala the lineage is as follows:

Halfdan "Hvitbein" Olafsson King in Uppsala (704 - 750)

my 38th great grandfather

King Eysteinn Halfdansson (736 - 780)

son of Halfdan Olafsson

Halfdan Eysteinsson

son of King Eysteinn Halfdansson

Ivar Vidfame Sweden Halfdansson (772 - 824)

son of Halfdan Eysteinsson

Eystein Glumra Noisy Rattle Ivarsson* (810 - 846)

son of Ivar Vidfame Sweden Halfdansson

Ragnvald I Wise Jarl Eysteinsson (830 - 892)

son of Eystein Glumra Noisy Rattle Ivarsson*

Robert I Rollo "The Viking" "Rolf the Ganger" Prince of Norway & Saint De Normandie "Count of Rouen" Ragnvaldsson (846 - 932)

son of Ragnvald I Wise Jarl Eysteinsson

William I (Longsword) of Normandy (893 - 943)

son of Robert I Rollo "The Viking" "Rolf the Ganger" Prince of Norway & Saint De Normandie "Count of Rouen" Ragnvaldsson

Richard I Normandy (933 - 996)

son of William I (Longsword) of Normandy

Richard II Duke of Normandy (1000 - 1035)

son of Richard I Normandy

Robert I Duke of Normandy (1000 - 1035)

son of Richard II Duke of Normandy

William the Conqueror (1024 - 1087)

son of Robert I Duke of Normandy

Henry I Beauclerc England (1068 - 1135)

son of William the Conqueror

Matilda England (1102 - 1167)

daughter of Henry I Beauclerc England

Henry II Plantagenet (1133 - 1189)

son of Matilda England

King John Lackland Plantagenet (1167 - 1216)

son of Henry II Plantagenet

Henry III Plantagenet (1207 - 1272)

son of King John Lackland Plantagenet

Edmund Crouchback Plantagenet (1244 - 1296)

son of Henry III Plantagenet

Henry 3rd Earl of Lancaster Plantagenet (1281 - 1345)

son of Edmund Crouchback Plantagenet

Eleanor Countess of Arundel Plantagenet (1311 - 1372)

daughter of Henry 3rd Earl of Lancaster Plantagenet

Richard Fitzalan III, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey (1346 - 1397)

son of Eleanor Countess of Arundel Plantagenet

Elizabeth Duchess Norfolk Baroness of Fitz Alan (1366 - 1425)

daughter of Richard Fitzalan III, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey

Lady Joan Baroness Stanley Goushill (1401 - 1460)

daughter of Elizabeth Duchess Norfolk Baroness of Fitz Alan

Katherine Stanley (1430 - 1498)

daughter of Lady Joan Baroness Stanley Goushill

Christoffer Savage (1473 - 1513)

son of Katherine Stanley

Richard Savage (1520 - 1551)

son of Christoffer Savage

Susan Savage (1550 - 1576)

daughter of Richard Savage

George French (1570 - 1647)

son of Susan Savage

Ann French (1610 - 1673)

daughter of George French

George Mason (1629 - 1686)

son of Ann French

Richard Mason (1670 - 1730)

son of George Mason

William Mason (1692 - 1745)

son of Richard Mason

Margaret Mason (1725 - 1752)

daughter of William Mason

James Boyd (1757 - 1791)

son of Margaret Mason

James Boyd (1783 - 1854)

son of James Boyd

Valentine Boyd (1811 - 1870)

son of James Boyd

Sophia Boyd (1836 - 1908)

daughter of Valentine Boyd

David Jackson Bailey (1865 - 1949)

son of Sophia Boyd - great grandfather

I'm not really sure I believe the lineage, but it's fun to think about.  They claim anyone who can go back 30 generations in Europe will eventually find a King in the family tree.

If I really do have a Nordic heritage maybe I should go cross country skiing in Norway.

Adios Cash, vaya con Dios

Cash is my third loss in less than six months. 

At 3 a.m. this morning he woke me up kicking the stall wall.  His colic was what the vet called a strangulating lipoma. 

He was too old for surgery, and in severe pain, so it was time to say goodbye to a great friend. 

The Old Man sure is putting me to the test. 

My old pal was truly a bombproof horse...

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2011/11/cowboy-culture-bombproof-horse-anyone.html

Adios Cash, vaya con Dios

Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Richard Boone

Richard Boone (1917 - 1981) was an American born film and television actor who starred in over 50 films.  He is best known for his roles in B-Westerns and for starring in the TV series "Have Gun – Will Travel."

Richard Boone's Santa Susana locations filmography includes:

Hombre (1967) - Paul Newman, Fredric March and Richard Boone (Bell Ranch) 20th Century-Fox

The Robe (1953) - Richard Burton, Jean Simmons and Victor Mature (Corriganville) (Iverson Ranch) 20th Century Fox

"General Electric Theater" (1953) TV Series -- episode Love Is Eternal (1955)

"Have Gun – Will Travel" TV series -- Richard Boone as Paladin (226 episodes, 1957-1963)

"Playhouse 90" (1956) TV Series -- episodes: Tomorrow (1960); The Tunnel (1959) and The Last Clear Chance (1958)

"Cimarron Strip" (1967) TV Series -- episode: The Roarer (1967)

RIP Shirley Temple Black (1928–2014)

Shirley Temple Black (1928–2014) RIP.  You gave us great joy with your wonderful films.  A few were lensed in Chatsworth:

Wee Willie Winkie (1937) - Shirley Temple, Victor McLaglen, C. Aubrey Smith (Iverson Ranch) 20th Century Fox

Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937) - Eddie Cantor, Tony Martin, Roland Young - 20th Century Fox

I'll be Seeing You (1944) - Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten, Shirley Temple (Chatsworth) Dore Schary Prod.

Fort Apache (1948) - John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple and Pedro Armendáriz (Corriganville) RKO

The Story of Seabiscuit (1949) Shirley Temple, Barry Fitzgerald, Lon McCallister, Rosemary DeCamp (Marwyck) Warner Bros.

She was an American icon that went from a child star during the 1930s to a US Ambassador in the 1960s.  FDR once said of the Depression-era cutie, "As long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be all right." 

One of my all-time favorite Shirley Temple films is John Ford's "Wee Willie Winkie" (1937) which was filmed at the Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth.

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/06/best-chatsworth-movies-wee-willie.html

Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Lloyd Bridges

Lloyd Bridges (1913-1998) was an American born film and television actor.  Bridges appeared in more than 200 film and TV titles.  He is the father of actors Beau Bridges and Jeff Bridges.

Lloyd Bridges' Santa Susana locations filmography includes:

The Son of Davy Crockett (1941) starring Bill Elliott, Iris Meredith, Dub Taylor (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

West of Tombstone (1942) starring Charles Starrett, Russell Hayden, Cliff Edwards (Brandeis Ranch)(Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Shut My Big Mouth (1942) starring Joe E. Brown, Adele Mara, Victor Jory (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

North of the Rockies (1942) starring Tex Ritter, Lloyd Bridges, Bill Elliott (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Pardon My Gun (1942) starring Charles Starrett, Alma Carroll, Arthur Hunnicutt (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Hail to the Rangers (1943) starring Charles Starrett, Arthur Hunnicutt, Robert Owen Atcher (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Saddle Leather Law (1944) starring Charles Starrett, Dub Taylor, Vi Athens (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949) starring Yvonne De Carlo, Howard Duff and Dorothy Hart (Iverson Ranch) Universal

Colt .45 (1950) starring Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman and Zachary Scott (Iverson Ranch) Warner Bros.

Little Big Horn (1951) starring Lloyd Bridges, John Ireland and Marie Windsor (Iverson Ranch) Lippert

The Tall Texan (1953) starring Lloyd Bridges, Lee J. Cobb, Marie Windsor (Iverson Ranch) Lippert

Apache Woman (1955) starring Lloyd Bridges, Joan Taylor, Lance Fuller (Iverson Ranch)(Corriganville) American Releasing

"Playhouse 90" (1956) TV Series -- episodes: Clash by Night (1957), Heritage of Anger (1956)

"Zane Grey Theater" (1956) TV Series -- episodes: starring Image of a Drawn Sword, Ransom (1960), Wire (1958), Time of Decision (1957)

"The Loner" (1965) TV Series -- 26 episodes, 1965-1966 as William Colton

Classic Hunting and Fishing Watch Fob

During late victorian era and the early years of the twentieth century there was no shortage of popular magazines for the hunting and fishing enthusiast.  

Periodicals such as Outers' Recreation; American Rifleman; Hunter Trader Trapper; Outing Magazine, Forest and Stream, Fur, Fish and Game; and (in Canada) Rod and Gun offered wonderful tales of high adventure with rod and gun for every outdoorsman.

It was probably one of these magazines that offered this delightful bronze watch fob to its readers.  This fob came from London, Ontario, Canada, and features four linked panels with a round medallion at the bottom.  

One side depicts hunting scenes with upland game, powder horns, rifles, and hunters with dogs.  The opposite side offers fishing scenes with rods, creels, tackle, and fishermen in canoes.