Saturday, November 17, 2018

The Rock Stars of Boulder Pass (aka Santa Susana Pass)


Early 1950s aerial view of Santa Susana Pass Iverson and Brandeis Movie Location Ranches


It’s now been more than one hundred years since Hollywood film makers were first attracted to the Santa Susana Pass by the extraordinary sandstone rock formations that exist here.




For nearly twenty years I’ve been researching and writing about the movie location ranches that once populated the area.  

Using a variety of media including movie memorabilia, such as promotional stills and lobby cards, along with my own photographs, I’ve attempted to document the fantastic landscape and rock outcroppings that lured film makers here in the first place.

I call these unique landscape features Rock Stars. The following links are a visual tour of them.

Iverson Movie Location Ranch -- Chatsworth, California

A primer on the Iverson Movie Ranch



Lone Ranger Rock inset scene from Lone Ranger TV Show (1949)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Lone Ranger Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Devil's Doorway

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Garden of the Gods

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Nyoka Cliff

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Three Ages Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Crown Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Zorro's Cave

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Overhang Rock



Stoney Point in a scene from “Atom Man vs Superman” (1950)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Stoney Point (Chatsworth icon)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Iverson Gorge and Overlook Point

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Buster Keaton's Bathtub

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Saddlehorn Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Map to rock star locations (lower ranch)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Hole in the wall

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Cave Rocks (Indian Hills)


Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Lash's archway (Indian Hills)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Hook Rock (Indian Hills)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Split Rock (Indian Hills)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Mushroom Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Nyoka Summit

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Bulldog Bluff

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Sheep Flats (Stacked Rocks)


Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Iverson's western street

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Indian Hills Grove

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Batman Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Boots Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Indian Hills Chase Roads

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Indians Hills (Range Rider, Scoop and Center Rocks)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- lower Iverson miscellaneous

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- lower Iverson Ranch overview

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- upper Iverson Ranch overview


Devil’s Doorway - Northside from various films



Devil’s Doorway - Southside from various films

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Iverson Archways

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Ambush Pass

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Ambush Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Turtle Rocks and Hidden Valley

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Miner’s Cabin


Meanwhile back at the ranch -- upper Stone Cabin

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- the Slates

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Whale Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Indian Head Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Totem Pole Rocks

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Lookout Point

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Upper Iverson Cliff


Eagle Beak (center) and the Molars (left) as seen in “The Last Musketeer” (1952)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Eagle Beak and The Molars

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Medicine Rocks (aka most prominent rock)

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Cap Rock

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Insert Road

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Durango's Pass

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Festival Rocks


Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Adobe Villages

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Gorge Cabin

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Grove Cabin

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Grove Relay Station

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- GOTG Relay Station

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Lean-to Cabins


Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Iverson Ranch Set

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Rocky Peak

Meanwhile back at the ranch -- Oat Mountain

Brandeis Movie Ranch -- Hickeyville

Brandeis Movie Ranch -- Caretaker's House

Brandeis Movie Ranch -- Bunkouse


Chatsworth Filming Location -- Railroad Depot

Chatsworth Filming Location -- Railroad Tunnel 28

Chatsworth Filming Location -- Railroad cut and tunnels

Chatsworth filming location -- Chatsworth Reservoir

Chatsworth filming location -- Burro Flats

Corriganville Movie Ranch -- Overview


Corriganville's Western Street -- Silvertown

Corriganville's Fort Apache and Dugout

Corriganville's Robin Hood Lake

Corriganville's Chase Roads

Double R Bar Ranch -- Roy Rogers’ Chatsworth Home

Beyond Boulder Pass -- Bell Location Ranch


Films of Boulder Pass - A Comprehensive List of movies

Reel Cowboys, Cowgirls, etc -- Chatsworth's Six-Gun Heroes


Misc Chatsworth Movie History…


105,000 fans view the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Rodeo at the LA coliseum (1956)

San Fernando Valley Horses and Movies Are Forever Linked

Chatsworth Equine Cultural Heritage Organization's Parting Gift

Older Post (updated)

Chatsworth's Rock Stars





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