Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Hank Bell

Hank Bell (1892–1950) appeared in nearly 400 films between 1920 and 1952 when he died from a heart attack.  Hank Bell -- nick-named 'handlebar' -- was best known for his trademark mustache.  He was most often cast in the role of a salty old time stagecoach driver, but was occasionally cast as a lawman or ranch foreman.  

His only starring role on a Santa Susana location was Two Gun Law (1937).  Hank Bell is far right in the photo above.

Hank Bell's Santa Susana locations filmography includes:

Billy the Kid (1930) - Johnny Mack Brown, Wallace Beery, Kay Johnson (Porter Ranch) MGM (Hank is 2nd from right above)

Fighting Sheriff, The (1931) - Buck Jones, Loretta Sayers, Robert Ellis (Iverson Ranch) Columbia (Hank is 2nd from right above)

Whistlin' Dan (1932) - Ken Maynard, Joyzelle Joyner, Georges Renavent (Iverson Ranch) Tiffany

Riding Tornado, The (1932) - Tim McCoy, Shirley Grey, Montagu Love - Columbia

Night Rider, The (1932) - Harry Carey, Elinor Fair and George 'Gabby' Hayes - States Rights

Outlaw Justice (1932) - Jack Hoxie, Dorothy Gulliver, Donald Keith - Majestic

Unknown Valley (1933) - Buck Jones, Cecilia Parker, Wade Boteler - Columbia

Fargo Express (1933) - Ken Maynard, Helen Mack, Roy Stewart - Sono Art World

Fighting Through (1934) - Reb Russell, Rebel and Lucille Lund - Willis Kent

Law of the Wild (1934) [serial] Rex, Rin Tin Tin Jr., Ben Turpin and Bob Custer - Mascot

Dude Ranger, The (1934) - George O'Brien, Irene Hervey, LeRoy Mason - Fox

Blazing Guns (1935) - Reb Russell, Rebel, Marion Shilling - States Rights

Miracle Rider, The (1935)[serial] - Tom Mix, Joan Gale, Charles Middleton (Iverson Ranch) Mascot

Outlaw Deputy, The (1935) - Tim McCoy, Nora Lane, Hooper Atchley (Iverson Ranch) Puritan

Arizonian, The (1935) - Richard Dix, Margot Grahame, Preston Foster - RKO

Lawless Riders (1935) - Ken Maynard, Geneva Mitchell, Harry Woods (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Roarin' Guns (1936) - Tim McCoy, Rosalinda Price, Wheeler Oakman (Brandeis Ranch) Puritan

Trail of the Lonesome Pine, The (1936) - Sylvia Sidney, Fred MacMurray, Henry Fonda (Iverson Ranch) Paramount

Lucky Terror (1936) - Hoot Gibson, Lona Andre and Charles Hill (Iverson Ranch) Diversion Pictures

Song of the Saddle (1936) - Dick Foran, Alma Lloyd, Charles Middleton - Warner Bros.

Red River Valley (1936) - Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Frances Grant - Republic

Lion's Den, The (1936) - Tim McCoy, Joan Woodbury, Don Barclay - Puritan

Cavalcade of the West (1936) - Hoot Gibson, Rex Lease, Marion Shilling (Brandeis Ranch) Diversion

Plainsman, The (1936) - Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, James Ellison (Iverson Ranch) Paramount

Valley of Terror (1937) - Kermit Maynard, Harley Wood, John Merton - Conn

Two Gun Law (1937) - Charles Starrett, Peggy Stratford and Hank Bell (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

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

Gun Law (1938) - George O'Brien, Rita Oehmen, Ray Whitley (Corriganville) RKO

Renegade Ranger, The (1938) - George O’Brien, Rita Hayworth, Tim Holt (Iverson Ranch) RKO

West of the Santa Fe (1938) - Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith and Sons of the Pioneers - Columbia

Thundering West, The (1939) - Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith and Sons of the Pioneers - Columbia

Rough Riders' Round-up (1939) - Roy Rogers, Lynne Roberts, Raymond Hatton (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Frontier Pony Express (1939) - Roy Rogers, Lynne Roberts, Raymond Hatton (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Western Caravans (1939) - Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith and Dick Curtis - Columbia

Fighting Gringo, The (1939) - George O'Brien, Lupita Tovar, Lucio Villegas (Iverson Ranch) RKO

Taming of the West, The (1939) - Bill Elliott, Iris Meredith, Dick Curtis (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Geronimo (1939) - Preston Foster, Ellen Drew, Andy Devine (Iverson Ranch) Paramount

Chip of the Flying U (1939) - Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight (Iverson Ranch) Universal

Henry Goes Arizona (1939) - Frank Morgan, Virginia Weidler, Guy Kibbee (Iverson Ranch) MGM

Pioneers of the Frontier (1940) - Bill Elliott, Dorothy Comingore, Dick Curtis (Iverson Ranch)  Columbia

Rancho Grande (1940) - Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, June Storey  (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Young Buffalo Bill (1940) - Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Pauline Moore (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Man from Tumbleweeds, The (1940) - Bill Elliott, Iris Meredith, Dub Taylor (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Rocky Mountain Rangers (1940) - Robert  Livingston, Raymond Hatton, Duncan Renaldo (Iverson) Republic

Carson City Kid, The (1940) - Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes and Bob Steele (Burro Flats) Republic

Tulsa Kid, The (1940) - Don 'Red' Barry, Noah Beery, Luana Walters (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Oklahoma Renegades (1940) - Robert Livingston, Raymond Hatton, Duncan Renaldo - Republic

Trail of the Vigilantes (1940) - Franchot Tone, Broderick Crawford (Iverson Ranch) Universal

White Eagle (1941)[serial] - Buck Jones, Raymond Hatton, Dorothy Fay (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Pinto Kid, The (1941) - Charles Starrett, Louise Currie, Bob Nolan - Columbia

Phantom Cowboy, The (1941) - Don 'Red' Barry, Virginia Carroll, Milburn Stone - Republic

North from the Lone Star (1941) - Bill Elliott, Richard Fiske, Dorothy Fay - Columbia

Return of Daniel Boone, The (1941) - Bill Elliott, Betty Miles and Dub Taylor (Corriganville) Columbia

Wrangler's Roost (1941) - Ray Corrigan, John 'Dusty' King, Max Terhune (Corriganville) Monogram

Nevada City (1941) - Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Sally Payne - Republic

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

Tonto Basin Outlaws (1941) - Ray Corrigan, John 'Dusty' King, Max Terhune - Monogram

Down Mexico Way (1941) - Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Fay McKenzie (Corriganville) Republic

Roaring Frontiers (1941) - Bill Elliott, Tex Ritter, Ruth Ford - Columbia

Jesse James at Bay (1941) - Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes and Sally Payne - Republic

They Died with Their Boots On (1941) - Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Arthur Kennedy (Iverson Ranch) Warner Bros.

Go West, Young Lady (1941) - Penny Singleton, Glenn Ford, Ann Miller - Columbia

Red River Valley (1941) - Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes and Sally Payne (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Dude Cowboy (1941) - Tim Holt, Marjorie Reynolds, Ray Whitley (Corriganville) RKO

Thunder River Feud (1942) - Ray Corrigan, John 'Dusty' King, Max Terhune - Monogram

Wild Bill Hickok Rides (1942) - Constance Bennett, Bruce Cabot, Warren William - Warner Bros.

Stagecoach Buckaroo (1942) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day (Iverson Ranch) Universal

Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942) - Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Dick Foran (Iverson Ranch) Universal

South of Santa Fe (1942) - Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Linda Hayes (Iverson Ranch) Republic

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

Raiders of the West (1942) - Bill 'Cowboy Rambler' Boyd, Art Davis, Lee Powell - PRC

Rock River Renegades (1942) - Ray Corrigan, John 'Dusty' King, Max Terhune - Monogram

Billy the Kid Trapped (1942) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart (Corriganville) PRC

Lone Rider in Cheyenne, The (1942) - George Houston, Al St. John, Dennis Moore - PRC

Rolling Down the Great Divide (1942) starring Bill 'Cowboy Rambler' Boyd, Art Davis and Lee Powell - PRC

Boot Hill Bandits (1942) - Ray Corrigan, John 'Dusty' King, Max Terhune (Corriganville) Monogram

Sombrero Kid, The (1942) - Don 'Red' Barry, Lynn Merrick, Robert Homans - Republic

Silver Bullet, The (1942) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, William Farnum - Universal

Law and Order (1942) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Dave O'Brien - PRC

Heart of the Golden West (1942) - Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette and George 'Gabby' Hayes - Republic

Valley of Vanishing Men, The (1942)[serial] - Bill Elliott, Slim Summerville, Carmen Morales (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Rangers Take Over, The (1942) - Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson - PRC

Fighting Frontier (1943) - Tim Holt, Cliff Edwards, Ann Summers (Iverson Ranch) RKO

Land of Hunted Men (1943) - Ray “Crash” Corrigan, Dennis Moore, Max Terhune - Monogram

Fugitive of the Plains (1943) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Maxine Leslie (Corriganville) PRC

King of the Cowboys (1943) - Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, Bob Nolan - Republic

Calling Wild Bill Elliott (1943) - Bill Elliott, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Anne Jeffreys (Iverson Ranch)(Burro Flats)(Corriganville) Republic

Death Rides the Plains (1943) - Robert Livingston, Al St. John, Patti McCarty - PRC

Ox-Bow incident, The (1943) - Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Mary Beth Hughes - 20th Century-Fox

West of Texas (1943) [aka Shootin' Irons] - Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson (Corriganville) PRC

Western Cyclone (1943) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Marjorie Manners - PRC

Desperadoes, The (1943) - Randolph Scott, Claire Trevor, Glenn Ford (Corriganville) Columbia

Cowboy Commandos (1943) - Ray Corrigan, Dennis Moore, Max Terhune - Monogram

Song of Texas (1943) - Roy Rogers, Sheila Ryan and Barton MacLane - Republic

Frontier Law (1943) - Russell Hayden, Fuzzy Knight and Dennis Moore - Universal

Law Rides Again, The (1943) - Ken Maynard, Hoot Gibson, Jack La Rue (Corriganville) Monogram

Cattle Stampede (1943) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Frances Gladwin - PRC

  

Wagon Tracks West (1943) - Bill Elliott, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Tom Tyler (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Blazing Frontier (1943) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Marjorie Manners (Corriganville) PRC

Return of the Rangers, The (1943) - Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson - PRC

Devil Riders (1943) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Patti McCarty - PRC  

Overland Mail Robbery (1943) - Bill Elliott, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Anne JeffreysRod Cameron, Tom Tyler, Fuzzy KnightRepublic

Raiders of Sunset Pass (1943) - Eddie Dew, Smiley Burnette, Jennifer Holt (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Boss of Boomtown (1944) - Rod Cameron, Tom Tyler, Fuzzy Knight (Corriganville) Universal

Mystery Man (1944) - William Boyd, Andy Clyde and Jimmy Rogers (Iverson Ranch) United Artists

Fuzzy Settles Down (1944) - Buster Crabbe, Falcon, Al St. John (Corriganville) PRC

Brand of the Devil (1944) - Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson - PRC

San Fernando Valley (1944) - Roy Rogers, Trigger, Dale Evans - Republic

Code of the Prairie (1944) - Smiley Burnette, Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart - Republic

Wild Horse Phantom (1944) - Buster Crabbe, Falcon, Al St. John - PRC

Firebrands of Arizona (1944) - Smiley Burnette, Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart (Iverson Ranch)(Corriganville) Republic

Oath of Vengeance (1944) - Buster Crabbe, Falcon, Al St. John (Corriganville) PRC

Topeka Terror, The (1945) - Allan Lane, Linda Stirling, Earle Hodgins (Iverson Ranch) Republic

His Brother's Ghost (1945) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Charles King - PRC

Great Stagecoach Robbery (1945) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Bells of Rosarita (1945) - Roy Rogers, Trigger, George 'Gabby' Hayes (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Oregon Trail (1945) - Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, Frank Jaquet (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Along Came Jones (1945) - Gary Cooper, Loretta Young, William Demarest (Iverson Ranch) RKO

Stagecoach Outlaws (1945) - Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Frances Gladwin (Corriganville) PRC

Along the Navajo Trail (1945) - Roy Rogers, Trigger, George 'Gabby' Hayes (Corriganville) Republic

Sunset in El Dorado (1945) - Roy Rogers, George “Gabby” Hayes, Dale Evans (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Rough Riders of Cheyenne (1945) - Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, Mira McKinney (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Cherokee Flash, The (1945) - Sunset Carson, Linda Stirling, Tom London - Republic

Plainsman and the Lady (1946) - Bill Elliott, Vera Ralston and Gail Patrick (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Duel in the Sun (1946) - Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten and Gregory Peck (Chatsworth)(Corriganville) Selznick (Hank is seventh mounted cowboy from the left with a black open crown hat)

California (1947) - Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Fitzgerald (Burro Flats)(Iverson Ranch) Paramount 

Law of the Lash (1947) - Lash La Rue, Al St. John, Lee Roberts (Iverson Ranch) PRC

Along the Oregon Trail (1947) - Monte Hale, Lorna Gray, Clayton Moore (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Cheyenne Takes Over (1947) - Lash La Rue, Al St. John, Nancy Gates (Iverson Ranch) PRC

Albuquerque (1948) - Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, George 'Gabby' Hayes (Iverson Ranch) Paramount

Tornado Range (1948) - Eddie Dean, Copper the Horse, Roscoe Ates (Iverson Ranch) PRC

California Firebrand (1948) - Monte Hale, Lorna Gray, Paul Hurst (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Old Los Angeles (1948) - Bill Elliott, John Carroll, Catherine McLeod (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Gallant Legion, The (1948) - Bill Elliott, Lorna Gray and Joseph Schildkraut (Garden of the Gods) Republic

Return of the Bad Men (1947) Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan, Anne Jeffreys (Iverson) RKO

Black Eagle (1948) - William Bishop, Virginia Patton, Gordon Jones - Columbia

Untamed Breed, The (1948) - Sonny Tufts and George “Gabby” Hayes (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Plunderers, The (1948) - Rod Cameron, Ilona Massey and Lorna Gray (Corriganville)(Iverson Ranch) Republic

Valiant Hombre (1948) - Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, John Litel - United Artists

Loaded Pistols (1948) - Gene Autry, Barbara Britton, Chill Wills (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Last Bandit, The (1949) - Bill Elliott, Lorna Gray and Forrest Tucker (Brandeis Ranch) Republic

Frontier Investigator (1949) - Allan Lane, Black Jack, Eddy Waller (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Streets of Laredo (1949) - William Holden, Macdonald Carey, Mona Freeman (Corriganville) Paramount

Outcasts of the Trail (1949) - Monte Hale, Paul Hurst, Jeff Donnell (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Red Desert (1949) - Don 'Red' Barry, Tom Neal, Jack Holt - Lippert

Over the Border (1950) - Johnny Mack Brown, Wendy Waldron, Myron Healey (Iverson Ranch) Monogram

Gunslingers (1950) - Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde, Reno Browne - Monogram

Fancy Pants (1950) - Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Bruce Cabot (Chatsworth Trains) Paramount

Trail Guide (1952) - Tim Holt, Mary Jo Tarola, Frank Wilcox - RKO

Reel Estates -- Six Degrees of Separation

They claim we are all within Six Degrees of Separation of each other

For over 45 years I made a living building homes in or near the San Fernando Valley.  Now retired, I am a movie historian and author writing about movie locations in the valley.  It recently occurred to me that I have just six degrees of separation from a few movie stars whose former homes -- reel estates -- I helped turn into residential communities for ordinary people.

To understand why movie stars owned large parcels of land in the valley we need to rewind back to the 1930s; America was in the middle of a great depression, but the rich and famous in Hollywood were unaffected.  They lived lavish lifestyles and spent money on pleasurable pursuits such as thoroughbred horse racing and polo playing.

Many celebs purchased valley real estate as an investment and a hedge against losses in the recent Wall Street collapse.  Three Hollywood celebrities whose estates I helped turn into tract housing are director Rowland V. Lee, actress Barbara Stanwyck and actor Clark Gable.  

Rowland V. Lee Ranch, Canoga Park, California

Rowland V. Lee, a film director, owned a 214-acre movie ranch, located in Canoga Park. He purchased the property in 1935, from the Ben Porter Estate.  Lee called it Farm Lake Ranch, but the film industry always knew it as the Rowland V. Lee Ranch.  The property had a natural 4 acre lake that showed up on 1940s maps as Lee Lake.  

In 1946, Republic Pictures constructed a farmhouse and barn set with a stone and wood bridge over the lake.  It would later be seen in dozens of movies --  but its most famous use was as an Indiana Quaker family farm during the Civil War in Friendly Persuasion (1956).

In early 1969, I was the assistant superintendent for Kaufman & Broad when they developed the ranch into a gated community called Hidden Lake Estates.

Films lensed there include Count of Monte Cristo (1935), Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945), I've Always Loved You (1946), So Dark the Night (1946), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), The Three Musketeers (1948), Strangers on a Train (1951), Yankee Pasha (1954), Jesse James vs. the Daltons (1954), The Night of the Hunter (1955), Friendly Persuasion (1956), The Toy Tiger (1956), Johnny Tremain (1957), Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959), The Big Fisherman (1959), and Back Street (1961)

Barbara Stanwyck's Marwyck Ranch, Northridge, California

In 1936,  Barbara Stanwyck and her agent Zeppo Marx purchased 127 acres from the Porter Estate in North Los Angeles (now Northridge) to be used as a thoroughbred horse breeding, boarding and training ranch.  They called the ranch Marwyck using a combination of their names.  Just a few years later in 1940 -- after her marriage to Robert Taylor -- Barbara sold her home on 10 acres to actor Jack Oakie.

In late 1969 I was promoted to superintendent by Kaufman & Broad, and began construction of the second phase of housing on their Pepper Tree Farms development which was constructed on the lower Marwyck Ranch.

Marwyck Ranch was not a major filming location, but scenes in The Story of Seabiscuit (1949) were lensed there.

Clark Gable Estates, Encino CA

Shortly after their marriage in 1939, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard purchased a 30-acre ranch with a nine bedroom house, barn and horse stables that had once belonged to director Raoul Walsh.  Sadly, Carole Lombard died in an airplane crash in 1942.  Gable enlisted in the Army, and did not return to the estate until after WWII.  He lived there until his death in 1960.

During the 1970s, the estate was subdivided and sold in smaller lots, as the 'Clark Gable Estates.' The original Gable clapboard house still stands on a 1.17 acre lot in the center of the subdivision at 4543 Tara Drive, Encino.

In 1975, I was doing construction management for SH Bulmer & Associates, a Sherman Oaks Builder, when we constructed three 'for sale' homes on Oak View Drive and Ashley Oaks Drive in the Clark Gable Estates.

Just a few years later when the San Fernando Valley attempted to secede from the grips of the City of Los Angeles I would lament the loss of the many small farms and ranches lost to development in our valley… see Cowboy's Lament http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2011/10/cowboy-culture-cowboys-lament.html

Oak Park, Ventura County, California

For a brief time during the early 1980s, I was employed by Metropolitan Development Corp. as a land planner working on its Oak Park project in Ventura County.

For more than a half century the site -- which was formerly the Jordan Ranch -- had been used as a filming location for such notable movies as "The Red Pony" (1949), "The Man from the Alamo" (1953), "Texas Across the River" (1966), and "Firecreek" (1968) just to mention a few titles.

Now, in my 70s, it's unlikely I'll be involved in the remaking of any more movie properties, but you never know what destiny lies ahead.

"You betchum, Red Ryder"

My earliest cowboy memory -- one of my favorites -- is Red Ryder.  I recall listening to the Red Ryder radio series in the 1940s before we got our first television in 1949.  

One of my favorite activities back then was to listen to the radio show and read the Sunday comic strip at the same time.  It didn't matter that the tales were different.  I could hear Reed Hadley intone the Western drawl of Red Ryder, and visualize what he looked like through Fred Harman's fabulous comic strip characters.

I soon discovered Daisy's Red Ryder BB guns, and like most youngsters of the era my relentless begging eventually won out; allowing our backyard to become a tin can shooting gallery (photo courtesy of Bruce Hickey).

Red Ryder in film...

Fred Harman's 'Red Ryder' character made its debut in 1938, and by 1940, Don 'Red' Barry was the first to portray the Red Ryder comic character on the silver screen in a Republic cliffhanger.

Adventures of Red Ryder (1940) starring Don 'Red' Barry, Noah Beery, Tommy Cook (Burro Flats) (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Between 1944 and 1946, Bill Elliott made 16 Red Ryder films

Tucson Raiders (1944) starring Bill Elliott, George 'Gabby' Hayes and Robert Blake (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Marshal of Reno (1944) starring Bill Elliott, George 'Gabby' Hayes and Robert Blake (Iverson Ranch) Republic

San Antonio Kid, The (1944) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Cheyenne Wildcat (1944) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Vigilantes of Dodge City (1944) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Sheriff of Las Vegas (1944) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Great Stagecoach Robbery (1945) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Lone Texas Ranger (1945) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Phantom of the Plains (1945) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Marshal of Laredo (1945) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Colorado Pioneers (1945) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Wagon Wheels Westward (1945) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

California Gold Rush (1946) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Sheriff of Redwood Valley (1946) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Bob Steele (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Sun Valley Cyclone (1946) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Conquest of Cheyenne (1946) starring Bill Elliott, Robert Blake and Alice Fleming (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Between 1946 and 1947, Allan Lane made 7 Red Ryder films

(Black Jack in the photo above -- was beautiful black stallion -- owned and ridden by Rocky Lane.  According to Bobby Copeland's book "Silent Hoofbeats" Black Jack was a Morgan that Lane bought from Bill Elliott in 1946.  I believe the horse was probably 'Thunder' in both of their respective Red Ryder roles.)

Santa Fe Uprising (1946) starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake and Martha Wentworth (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Stagecoach to Denver (1946) starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake and Martha Wentworth (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Vigilantes of Boomtown (1947) starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake and Martha Wentworth (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Homesteaders of Paradise Valley (1947) starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake and Martha Wentworth (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Oregon Trail Scouts (1947) starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake and Martha Wentworth (NOT CHATSWORTH) Republic

Rustlers of Devil's Canyon (1947) starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake and Martha Wentworth (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Marshal of Cripple Creek (1947) starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake and Martha Wentworth (Iverson Ranch) Republic

Between 1949 and 1950, Jim Bannon made 4  Red Ryder films  

Ride, Ryder, Ride! (1949) starring Jim Bannon, Don Reynolds, Emmett Lynn (Iverson Ranch) Eagle-Lion

Roll, Thunder, Roll! (1949) starring Jim Bannon, Don Reynolds, Emmett Lynn (Iverson Ranch) Eagle-Lion

Fighting Redhead, The (1949) starring Jim Bannon, Don Reynolds, Emmett Lynn (Iverson Ranch) Eagle-Lion

Cowboy and the Prizefighter, The (1950) starring Jim Bannon, Don Reynolds, Emmett Lynn (Iverson Ranch) Eagle-Lion

In addition to the comic strips, radio and film both Jim Bannon and Allan Lane attempted to rework their films into early television roles -- unfortunately neither were successful.

We sure could use a good Red Ryder tale for today's audience.  Hey Mr Spielberg -- if you're listening?

Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas -- Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn (1915–2001) was a Mexican American actor, who was also a painter and writer.   He made over 160 films, but only appeared in a handful of Santa Susana locations films.

Anthony Quinn's Santa Susana locations supporting roles:

The Plainsman (1936) starring Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, James Ellison (Iverson Ranch) Paramount

The Last Train from Madrid (1937) starring Dorothy Lamour, Lew Ayres and Gilbert Roland (Iverson Ranch) Paramount

They Died with Their Boots On (1941) starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Arthur Kennedy (Iverson Ranch) Warner Bros.

The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) starring Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Mary Beth Hughes (Iverson Ranch) 20th Century-Fox

California (1946) starring Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck and Barry Fitzgerald (Burro Flats)(Iverson Ranch) Paramount 

Anthony Quinn's Santa Susana locations starring roles:

Mask of the Avenger (1951) starring John Derek, Anthony Quinn and Jody Lawrance (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

The Guns of Navarone (1961) starring David Niven, Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn (Iverson Ranch) Columbia

Newly Discovered Iverson Ranch Western Titles

Big Stakes (1922) starring J.B. Warner, Elinor Fair and Les Bates (Iverson Ranch) Metropolitan Pict., screen capture

Juarez (1939) starring Paul Muni, Bette Davis and Brian Aherne (Iverson Ranch) Warner Bros., photo courtesy of Bruce Hickey

Mark of Zorro, The (1940) starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone (Iverson Ranch) 20th Century Fox

Great Missouri Raid, The (1951) starring Wendell Corey, Macdonald Carey and Ellen Drew (Iverson Ranch) Paramount, photo courtesy of Bruce Hickey

Adventures of Gallant Bess (1952) starring Cameron Mitchell, Audrey Long and Fuzzy Knight (Iverson Ranch) Crestview Prod.

Canyon River (1956) starring George Montgomery, Marcia Henderson and Peter Graves (Iverson Ranch) Allied Artists

Gun the Man Down (1956) starring James Arness, Angie Dickinson and Emile Meyer (Iverson Ranch) United Artists

He Rides Tall (1964) starring Tony Young, Dan Duryea and Jo Morrow (Iverson Ranch) Universal

Waco (1966) starring Howard Keel, Jane Russell, Brian Donlevy (Iverson Ranch) A.C. Lyles Prod.

Wackiest Wagon Train in the West, The (1976) starring Bob Denver, Forrest Tucker and Ivor Francis (Iverson Ranch) Metromedia Prod.

April 2013 update

Cowboy Collectibles -- National Parks Watch Fobs

Okay, you could argue National Park souvenirs have nothing to do with cowboys, but then when the park in question is on the edge of cow country in Wyoming, Montana, or California's High Sierra's you could be wrong.  In this post I'll share of my few national parks watch fobs from the early part of the 20th century.

About 1915, photographer Frank Jay Haynes captured a marvelous photo of twin black bear cubs standing upright on their hind legs in Yellowstone National Park.  

The image became a Yellowstone icon and was reproduced on postcards and other souvenirs for the next couple of decades.

My Yellowstone National Park watch fob and luggage tag featuring images of the famous Twin Cubs were crafted by the Robbins Company in Attleboro, Mass.  Few of these watch fobs, and even fewer of the luggage tags have survived over the past hundred years, so these have become valuable collectibles.

T. J. Hileman was appointed the official photographer for the Great Northern Railway in 1924, and became well known for his exquisite photos of Glacier National Park in Montana.

Hileman's image of a Rocky Mountain Goat on the postcard (second) above became the iconic image for Glacier National Park, so it is no surprise it has been reproduced on all sorts of souvenirs including the extraordinary watch fob above.

In 1957, my folks moved to a small high sierra hamlet just 13 miles from Yosemite National Park.  It seemed like every summer weekend for the next several years my folks became tour guides for all our relatives, and I became intimately familiar with the extraordinarily beautiful park.  

One of my earliest collectibles is the sterling silver watch fob above which depicts a scene of Overhanging Rock at Glacier Point above Yosemite Valley.

Glacier Point became a famous park location in 1903, when Conservationist John Muir and then President Theodore Roosevelt camped in the area for three days.  The granite outcropping known as 'Overhanging Rock' at Glacier Point has been photographed and reproduced again and again over the past hundred years.

One of the earliest concessions in Yosemite was Camp Curry which was started by David and Jenny Curry in 1899.  Today it is known as Curry Village.  The postcard above is circa 1915.

This Camp Curry watch fob featuring a Yosemite Black Bear was crafted pre-1925.

The Wawona Tree (photo above) -- also known as the Tunnel Tree -- was a famous giant sequoia that stood in the Mariposa Grove.  It was 227 feet tall, and had a circumference of 90 feet.  A tunnel had been cut through the tree in 1881, so it became a popular tourist attraction. The Wawona Tree fell in 1969 under a heavy snow load.  It was believed to have been approximately 2,300 years old.

My Wanona Tree watch fob is from the early 20th century as you can tell from the bas-relief image of a 1920s touring car that graces it.