Corriganville Movie Ranch - Defunct Theme Park
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Jeff will take you to Corriganville, an old movie ranch created outside of Simi Valley by western character Ray "Crash" Corrigan. He will explain some of the TV shows and movies shot on the 2,000 acre ranch nestled among the distinctive boulders in Ventura County, California.
#HistoryHunters #Corriganville #MovieFilmingLocations #TVwesterns
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My parents took me here when I was about 5 years old. I still have a picture of myself on a horse with Mr. Corrigan standing next to horse.
Quixote studios are adjacent and they still film (record) commercials and promotional videos there and other locations too of course.
Pam Hernandez, I would love to buy some copies of those pictures ,my friend Colin's, was raised here in the set but ,he dosen have any pictures or etc.On my channel I interviewed him and Mis Dupont from Rin TinTin.
@@RANGERIZZY I will look for them and get copies to free. As soon as I can
When I moved to California in the 1960s, this was this favorite place for my family to visit. My dad loved that in the saloon you could get a beer and a pickle for a nickel.
What is nice about History Hunters is your respectful look at times past. I smiled at this one.
I agree 👍 💯
Thanks for the fine video Jeff. It's nice to see some people keeping the memory of Corriganville alive. A few little extra notes for you are (1) the hill just above the stable foundation was known as Gorilla Head by the employees. (2)the Whirlwind Mine shaft was built for the Perils of Nyoka and the other end where your filming stopped would have been a stuccoed cave entrance. I doubt that Errol Flynn's Robin Hood was filmed at the lake since it was filmed in 1938 and the lake wasn't made till about mid 40's. The Robin Hood tv series was a British production and not made here but there were other Robin Hood type films made at the ranch such as Rogues Of Sherwood Forest. During the mid-50's my dad and I spent, seemingly, ever other week end at the ranch. Great family memories. I do remember sometimes when stars like Peter Brown, Nick Adams, Sunset Carson and yes even Lou Costello would stop by and say hi on weekends. I have posted a few videos here as well. Also I have spent nearly 25 years collecting any and every movie and tv episodes filmed at Corriganville in part or entirely. This video library should number about 400 films. Again many thanks for your video. Very nice.
Errol Flynn's Robin Hood was filmed out in the Westlake/Agoura area, about 10-15 miles away to the west. There is still "Lake Sherwood" where a bunch was fimed, but is now surrounded by lovely lake houses, and some not so lovely mcmansions.
What's interesting is the cowboy culture is still alive and well in remote parts of the Southwest USA. The white straw type cowboy hat is a must have when in the sun over 100 degrees and no shade. It keeps your neck shaded where the baseball cap does not. We still have those ankle biters (rattle snakes) and the cowboy boots take care of most of that. Many use the little ATV's or side by side ATV's but the horse is always on hand for when a mechanical problem occurs and a horse can travel over terrain no ATV can handle. A horse is basically a must have for ranch work, then and now. If your local store has a hitching post and a sign to remove spurs before entering, then you are in my area...
I liked your Mr. Haney voice impression. You're right about one thing. Too many affordable, family roadside attractions have gone the way of the old-time Westerns, relegated to the dustbin of history. Now only theme parks such as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm remain - that is, if today's families have deep enough pockets filled with cash to afford them. They seem to have become playgrounds for the rich. Working class families can barely afford to visit theme parks nowadays.
Having grown up about seven miles from there our family often went to Corriganville. They always had a western action play that usually involved a shootout with stuntmen taking falls off second story balconies. All kinds of people in period costumes roamed the two street town with "Indian Chiefs" in full regalia. Everyone was approachable and welcomed taking photos with us kids and signing autographs. What a fun time and lasting memory.
Great memorys. .!! Used to race motorcycles here once yr ..the famous hopetown mx race ...and it's famous mud hole !!! Have films of 73 race ..and the sidecars and their monkeys ...one brave soul wore a helmet and mx boots ..and nothing else ..!!!
Thrilled the crowd. Thank u for the memories ..racing down the old main street knowing how many western had been filmed there...was a thrill. History history history. Thank u for not forgetting. 💙 Trudy Stubbs a brief history of women in motocross ..
Thanks for sharing! Great memories! Where exactly did the track run? Where the current trails are?
I feel like you're picking up where Huell left off. Love all your episodes, Jeff! Thank you!
To be compared to Huell is a great compliment! Thank you!
Visited Corriganville many times in my youth because my grand parents lived in Simi Valley and my Grand Father was an extra in many of the movies and TV shows filmed there. I see him in the back ground from time to time watching old westerns. Great memories
I loved this episode, I wasn't able to visit as a kid but I would have loved it!!
If you look at Google maps just east of Corriganville, just over the LA County line you’ll see Trigger St. It’s where Dale & Roy Rogers lived before their move to Apple Valley. I met Jay Silverheels at CV once as a kid. A BFD to me then and still is.
I met John Waye in 1960 in Eagle Pass, Texas while he was filming the Alamo. Not a big deal to some, but a big deal to the 6 yr. old. I really don't remember it, but my Mom kept the napkin he autographed for me when my Mom was too embarrased to bother him at a cafe while he and the crew were eating so she had me go over for the autograph. He even wrote my name. TO AUSTIN LITTLE COWBOY JOHN WAYNE.
I love classic movie history. I just turned 50 and I grew up on reruns of all those old movies and I still go back and watch them again. Back then, they made movies like appliances, built to last a lifetime. Now, modern day movies are throw-always like everything else, including appliances.
Having grown up in Simi Valley from the early 60s Corriganville was an amazing place to visit. So much fun to be had for families back then. It was a working movie ranch during the weekdays and an western theme park on the weekends. In 1966 Crash Corrigan and his wife Elaine Dupont were in the process of being divorced. As part of the divorce settlement they were forced to sell the ranch. Bob Hope purchased it as a real estate investment and so Corriganville was closed and renamed Hope Town. It sat empty and in disrepair for a a couple of years and with the new 118 fwy construction and opening of it the noise levels became so high that filming was hindered. At the advent of organized motorcycle racing it became a motocross racing venue with annual events. It was very successful into the 70s. Unfortunately two wildfires destroyed most of the iconic movie sets. Later the motocross races ended and the property sat empty for many years. Corriganville is officially credited with over 440 filming projects. Some believe it hosted many more than that as complete accurate records were never kept. Scenes from TV shows, Movies and commercials for TV. It's crown movie production was the 1948 "Fort Apache" Starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. A lot of early Hollywood Western history took place there.
Central California is still full of the cowboy culture, I know. I have a ranch and every view from my house is of my cows or horses. I still (at 57) play cowboy :) Great video Jeff!
I remember going to Corriganville for the first time in about 1957...as a young boy... thank you for bringing all this back ... much appreciated
I grew up in Simi Valley my dad would take me and my older brother there. back then it was closed to the public and you had to get special permission to be there. Brahma bulls roamed free and my dad would tease us that the bulls would run after us😆. Good childhood memories I really enjoyed this episode! Thank you for exploring my hometown.
As a boy in Australia in the late 50's I used to watch Roy Rogers, and Jungle Jim. I often wondered where they were made. Great to see this park and must include in my next trip to the US.
Thanks for the memories this video brought me. In the late 1950's and the early 1960's, my family would go to Corriganville a number of times. I got to ride horses, couldn't get me off them actually, and it was small enough you could take your time wandering around the ranch. Of course, my dad loved Westerns. Everything on TV that was a western he'd watched. Roy Roger's, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel, Wagontrain, The Virginian, Rawhide, The Ponderosa. You name it, we watched it. Living in Southern California during that time was a great place to live. But now, not so much. I moved to Palmdale when I got married in 1972, but by then Corriganville was no longer. Great video btw. The cowboy culture isn't gone away, it still lives and thrives all over the country. I used to own a small ranch in Eastern Utah and raised cattle, sheep, milk goats, chickens and rabbits. Even had about 5 horses to ride out from our place ans straight out into the desert. Helped neighbors herd their cattle in spring and fall. I loved it. My daughter continues in her own way now and rescues horses.
Thank you very much for this walk down memory lane. My parents own the Trading Post there...we lived on the ranch for several years. I was 4 years old when they bought the store and 12 when Bob Hope closed the ranch down. I still know that ranch like the back of my hand. Dad was a part-time stunt man and full-time store operator. They sold cowboy boots, Lee jeans, hats...etc.. Great video presentation. Absolutely love the drone flyover.
So sad we dont have places like this any more .this was great really took me back to such a better time in life thanks for sharing such a great place in western movie history
Glad you enjoyed it, David!!!
I have a teenager boy who plays video games all the time, he said he has friends online and no one goes outside because it’s “lame”. I’m sure even this boy would be attracted to a cowboy town like this! Thank you for sharing, I had no idea!
Tell him to go outside they are giving away free vitamin D.
Have been in it's current state but not while open. Fun fact. They recreated the Spahn ranch there for once upon a time in Hollywood. Nice job Jeff!
I was born in LA as a Navy brat. I was about 5 years old with my younger brother and my parents too us there and remember seeing Fort Appache and the town. Thanks for the memories.
Hi Jeff, I was raised in Chatsworth and then lived much of my married life in Simi Valley. Used to go there as a kid in Chatsworth back in the mid-1960's. I remember the Spanh (sp) during the early 60's and I attended Church at Rock Peak during my years in Chatsworth and Simi Valley. When I was running, I had a mile and a half course that I ran at Corriganville Park during the late 1990's and the 2000's. I believe the popularity of the park was diminished by Disneyland and then of course the sale to Hope and the fires, especially the 1970 wildfire pretty much destroyed the park buildings. Thanks so much for your accurate research and CZcams reporting on the park. Brought back many memories. I actually do CZcams videos as thelastnail in the Boulder County area of Colorado now. Bruce, thelastnail.
I remember going there as a kid with my family, in its glory days, and riding the stage coach and seeing cowboys having a shoot out in the street. Now days I go there occasionally to walk my dog around the whole area. Last time I went I encountered a small rattle snake on the trail. 😱. Great video. Thanks!
I had to ride my dirt bike through that train tunnel when we moved from Chatsworth to Simi Valley. Also went to the Hopetown Grand Prix races in the early 70's and they rode through the old Town movie sets, what a blast!!
I used to go out to Corriganville with my best friend, Kasey Rogers, who filmed a lot of Westerns out there.
She later raced mini bikes and moto-cross bikes after it became HopeTown!!
I always felt sad out there knowing the old West magic that once took place being reduced to just concrete slabs...
I remember hope town. Munts, baymare, and Indian dunes. All local motocross parks of the day.
Used to race w kasey rogers at Indian dunes ..and hope town ..!!!
Women's division w many trailblazing women ..kasey wrote a small article on me for one of the magazine's...she was also character on bewitched...larry tates wife ..thank u for the memorys...i have films of hope town mx in early 70s...that was the best race for fun ..remember the mud hole ?? Fond memorys of this place ..thank u. !!💙 Trudy Stubbs
Hello Folks
Living in England I know nothing of ''Corriganville'', but going by the general look of nostalgia
with the odd flush of frustration on your face every now and again I would say it bought back
a few vivid memories of childhood tv series you enjoyed .
Memories of maybe better times when life wasn't so complicated, I was 13 in Jan 1960 and
after a day out with my mates sit and watch a fifties cowboy, this format kept going virtually
all the way through till I got married in 1970. so your post eased me into a rather strong wave
of nostalgia. Thanks for the memories I enjoyed that. It's a pity these locations are no nothing
but ruins. Sorry went on a bit.
I was just thinking of the Late Thom Bresh who was a child performer at Corriganville in the early 1960s. He was a stunt man and musician. He just passed-away recently. He will certainly be missed by music fans world-wide.
I remember going to Corinville as a kid sometime in the late 50’s . I thought it was very cool and have never forgotten our trip there.
Until I watched this presentation of History Hunters, I had never heard of Corriganville. Very well presented and educational.
Thank you Gary! Glad you liked the video!
Another great video, Jeff.
Just a slight correction. After Bob Hope bought the property, it was called 'Hopetown' not 'Hopeville'. There was a giant sign saying that that was visible from the road and the railroad. There's now a housing development nearby by that name.
Yeah I misspoke. Sometimes that happens. I'll not catch it until I get home and then it's kind of too late to change! LOL. Thanks for watching!
That fellow at 21:13,Bud Stiltz, is the one who shot and killed Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer.Crash Corrigan`s son was in the room when it happened.
I sat with Tom (@ Corrigan's steakhouse 10 years ago) and he told me the entire story. 60+ years later the memory still haunted him. He was clearly still upset by how Carl acted that night and the result. RIP Tom (Tommy) Corrigan.
Yup! True...
Thanks Jeff. I never knew about Corriganville. I had the privilege of working at Frontier Village in the mid 70s. I have a lot of fond memories.
Thanks Jeff for taking us to this old place. Nice Pat Butrum impression. When my family lived in Long Beach, CA we knew of Corriganville but never visited. We stuck with Knotts Berry Farm and Calico though I have been to Bodie. The train tracks looks like it's an operating railway since it has concrete sleepers and welded track. Anyone who was a child actor in those old black and white movies would be in their '80s nowadays. I remember a lot of them.
Growing up in California in the 1960’s and 70’s was a experience that is gone forever. It was a wonderful place. The divorce drama is typically California too😂
I worked in San Jose for years, and Frontier Village is still remembered fondly by natives of Santa Clara County.
Very well done! Now an "old man" I grew up as a boy within 1/2 mile of the entrance. So many days playing hero and villain in the hills and then owning a store overlooking the ranch. Imagination took flight and I became a novelist part due to those days of play and wonder of Hollywood magic just within reach a short bike ride from our front door. Playing football for Simi High vs Hart (Newhall) that night in 1970 when fires swept over the ranch, and all the hills were ablaze taking out most of Corriganvilles remaining buildings, but we still had hopes that Bob Hope would revive it. And then in '78, I believe sadly watching the remnants of Fort Apache, the last structures from our childhood, burn down in a fire. Thanks for the memories!
That place is awesome, Jeff. Thanks for showing us around. Your editing and narration is great. It’s always fascinating to see retro photos blending in with the modern state of the property. I watched this video twice. 👏
My memories of what I knew not as Hopeville but Hope Town. Late 60's early 70's motorcycle races were held there. We ran right down the middle of town then up into the hills. It was also a location were European motorcycle riders came over to show American riders the new sport of motocross as exhibitions. Boy did that take off.
I never liked or watched Lost in Space, but I loved The High Chaparral and Bonanza. I never heard of Corriganville before, and I grew up in Silicon Valley. I remember Frontier Village well, great fun. Another great video. But when you mentioned the motorcycle race, then I knew the place. I raced motorcycles in the 70's. It was the famous Corriganville/Hopetown Grand Prix that ran from 1962 to 1975, but I only knew as the Hopetown Grand Prix. Awesome!
66 Years old... I never learned to ride a horse! Unless they have me on a Harley, my character may doing a lot of walking! Ha ha! I will for sure keep you posted! You guys rock! Love your vids!
My mother, her brother and sister , grew up there , before it became Clear orriganville.. I remember her telling stories of when they were younger and playing around the rock that would later become the rock that was shown at the beginning of The Lone Ranger. Where his horse, Silver reared up under. And the three of them ( my mother, ( she was the oldest)her sister and brother) being in a cave with a mountain lion. This would have been in the mid 1920's to '30s.. my grandfather (Harry William Glover) was t he village blacksmith This was before the Sana Susana pass was constructed. Which he helped to build. I'm glad I came across your videos. They help to give me a better picture ,of the stories my mother told about her childhood and the area where she grew up.. Thank you.,😊
Before it became Corriganville
1958 my brother and I had fun watching a street shoot out, I was just six but home movies recorded it all. Thanks mom and dad.
Giddy up Cowpokes ! Thanks Jeff for showing some great history on the Western Scene! Hope Sara is Ok- A show without Sara is like a Day Without Sunshine.. See you next week..❤️
I went there as a kid in the 50’s when it was sold to Bob Hope they raced a yearly motorcycle race called the Hopetown Classic in the late 60’s, it brought some of the great European riders, it was the start of motocross.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
I just got off the phone with my cousin from New York who was reminiscing about an old ranch we went to when they came to visit us in California in about 1957 or ‘58. She thought it was a home of one of my parent’s friends and was describing it as very rustic. She said there were peacocks running around and a pen with a litter of dogs. I didn’t recall any of this (I was barely 2 yrs old) until she talked about getting our picture taken on horses and signed by Crash Corrigan. I still have them. I do remember going there when I was a bit older. I used to love Westerns as a little girl.
There definitely is a shortage of family friendly activities. It's not only enjoyable to get everyone outside and do fun activities, but it can be educational and a good form of exercise. Thanks for sharing, Jeff!
I had never heard of the place. I grew up on So. California, but was born in 1967.
I now live across the country, and buy and sell items at auction. I just purchased a bunch of items that included a Corriganville Movie Ranch glass that was made by Anchor Hocking.
Ive found one online that had been for sale, but it was a different color. Mine is white with black writing.
What a cool story.
Thanks for this!!
I visited the site when Bob Hope opened it and also saw several motocross races there which Steve McQueen was a participant in at least one. Thanks for the memories.
Another wonderful History Hunter episode. I knew of the cowboy characters but never knew about this place in Simi Valley. Thanks Jeff for making my Sunday morning that much better. …..Russell D.
You make our day with a compliment like yours! Thanks, Russell!
Very cool. I grew up in Simi Valley, we used to ride our bikes through Corriganville and Hope Town in the late 70's.
Very cool!
Thumbs up.
Locals get the Jonny Weissmuller Jungle Jim/Tarzan show locations mixed up.
Corrigans son Tom recently passed away. He ran a restaurant in Thousand Oaks full of cowboy, Hollywood and Corriganville memorabilia. I did charity work with his wife Marlyn. Heart of gold and savvy businesswoman.All the women in the family were the business brains.
"All the women in the family were the business brains." and the Men were the "flash". I loved sitting with Tom at the end of the bar (steakhouse) listening to his stories. He taught me his trick on how to make a hat stiff by adding powdered sugar to your steam water...
Went there as a kid. I remember they use to have real buried treasure hunts. It was fun.
I live in Ventura county and frequent Cooriganville. Just up the hill on the other side of the 118 is a place called Rocky Peak that was used in some old films. It was recently used in season 2 episode 6 of The Mandalorian. Great video
Thank you for the Mandalorian tip. I thought it was just going to be a scene or two. Very cool.
Great blast from the past.How cool it must have been for the kids to experience.Don't make places like this anymore😞Thanks Jeff for this immersive experience🌟
Glad you enjoyed it, Brooke! Thanks!
Thanks, you did such a great job at this. Hollywood did such a great job of creating these places in movies which probably never really existed in the West or England with Robin Hood, but i loved them when I was a kid.
The concrete slabs are so much more visible after Tarantino recreated Spahn Ranch here. Love Corriganville!
My Uncle Mac knew Ray Corrigan back in the mid 50's. I was only about 8 when my dad and he took us for a day at the ranch out there. To this day, I can remember meeting Rusty from The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin on the set. Little boys remember shit like that. LOL.
Oh my gosh.I so remember going to Corriganville as a child. My Grandparents would take their movie camera. I may still have footage of it. I remember having a movie clip of me and Barbara Mandrel, Johnny Bond so many the Mathis family. Thank You for sharing this.
Yes, Jeff, having visited Corriganville in June 2018, this East Coast resident always wanted to go back, but the world changed. So, I am very appreciative of your video. It brought back many memories of my walk that day. Thank you ~ and one of the Likes, is from me!
Very cool! Glad to know it brought you some happiness! It’s a very interesting place!
I stumbled onto the filming location where the Lone Ranger was ambushed in the first show.
It was shot in Simi Valley at an old rock quarry that was in the hills in the Santa Susanna mountains on the south central end of simi.
I was traveling on this dirt road tasked with sampling some artesian springs in the area and while sampling I realized the terrain matched the scene from the the TV show.
It was a rock quarry that was used from the 1930s to the 1950s in Simi Valley and of course movie companies will use anything as a backdrop.
My first western town was Six Gun Territory in Florida in 1970 when I was 13 yrs old. Our family still has slides we show when we get together of our journey there. It is a shame all these western towns went out of popularity and became not only defunct but torn down. I had never heard of Corriganville till your video today and it is so sad no one restored it!!!It was cool that the original wagon wheel gate entrance is still there!!! The slabs are just begging to have a new western town reconstructed on them. Many people now a days would be very interested in going there- I believe it would be a fabulous attraction. My neices are all in their twenties and they all wish they could see the old western town attractions and us oldsters would love to go back in time of our youth again and visit the old west!!! Great video!!!!
Angelino Californian here, loves all of your shows but, this touches my heart. Thank you for all of your shows.
Thank you! This was a fun video to shoot!
Mr. Haney… nailed it. Excellent presentation as always Jeff! I look forward to your next video.
Awesome, thank you! And, no, I didn't nail an impression of Pat Buttram! LOL. But thanks!
@@jbenziggy oh, many have tried, very few have succeeded… 🍻
Another excellent video Jeff! And you are so right when you say that back in the day that there seemed to be a lot more locations or attractions for family fun. I’ve noticed that over the years myself. It’s sad how that family closeness or doing things together as a family seems to be dwindling out. I know I miss those days when I was a kid doing things together with my family.
And it was cool seeing Johnny Weissmuller in this video. I really liked him as Tarzan. I use to watch that show with him in it a lot when I was kid. Brought some memories back there for me! Well, thank you, take care, and again, great job! And I’ll see you guy’s on the next one! Frank, from Philadelphia, PA.
Another good one! My friend who is in his 80s did fast draw and worked on guns at MGM and maybe other studios and told me lots of stories about western actors. He said the nicest guy was Peter Breck of “The Big Valley”. I’m glad because I named my son “Nick” after him and “Nick Fury”. He also mentioned something specific about Ray Corrigan that might have contributed to him getting divorced.
I had a FORT APACHE play set way back in the 50’s !!!
The plastic stockades… calvary soldiers… Indians… horses…
You took me back when you mentioned Fort Apache a couple of times !!!
Another great piece from you (and Sarah… I presume)…
Thank you…
Really enjoyed your visit with Corriganville as with all your videos. Thank you!
Thanks for the memories, with my family we made many trips to Coriganville
That's awesome! Glad you found it interesting, Larry!
I shared the link to this on a news app that happened to have a story about Alfalfa. Timing is everything.
People who appreciate your channel can help. Share the link on your social media sites to help this great information get out there. Jeff and Sarah are hard working people!
Ha Ha 👍👍, I've never been there, but seen plenty of shows that were filmed there. Thanks for the tour. 🤠
Fantastic vlog. I met his son and he was a great man
Thank you Jeff
Thank you. Yeah the son just passed away!
Great Video! Thank you for helping us remember this amazing ranch! On January 21, 1959 (The same day Cecile B. Demille passed away) Bud Stilts murdered a fully grown 31 year old Alfalfa Switzer (from the "Our Gang Comedies" now known as the Little Rascals) over a lost dog and $50.00 in the Mission Hills, CA house Ray "Crash" Corrigan handed over to Rita after their divorce. --That house is still standing. Alfalfa appeared in several films and TV shows that were filmed at Corriganville, including several episodes of "The Roy Rogers Show" TV series and a film called "Redwood Forest Trail."
After Corriganville, Crash opened a restaurant/western movie museum "Corrigan's Steakhouse" located in Thousand Oaks, which until recently was owned and operated by Tom Corrigan (Ray and Rita's Son) who recently passed away in 2019. Among the many artifacts and photos on display inside Corrigan's Steakhouse (which served AMAZING food before I changed my diet) was a bearskin rug displayed over the bar which Alfalfa gave Tom (his god son) as a birthday gift in 1954. In the wake of Tom's passing in 2019, his sons closed and sold the Steakhouse which I heard is currently transitioning into a Sushi restaurant and the current owners are going to retheme but incorporate some of the Steakhouse's relics, which included animal head trophies, Chief White Cloud's Indian (Native American) Head dress, hats and Corriganville memorabilia. I never got to see Corriganville, but I'm honored to have visited Corrigan's Steakhouse a few times back in 2004 and met Tom Corrigan who graciously allowed me to take pictures of the place and was the only surviving person that witnessed Alfalfa being murdered by Bud (his best friend) in cold blood.
I found this, very interesting. I still watch westerns, but only the old ones. Brings back happy memories of watching them with my mom as she ironed.
Loved Westerns but lived in NJ when this park was in existence. Great tour.
Thanks, Arleen! We know that you are a dependable follower!
Incredible scenery and incredible memories. Loving the drone footage and the rootin' tootin' music. Thanks, Jeff. God Bless🙏
One of my friends took me to see what was left of Fort Apache in 1998. The sign told what movies and TV shows were filmed there. So good to see your shows..
I like history,especially what is so familiar. Now if I watch some of the westerns, like Rin Tin Tin I will try to figure just what background. From what I read the Fort Apache that John Ford used for the movie was a ruin by 1954 when Adventures of Rin Tin Tin was to be filmed so had to be rebuilt.
Awesome video! It's sad to see these places gone. Family memories will last forever. And kids today need places/adventures like this!
Im from Brazil. I don’t miss any episode of your channel. In my opinion you are the best because i love history an western movies. I wish you can show us more about oldies series spots an western ranch. It’s wonderful!!!!!
I remember visiting with my private school and with my parents as a child in the late 50s and very early 1960s. Fun with lots of exciting shows and things to see. I do remember it.
You always put such great quality in all your videos .. they are fantastic… keep them coming please !!!
Thank you! Will do, Reinhardt!
Jeff, You Really Do Alot Of Reserch for these videos, Great Work...
Thank you very much! I do try to learn all I can before a visit!
Yet another really cool place that I'd never heard of until now. Thanks Jeff, for filling in the blanks in my California history! :)
Fantastic, I had no idea about this place. You do such a great job 👍😊
Thanks very much Philip!
So Jeff, you were locked up in jail at Silvertown when you were a kid? What was your crime? Lolol! 😂🤣 That mighty oak wasn't so mighty! It fell over! Lolol! 🤣😂 Great Mr. Haney impersonation, by the way! Lolol! Love the picture of you in stocks as a kid! Lolol! 😂🤣 Interesting to see all the remnants of things that once were. Thank goodness for photographs since these places down last forever. Imagine in the midst of this very western looking location they shot Robin Hood and jungle movies! I've always admired the film maker's ability to make these places look like jungles, Sherwood forest, etc. My dad was a stuntman and with 2 of his friends he shot a home movie where they impersonated The Three Meskateers. That was when I was about 5 and I used to enjoy watching it. Thank you, as always, for all the good history.💕
WoW! One more place to visit during our trip to L.A.. Thank you Jeff
Living in the San Gabriel Valley, I don't get out their to the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley often. However, when Covid19 hit and many of my good hiking trails closed or were restricted, I ventured out there about 6 months ago and found Corrigan Ranch/Park very interesting. It is in one of my hiking books and I went there and to the Orcutt Ranch just down the road. I did the both as part of my hike. It has a very good grove of oaks and I will use it again down the road as I hike on a hot summer or fall day. Thank you and you told me more then what was in my book or on a website for the park. Thank you!
This may already have been mentioned, but Corriganville Park is also the spot where the Spahn Movie Ranch was recreated for Quentin Tarantino's 2019 picture, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". The scenes where Brad Pitt's character, Cliff Booth, visits the Spahn Movie Ranch, talks with Bruce Dern playing George Spahn, then gets in a fight with the guy who punctures the tire on his car. A great recreation of the Spahn Movie Ranch on the famous former location of Corriganville...Movie Magic for sure!
That’s real sad , I live a half mile from Simi Valley. That would have been nice to visit a place like that.
I never heard of this ranch but I was born in the Disneyland year... Thanks for the look back Jeff.
I'm almost 72. We lived in Santa Monica and I remember going to Corriganville when I was five. Mostly I remember the dirt parking lot and what could be described as carnival booths. But it was fun. Knott's Berry farm was pretty cool too. The only ride they had back then was the stagecoach. But what I remember most was the Rock Shop and how they used blacklights to enhance the crystals. I was really scared to have lunch in this one restaurant where they had arrows sticking into the walls and rafters as if Indians had attacked. I thought it was real and could happen again at any moment.
But the 50s were sure different growing up. Our next door neighbor what is a cinematographer for Warner Brothers. His name was Fred Richter. We got to go to a couple of stagehand Christmas parties at WB because of Fred. He also got us tickets to Bozo the Clown and Webster Webfoot. I also got to see little Oscar in the wienermobile at a grocery store opening once. Marilyn Monroe died.
We only live 22 blocks from Pacific Ocean Park and Venice Beach. It was sure different in those days. We could ride our bicycles all over the place and never worry about getting kidnapped.
I went to kindergarten at Grant School. There were no transvestites trying to tell me I could be a girl and we started the day with prayer.
It was there in Santa Monica on 22nd St. at 7 years of age that the God of the Bible revealed himself to me. I was all by myself standing between the sidewalk and the street when all of a sudden I stared feeling something warm and bubbly pouring over me and through me from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. It was absolutely supernatural. I knew nothing of God or the Bible and there was nobody there trying to explain what was happening to me. But I knew it was the Holy Spirit making Jesus Christ real to me. It lasted several minutes. I walked in the house and told my mom that I think I just became born again. I knew little or nothing of any of that sort of thing. But it was the most real experience I've ever had in my life. That experience has sustained me for all of my life. I will never be talked out it. The God of the Bible has held it to me all these years even when I did not want him to. He never let me go. He has saved my physical life many times and has never failed to live up to his promises even though I had failed him so many times. I got to be a preacher for a while. I was a professional musician and I got to be a Christian musician and a worship leader for many years. I got to be a rock star for a while during the late 70s but that paled in comparison to the Joy I felt singing praises to the Lord and leading people into His presence.
The devil has been trying to take me out for all of my life. And now it's 72 years old when I am the most right with God that I've ever been, the devil is trying to kill me with cancer. But it doesn't scare me at all. I have one last big hoorah left before I die and I'm going to do that whether I have cancer or not. God can heal me of the cancer if he wants to or His Grace will be sufficient for me. Either way I'm going to serve the Lord no matter what I feel. I can only hope that when God calls me home I have a guitar in my hands and a microphone in front of me singing praises to Him and leading people into His presence or leading somebody to salvation.
God doesn't owe me a dime! I'm living on borrowed time. You may be young and think that an old guy like me is irrelevant. But I've been on stage with superstars and I've had groupies and everything that goes along with sex drugs and rock and roll. But none of that is exciting as telling my Lord and Savior that I love him in song. I go to bed every night knowing that I may not wake up in the morning... I'll see Jesus face-to-face... I'll see my mom... I'll see my dad. Or the trumpet could blow and God will call to his bride and we will meet him in the sky. I'll have a new body without and I'll be young again. And I will sing and play so well that it'll take more than four dimensions to actually hear every note. I'll have a mansion. And the food will be so good.
Yeah, I've lived a full life and I've had some wonderful experiences. But I'm about to step into eternity. During this life I've been rich and I've also been poor. You may be a millionaire and fly around in a jet. And I'm happy for you. But your joy and happiness does not hold a candle to how I feel even while my feet are still on this Earth because I know where I'm going.
If you are alive in the fifties you know that things are very much different today. Jesus himself said that in the last days things would be ragingly insane. I've never seen anything like how things are today in my 72 years.
If you don't know Jesus Christ personally all you got to do is ask him to make himself a real to you and to come into your life. He will forgive every bad thing you ever did and give you eternity.
Yes, He is the only way. But that's because Christianity is the only religion that says the price has been paid for you. You don't have to do anything to deserve. So, because it's the only religion that pays the price for you? It is certainly reasonable that Christ is the only way to find forgiveness and fellowship with the creator of the universe.
Go ahead, just talk to Him. See what happens.
Its strange how videos like this make me feel nostalgic. Even though i wasn't born till the 80s. I really enjoy them though.
THIS IS GREAT, KEEP IT COMMINNG!!!!!!
Thank you Miss Brenda! Glad you liked it!
This brings back alot of memories. I grew up in Chatsworth, just over the hill from this place. Back in the 1980s-early 90s, when Chatsworth, was still a rural horse community and before all the housing development and fences, we'd ride our horses to Corriganville Park. We'd ride along the property line of Spahn Ranch (we nicked named Mason Ranch) and follow the rail road tracks to get to the park. In the 60s, when it was Hope Ranch, my Dad raced dirt bikes there.
Simi Valley & Chatsworth have alot of early film history, as well as Chumash Indian history, and even dinosaurs tracks. All forgotten. Now the area is nothing but over-priced track homes, condos, homeless encampments, and gangbangers. I miss how it once was 😔
I have since moved and relocated to Nevada near Virigina City to get my western history-fix.
How totally cool. As an old Chatsworth brat back in the 1960's, It is fun to take a walk back into my past. I just got cast in a western, to be filmed in Coeur d' alene, Idaho. Who would have thunk!!! Never would have guessed that back then!!! Go figure! Love these Hollywood past vlogs! Big thumbs up!
Awesome! You would be great in a western! Keep me posted!
Thanks for finding and posting old pictures of the places you visit. Like the context they provide to the stark and barren present day views of various remains and slabs.
Thx for this video on Corriganville. I was there as a kid when it was still in full operation but I was born in 1957. So it was some time in the 60’s. I have a photo of my sister and I standing on each side of the Fort Apache sign. Also have pics of the shootout in the street.
I vividly recall the streetfight, gun battle. Fantastic! One of the stunt guy’s was “shot” as he was perched on the roof, rolled down the roof into the wall of the next building and then onto the dirt.
Crash himself offered info and highlights in front of the audience in what turned out to be a sound stage that had been used to film scenes from Rin Tin Tin.
Thx again for these videos!
Loved the video of all the folks i grew up with and the history of where you where was amazing Kinda sad they all gone and not much remians of the place but was amazing Thankyou Jeff