Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio (2024)

If you were a fan of singingcowboy Gene Autry,then the name "Melody Ranch" will raise fond memoriesof Gene and Smiley singing songs around the campfire. Gene's radio showwas named "Melody Ranch," but a real Melody Ranchactually exists - a movie studio ranch in the hills north of L.A., wherethey shot most of Gene Autry's western adventures. And at least once ayear, you can tour Melody Ranch, a colorful bit of Old Hollywood.

MelodyRanch started out as Monogram Studios Westernfilming site in the 30's &40's, where hundreds of movies andclassic TV westerns were shot,including 35 different John Waynemovies.

The studio began back in 1915.In 1939, its Old West town served as the location for the finale of theJohn Wayne classic,"Stagecoach."

When the original owner diedin 1952 and Monogram Studios went out of business, Genebought the ranch, leasing its dusty streets and Old West buildings to variousTV production crews for classic TV westerns such as "TheLoneRanger,""Gunsmoke," "WyattEarp," "HopalongCassidy," "RedRider," and "WildBill Hicco*ck." He also produced shows of his own here, as partof his company, Flying A Pictures, including "Annie Oakley."

Thatis, until 1962, when a major fire in Placerita Canyon destroyed much ofthe studio. ElvisPresleywas on location here at the time, shooting "Kissin’Cousins,"and helped fight the fire. Over the years, the Autrys sold off most ofthe ranch property, reducing it down to just 10 remaining acres, wherethe Western buildings stood, which he kept as a pasture for his loyal moviehorse Champion III. He sold the remaining 10 acres when Champion III diedand was buried there. Gene moved his large collection of Western memorabiliato his new Gene Autry Museum.

Fortunately, the Western townhas been saved by the new owners who bought the ranch in 1991 and restoredto its former glory .

Theranch is once again being today used for making movies; one recent productionat Melody Ranch starred JeffBridgesin 1995's "WildBill"(where it stood in for Deadwood, South Dakota) and "Sunset"with BruceWillis andJamesGarner. Theyshot the CBS TV series, "TheMagnificentSeven" at Melody Ranch, and evenmore recently they shot the highly acclaimed HBO series, "Deadwood"at the ranch.

Melody Ranch is a privatelyowned movie studio, and the public usually isn't admitted.

But they have recently begun offering VIP tours.

They haverecently opened a new Melody Ranch Motion PictureMuseum,which is housed in the old Hacienda on Old West street, and a privatetour includes both the museum and the Western streets. Toursrequire advance reservations. (At last word, it cost $40per person.) To make a reservation, phone (661) 286-1188.

Melody Ranch also now has its own website, at www.melodyranchstudio.com.

Thereis also another way to visit the historic ranch. On one weekend each year,in late March (or early April), they hold the annual Cowboy Festival hereat Melody Ranch (and at the adjacent WilliamS. Hart estate).

The festival includes trailrides, chuck wagon meals, cowboy shopping, and assorted shows by cowboycrooners from seven western states and Canada. (such as DonEdwards, BaxterBlack and Ridersinthe Sky), staged at the Melody Ranch theaterand the Hart mansion.

In 2015, the 22nd annualFestival will be held on April 15-19.

Important:For the first time, due to filming at Melody Ranch this year, theFestival won't take place at Melody Ranch, and will instead take placein Old Town Newhall and Hart Park.

There is no on-site parkingat Melody Ranch. Shuttle buses take ticket holders from a parking areaoff 13th Street to Melody Ranch. Admission is $20 for adult and$10 for children (or $30 for a two-day pass).

Gettingthere: MelodyRanch is located far from Hollywood, north of the San Fernando Valley,in Newhall (near Santa Clarita), a few miles southeast of the Magic Mountaintheme park. From Hollywood, take the Hollywood Freeway north throughthe Valley (about eight miles), to where it merges into the Golden State(5) Freeway. Take the Golden State Freeway north (for about seven miles),to were it intersects with the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway. Branch offon the Antelope Valley freeway and go about three more miles north to thePlacerita Canyon Road exit. Turn left on Placerita Canyon Road, and headwest (just over a mile) to the studio gate on Oakcreek Avenue.