Melody Ranch

Originally known as 'Placeritos Ranch', the 110-acre (0.45 km2) ranch was commonly referred to as the 'Monogram Ranch', and renamed 'Melody Ranch' when Gene Autry purchased the property. It is located in lower Placerita Canyon near Newhall, California in the Sierra Pelona Mountains just north of the San Gabriel Mountains. Ernie Hickson was the original owner from 1936 until his death in 1952, and built-reconstructed all the original sets on the r... More

Originally known as 'Placeritos Ranch', the 110-acre (0.45 km2) ranch was commonly referred to as the 'Monogram Ranch', and renamed 'Melody Ranch' when Gene Autry purchased the property. It is located in lower Placerita Canyon near Newhall, California in the Sierra Pelona Mountains just north of the San Gabriel Mountains. Ernie Hickson was the original owner from 1936 until his death in 1952, and built-reconstructed all the original sets on the ranch. A year later in 1937 Monogram Pictures signed a long term lease with Hickson for 'Placeritos Ranch', with terms that the ranch being renamed 'Monogram Ranch.' Gene Autry purchased the property in 1953, renaming it after his film "Melody Ranch". A brush fire destroyed most of the western sets on the ranch in 1962, and Autry sold 98-acre (0.40 km2), most of Melody Ranch. The remaining 12-acre (0.049 km2) property was purchased by the Veluzats in 1990 for the new 'Melody Ranch Studios' movie ranch.[3]""Melody Ranch: Movie Magic in Placerita Canyon"". Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/sg032903.htm. Retrieved 2003-03-29. The Melody Ranch follows in the tradition of early silent film shoots which were done in Placerita Canyon dating back to 1926. Tom Mix silent film westerns were shot in the canyon at that time. In 1931, Monogram Pictures took out a five year lease on a parcel of land in central Placerita Canyon. The location of the western town that was constructed there was just east of what is now the junction of the Route 14 Antelope Valley Freeway and Placerita Canyon Road, on what is today part of Disney's Golden Oak Ranch (see below) near Placerita Canyon State Park. In 1935, as a result of a Monogram-Republic merger, the 'Placerita Canyon Ranch' became owned by the newly formed Republic Pictures. In 1936, when the lease wound up, the entire town was relocated and rebuilt a few miles to the north at Ernie Hickson's 'Placeritos Ranch' in lower Placerita Canyon near the junction of Oak Creek Road and Placerita Canyon Road, renamed 'Monogram Ranch,' leased by again independent Monogram Pictures in 1937. Gene Autry, actor, cowboy singer, and producer, purchased the 110-acre (0.45 km2) 'Monogram Ranch' property from the Hickson heirs in 1953, renaming it after his film 'Melody Ranch'. Autry sold 98-acre (0.40 km2) of the property, most of the original ranch. From 1940 to 1956 many radio listeners tuned in Sunday afternoons to hear CBS program "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch." A decade after Gene Autry purchased 'Melody Ranch,' a brushfire swept through in August 1962, destroying most of the original standing sets. However, the devastated landscape did prove useful for productions such as Combat!. A complete adobe ranch survived at the northeast section of the ranch. In 1990, after his famous horse 'Champion,' who lived in retirement there died, Autry put the remaining 12-acre (0.049 km2) ranch up for sale. It was purchased by Rene and Andre Veluzat to recreate an active movie ranch for location shooting. The Veluzats have a 22-acre (89,000 m2) complex of sound stages, western sets, prop shop, and the backlots, now known as the 'Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio' and 'Melody Ranch Studios.' The ranch has Museum open year-round; and one weekend a year the entire ranch is open to the public during the Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival.

Less