Classic Rock: The Slates — the best thing since sliced bread

This blog post is part of a series on "Classic Rocks" — sandstone behemoths located on the former site of the Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, Calif., that were featured in old movies, cliffhanger serials and early TV shows. Other entries in the series can be seen by clicking here.

"Stage to Mesa City" (1947)

The Slates were located along a heavily used chase road on the Upper Iverson Movie Ranch, which meant the sandstone rock formation was captured on film with some regularity. The rock usually zips by pretty fast, but it's distinctive enough that it's often possible to spot it anyway. Watch for the Slates during chase scenes in old B-Westerns in particular. The above shot of the Slates comes from the PRC B-Western "Stage to Mesa City," starring Lash LaRue, with Al "Fuzzy" St. John as his sidekick.

The Slates as they appear today

The above recent photo of the Slates shows what they look like these days — in late winter and spring, when the surrounding foliage is green.

"Calamity Jane and the Texan" (1950)

This is another movie appearance by the Slates, in color this time. The Slates are seen at the right in the above shot from the Columbia Western "Calamity Jane and the Texan," which starred Evelyn Ankers as Calamity and Jimmy Ellison as the Texan. The shot looks to me as though it was also filmed in late winter or spring, as things were pretty green at the time.

Here's a selected listing of movies, serials and TV shows where the Slates can be found:

"The Tulsa Kid" (1940)
"Gauchos of Eldorado" (1941)
"The Phantom Cowboy" (1941)
"Code of the Outlaw" (1942)
"Canyon City" (1943)
"Phantom of the Plains" (1945)
"Story of G.I. Joe" (1945)
"The Virginian" (1946)
"Stage to Mesa City" (1947)
"Last Frontier Uprising" (1947)

"The Hawk of Powder River" (1948)

"Grand Canyon Trail" (1948)
"Partners of the Sunset" (1948)

"The Lone Ranger" (TV show, 1949-1957)
"Calamity Jane and the Texan" (1950)
"Frisco Tornado" (1950)

"Don Daredevil Rides Again" (Republic serial, 1951)

"The Roy Rogers Show" (TV show, 1951-1957)

"Wyoming Roundup" (1952)
"Adventures of Superman" (TV show, 1952-1958)
"Bonanza" (TV show, 1959-1973) (color)
"Five Guns to Tombstone" (1960)
"The Big Valley" (TV show, 1965-1969)