Take a fun journey back to "Spartacus Draw" and Wildwood Park, on the former Janss Conejo Ranch in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

"Spartacus" (1960): The "I'm Spartacus" scene, filmed in Thousand Oaks

A while back we reported on the filming location for the famous "I'm Spartacus" scene in Stanley Kubrick's 1960 gladiator epic "Spartacus." The scene was shot in Thousand Oaks, Calif., in a cactus-riddled pass through a ridgeline of volcanic rocks.

 

The same location in 2020: "Spartacus Draw" (Jerry Condit photo)

Today the site is known among film historians as "Spartacus Draw." This shot by photographer Jerry Condit reveals that it still looks pretty much the same today, although the cactus has come back in force.

 

Mountclef Ridge, in the "Bat Masterson" episode "A Grave Situation" (1960)

Spartacus Draw is adjacent to a well-known landmark, Mountclef Ridge in Wildwood Regional Park, a popular hiking area. Back in the '50s and '60s this was the Janss Conejo Ranch, a major filming location.

 

Mountclef Ridge in the modern world, at the end of Avenida de los Arboles

The location is easy to find today, at the west end of Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. This was a wildly popular shooting area, especially in the days of the early TV Westerns.

 

"Gunsmoke" episode "Cale" (1962): Matt and Chester ride out

Besides "Bat Masterson," episodes of "Gunsmoke," "Rawhide," "Laramie" and many other early Westerns were shot on the Janss Conejo Ranch.

 

They're headed for the draw!

Spartacus Draw is a common background feature in these productions. For additional photos and details about "Gunsmoke" and other TV and film shoots at the location, check out our post from 2020 by clicking here.

 

"Flaming Star" (1960): A battered Elvis at Mountclef Ridge

Plenty of movies were filmed at Janss Conejo too. Even Elvis Presley turned up at Mountclef Ridge — albeit in slightly damaged condition — in his 1960 Western "Flaming Star."

 

"Rawhide" episode "Running Man" (1961): Another "hair salon cowboy" rides up

Clint Eastwood was in a little better shape than Elvis when he rode the same prairie a year later in "Rawhide." Eastwood was still in his 20s when he took on what would become his breakout role as ramrod Rowdy Yates.

 

Eastwood as Rowdy Yates in "Rawhide": Keepin' it sharp on the cattle drive

The young Eastwood had yet to embrace the "rough around the edges" look that would soon come to define him through his "Man With No Name" character in Sergio Leone's spaghetti Westerns.

 

Two icons share the screen

At least he knew enough to keep a safe distance from Spartacus Draw, with its nasty cactus situation. Here's that link again for more about "Rawhide," "Flaming Star," "Gunsmoke," Wildwood, Janss Conejo and Spartacus Draw.

 

"Spartacus" and "Rawhide" shot in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

A really cool video about "Spartacus," "Rawhide" and Spartacus Draw was recently posted by Jim Carbonetti, with 3D motion footage, movie clips and some beautiful "then and now" fades. Jim reached out to let us know he took his inspiration from our 2020 post. His video work is just terrific! Check it out by clicking on the above image, or by clicking here.

 

I'm Spartacus! ... No, I'm him!

You might also enjoy revisiting our clip of the famed "I'm Spartacus" scene, which you can find by clicking on the above image or by clicking here.