James Coburn roams the Iverson Ranch on "Bonanza"

"Bonanza" episode "The Long Night" (May 6, 1962): James Coburn at Overhang Rock

Even as the Iverson Movie Ranch was beginning to wind down operations in the 1960s, one major TV show that continued to bring its location business to the ranch was "Bonanza."

James Coburn on the Lower Iverson in "Bonanza"

In March 1962, when James Coburn arrived at Iverson to shoot the season three episode "The Long Night," "Bonanza" was still filming regularly on both the Lower Iverson and the Upper Iverson.

One of the rocks Coburn rides past during this sequence — noted here with a red arrow — is pretty interesting. This rock wasn't seen all that often in productions, even though it was located in a relatively prominent spot.

The rock was big enough to tower over a horse and rider, and had an unusual shape to it. I've taken to calling it "Headstone Rock" because ... well, for obvious reasons, I suppose.

These shots are taken in the "Batman Corner" area of the Lower Iverson, some of which remains intact today alongside Redmesa Road. However, Headstone Rock fell prey to the developers' bulldozers in the 1980s.

Filming Roger Corman's "Deathsport" (1978)

A behind-the-scenes shot that surfaced from filming on the Iverson Ranch for the Roger Corman movie "Deathsport" in 1978 again shows the scale of Headstone Rock, which towers over the people and vehicles.

The rock is so perfectly shaped that I have considered whether it might be fake. However, it has been glimpsed on a few occasions in productions from decades earlier, suggesting it was real.

Sticky Bun as it appears today, behind the condos

Sticky Bun is still easy to spot on a visit to the Chatsworth, Calif., site, and can be seen even without getting out of the car as one drives along Redmesa Road, north of Santa Susana Pass Road.

Surviving fragments of Rock Island, just off Redmesa Road

Rock Island is still intact too — in a way. The rocks remain in place but were largely buried during grading for the Cal West Townhomes. I talked about this in detail in a previous post that you can see by clicking here.

The rock James Coburn is leaning on in this shot is familiar to film historians and Iverson Ranch enthusiasts, who know it as Overhang Rock. Sadly, this rock also did not survive the development of the Cal West Townhomes.

"Wyoming Roundup" (1952): Overhang Rock, on the Lower Iverson

Here's a nice shot of Overhang Rock about a decade earlier, from the Whip Wilson B-Western "Wyoming Roundup." This shot reveals the overhanging ledge that gave the rock its name.

This is where James Coburn stood, more or less, as he leaned against the rock in "Bonanza," although he was a bit more behind the rock than my rough outline suggests. He was facing toward the right of the frame.

"Colorado Ambush" (1951): Johnny Mack Brown at Overhang Rock

Johnny Mack Brown peeked out from behind the same rock — but the other end of it — in the Monogram B-Western "Colorado Ambush."

Johnny was lurking under the overhanging part of the rock — you can see a little bit of the overhang here.

"The Oklahoma Kid": James Cagney, with Overhang Rock and Cagney Rock

Another famous actor who stood in the shade of Overhang Rock was James Cagney, who posed beneath the rock in a well-known promo still for "The Oklahoma Kid" in 1939.

Even though Overhang Rock itself is long gone, the rock seen behind Cagney, "Cagney Rock," remains in place as part of the landscaping for the Cal West Townhomes. You can read more about it by clicking here.

"Bonanza": James Coburn in what is now the condos

So many rocks, so little time. In another shot from the "Bonanza" episode, Coburn, playing an escaped convict, puts his leg up on a rock in an attempt to break his prison chains. I have yet to identify this particular rock.

Adam scampers past Cleft Rock in "The Long Night"

The "Bonanza" episode contains tons of great rocks — and as I like to point out, when we're talking about the giant sandstone boulders of the Iverson Ranch, we can use the word "tons" literally.

Cleft Rock, seen here, can still be found at the site, a short distance north of the main Garden of the Gods rock towers, on land that has been preserved as a park. Many of the other rocks in this shot have been destroyed.

One of my favorite shots in the "Bonanza" episode is this one showing a mysterious road that remains in place at the site, not far from Cleft Rock. I call it the Cobblestone Road, although it doesn't meet the technical definition.

I've been trying to learn the origins of the Cobblestone Road for years, without any luck. The "Bonanza" episode marks the first time I've seen it this clearly in any production, but my hunch is it dates back to the '20s or '30s.

The Cobblestone Road in modern times

This photo from 2009 shows what the Cobblestone Road looks like today. It's not nearly as fully formed as it was during the "Bonanza" shoot more than a half-century ago, but that's it in the lower left corner of the frame.

How to find Cleft Rock and the Cobblestone Road

Here's a map to some of the features mentioned above. Start by finding Redmesa Road in Chatsworth. Park below the condos, then follow the map. (You may want to click on the map to see a larger version.)

Frontier lawman Wyatt Earp photobombed by a Stegosaurus

"The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1956)

When I see stuff like this I can't help but wonder, was it intentional or just a happy accident? In this case, I'd say it had to be intentional. The above shot from the "Wyatt Earp" TV show is taken from the episode "Dodge City Gets a New Marshal," which first aired Sept. 4, 1956, early in the show's second season. The shot depicts series star Hugh O'Brian, as lawman Wyatt Earp, arriving at the cemetery outside Dodge City — we can see that much from the sign. But the shot also features an especially charismatic rock, which was located on the Lower Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, Calif.

This version of the photo pinpoints the rock I'm talking about. I call it Stegosaurus, and I've discussed it before on the blog. You can click here to read more about Stegosaurus — or click on "Stegosaurus" in the long alphabetical index found along the right side of this page to see a compilation of blog posts that mention the rock. In today's world, the appearance by Stegosaurus in this shot of Wyatt Earp might be considered a "photobomb."

Here's a subsequent shot from the same "Wyatt Earp" sequence, providing a closer look at the cemetery sign — along with a closer look at Stegosaurus. During its six-season run on ABC, from 1955-1961, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" shot most of its outdoor action at Iverson.

"Wild Horse Ambush" (1952)

The above shot from "Wild Horse Ambush," one of the later Republic B-Westerns, reveals a bit more of Stegosaurus. The shot was filmed along a well-used chase road and features a number of famous movie rocks. To the right of Stegosaurus is Hangdog, and at the right edge of the photo is Bill Rock. A glimpse of Woolly Mammoth, also known as Vultura's Trail Rock, can be seen in the background. I'll ID all of these features in the next shot.

This is that same shot from "Wild Horse Ambush" with the key features highlighted. You can learn more about these rocks by clicking on their names in the index that appears on the right side of this page. Suffice to say they've all had extensive exposure in movies and TV shows — including frequently being filmed more or less from this same angle.

"Thunder River Feud" (1942)

The sighting that got my research rolling on Stegosaurus came early in my Iverson exploration, courtesy of the Range Busters B-Western "Thunder River Feud," from Monogram — and it came in the form of the grainy screen shot above. As far as how much Stegosaurus the rock resembles an actual Stegosaurus, it's likely that not everyone will see the resemblance. But in my own experience — and I have to admit, I played with toy dinosaurs as a kid — the above shot said "Stegosaurus" to me.

This version of the "Thunder River Feud" shot may give some idea of the "stegosaurus parts" that go into my conception of Stegosaurus the rock.

Stegosaurus as it appears today

Stegosaurus, which can still be found today on the site of the former Iverson Movie Ranch, still does look kind of like a stegosaurus — at least as much as it ever did. At any rate, it still looks remarkably similar to the creature that appeared on film in 1942, in "Thunder River Feud."

Another shot from recent times reveals the brick wall that now separates Stegosaurus from a condo community, as explained in this earlier blog post. In this shot, Hangdog is also visible, just above the wall.

"The Virginian" TV series (1964)

Stegosaurus has appeared in countless movies and TV shows, although it is often in the background. The above example comes from the TV series "The Virginian," from an episode called "The Girl From Yesterday," which first aired Nov. 11, 1964. Stegosaurus appears in the distance in the shot, but if you can't spot it, you're not alone. I wouldn't be able to recognize it in this screen shot either if it weren't for some of the surrounding rocks.

Here's the same shot from "The Virginian," with Stegosaurus highlighted.

The real giveaway in the "Virginian" screen shot is Sticky Bun, just above and to the left of Stegosaurus. The rock's distinctive shape — need I point out that it looks like one of those delectable breakfast treats also known as a cinnamon roll? — along with its elevated position makes it a helpful and reliable marker for Iverson. On a number of occasions, Sticky Bun — even when it's way in the background, as it usually is — has been my first indication that a production is shot at Iverson.

You're on a roll ... so don't stop now. Check out these Amazon links for some of the productions discussed in this blog post. There's much more Iverson waiting to be discovered ...

Face to face with the Head of the Lion — and finally, the truth about the "Dark Side of the Wall"

Head of the Lion, Chatsworth, Calif.

If you have ever been to the Garden of the Gods Park in Chatsworth, Calif., chances are you walked right past the Head of the Lion. It's one of the hundreds of widely filmed movie rocks that still populate the area, from when the site was part of a bustling filming location known as the Iverson Movie Ranch. The face of the rock directly overlooks what is now the main trail into the park.

"Rocky Mountain Rangers" (1940)

The rock's position — and on occasion, its artistic use — can make it easy to miss. An example of the latter is the above shot from a movie that's a full-on Iverson spectacle, Republic's Three Mesquiteers B-Western "Rocky Mountain Rangers." In this shot, you may or may not notice the Head of the Lion at first. Only the snout area is visible, with the rock being used as a framing device for an overview of a portion of the Iverson Gorge. The lion's snout can be seen at the left edge of the frame. I'll highlight it in the next photo.

This is the same shot with Head of the Lion pointed out.

While we're at it, this is the same shot again, with a number of additional features of the Iverson Gorge spotlighted.

Another view of Head of the Lion in modern times

The Head of the Lion looks like this when it's viewed from the west, and if you've been following this blog in recent weeks you may already know where this is headed. This angle does not show the part of the rock that looks like a lion's head, and that fact contributed to some confusion recently in my research. I put up a blog post about seeing this rock in an old movie, the 1934 Beacon Productions B-Western "Cowboy Holiday." But at the time I thought it was something else entirely.

"Cowboy Holiday" (1934)

This is how Head of the Lion Looks in "Cowboy Holiday," and after momentarily losing consciousness because I was so excited over what I thought I was seeing, I wrote a blog entry making a big deal about spotting what I thought was the "Dark Side of The Wall." You can click here to read that post — I'm leaving it up as a reference, but I'm adding a big "mea culpa."

"Cowboy Holiday": Another shot of Head of the Lion

One problem with "Cowboy Holiday" — and one reason I got the sighting wrong — is the movie never does show the face of the lion. The above shot is about as close as it gets, with Head of the Lion being the main rock filling up the middle of the shot. If they would have moved the camera a short distance to the right, they could have captured a much more ... what's the right word, leonine? ... view of the rock.

"Adventures of Captain Marvel" (1941)

Another production in which Head of the Lion makes an appearance is the Republic serial "Adventures of Captain Marvel," as seen above. Here again, the rock is hard to see — and that may be one reason it wasn't filmed more often than it was. I'll highlight it in the next shot.

This is the same shot with the Head of the Lion pointed out. Even though the rock has a tendency to blend in with backgrounds, when you do see it here, its leonine — OK, lionlike — qualities are plainly evident.

"Rogue of the Rio Grande" (1930)

Above is what might be the first featured appearance on film by Head of the Lion, in the early sound B-Western "Rogue of the Rio Grande," from Monogram and Atlantic Pictures. The movie is said to be the first talking role for early cinema icon Myrna Loy. You should be able to spot the lion's face right in the middle of the shot.

"Blazing Across the Pecos" (1948)

Here's a shot from the Durango Kid movie "Blazing Across the Pecos," starring Charles Starrett, that shows not only part of the face of the lion, at far right, but also the rock's non-lion-head-like western profile.

Here's one more look at that western profile, and a last look at the rock in its contemporary setting, with Nyoka Cliff, across Iverson Gorge to the east, visible at far right.

Iverson's "Angry Cardinal" — not to be confused with other "Angry Birds"

Iverson Gorge, as seen in "Panic in Year Zero" (1962)

One rock feature I began seeing in movies early in my study of the Iverson Movie Ranch came to be known in my research as the Angry Cardinal. It typically appears in overviews of the Iverson Gorge filmed from the camera mount area at Overlook Point, as in the above example from the 1962 Cold War movie "Panic in Year Zero." In this shot looking northeast, Angry Cardinal is seen to the left of center, just below the background hills. I'll highlight it in the next shot.

This is the same "Panic in Year Zero" screen shot, with Angry Cardinal identified. The shot also includes a number of other Upper Gorge features, such as Sticky Bun in the top right corner, Doglips almost exactly in the center of the frame and Lone Ranger Rock to the right of Doglips. You can learn more about each of these features by clicking on the links in this paragraph, and I'll identify them below to make it easier for you to find them in the photo.

In this busy version of the photo I've identified a number of the other features seen in the "Panic in Year Zero" shot. All of these features of Iverson's Upper Gorge turn up frequently in old movies and early TV shows, and you can find information about most or all of them by searching for the rock names in the extensive index at the right of this page, or by clicking on the various links in this post. Here are a few additional links to blog entries containing info about the rock features seen here: Zorro's Cave, Cagney Rock, Overhang Rock.

This is a detail shot of Angry Cardinal from the above "Panic in Year Zero" screen shot.

For comparison, here's a look at one of the logos of the Louisville Cardinals — which apparently is also called the "Angry Cardinal." I know it's far from a perfect match, but maybe it's close enough to point out how I arrived at the name for the rock. You may notice that the Iverson rock even has a similar "angry eyebrow."

Of course, the "Angry Cardinal" of Louisville University isn't the only red bird around with a bad attitude. The Louisville logo has a lot in common with the familiar red meanie from "Angry Birds." But before I wander even further off track, suffice to say the Angry Cardinal found at the Iverson Movie Ranch doesn't have anything to do with "Angry Birds."

"The Vanishing Legion" (1931)

This is probably one of the earliest appearances of the Angry Cardinal on film. The screen shot comes from the 1931 Mascot serial "The Vanishing Legion," and offers almost exactly the same view of the Gorge and Angry Cardinal found more than 30 years later in "Panic in Year Zero," although this 1931 version is not as sharp — and therefore the cardinal may not appear quite as angry.

Closeup of Angry Cardinal from the above "Vanishing Legion" screen shot.

"The Lone Gun" (1954)

A beautiful shot of the Iverson Gorge, in color, can be found in the 1954 George Montgomery Western "The Lone Gun," from United Artists, as seen above. It's taken from an angle that's similar to those used in "Panic in Year Zero" and "The Vanishing Legion," but I've made it a point to include this shot because it adds a few important features and also because it's easier to make out some of the features, such as Lone Ranger Rock, here than it is in the shots up above. The Angry Cardinal again appears in its full fury, although being in color this time — pretty dated color, I must say — doesn't really add much. I'll point out a few key features in the shot below.

One thing I like about this shot is that it provides a good look at a portion of Iverson's so-called "Stagecoach Road." I'm putting it in quotes because it's easy to get confused and think it was once an actual stagecoach road, which it was not. The real stage road did come into the San Fernando Valley from Simi Valley not far from here — a few miles south and west, below Santa Susana Pass Road. But this one was strictly a movie stagecoach road.

The area where the two actors are fighting is the camera mount, also known as Overlook Point — a vantage point from which countless film and TV crews aimed their cameras toward the Iverson Gorge. The site still has remnants of the old metal camera track and mount used for the movies, as I've mentioned elsewhere on the blog. You can click here to find out more about it.

 "Al Jennings of Oklahoma" (1951)

Although Stage Road Rock appears small in some of these photos — especially those presenting a wide vista of the Gorge from the camera mount, which was some distance away — it was, and is, a substantial rock. The above scene from the Columbia Western "Al Jennings of Oklahoma," shot from the top of Nyoka Cliff, gives some idea of the rock's size. This photo also provides a good look at the clearing next to the rock, which was a favorite site for stagecoach holdups.

It's worth noting that features such as Stage Road Rock and Lone Ranger Rock, along with much of the "stagecoach road," have been preserved as part of Garden of the Gods Park and can be easily visited today. Most of the features you see in this blog entry remain in place along the east side of Redmesa Road. That side of the road is not marked as a park — the plaque above is located in the section of park on the west side of Redmesa — but it's all public parkland. Feel free to hike there, as long as you steer clear of the condos just to the north — and please watch out for rattlesnakes and poison oak.

The story of the Angry Cardinal — and in particular, what became of it — has a few additional twists. I've added a follow-up entry that goes into detail about that part of the Angry Cardinal story, which you can read by clicking here.

I've also included a few links below where you should be able to find DVD versions of some of the movies discussed in this post ...