While the Red Rock Canyon area had been visited by travellers for many years, it was the discovery of gold in the area that brought the first large influx of people. Rudolf Hagen has been credited with the first discovery of gold there, around 1893, and it was he who build the stopover of Ricardo in the southern area of the canyon.
The road that traverses the canyon, north to south, was blacktopped with oil sand in the 1920's, while a paved highway was completed in 1958. A four-lane highway now takes travelers from Los Angeles, 125 miles to the south, northward to Lone Pine and beyond.
Charley Koehn, known as "Bismark of the Desert" and "Wild Dutchman", he homesteaded at Kane Springs from 1892 until his death. He supplied garden vegetables to the golddiggers and when the film companies began to appear in the area, he was the one they contacted for wagons and mules
Episodes of many television shows were lensed here, including: "Airwolf", "Bonanza", "Branded", "Battlestar Galactica", "Barnady Jones", "Have Gun Will Travel", "Lost in Space", "Rawhide", "Wagon Train", "The Rebel", "High Chaparral", "Laramie", "Frontier Circus", "Young Indiana Jones", "Overland Trail", "Questar", "Highway Patrol", "Hondo", "Lassie", and "The FBI".
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Red Rock Canyon in 1994
Another view in 1994
For more indepth information and film list on this site, please visit Richard J. Schmidt's web page:
A Field Guide to Motion Picture Locations At Red Rock Canyon
He also has a book for sale on the subject.
DIRECTIONS: From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north to the Antelope Valley Freeway (14) north. Red Rock Canyon is approximately 3 hours north of Los Angeles and the 14 freeway travels through the middle of the Canyon.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY:
"Wild Horse Canyon" (Goodwill 1925) Cast: Yakima Canutt, Helene Rosson.
"Born to the West" (Paramount 1926) Directed by: John Waters. Cast: Jack Holt, Raymond Hattn.
"Hands Up!" (Paramount 1926) Directed by: Clarence Badger. Cast: Raymond Griffith, Mack Swain, Marian Nixon.
"Nine Points of the Law" (FBO 1927) Directed by: B. Reeves Eason. Cast: Hoot Gibson, Barbara Worth.
"Hell's Heroes" (Universal 1930) Directed by: William Wyler. Cast: Charles Bickford, Raymond Hatton, Fred Kohler.
"Under a Texas Moon" (Warner Bros 1930) Directed by: Michael Curtiz. Cast: Frank Fay, Myrna Loy, Noah Beery.
"Flaming Guns" (Universal 1932) Directed by: Arthur Rosson. Cast: Tom Mix, William Farnum.
"Heritage of the Desert" (Paramount 1932) Directed by: Henry Hathaway. Cast: Randolph Scott, Sally Blane, J. Farrell MacDonald.
"The Mummy" (Universal 1932) Directed by: Karl Frennd. Cast: Boris Karloff, Zita Zohan, David Manners, Bramwell Fletcher, Arthur Byron, Edward Van Sloan.
"Tombstone Canyon" (Tiffany 1932) Directed by: Alan James. Cast: Ken Maynard, Cecilia Parker, Sheldon Lewis, Frank Brownlee, Bob Burns, George Gerring, Lafe McKee, Jack Clifford, Edward Peil Sr., George Chesebro.
"The Strawberry Roan" (Universal 1933) Directed by: Alan James. Cast: Ken Maynard, Ruth Hall, Harold Goodwin, Frank Yaconelli.
"The Lawless Frontier" (Monogram 1934) Directed by: R. N. Bradbury. Cast: John Wayne, Sheila Terry, Jack Rockwell, George Hayes, Buffalo Bill Jr, Yakima Canutt, Bud Wood, Earl Dwire.
"Hop-A-Long Cassidy" (Paramount 1935) Directed by: Howard Bretherton. Cast: William Boyd, George Hayes.
"The Petrified Forest" (Warner Bros 1936) Directed by: Archie Mayo. Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Dick Foran, Genevieve Tobin, Porter Hall, Charley Grapewin.
"Three Godfathers" (MGM 1936) Directed by: Richard Boleslawski. Cast: Chester Morris, Lewis Stone, Walter Brennen, Irene Hervey.
"The Bad Man of Brimstone" (MGM 1937) Directed by: Walter Reuben. Cast: Wallace Beery, Dennis O'Keefe, Noah Beery.
"Gunsmoke Ranch" (Republic 1937) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune.
"Hit the Saddle" (Republic 1937) Directed by: Mack V. Wright. Cast: Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, Rita Cansino.
"The Texas Trail" (Paramount 1937) Directed by: David Selman. Cast: William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Russell Hayden.
"Zorro Rides Again" (Republic 1937) Directed by: William Witney and John English. Cast: John Carroll, Helen Christian, Reed Howes, Duncan Renaldo, Noah Beery, Richard Alexander, Nigel de Brulier, Robert Kortman, Jack Ingram, Roger Williams, Edmund Cobb, Mona Rico, Tom London, Harry Strang, Jerry Frank.
"The Old Barn Dance" (Republic 1938) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette.
"The Painted Desert" (RKO 1938) Directed by: David Howard. Cast: George O'Brien, Loraine Day, Ray Whitley, Fred Kohler.
"Pals of the Saddle" (Republic 1938) Directed by: George Sherman. Cast: John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune.
"Where the West Begins" (Monogram 1938) Directed by: J. P. McGowan. Cast: Jack Randall.
"The Lone Ranger Rides Again" (Republic 1939) Directed by: William Witney and John English. Cast: Robert Livingston, Chief Thunder Cloud, Duncan Renaldo, Jinx Falken, Ralph Dunn, J. Farrell MacDonald, William Gould, Rex Lease, Ted Mapes.
"Overland with Kit Carson" (Columbia 1939) Directed by: Sam Nelson & Norman Deming. Cast: William Elliott.
"The Bad Man" (MGM 1940) Directed by: Richard Thorpe. Cast: Ronald Reagan, Wallace Beery, Larraine Day, Chill Wills.
"Buck Rogers" (Universal 1940) Directed by: Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind. Cast: Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Constance Moore, Jackie Moran, Jack Mulhan, Anthony Warde, Philson Ahn, C. Montague Shaw, Guy Usht.
"Colorado" (Republic 1940) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes.
"Go West" (MGM 1941) Directed by: Edward Buzzell. Cast: Marx Bros., John Carroll, Robert Barratt.
"Melody Ranch" (Republic 1940) Directed by: Joseph Santley. Cast: Gene Autry, Jimmy Durante, Ann Miller.
"The Outlaw" (RKO 1941) Directed by: Howard Hughes. Cast: Jack Beutel, Jane Russell, Thomas Mitchell, Walter Huston, Mimi Aguglia, Joe Sawyer, Gene Rizzi.
"Riders of Death Valley" (Universal 1941) Directed by: Ray Taylor & Ford Beebe. Cast: Dick Foran, Buck Jones, Leo Carrillo, Charles Bickford, Lon Chaney, Noah Beery Jr..
"Man from Cheyenne" (Republic 1942) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers.
"Sabateur" (Universal 1942) Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Robert Cummings, Priscilla Lane, Otto Kruger, Norman Lloyd.
"Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves" (Universal 1943) Directed by: Arthur Lubin. Cast: Jon Hall, Maria Montez, Turhan Bey, Andy Devine, Frank Puglia.
"Man from Oklahoma" (Republic 1945) Directed by: Frank McDonald. Cast: Roy Rogers, George Hayes.
"Grand Canyon Trail" (Republic 1948) Directed by: William Witney. Cast: Roy Rogers, Andy Devine.
"Calamity Jane and Sam Bass" (Universal 1949) Directed by: George Sherman. Cast: Yvonne De Carlo, Howard Duff.
"The Big Sombrero" (Columbia 1949) Directed by: Frank McDonald. Cast: Gene Autry.
"Calamity Jane and Sam Bass" (Universal 1949) Directed by: George Sherman. Cast: Yvonne De Carlo, Howard Duff, Lloyd Bridges.
"The Last Bandit" (Republic 1949) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: William Elliott, Forrest Tucker, Andy Devine.
"Davy Crockett, Indian Scout" (United Artists 1950) Directed by: Lew Landers. Cast: George Montgomery, Ellen Drew, Philip Reed, Noah Beery Jr, Chief Thundercloud.
"The Savage Horde" (Republic 1950) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: William Elliott, Noah Beery Jr.
"The Vanishing Westerner" (Republic 1950) Directed by: Philip Ford. Cast: Monte Hale, Paul Hurst, Aline Towne, Roy Barcroft, Arthur Space.
"Rocketship X-M" (Lippert 1950) Directed by: Kurt Neuman. Cast: Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, Hugh O'Brian, Noah Beery Jr., John Emery.
"Apache Drums" (Universal 1951) Directed by: Hugo Fregonese. Cast: Stephen McNally.
"Pals of the Golden West" (Republic 1951) Directed by: William Witney. Cast: Roy Rogers.
"Radar Men From the Moon" (Republic 1951) Directed by: Fred C. Brannon. Cast: George Wallace, Aline Towne, Roy Barcroft, William Bakewell, Clayton Moore, Peter Brocco.
"Stage to Tucson" (Columbia 1951) Directed by: Ralph Moody. Cast: Rod Cameron.
"Law and Order" (Universal 1953) Directed by: Nathan Juran. Cast: Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone, Preston Foster.
"San Antone" (Republic 1953) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: Rod Cameron, Forrest Tucker, Katy Jurado, Harry Carey Jr.
"Tumbleweed" (Universal 1953) Directed by: Nathan Juran. Cast: Audie Murphy, Chill Wills.
"The Bounty Hunter" (Warner Bros 1954) Directed by: Andre de Toth. Cast: Randolph Scott, Ernest Borgnine.
"Drums Across the River" (Universal 1954) Directed by: Nathan Juran. Cast: Audie Murphy, Lisa Gaye, Lyle Bettger, Walter Brennan, Mara Corday, Hugh O'Brian, Jay Silverheels, Regis Toomey, Morris Ankrum.
"Jubilee Trail" (Republic 1954) Directed by: Joseph Kane. Cast: Vera Ralston, Joan Leslie, Forrest Tucker.
"The Long Long Trailer" (MGM 1954) Directed by: Vincente Minnelli. Cast: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn.
"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (Disney 1954) Directed by: Richard Fletcher. Cast: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lucas, Peter Lorre.
"The Egyptian" (20th Century Fox 1954) Directed by: Michael Curtis. Cast: Edmund Pardom, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Peter Ustinov, John Carradine, Gene Tierney.
"Dakota Incident" (Republic 1956) Directed by: Lewis R. Foster. Cast: Dale Robertson, Linda Darnell, John Lund, Ward Bond.
"The Fastest Gun Alive" (MGM 1956) Directed by: Russell Rouse. Cast: Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain, Broderick Crawford, Russ Tamblyn, Noah Beery Jr.
"Tension at Table Rock" (RKO 1956) Directed by: Charles Marquis Warren. Cast: Richard Egan, Dorothy Malone, Cameron Mitchell, Angie Dickinson.
"Uranium Boom" (Clover 1956) Directed by: William Castle. Cast: Dennis Morgan, Patricia Medina, William Talman, Tina Carver.
"Gun Battle at Monterey" (Allied Artists 1957) Directed by: Carl K. Hittleman & Sidney A. Franklin Jr. Cast: Sterling Hayden, Lee Van Cleef.
"Apache Territory" (Columbia 1958) Directed by: Rory Calhoun, Barbara Bates, John Dehner, Carolyn Craig, Thomas Pittman, Leo Gordon, Myron Healey, Frances DeSales, Frank deKova, Reg Parton.
"The Big Country" (United Artists 1958) Directed by: William Wyler. Cast: Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Charleton Heston, Burl Ives, Carroll Baker, Charles Bickford.
"Man of the West" (United Artists 1958) Directed by: Anthony Mann. Cast: Gary Cooper, Julie London, Lee J. Cobb, Arthur O'Connell, Royal Dano, John Dehner.
"Missile to the Moon" (Astor 1958) Directed by: Richard Cunha. Cast: Richard Travis, Cathy Downs, K. T. Stevens, Tommy Cook, Nina Bara, Gary Clarke, Michael Whalen, Laurie Mitchell, Majorie Hellen, Henry Hunter, Lee Roberts.
"Four for Texas" (Warner Bros 1963) Directed by: Robert Aldrich. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg, Ursula Andress, Charles Bronson, Victor Buono, Jack Elam, Mike Mazurki.
"Apache Rifles" (20th Century Fox 1964) Directed by: William Witney. Cast: Audie Murphy, Michael Dante.
"Ride the Wind" (NBC TV 1966) Directed by: William Witney. Cast: Lorne Greene, Rod Cameron, Victor Jory, Michael Landon.
"40 Guns to Apache Pass" (Columbia 1967) Directed by: William Witney. Cast: Audie Murphy.
"Waterhole No. 3" (Paramount 1967) Directed by: William Graham. Cast: James Coburn, Carroll O'Connor, Claude Akins, Bruce Dern, Joan Blondell, James Whitmore.
"Arizona Bushwakers" (Paramount 1968) Directed by: Lesley Selander. Cast: Howard Keel, Yvonne De Carlo, Brian Donlevy, Scott Brady, John Ireland.
"Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (20th Century Fox 1969) Directed by: Ted Post. Cast: Charleton Heston, James Franciscus, Victor Buono, Kim Hunter Roddy McDowall.
"Andromeda Strain" (Universal 1970) Directed by: Robert Wise. Cast: Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid.
"Ordeal" (ABC-TV 1973) Directed by: Lee H. Katzin. Cast: Arthur Hill, Diana Muldaur, James Stacey, Michael Ansara.
"Westworld" (MGM 1973) Directed by: Michael Crichton. Cast: Yul Bryner, James Brolin, Richard Benjamin.
"The Godchild" (ABC-TV 1974) Directed by: John Badham. Cast: Jack Palance, Jose Peres, Jack Warden, Keith Carradine.
"The Hanged Man" (ABC-TV 1974) Directed by: Michael Caffey. Cast: Steve Forrest, Cameron Mitchell, Dean Jagger, Hank Worden, Sharon Acker.
"Savages" (ABC TV 1974) Directed by: Lee H. Katzin. Cast: Andy Griffith.
"Jurrasic Park" (Universal 1992) Directed by: Steven Spielberg. Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern.
