The Clarence Brown Ranch was located in Calabasas, California, and owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer director, Clarence Brown. An airplane landing strip was on the property until the early 1950’s.
In 1899, Edward C. Stokes filed a patent, under the Homestead Act of 1862, for 160 acres of land. In 1926, King Camp Gillette (of razor fame) purchased the acreage from the Stokes family. Gillette died in 1932 and Clarence Brown purchased the property 3 years later. The land was sold in 1952 to the Congregation of Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who then transferred title to the Dominican Seminary. In 1954, the Claretian Theological Seminary acquired ownership of the land. In 1972, they leased the land to Thomas Aquinas College. In 1978, they sold the property to the Church Universal and Triumphant. Soka University of America purchased the property in 1986. The property is now owned by the State of California.
DIRECTIONS: From downtown Los Angeles, take the 101 Freeway West. Exit at Las Virgenes Road and turn left (south). Entrance to the ranch is on the left (east side) just after Mulholland Highway. The property is across Las Virgenes Road from Malibu Creek Park.
"Conquest" (MGM 1937) Directed by: Clarence Brown. Cast: Greta Garbo, Charles Boyer, Reginald Owen.
"Of Human Hearts" (MGM 1938) Directed by: Clarence Brown. Cast: Walter Huston, James Stewart, Beulah Bondi, Gene Reynolds.
"Idiot's Delight" (MGM 1939) Directed by: Clarence Brown. Cast: Norma Shearer, Clark Gable, Edward Arnold, Charles Coburn.
"The Human Comedy" (MGM 1943) Directed by: Clarence Brown. Cast: Mickey Rooney, Frank Morgan, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, Fay Bainter, Ray Collins, Van Johnson, Donna Reed.
"The White Cliffs of Dover" (MGM 1944) Directed by: Clarence Brown. Cast: Irene Dunne, Alan Marshal, Roddy McDowall, Frank Morgan, Van Johnson, C. Aubrey Smith.
"The Gal Who Took the West" (Universal 1949) Directed by: Frederick De Cordova. Cast: Yvonne De Carlo, John Russell, Scott Brady, Clem Bevans, Houseley Stevenson, Charles Coburn.