There also is some videos in YouTube on Malibu Creek State Park, but of course nothing on "The Rifleman" being filmed there. You might want to check out these videos.
The Rifleman filming locations
Hi & "Welcome to The McCain Ranch!"
The town of North Fork was on a sound stage in Hollywood just like most of the shots of Dodge City on Gunsmoke. Using actual exterior sets, on either back lots or movie ranches on westerns was quite expensive and used sparingly on some shows only when space needed called for the outside version of a town. Bonanza was different; Virginia City was on the back lot at Paramount Studios. Gunsmoke's exterior set for Dodge City was on the back lot at CBS Studio City, the former home of Republic Pictures, makers of all those B westerns in the 1930's and 1940's. The Rifleman, being a Four-Star Production, may not have had a real exterior western set available at the studio location.
The Rifleman was filmed in several locations.....
20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA
Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
Janss Conejo Ranch, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
http://crpd.org/index.cfm?go2=article&ArticleID=15
Paramount Ranch, Agoura, California, USA
Republic Studios/CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Ave., Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA
http://www.kernvalley.com/filmsite/tv.htm
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614
The last 2 years of the series were mostly filmed in the studio. (Studio City)
Sadly the set has been torn down!
If anyone can contribute to these pages I sure would love to hear from you!
There also is some videos in YouTube on Malibu Creek State Park, but of course nothing on "The Rifleman" being filmed there. You might want to check out these videos.
I got this e-mail from a Gary G. stating that the Rifleman being a Four Star Production may not have had access to a home studio western back lot...with the exception of the first season, the show was filmed at the old Republic Pictures lot (CBS Studio Center) and did at times use its outdoor western street. Take a look at season 3 episode 23 'The Lost Treasure of Canyon Town.' You should recognize it from the Wild Wild West, The Big Valley, Gunsmoke and a lot of Republic movies. All were based on this lot. Unfortunately as TV Westerns faded from prime time I believe part of this area of the lot was converted into a parking structure and additional studio space. Steve G. contributed wonderfully researched and photographed then & now pictures of the ext. location sets of the McCain Ranch House and Barn. Gary G.
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posted 5/18/08
