tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37549190194964519272024-02-08T03:00:34.419-08:00Conejo Valley Film HistoryNewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03010622862841323726noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754919019496451927.post-43346629030704530442010-04-04T00:01:00.000-07:002020-07-05T19:58:37.401-07:00Conejo Valley Film EventsThere are tons of film events here in the Conejo Valley that range from family-friendly screenings to extensive exhibits. Check back for more.<br />
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If you have any film events happening in the Conejo Valley, please feel free to email Brandon Swanson at conejofilm@gmail.com or message us on twitter @conejofilmNewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03010622862841323726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754919019496451927.post-45902497627573272402010-02-18T22:10:00.000-08:002020-07-05T19:56:14.000-07:00Conejo Valley Film NewsIf you would like to submit a tip or story to me, please feel free to email Brandon Swanson at <a href="mailto:conejofilm@gmail.com">conejofilm@gmail.com</a> or message me on twitter, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/conejofilm">@conejofilm</a>.Newhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03010622862841323726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754919019496451927.post-5937072937496096282010-02-09T23:11:00.000-08:002020-07-05T23:04:04.720-07:00About Conejo Valley Film History SiteHere at the Conejo Valley Film History, we believe that cinema is one of the most beautiful art forms in the world and is deserving of special recognition. That is why the Conejo Valley Film was established in 2009, to promote the Conejo Valley as a premiere cultural and historical center in the motion picture industry. One of the most important aims of the Conejo Valley Film is to present quality independent and classic films created locally here in the Conejo Valley to the community at large.<br />
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If you would like to set up a film screening or exhibit please contact Brandon Swanson at conejofilm@gmail.comNewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03010622862841323726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3754919019496451927.post-16881450181170890032009-11-05T15:56:00.001-08:002020-07-05T23:03:31.800-07:00History of Cinema in the Conejo ValleyFor more than 100 years the Conejo Valley has played a significant role in the California Film Industry. The Conejo Valley, which consists of the cities <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3754919019496451927#thousand">Thousand Oaks</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3754919019496451927#newbury">Newbury Park</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3754919019496451927#westlake">Westlake Village</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3754919019496451927#oak">Oak Park</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3754919019496451927#agoura">Agoura Hills</a>, and the surrounding communities of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3754919019496451927#lake">Lake Sherwood</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3754919019496451927#hidden">Hidden Valley</a>, and a portion of Calabasas—features picturesque mountain vistas, lush ranches and parks, and beautiful city streets that have provided a perfect backdrop for many film, television, and commercial productions. Below is one of the most extensive histories of cinema in the Conejo Valley, which is broken down alphabetically by city/community.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Agoura Hills Films and Locations</span></h3>
Film in Agoura dates as far back as the 1920s; when the community was briefly known as Picture City—due to the fact that Paramount Studios owned a ranch in the area that was used for filming old Westerns. In 1982, Several neighborhoods in Agoura were used in the opening neighborhood shots for the film <span style="font-style: italic;">Poltergeist</span>—the opening shot with a large oak tree in the middle of the street is located on Rustling Oaks Dr.—while the actual Freeling House was located in Simi Valley. The Paramount Studios Ranch also became the setting for the television show <span style="font-style: italic;">Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman</span>. Agoura was also utilized in the television show <span style="font-style: italic;">The OC</span>, which used an Agoura home as the character Summer’s mansion. The famous TV show, <span style="font-style: italic;">M.A.S.H.</span>, was filmed on 20th Century Fox’s ranch, only a few minutes away from the Paramount Ranch.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://conejovalley.com/communities/agourahills.html">Conejovalley.com</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoura_Hills">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.seeing-stars.com/OC/SummersHouse.shtml">Seeing Stars</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Calabasas Films and Locations</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hidden Valley Films and Locations</span></h3>
Hidden Valley is probably the most common filming location for movies and television around the Conejo Valley due to its close proximity to Los Angeles, its rustic atmosphere, and its little known location. The Hidden Valley area was used in the late -Patrick Swayze film, <span style="font-style: italic;">Roadhouse</span>, and was also used as President Charles Logan's estate in both seasons 5 and 6 of the hit TV show, <span style="font-style: italic;">24</span>. Much of <span style="font-style: italic;">Seabiscuit</span> was also shot in the area.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_Valley,_Ventura_County,_California">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.fast-rewind.com/locations_roadhouse.htm">80's Movie Rewind</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lake Sherwood Films and Locations </span></h3>
As an unincorporated part of the Conejo Valley, Lake Sherwood has had a storied film past. Originally named Potrero Lake, it’s considered to be the oldest man-made lake in California. The name was changed to Lake Sherwood when the surrounding areas were used for the filming of <span style="font-style: italic;">Robin Hood</span> starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., in 1921. It has also been featured in episodes of television shows like <span style="font-style: italic;">Bonanza</span> and the<span style="font-style: italic;"> OC</span>. And part of the films, <span style="font-style: italic;">Out of the Past</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Muppet Movie</span> were filmed here.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sherwood,_California">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.sherwoodcountryclub.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=262634&ssid=127012&vnf=1">Sherwood Country Club</a>, <a href="http://www.seeing-stars.com/OC/LakeArrowheadCabin.shtml">Seeing Stars</a>, <a href="http://ponderosascenery.homestead.com/sherwood.html">Bonanza: Scenery from Ponderosa</a>, <a href="http://www.filminamerica.com/Movies/OutOfThePast/">Film in America</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Newbury Park Films and Locations </span></h3>
Located in the western portion of the Conejo Valley; Newbury Park, along with Thousand Oaks was part of a master-planned community developed by the Janss Investment Company. Rancho Conejo Village—built on the site of the former Rancho Conejo Airport, was a location used for portions of the film, <span style="font-style: italic;">It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World</span>. Because the large majority of Newbury Park and the Dos Vientos communities are within the city limits of Thousand Oaks, much of their film history is part of the larger Thousand Oaks cinematic history.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://conejovalley.com/communities/newburypark.html">Conejovalley.com</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbury_Park,_California">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.gchudleigh.com/madworld.htm">Gchudleigh.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Oak Park Films and Locations </span></h3>
Although not known for being the most famous film location in the Conejo, Oak Park was founded by Jim and Marian Jordan—nationally beloved radio personalities known better as “Fibber McGee and Molly.” But various scenes from <span style="font-style: italic;">Ladybugs</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Role Models</span> were all filmed in Oak Park.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://conejovalley.com/communities/oakpark.html">Conejovalley.com</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Park,_California">Wikipedia</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thousand Oaks Films and Locations </span></h3>
As the largest part of the Conejo Valley, Thousand Oaks has an immense film history. Janss Ranch, much like the other ranches in the Conejo Valley, hosted many film productions and popular Westerns including <span style="font-style: italic;">Gunsmoke</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Rifleman</span>, which were shot in the Wildwood neighborhood. Jungleland—once located where the current City Hall/Civic Arts Plaza is—has also been classified by many as one of the most well-known filming spots in the Conejo Valley and is often regarded as Southern California's first theme park. Wild animal shows entertained thousands in the 1940s and 50s at the park. And scenes from 100's of movies and television shows were filmed here—making use of the park's trained animals—including <span style="font-style: italic;">Birth of a Nation</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Tarzan</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Adventures of Robin Hood</span>. Believe it or not, <span style="font-style: italic;">Memoirs of a Geisha</span>—set in 1930s Japan—was also shot in Thousand Oaks.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.toaks.org/living/about/history/default.asp">City of Thousand Oaks</a>, <a href="http://conejovalley.com/communities/thousandoaks.html">Conejovalley.com</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_Oaks">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1995-08-29/news/mn-40029_1_thousand-oaks-boulevard?pg=2">LA Times</a>, <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/12/making-thousand.html">LA Times Blogs</a>, <a href="http://ponderosascenery.homestead.com/janss.html">Ponderosascenery.com</a>, <a href="http://www.filmstew.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ContentID=12951">Filmstew</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Westlake Village Films and Locations </span></h3>
The area that is now Westlake was once known as Russell Ranch and was a very popular movie ranch. Many movies and TV shows were filmed on the ranch, including<span style="font-style: italic;"> Robin Hood</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">King Rat</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Laredo</span>, and various episodes of <span style="font-style: italic;">Tarzan</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Buck Rogers</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Gunsmoke</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Bonanza</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">Demolition Man</span> used the outside of the Baxter building in Westlake Village as the police station in the film. Some scenes from <span style="font-style: italic;">Gridiron Gang</span> were shot at Westlake High School, Agoura High School, and Moorpark College.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://conejovalley.com/communities/westlakevillage.html">Conejovalley.com</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westlake_Village,_California">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.brentdavis.com/Nav.aspx/Page=%2fPageManager%2fDefault.aspx%2fPageID%3d338956">Brent Davis Real Estate</a></span><br />
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<h3>
Other Surrounding Filming Locations Camarillo, Moorpark, and Simi Valley</h3>
We are currently working on a list of all the films and television shows shot in the Conejo Valley.<br />
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If you would like to contribute to this site or send corrections, please feel free to email Brandon Swanson at <a href="mailto:conejofilm@gmail.com">conejofilm@gmail.com</a> or check out our twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/conejofilm">@conejofilm</a>Newhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03010622862841323726noreply@blogger.com0