A Fond Farewell to the Columbia Ranch… From A Trespasser

Post-fire aerial view of the Columbia Ranch in 1970.

It is with disheartening news that I share my personal tales of Columbia Ranch… It is now known that this lot is currently being demolished. This wonderful, western-style, movie playground will go the way of so many other former studio backlots, such as MGM, Fox, and Desilu, which have all seen this sad movie playout before: Quick cash, in the form of real estate development, will overide the movie history that has played out both inside and outside the backlot. Paving paradise once again.

Hidden within the city of Burbank is The Columbia Ranch movie facility, surrounded on all four sides by residential property. Two story homes and apartments can easily see inside this fabricated world… Right from their living room windows, residents can have a peek over the ivy covered fences that secure this iconic movie location. It’s as if they are part of famous movie sets that sit right across the street. Like having a balcony seat for a fine play. Except this play never ends… until now.

It seems escalating property values overide history every time. Who needs these old buildings and mature forest areas that lie inside this lot? 

You may think you never have seen this lot or experienced it… ahh, but you have! You have watched TV episodes that were done entirely on this lot. In the back of your mind, you might’ve wondered, just where these neighborhoods exist. The Columbia Ranch… that’s where!

The future is here, sadly…

The sprawling 32 -acre Warner Brothers Ranch Backlot complex at 411 N-Hollywood Way in Burbank, California will be overhauled to make way for the largest studio development in the United States complete with 16 new soundstages, a multi level parking structure, support facilities, and a 320,000-square foot office building.

Hollywood can’t get enough sound stages. Fairly recently, Universal also tore down the Spartacus area to add stages. Old wooden sets have an expiration dates, apparently. The lush landscape surrounding these sets falls victim to circumstances. Large mature trees and jungle settings will no longer provide shade for a Fantasy Island and will be replaced a cement parking structures.Not the fantasy I would have wished for… All my wonderful memories on this lot will now forever be preserved in the steel can my mind has become, containing Hollywood’s Golden Age memories.. I feel more than ever like a old, smokey projector, complete with the sound film makes being advanced until the final frame tells you it’s ….”The End.”

My First of many Trespassing Tales on this Backlot-New Years Day 1976

My boots first touched ground on this movie backlot in the mid-seventies.

We begin… In the shade of large forested area located behind a super market in beautiful downtown Burbank. We park just a few feet from the wall we will scale. Every trespass at every studio begins and ends with fences to climb. There are warning signs telling you to ” stay out.” We sit in Jimmy’s VW staring at our objective, the Columbia Studios backlot. We ‘”brave up” by listening to songs on the Radio. Led Zeppelin’s “Gallows Pole” is blasting through the Blaupunkt speakers. As the song concludes, we are motivated begin this entirely new to us –backlot adventure.

The three of us, Jimmy, Pat, and myself touch down on pay dirt, large trees and grass berms provide shade and places to hide at while we take in the landscape. The thrill has begone, it’s like being on another planet, like some Space Cowboys. A space capsule sits hidden and isolated like it secretly landed. We see several four-story tall buildings not too far off. Those buildings can be seen driving down Hollywood Way, a street the locked main gate is located on. The locked gate is an indication this place is probably empty.

Each set and street need to be examined. If we get chased, security has an advantage of knowing the place, and that takes time, diligence, and some luck for us to accomplish that goal. We advance like we’re in an episode of Combat, building to building, trying to avoid battle, we hope today is entirely reconnaissance. Being inside now is how we will verify, we are hoping for the lot to be empty and for the taking! Everything we see is stationary- empty streets, abandoned up scale homes, and parked cars, as if someone hit a pause button. Time has frozen still for us, it’s like we’re climbing into a picture or matte painting. We three boys are the only live action going on here today, it appears. It’s like entering -The Twilight Zone…”Where is everybody?”

Nothing so far is recognizable from things on TV, because we came in through a backstage entrance, so to speak. But after a half hour in this forested area, we head toward the big city with the tall buildings over yonder. Weaving in and out of what the studio calls “picture cars”, a huge selection of cars could double as Cal Worthington and his dog Spot’s used car dealership. Jimmy and I pull Pat by the arm so to keep toward our goal, Downtown- Columbia Ranch.

Pat has a thing for cars, he would stay here all day if we let him. But we’re going to the highest vantage point on the backlot. It offers not only great views, but a 360-degree observation of any and all activities on the lot. Following proven effective methods used on all our other lots, we sit on rooftops four stories high. A fountain sits below us, and a pool with crystal blue water, in a park setting. We have a pool at MGM, but it’s drained now, so we use that old Esther Williams pool to skateboard in. This pool below us is perfect and ready for entertaining as is the fountain just opposite it.

We are on top of the world, or Columbia anyways. We bask in our glory, another successful backlot adventure is taking place, we three sit on the roof and dig into the depths of our collective brains that are TV sets at this moment. Each of us adjust our own set rabbit ears- pointing out things that slowly are being remembered or identified from TV shows from the sixties. This truly is- TV Land.

The Monkees used this fountain in their music video “”I Wanna Buy Me a Dog”. Jimmy and I loved the Monkees and now here we are. “This is the Partridge Family Studio, I’ve seen that bus drive by here.” Before follow up with another series, we take a brief Susan Dey time out moment, teenagers have a thing for her you know… But wait, their’s more- Bewitched used that fountain also. This fountain is like the center of the universe on this backlot. We sit above all this reflecting fondly, what a cool way to start the year. Off in the distance we see the “The Stevens house” a sling shot from Dennis the Menace’s house.

We are zipping through the sixties on classic TV memories, like we do at Desilu, the studio where Superheroes come alive.

A typical western street usually has gallows at one end, a church at the other, a Gunsmith in between. A saloon, livery stables, and a chicken ranch are within walking distance. Wooden gang plank sidewalks frame a dirt road. Horse tie offs make us wish wish we had a saddled up horses. A sheriff office and a bank trim out all you could possibly want or need.

Inside these buildings are treasures, ancient lighting equipment sits ready and willing to be re-energized. Thick cobwebs cover the bulb inside the housing. This street is everything you could want in a real Ghost-town. But these ghosts are captured on film to forever display themselves when called upon.

Today, we visited two old west deserted ghost towns, the first trespass was on the CBS backlot, close by in Studio City, that was earlier this morning. We have a thing for The Wild ,Wild West and we only had to go to the valley to go back in time.

As we make our way back across the entire lot to get back to our climbing spot, Pat finds an unlocked door in a steel covered one story storage facility, it’s the property department. Small hand props are packed inside here- we touch everything. It’s like the biggest curio shop ever, odd, strange yet cool things…I am in love with a brass container in the shape of a Scorpion. It opens up to put things inside. As tempting as this is, the Robin Hood in us says “Don’t take anything.” We still have a long way to go to exit and we are already carrying camera equipment. “You would think they would lock this place”…

As neat as this room is, it really is all about these wonderful backlots. Today, January 1, 1976…we conquered two more. We head back to Culver City together this New Year’s Day-no chases, no watch commanders, just a relaxing trip back in time- to the good old days…

A priceless moment that is as fresh as the day it happened. The beauty of memories is… they can’t be bulldozed.

For more stories such as these, follow me around Hollywood’s iconic backlots. A “”Hole in the Fence is how you can enter in on these adventures and you to can become the “The Uninvited Visitor” Detailed trespassing diaries, all studios…Coming soon.

Written and lived by Donnie Norden…

Bewitched Home A utility road is behind this set along with an ivy covered fence that has Warning Signs-No Trespassing. Always how my stories begin.

Home of Mr. Wilson’s Home in Dennis the Menace, and in 1954 it also served as the Anderson Family home in Father Knows Best. And then Jeannie’s house in I Dream of Jeannie, to name a few. Trespassing at Universal, I met Barbara Eden on the set of “Harper Valley. ” She was struggling to get to get her boots on as she sat on her trailer stairs. I had just exited the Munsters House when I saw her dilemma, as any well rounded-trespasser would do, I assisted her in completing this task. My Jeanie moment !

Donna Reed & Dennis the Menace home

Partridge Family Home–What a wild family of stars- in real life.This family had a number hit song on Billboard -“I think I Love You” David Cassidy performs with Shirley Jones, his real life step mother.

Fantasy Island Home on the backlot. The second house is located at the Los Angeles Arboretum. I took this picture on later visit. Notice a slight remodel to the arches in the columns compared to the earlier pictures I took below.I met these two men while filming the second episode ever of this series, on the MGM backlot. One of my greatest tales for you to live also, in my upcoming book.

My tresspassing buddy Jimmy walking up to the Fantasy Island Home.

We have arrived, but no planes!

The Griswolds house in Christmas Vacation (center).

High Noon was filmed here on Western Street, starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly

A scene from High Noon filmed on Western Street and picture I took below. I took this picture 20 years later. After the fire in 1970, some sets were Rebuilt using the original blueprints.

Another shot of Western Street nearly the same angle, I took later in color.

Pat Rich, my old Catholic School buddy, we were a couple of renegades, dating back to elementary days. We both were told to ” Do not comeback for 8th Grade.” I celebrated being liberated and moving on to public school where I could be with my girlfriend Maureen.. Pat, on the other hand was sent to Loyola High, a very strict private school.

“Boots on the ground are boots in the air as Pat enjoys pretending he’s on a horse. More on this lad- “he always volunteers on dangerous backlot assignments. He was my most trust worthy side kick. As a private early in our trespassing days, he exhibited guts and determination. He quickly moved up the ranks after being shot at twice by an MGM Guard branching a fire arm out the window of the Bronco security jeep. Bronco Bob was the guard and the term that became widely used was coined on that day being chased off the set of Soylent Green. Pat is no longer with us and is swinging up in heaven where all Catholic School boys end up. ”

My other partner in crime, Jimmie with his camera. Although I’ve taken hundreds of pictures here, I would love to get a hold of the ones my pal Jimmy took.I’m in his pictures, he’s in mine, I have a message in a bottle hoping to someday reunite. I can’t count how many times we have had to hide face to face behind some object as security attempts to hunt us down.Several studios this came up, after all, we are trespassers. The last time that happened was on this backlot after MGM was torn down. We were seen on western street and hid inside a barn, face to face, for the last time ever it turns out and it happened on this street. We got away but security gave this place a “once over” and we could hid for the final time “”Face to Face”

Here’s some of the 100’s of pictures I took on this backlot that I’ll post soon on a future post, if anyone is interested. All these pictures are mine and trespassing is how I achieved my library

Jimmie playing with the spotlight

Columbia Ranch pool. Above right is a scene from the Patridge Family and below, a scene from the Monkees. This pool had underwater window installed for filming.

A scene from the Monkees and a picture I took that’s nearly the same angle.

Before and after showing the location of the Partridge Family Bus location.

Famous courtyard fountain. This fountain has been used in may famous telivision productions.In 1967-The Monkees out sold both the Beatles and The Rolling Stones on L.P sales.

Some of my photos are beginning to fade away. Here’s a chariot scene from Hooper in 1978.I was a guest of a bit actor and trespasser-Tim Gray. He to is no longer with us. I was sitting in a wood chair with Cowboys and Romans all around me in video village. Hal Needham was directing and watching replays of the chariot races. I asked him “what was the your favorite all time stunt?” His response was”I hold the record for the most for the most car rolls-23″ he boasted proudly. It was then “Sonny Hooper” aka “Burt Reynolds” chimed in. “Tell him the rest of the story Hal” After a pause Hal says ” I was in the hospital for three months, I had a broken spleen, collar bone, damaged ribs” as Burt begins laughing as only Burt can. My favorite ranch memory.

The Partridge family bus in front of the European Church. My picture 10 years later, below.

Two and three wheelers once raced down these streets. Marlon Brando in the Wild One and Dennis the Menance.

“Valley of the Giants”. Kids become Giants after taking a drug called Goo and terrorize the backlot. Needless to say, this could be us. Been there Done that!

The Community church seen in Valley of the Giants was rebuilt after the fire. This church separates these two iconic residential streets.

This street is what’s behind the residential street with all the iconic homes and is featured in a few Fantasy Island episodes.

It’s up here that offers the best views of this backlot. Before exploring the sets below-we analyzed the topography for both who may be on the lot but also what shows took place here.Before computers and Steven Bingen’s fantastic books-we had to do old fashioned research. This roof is where to set up your vintage T.V antenna that pulls in signals from the past.

Before starting my first trespass on this lot, we listened to “Gallows Pole” by Led Zeppelin. Unknowingly, we ran into one. Once again, backlots incorporate hill sides into their western streets. Warner Brothers, Universal, and Columbia all have this hill side gateway into the old west. This is pertinent for how the west is presented. The Hollywood sign is on the other side of that hill top.

Another angle of a turn of the century village.

Front yard view from Dennis the Menace home.

The corner intersection of two iconic residential streets.This neighborhood is the real…T.V Land.

The main gate takes you here to this area first -if you have a drive on pass. We had-No credentials.

This spaceship would make a great fort!

Another Fantasy Island set pic I took.

1981 Under the Rainbow Oz set.

Columbia Ranch boneyard. The trees yonder is the Fantasy Island sets.

Jimmy, once again, a sword in one hand and a camera in the other. We sometimes wear costumes when we run into them. Like we stepped into a movie.

This picture is a public street right behind The Bewitched home. My invitation for a challenge is posted everywhere along these very hard to climb fences. I’ve learned by doing- there is always a weak link in a chain of fences.

Before/After. A conception of the 16 new soundstages, multi level parking structure, and 320,000-square foot office building. THE END….