Strange Space Craft are known to come and go from this desolate location that doubles as… The Outer Limits
The Zanti’s invade Vasquez Rocks
“What’s up there?”
“Welcome tiny visitors”…
This craft took off -To the MGM Backlot 3, and MGM Security- known for their shooting prowess- finished this job off on the Backlot. The Zanti Misfits-The Outer-limits
Folks are not always welcome…“People are Strange” applies here.
Who runs this place that has no clocks- just shifting sands to register time…
“Beam me up Scotty…NOW!
My favorite visitors have arrived…
No room for humans here…I wore that helmet at MGM. 1974 T.V series... I had long hair sticking out and a guard who hates me showed up and ran at me. I didn’t move because I had a pass. I also had on Ape hand gloves and a rifle. What a sight to see, crew was around corner having lunch and put on what actors took off to eat. I was more imposing than security. Only thing missing was my horse, which was tied up when this all took place. A great story in my first book- Hole in the Fence
Whose in charge here?
Cowboys and Aliens both roam around here…
We need more cowboys…
Gathering forces…
“We need the most Bad Ass Cowboys in these parts Lee- We’re under attack from Outer Space!“
This calls for a Singing Cowboy- Roy Rogers is on his way Maybe he can bring Peace– On location in “The Fall Guy”
“Just be careful and …I love You!“- My mom use to say that to me every time I walked out the front door.
The Battle for –Ayahuasca…Blazing Saddles 1974
I hear Hollywood is sending in troops..
“We can clean this up”…Says Andy Griffith to a young Jeff Bridges
This film (Hearts of the West) was also filmed on the MGM Backlot in 1975. The following year-Jeff Bridges would return to the MGM backlot for an extended stay on the Block Buster “King Kong” Lots to say on that in my second book – The Uninvited Visitor. Recommended reading unlike anything done on the subject.
“Captain Kirk is our friend out here, you remember that youngster !” says Andy Griffith.
Play dead if your out numbered…
Turns out–In pre historic days...”They made movies here!“-Used as Bedrock in The Flintstones.
Yabba -Dabba – Do... Your mileage may very!
Something called –The Flintstones…Talking about My Generation
(Bed Rock ) can be found at this location.
Blazing Saddles then and now…
Austin Powers – Dr. Evil’s Lair found it’s way to Vasquez Rocks
This film also used the Universal Backlot-New York Street became “London” for a few shots.
1931 -Dracula – picture left is a stage coach opening scene -to the right is a combo matte painting of castle and Vasquez Rocks. Stage Coach headed to castle in both pictures
Vasquez doubles as Tibet- this is my favorite picture of all things done here…Spooky Cool History..“.Lets slide out of here to 1996”
We have arrived in style 1996-“There’s Jerry, Sliding in !
Sliders was a Universal T.V Sci-Fi series broadcast from 1995-2000.. I went On-Location with this show and we filmed at Vasquez Rocks. I operated a Wind Machine, to blow dust in background of a tiny house put together out in the middle of ‘No where.” One of Hollywoods true gentlemen starred in this series, Mr Jerry O’ Connell. My picture with him is from another series that never aired, The Munsters. In the picture on the right, he is in costume as Herman Munster. After 2 weeks of shooting and a boat load of money to build interior/exterior versions of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Universal had to pull the plug as Director Bryan Singer became entangled in serious legal problems. The concept of this remake was to make a sinister version of America’s Favorite Monster Family.
Location directions- I was a wind machine operator on the TV series- Sliders
We used 4 Ritter Fans a Full Throttle to create Tornadoes. Hot fun in the summertime. Running wind machines with Special Effects is the funnest aspect of my job.
This is a wind machine, better known as a Ritter Fan. Operated by electricians in unison with Special Effects. We control throttle and air speed. Effects tosses debris (leaves, dirt, trash etc) or water in front of the blades for rain storms. They are silent at low R.P.M’s so dialogue can coincide as wind blows on actors. The fan blades are wood and are as big as a propellor on a plane. Actors ‘I’ve Blown Wind Nn” -seriously- include Harrison Ford in the feature (Crystal Skulls), Tom Cruise in (War of the Worlds) and (Minority Report) and my two favorite Pirates, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, and a ship load of crusty lads aboard – The Black Pearl. Subtle ocean breezes we can control. I want to salute Special Effects for all they do to create what’s needed, there is no such thing as ‘we can’t” -the sky is the limit. Welcome to My World, It’s fun place to be, and I can control the weather.
The World Famous Vasquez Rocks ;
Located in the high desert near Agua Dulce- this park features 932 acres of spectacular rock formations and is a favorite filming location for Hollywood. The history here began in Prehistoric times, so naturally- The Flintstones Production Company built the town of Bedrock on this site. The village is nestled under jagged sandstone rock formations. Estimated to have to been created 25 million years ago. The San Andreas Fault helped shape the rocks we see today.
Included in a long list film history include the 1931 classic Dracula, Blazing Saddles-1974, Austin Powers- The International Man of Mystery -1997.
The Name Vasquez Comes From;
In 1874-Tiburciuo Vasquez, one of California’s most notorious bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. That sounds like movie to me.
Two episodes of Bonanza were filmed here- first in 1964-(Between Heaven and Earth)-a perfect title to describe this area. Joe Cartwright, while climbing the rocks to see the terrain, loses his rifle in a crevice. He becomes reckless and embarrassed. Ben realizes something is wrong and gives him guidance.
In 1966, Bonaza returns in an episode “Ride the Wind.” Sounds like wind machine call to me. The plot- in a nutshell-The Pony Express comes to Virgina City and Little Joe decides to team up with them. That takes us to our Vasquez Rocks location. Indians harshly react to express riders invading their land.
I included a map in this post and I highly recommend visiting this special yet mysterious place with such deep history…
Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden.
Follow me back to 1976 in my most recent book …”The Uninvited Visitor.” Available on Amazon. The Book with King Kong on the Cover.
Phantom of the Backlots 