RKO Encino Ranch

The RKO location ranch was located in Encino. It sported a complete western town with intersecting streets and a New York street.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame set was there as well as a Hacienda set.
A rail line ran through the property and was occasionally used for filming.
Other sets were built as needed, such as the 4 acre sets for It’s A Wonderful Life.

The ranch was located approximately between Louise Avenue on the west, Balboa Blvd. on the east, Burbank Blvd. on the south, and Oxnard on the north, all in the city of Encino.

The ranch property was sold in 1954 to the Encino Park housing development. The 89-acre backlot was bulldozed with plans to adjoin it to the growing community’s needs.
(Sources [http://employees.oxy.edu/jerry/rkoranch.htm] and [http://ponderosascenery.homestead.com/files/rko.html])

Photo Gallery

Photos can be seen on the RKO Encino Ranch Facebook page



Productions shot at RKO Encino


Feature Film (8)

TitleReleasedDirectorIMDB
The Day The Earth Stood Still1951Robert WiseIMDB Database page about The Day The Earth Stood Still
It's A Wonderful Life1946Frank CapraIMDB Database page about It
The existing 'Modern Street' at the Encino Ranch was used for the town of Bedford Falls.
The Magnificent Ambersons1942Orson Welles, Fred Fleck, Robert WiseIMDB Database page about The Magnificent Ambersons
Stagecoach1939John FordIMDB Database page about Stagecoach
The Hunchback of Notre Dame1939William DieterleIMDB Database page about The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Cheyenne Kid1933Robert F. HillIMDB Database page about The Cheyenne Kid
Cimarron1931Wesley RugglesIMDB Database page about Cimarron
Western Street
Men of Chance1931George ArchainbaudIMDB Database page about Men of Chance

Movies shot at the RKO Encino Ranch
List from www.imdb.com)

  • Cross Fire (1933)
  • Alice Adams (1935)
  • The Law West of Tombstone (1938)
  • The Marshal of Mesa City (1939)
  • Racketeers of the Range (1939)
  • Prairie Law (1940)
  • Thundering Hoofs (1942)
  • Tall in the Saddle (1944)
  • Crossfire (1947)
  • Out of the Past (1947)
  • Trail Street (1947)
  • 3 Godfathers (1948)
  • Blood on the Moon (1948)
  • Guns of Hate (1948)
  • Joan of Arc (1948)
  • They Live By Night (1948)
  • Western Heritage (1948)
  • Brothers in the Saddle (1949)
  • Stagecoach Kid (1949)
  • Border Treasure (1950)
  • Riders of the Range (1950)
  • Rio Grande Patrol (1950)
  • The Half-Breed (1952)
  • Devil’s Canyon (1953)
  • Split Second (1953)
  • Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

See also

RetroWeb RKO Encino Ranch pages