Let's backtrack a bit. Around 1937, Ray Corrigan invested in some real estate in California's Simi Valley and developed it as a multi-purpose movie location for use in film production. While several dollar figures have been thrown about, apparently the purchase price for the land was in the range of $10,000 - $12,000.
Most of the Range Busters were done there, as well as A features like FORT APACHE (1948) with John Wayne. Also filmed at Corriganville were Columbia's JUNGLE JIM series with Johnny Weissmuller and TV shows such as THE ADVENTURES OF RIN TIN TIN and SKY KING.
Corrigan opened the ranch to the public in 1949 and his staff would stage shoot-em-ups and such. He even employed several of his movie buddies at the ranch, including Max Terhune and Victor Daniels (Chief Thunder Cloud). During it's existence, a thousand or more films and TV shows were filmed there. In 1966, Corriganville became 'Hopetown' when it was purchased by Bob Hope (for several million $$$).
On the next page, you'll find a link to Jerry Schneider's Movie Locations Guide website, and his site on Corriganville. If you want nitty-gritty on Corriganville, including history, info on workers and performers, and lots of great photos, take a trip to Jerry's Corriganville site.
 (Courtesy of Minard Coons) Above, one of the talented (and pretty) performers at the Corriganville Movie Ranch was Ray's wife, Elaine DuPont. |
 (Photo courtesy of Clarence Schwab and Larry Blanks) Above, Corrigan and his pal Chief Thunder Cloud (Victor Daniels) corralling the bank robbers in one of the action-packed shows that were staged for the visitors at the movie ranch. Date of this photo is probably around 1953. |
The conclusion of the Range Busters series seemed to be happy time for Corrigan, as he was tired of the cowboy film rat race. And he had become too busy (and profitable) with his movie ranch.
The loss of the Range Busters did cause some problems for little Monogram Pictures. But they enticed two old timers back to the silver screen --- and Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson would become Monogram's new 'Trail Blazers'.
Corrigan was in his mid 70s and living in Oregon when he passed away on August 10, 1976 from a heart attack. He was a fine western film hero who starred in twenty-four Three Mesquiteers adventures, twenty Range Busters films, and a couple of cliffhangers. If you wish to see Corrigan at his best, take a look at RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (Republic, 1937), THE PURPLE VIGILANTES (Republic, 1938) and WYOMING OUTLAW (Republic, 1939).
 (Courtesy of Minard Coons)
|
Couple of great color publicity photos of Ray 'Crash' Corrigan | |
 (Courtesy of Minard Coons) |
From L-to-R, Max Terhune, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Earl Warren, and Ray Corrigan |
