Let's backtrack a bit. In 1937, 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, the purchase price for the land was about $11,400.00. The property was acquired by actor and comedian Bob Hope in 1965.

The Newspaper Archive has many articles on Corriganville, the purchase by Bob Hope, etc. Following are a couple mentions which provide a more concise timeline:

The September 6, 1937 issue of the Van Nuys (California) News had an article on "the sale of the John Mc Scott ranch in the Santa Susana district." "The purchaser is Ray (Crash) Corrigan, film star, stunt double and physical trainer to motion picture celebrities. Corrigan plans to build a home, stables and install water facilities."

The Oxnard (California) Press-Courier newspaper from January 11, 1966 carried an article on lawsuits and legal battles between Corrigan and his former wife Rita Corrigan Stiltz over the sale of Corriganville to Bob Hope in 1965. Couple quotes: "Corrigan bought the ... ranch in 1937 for $11,354 ..."; "... they both agreed to sell the property to Bob Hope for $3 million last year. Hope renamed it Hopetown."

In the links section on the next webpage, you'll find links to several 1954 newspaper articles on the battles between Ray and Rita over Corriganville ownership.

Most of the Range Busters were filmed there, as well as A features like FORT APACHE (1948) with John Wayne. Also lensed 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). Ken Maynard even did performances at the ranch. During its existence, a thousand or more films and TV shows were filmed there. As mentioned, Corriganville became 'Hopetown' in 1965 when it was purchased by Bob Hope.

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)

Left - one of the talented (and pretty) performers at the Corriganville Movie Ranch was Ray's wife Elaine DuPont (real name: Elaine Zazueta). They married in 1956.

(Courtesy of Clarence Schwab and Larry Blanks) Above - Corrigan and Chief Thunder Cloud (Victor Daniels) capture the bank robbers in one of the action-packed shows that were staged for the visitors at the movie ranch.  Photo is probably circa 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)

(Courtesy of Minard Coons) Left and above - a couple of great color publicity photos of Ray 'Crash' Corrigan.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

From left to right are Max Terhune, Earl Warren, and Ray Corrigan. Warren served as Governor of California as well as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.