This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
In 1927, Paramount Pictures purchased 2,700 acres of the old Rancho Las Virgenes (now Agoura Hills) for use as a movie ranch. William Hertz bought the southeast portion in 1953 and build a permanent western town utilizing Paramount Pictures' old prop storage sheds. The racetrack held events for only two seasons, closing in 1957 due to injuries and fatalities. In 1980 the National Park Service purchased the land and the Paramount Ranch Western Town was the only working movie western town in the National Park System. The Woolsey fire in November, 2018 destroyed many of the structures at the Ranch. Photograph caption dated August 20, 1956 reads "John R. Dixon of Canoga Park driving an MG-A, far right, goes into spin during consolation under 1500 cc race at yesterday's sports car event at Paramount Ranch. Going along smoothly at this point is Dr. Douglas F. Snow of Sherman Oaks in his Nichols Panhard followed by Rex Huddleston, center (No. 75), of Lindsey in supercharged Lotus Maserati." See image 00162566 for additional photo in this series.
Paramount Ranch (Los Angeles County, Calif.) Automobile racing drivers Men Spectators Automobile racing M.G. automobile Panhard automobile Maserati automobile Automobiles Racetracks (Automobile racing) Agoura Hills (Calif.) Portrait photographs Group portraits
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