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
Photograph was edited for publication purposes. 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 14, 1956 reads "Many of the fastest sports cars in the Southland plus two outstanding drivers, Cal Niday and Sam Hanks, were on hand yesterday at Paramount Ranch, Agoura, to test the two-mile race track for the grand opening this weekend. This is the first major race track in the San Fernando Valley and plans call for many outstanding motor car events in the future. The California Sports Car Club is sponsoring the two-day event Saturday and Sunday."
Niday, Cal Hanks, Sam Paramount Ranch (Los Angeles County, Calif.) Automobile racing drivers Men Automobile racing Sports cars Automobiles Racetracks (Automobile racing) Agoura Hills (Calif.) Portrait photographs Group portraits
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