Came across something interesting on the Iverson Ranch blog. I highly recommend this blog, but warn you that you’ll be there for hours.
A recent post covers the history of the Middle Iverson Ranch sets, from the buildings’ construction in the early 40s to their use in the pilot episode of The Real McCoys — and on to the fire that destroyed them in 1970.
A typical film that used these sets is The Hills Of Utah (1951), a later Gene Autry picture. Below is the main house set as it appears there. The set also included (at various times) a bunkhouse, barn and shed.
If you’ve seen AIP’s Panic In Year Zero (1962), you know that this house survived an atom bomb falling on LA. But it couldn’t survive sprawl: condominiums now occupy its spot.
God, I love that house. Hopefully, when I’m old and gray, I’ll find one like it to spend my golden years, sitting on that porch in a rocking chair, listening to Gene sing!