Stars
& Horse
Stars photo gallery
Horse,
mule, movie stars and stunt men
making a movie at Lake Los Angeles in this photo
The location of hundreds of movies and silent screens to today's TV epics is Lake Los Angeles in north of Los Angeles County in the state of California, United States of America. There is an original natural lake fed by spring water. There was another man made lake added in the 1960's for recreation. Since then a growing number of homes have been built in the desert.
above the filming of: High Chaparral - Cimarron Strip - Hondo
The following programs were filmed at Lake Los Angeles:
| Title: | Movie | TV Series |
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MacKennas Gold Rawhide Bonanza Wagon rain Gunsmoke Laramie The Big Valley The Man from UNCLE Run for your life Lorado Mission Impossible The High Chapparal Cimarron Strip Hondo |
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Lake Los Angeles is a favorite setting for movies and television shows because actors can peform in the "wild west" and go home each evening to the Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley, Hollywood Hills or Beverly Hills that are near by. See the movie sets at Lake Los Angeles
"Little Buck" was Doug's
movie star horse
"Appy "or "Joe" was Jim's movie star horse
The photo below - from Barb Townsend
"Joe" the appaloosa in the middle
The horse at the left end is of Little Buck #1
Sorry we don't have the name of the movie star horse on the far right
Thanks to Barb for all of the contributions
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Comments & Info from: I think James Drury rode two Appaloosas in the series, one of which I believe he called "Jody" in the episode "A Flash of Darkness." The horse in this show certainly looks like a different horse than the one in the above picture called "Appy." Appy had a more distinct varnish mark on his nose and dark spots on his hindquarters. This Appaloosa (it sure sounded like the Virginian said, " 'Jody' pulled up lame") did not have these characteristics and appears to have been a stockier built animal. I'm sure someone out there knows the facts.. Doug McClure rode at least four different buckskin horses in the Virginian series (I didn't see "Men From Shiloh" so I couldn't say if he switched horses for that or not). I can't tell for certain, but it looks like the one in the above picture ("Little Buck"--Trampas called all his horses "Buck") might be "Buck" #3. If this is so, I know McClure had at least 2 others before this one and one other after this one, although that cutting horse, which I believe is "Little Buck" and the very first buckskin he had were my favorites. Any idea what the names of those other buckskins were? That first one may have also been used in the film " Ride the High Country" with Randolf Scott and Joel McCrea--it was an easy one to spot because of the way he held his tail when he ran. Update: May 1998 I STILL think James Drury said "Jody" on that show. In the book called "TV Gold--The Westerns," compiled by Ronald Shafer. In the trivia section he stated that the Virginian's horse's name was "Joe." Mr. Shafer was asked if the horse's name was Joe or Jody. Mr. Shafer said that at one time he had talked to Mr. Drury, and Mr. Drury had told him his horse's name was "Joe." Update: September 1999 Regarding James Drury's Appaloosa horse's name in THE VIRGINIAN: In the episode "The Land Dreamer" (7.20), the Virginian says, "My horse Joe likes water. He's always been a good swimming horse." Update: February 2001 James Drury's Appaloosa
- I'm relieved to know I wasn't hearing things when I thought James Drury called his horse "Jody" in THE VIRGINIAN episode "A Flash of Darkness." According to THE WESTERN HORSEMAN magazine March 1970 article "Sara Lane, Television's Cowgirl" (Sara portrayed Elizabeth Grainger in the series) Mr. Drury's filming horse was named Joe D. Mr. Dick Shane (who portrayed ranch hand Dick) gave this information: "The horse that James Drury rode on the Virginian was a gelding appaloosa named Jody, this was the main horse, the double horse to Jody was named Joe and Dell Combs owned both of these horses." Date: January 2003 One of the buckskin horses used by Doug McClure on the Virginian was purchased from my grandfather, Virgil Bowers in May 1967, Tulsa Oklahoma. Mr. McClure came back with my cousin Ben Miller (stuntman) who was the nephew of Ben Johnson, the actor. The name we called this horse was "Hay Shockey". He appeared in the Virginian after May 1967. PS. Ben Johnson was married to Carol Jones, daughter of Fat Jones.
Comments and Info from: : John Stanley
Comments and Info from: Betsy Midkiff |
Does anyone else know about the horses? Who owned them? Let us know!
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(photos taken May 11, 1968 )
1935-1995
Doug died at age 59 of cancer Feb. 5, 1995
TV stars of "The Rifleman" series
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actor Johnny Crawford |
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We think the horse in the photo's above are of "Two Bits"
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Comments & Info from: Johnny Crawford's horses. Two Bits was Johnny's own real life horse. Blue Boy was his horse on The Rifleman. That was his character's name, but Blue Boy's real name was Bosco. He was a very experienced movie horse bought by Ben Johnson. He was about seven years old on The Rifleman. The last time Johnny saw Bosco was in 1976 when he appeared in an episode of "Little House on the Prairie". Bosco was in that particular episode too, although I don't think they worked together in a scene. I've never seen this episode but would love to. I forget which one, Blue Boy or Two Bits was a paint horse or a pinto I guess is what Johnny said. You'd know about that more than me. Two Bits was given to him in 1959 by a rancher he and Chuck Connors met in St. Louis. He had him about 20 years. Had to put him to sleep in 1980. |
Poster from "Bonanza" TV series
 "Paint" was TV star horse of actor Michael Landon who was "Little Joe Cartwright" "Chub" was TV star horse of actor Dan Blocker who was "Hoss Cartwright" |
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Below are some of the names of the horses of Bonanza
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Comments & Info from:
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Comments & Info from: The Bonanza horses that were injured/killed as mentioned were owned and stabled at my grandfathers barn in North Hollywood, Ca. His name was Clarence Y. (Fat) Jones. He passed on shortly after the events mentioned. He owned the movie horse stable from the early 30's until his death in 1962 or 63. The ranch, called Fat Jones Stables, was sold at his death and continued to exist til some point in the early-mid '70s. It was located on Sherman Way, a short distance east of Lankershim Blvd. The location is now a series of low corrigated storage buildings. My aunt, my mothers sister, was married to the late movie actor Ben Johnson, and lived at the Sherman Way house until after Fat's death. NOTE: If anyone who worked at the stables or knew Clarence Y "Fat" Jones please contact Horse Fame. |
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