Iverson Movie Ranch
By Mrs. Carla Wittel Iverson
THIS IS HISTORICAL INFORMATION ONLY
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Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, California was begun as a movie ranch in 1913, was used for television series Hop Along Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Wyatt Earp, Bonanza, Cades County, and Dusty's Trail.
Movies made there were Ben Hur, Wee Willie Winkle (starring Shirley Temple Black), Along Came Jones (of which Gary Cooer invested his money in a movie set for this particular picture), The Fighting Seabees (starring John Wayne and Susan Hayward), Bride of Candy Rock (starring Lou Costello and Dorothy Provine), two Doberman Gang pictures (one of which Fred Astair was in), The Ghost of Buxley Hall (made by Disney), and many others.
Religious films were also made there including Herman Hacock's Scripture Films, God's Animals (in which Edwin, Sessie, and Aaron were actors), Alfred Franz Crusader Films (based on The Old Testament storis of the Bible), and Family Films (starring Nelson Leigh as the Christ and directed by Edward Dew).
Notable actors that have appeared on the Ranch were Ramon Navarro, Shirley Temple Black, Yakima Canutt, John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, Bill Boyd, Nelson Leigh, Evans Lloyd, Horace Irwin, Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Andy Divine, Hugh O'Brien, Glenn Ford, Forest Tucker, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Fred Astair, and Buster.
Edwin Aaron Iverson was born July1, 1937 at Santa Monica Hospital in the same room years later where Shirley Temple Black was born. Ed was born to Aaron and Bessie Iverson.
Edwin's schooling was Chatsworth Grammer School, Sutter Jr. High School, Canoga Park High School, Pierce College, and Biola College in La Mirada.
Edwin grew up on the famous Iverson Movie Ranch which was homesteaded by Ed's grandmother, Augusta Wogman in 1881. It was first a Spanish Land Grant.
Edwin showed films for 35 years in many churches in the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley for Youth Camps at Crestline and Mountain Home. He married Carla Wittel on June 5, 1961 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Van Nuys, California. There were 500 people in attendance. The couple resided at Iverson Ranch 4½ years then moved to Simi Valley on December 4, 1965. Edwin was Simi Valley's weather man.
A book titled "Quiet on the Set, A motion picture history at Iverson Location Ranch" was written and published in 1983. Carla gave much written information as did Joe Iverson. Ed's, Carla's, and Joe's keepsake photos are in the book.
Edwin passed away peacefully at Simi Valley Hospital at 8:45 p.m. on May 9, 2013.