Where damsels are saved

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Where underdogs rise up

Where underdogs rise up

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Where fantasy becomes real

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Where film is born

HOLLYWOOD’S BIGGESTLOVEAFFAIR

HOLLYWOOD’S BIGGESTLOVEAFFAIR

Hollywood first discovered Simi Valley in 1937 during the popularity of western films. Originally Wild West films were shot on location in vari-ous parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada. But because travel expenses proved to be too costly, the film industry began to build on site movie sets outside of Hollywood that mimicked the classic western feel. In most cases, these sets or “Movie Ranches”, as they were called, were located just within a 30-mile (48 km) perimeter of the Hollywood studios. The natural California landscape proved to be suitable for western loca-tions and other settings.

HOW THEY MET

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One of the most famous spaces in which these movie ranches existed was in Corriganville, located on the far southeast side of Simi Valley. Cowboy actor and stuntman Ray “Crash” Corrigan purchased property in 1937, but it took him over four years to prepare the 1,740-acre site for filming production. The ranch even-tually opened with a variety of realistic sets, perfect backdrops for such western classics as “Fort Apache,” “Rin Tin Tin”, and “The Durango Kid.” In addition to creating realistic western towns, Corrigan also created a visual potpourri of third-world villages, frontier forts and other sets that blended well with the wide-open spaces, caves, and rugged Santa Susana Mountains that border Simi Valley.

In 1949, Corriganville constructed the United States first amusement park on the property. The park included a rodeo arena, a Sicilian Village, a small lake with boats, Sherwood Forest Picnic Area, and stage-coach rides. Western entertainment was provided throughout the day. Live stunts, such as gunfights and fist fights, were staged on the western street. Ray Cor-rigan greeted people at the entrance to the park and took part in some of the stunts staged for the visitors. It was said that the park brought in on average over 20,000 people a weekend.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Ray “Crash” Corrigan with his fourth wife Elaine DuPont during the openning day of Corriganville Amuse- ment Park (1954)

The Simi Valley 118 Freeway was built through the ranch during the mid 1960’s. Bob Hope purchased the site in 1965, and ran it as Hopeville for a year before it closed. Most of the buildings on the ranch burned in fires in 1970 and 1979. By 1976, an annual two-day motorcycle race was the only event staged at Corriganville. In 1986, a developer bought the ranch and made plans to build condominiums or an industrial park on the site of Silvertown. In 1988, however, the city of Simi Valley purchased about 200 acres including the Silvertown area for a park. The Corriganville Regional Park opened in 1998.

In 1955, Corriganville began to feel the pressures from competitor Dis- neyland and Knotts Berry farm and was forced to sell. Corrigan sold the ranch to a man named Jack Wrather, owner of “Outdoor Amusements Inc”, where the park was renamed “The Lone Ranger Ranch”. Due toa nasty law suet, Corrigan was able to regain control of the ranch and restored it to its original name. But about a decade later, Corrigan was forced to sell the ranch for real this time, making 1.8 million dollars off of the sale. The end of the ranch as a park and filming location came shortly there after.

People could come to Cor- riganville Park to get their picture taken and meet Crash himself

aid the little guy. This western set the pattern for Ray’s western career. In it he is Tucson Smith one of a trio of cowboy do-gooders. He is the second lead to Bob Livingston or John Wayne, who successively played Stony Brooke. Tucson and Stony ride well, fight hard, shoot straight, and carry on a good natured rivalry, especially over the heroine. In 1940, Ray took a step down in employment but made a step up in his position in the cowboy trio. He signed with Monogram Studios, a producing company of lower status than Republic Studios. In the Range Busters series, Ray’s character, named Ray “Crash” Corrigan, is the lead member of the cowboy trio. After more than forty series westerns, Ray’s days as a cowboy hero ended in 1943. The last years (1944 -1958) of Ray’s film career mirror his first years. He did some stunt work (Adventures of Sir Galahad, 1949), enacted a few small parts (mostly uncredited), and appeared as more apes( such as the title characters of Nabonga, 1944; Zamba, 1949; and Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, 1952.)

In 1937, Ray bought a large (approximately 1500 acres) ranch in the Simi Valley, about 30 miles north of Hollywood. He built a house and enjoyed his time there. The terrain was variedand picturesque, and Ray rented out the ranchas a movie location, especially for westerns.By 1949, many buildings and other facilities had been built, and Ray opened the ranch as

Ray Corrigan was tall, muscular, and robust. On screen, he projected an easy going, likeable personality. His impressive physical attributes made possible his Hollywood film career. In the early 1930’s Corrigan was a physical culturist, a trainer, to movie stars. His usefulness as a stunt double and extra for the upcoming “Tarzan” movies was recognized by Cedric Gibbons famous art director at MGM and director of Tarzan and His Mate. In Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) and Tarzan and his Mate(1934), Corrigan did stunts and lumbered about in an ape suit as one of Tarzan’s apes. From 1932-1936, he did more stunt work (Darkest Africa and Flash Gordon), enacted a few small parts (mostly uncredited), and appeared as several more apes (Naba the Gorilla in Murder in the Private Car, Bonga, the Gorilla in Darkest Africa, and the orangopoid in Flash Gordon).

In 1936, Ray signed with Republic Studios. His first starring part was in the serial Undersea Kingdom (1936). In this wonderfully fantastic serial, his amiable personality and imposing physical appearance compensate for his weak acting. His costumes fully display his striking physique. Ray’s first western was The Three Mesquiteers (1936). In this film, three friends aid farmers in defending their land against a hostile rancher. At the end of the film, thefriends ride away , presumably looking for more adventures filled with opportunities to

an amusement park, named Corriganville. The movie ranch was successful, and Ray person-ally greeted visitors.

Ray married in the early 1940’s, and he and his wife, Rita, had three children. By 1954, the marriage was breaking up. Rita filed for a divorce. The contentious divorce had its amus-ing aspects. In June, 1954, The Los Angeles Times reported that Corrigan and three detec-tives had burst into Rita’s motel apartment and found her with another man, Moses Stiltz, who was the ex-foreman at the Corrigan ranch. The Times later reported an 80-m.p.h. car chase between Corrigan and Stiltz which climaxed with both men threatening to file citizen’s ar-rests charging assault with a deadly weapon. In court, Ray and his wife accused each other of having affairs with workers at the ranch. After the divorce, Rita married Stiltz, and Ray married a young western showgirl. Although Ray was operating Corriganville, he and Rita continued to contest the settlement of their community property. In 1963, they agreed to divide the proceeds from the sale of the ranch (for $1.8 million). Ray’s second marriage alsoended in divorce (1967.) Ray Corrigan was living in a mobile home in Brookings Oregon when he died in 1976. The movie ranch had closed in 1966.

CRASH CORRIGAN HIMSELF

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Hollywood has been mastering the cinematic trick of pure illusion for over 100 years. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that this slight of hand does not typically take place in Hollywood himself, but rather the magic is created with in the neighboring cities of west Los Angeles. Sense the 1930’s, Simi Valley has proven to be among one of the premiere Hollywood movie sites of it’s time. Having been the home of over 3,000 clas- sic and beloved films, it is no wonder why Simi Valley will always remain to be Hollywood’s girl. From cult T.V. Series such as Star Trek, to renowned films like Polter- geist, Simi Valley has been the premise of it all.

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1954 –1974 Written by Robert Lees and Adrian Scott Directed by Bonita Granville American Drama T.V. Seires

LASSIE

Lassie was a popular long-running U.S. television series about a collie dog and her various owners. Over her more than fifty years history, Lassie stories have moved across books, film, television, comic books, and other forms of popular culture.

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1982 Written by Steven SpielbergDirected by Tobe HooperAmerican horror Film

POLTERGEIST

A young family are visited by ghosts in their home. At first the ghosts appear friendly, moving objects around the house to the amusement of everyone, then they turn nasty and start to terrorise the family before they “kidnap” the youngest daughter.

1993 –= 2002Written by Chris Carter and Frank SpotnitzDirected by Rob BowmanAmerican Science FictionTelevision Series (Cult)

THE X-FILES

Two FBI special agents, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gil-lian Anderson) are the investigators of the X-Files: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena.

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THREE AMIGOS

Three out of work silent movie actors are accidentally drawn to a Mexican village that is being harassed by a gang of outlaws. The three, ‘Ned’, ‘Lucky Day’ and ‘Dusty Bottoms’ play ‘Lone Ranger’ types in their mov-ies, but must play their parts for real now.

THREE MUSKETEERS

The young D’Artagnan arrives in Paris with dreams of becoming a king’s musketeer. He meets and quarrels with three men, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, each of whom challenges him to a duel. D’Artagnan finds out they are musketeers and is invited to join them in theirefforts to oppose Cardinal Richelieu, who wishes to increase his already considerable power over the king. D’Artagnan must also juggle affairs with the charming Constance Bonancieux and the passionate Lady De Winter, a secret agent for the cardinal.

1989Directed by John Landis Writen by Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels, andRandy NewmanComedyFilm

1989Directed by Richard Lester Writen by George MacDonald FraserActionFilm

ROBIN HOOD

Robin of Loxley is chosen by the mystical Herne the Hunter to become his ‘son’ and champion the oppressed. Gathering a band of comrades around him he fights a guerilla campaign against their Norman dictators, particularly the Sheriff of Not-tingham and his deputy, Guy de Gisburne. Later he is succeeded by Robert of Huntingdon, rene-gade nobleman. This retelling of the legend introduces a strong fantasy element, with black magic and the old religion.

1984 – 1986Directed by Richard Carpenter Written by Gareth PrestonActionT.V. Series

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Drums of Fu Manchu Men in Black Bachelor Party Joe DirtDa Vinci Code Cat in the Hat Poltergeist Forever Young Bad News

Bears The Bench Warmers G.I. Joe Karate Kid SpidermanJurassic Park Transformers The Big Lebowski Three AmigosJag X-Files Rin Tin Tin Power Rangers Fear Factor M*A*S*H Wings Jericho The Biggest Looser Roy Rogers Little House

on the Prairie Three Musketeers Star Trek Tarzan Lone Ranger Robin Hood Gun Smoke Three Wishes Fort Apache The Cisco Kid Have Gun - Will Travel Casey Jones Demon

Knight The Good Girl Lawn Mower Man The Doberman Gang The Thorn Birds The Miracle Worker Death Valley Days

Chaos Sons of Tuscan Three Amigos Vendetta Honey I Blew Up

Drums of Fu Manchu Men in Black Bachelor Party Joe DirtDa Vinci Code Cat in the Hat Poltergeist Forever Young Bad News

Bears The Bench Warmers G.I. Joe Karate Kid SpidermanJurassic Park Transformers The Big Lebowski Three AmigosJag X-Files Rin Tin Tin Power Rangers Fear Factor M*A*S*H Wings Jericho The Biggest Looser Roy Rogers Little House

on the Prairie Three Musketeers Star Trek Tarzan Lone Ranger Robin Hood Gun Smoke Three Wishes Fort Apache The Cisco Kid Have Gun - Will Travel Casey Jones Demon

Knight The Good Girl Lawn Mower Man The Doberman Gang The Thorn Birds The Miracle Worker Death Valley Days

Chaos Sons of Tuscan Three Amigos Vendetta Honey I Blew Up

BENCHWARMERS

Three guys, all their lives, have been living in the shadow of bullies and are determined not to take it anymore. Now they must train with the help of Mel to take on the most offensive and meanest Little League teams.

2006Written by Allen CovertDirected by Dennis DuganComedy Film

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BAD NEWS BEARS

First of a trilogy of films takes an unflinching look at the underbelly of little league baseball in Southern California. Former minor leaguer Morris But-termaker is a lazy, beer swilling swimming pool cleaner who takes money to coach the Bears, a bunch of disheveled misfits who have virtually no baseball talent. Realizing his dilemma, Coach Buttermaker brings aboard girl pitching ace Amanda Whurlizer, the daughter of a former girlfriend, and Kelly Leak, a motorcycle punk who happens to be the best player around. Brimming with confidence, the Bears look to sweep into the championship game and avenge an earlier loss to their nemesis, the Yankees.

1976Written by Bill LancasterDirected by Michael RitchieComdeyFilm (Series)

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2006Written by Allen CovertDirected by Dennis DuganComedy Film

2006 Written by Unknow Directed by Unknow American Sci Fi T.V. Series

JERICHO

When Jake Green returns to his Kansas small-town home Jericho, where his dad Johnston is mayor, everyone is preoccupied with petty private business and family matters, but that changes drastically after a completely unexpected explosion. It soon becomes clear there has been a nuclear attack, but neither by whom nor on which scale. Suddenly life in Jericho, and as the inhabitants gradually discover all over the disintegrating USA, becomes a more primordial struggle for survival, where unexperienced dangers, primitive as well as technological, have to be weighed against pressing primal needs, such as food, fuel and self-defense against plunder- ers, invaders and even each-other.

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LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

Based on the popular “Little House” book series by Laura Ingalls-Wilder, this hour long dramatic series followed the frontier lives of Charles and Caroline Ingalls, and their three young daugh-ters: Mary, Laura and Carrie.

M.A.S.H.

The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is stuck in the middle of the Korean war. With little help from the circumstances they find them-selves in, they are forced to make their own fun. Fond of practical jokes and revenge, the doctors, nurses, administrators, and soldiers often find ways of making wartime life bearable.

1974–1983Directed by Ed Friendly Writen by Phil Fernando Western DramaT.V. Series

1972–1983Directed by Robert Altman Writen by H. Richard HornbergerMilitary ActionT.V. Series

Come Visit!

Come Visit!

The revamping of Simi Valley’s brand image stemmed from the relationship Simi has with Hollywood’s film Industry. Simi Valley and Hollywood have been a partner in film for over a 100 years and are still going strong. Because of this rich historical past, Simi has taken a step back through time, mimicking that of the classic 1950’s film era.

THE BRAND

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THE LOGO

The logo used for Simi Valley was designed to mimic that of traditional sign paintings. The brand was drawn by hand in order to give it a vintage look. The idea was to create a brand that combined classic and modern design giving it a relatable edge to a present day audience, while holding dear and true to an older demographic.

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The ring the logo is often scene resting against was designed to mimic a simplified representation of an old camera lens. This reference can be viewed throughout MGM’s classical video montages showcasing the famous Actors and Actresses of its time with opening and closing of the camera’s shutter.

The brand is often also scene overlapping imagery that documents Simi Valley. When done so, the logo is knocked out, allowing the image to come through the brand. The logo is positioned in the bottom left corner of the image, cropped to allow the logo to fit snug against the edges of the page.

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Examples of MGM show- casing the famous Actors and Actresses of its time by framing their faces using a camera lens

THE MARK

The mark designed for the brand originated from the arrows viewed on clapper boards. A clapper board or “clapper” is a device used in filmmak-ing and video production to assist in the synchronizing of picture and sound. The mark is repeated through the brand identity, creating this uni-fying pattern that helps to pull the brand together. The pattern varies in pace ranging from an even tempo to various gaps in between each mark.

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0.5”

1.5”

0.5” 0.5”

These patterns can be viewed in multiple different ways through-out the brand. The repetition of the arrows varies in color as well as tempo as it is directed throughout the brand.

(A) Is a good example of when the pattern is being used at a steady tempo. The spacing between each mark is consistent, and never varies.

(B) Is a good example of when the passing may vary, creating these dinamic gaps inbetween the marks. This is when the mark starts to break away from the traditional clapper marks and start diving into an identity of its own.

A.

B.

The idea behind the duality of these two stereotypical gender color schemes (pink and blue) is to play off of the male/female personas that have been projected on the city of Simi Valley and neighboring city Hol-lywood. Because Simi Valley has such an influential relationship with Hollywood, the brand take the opportunity to tell this story as if it was an actual love story as scene through timeless classics.

COLOR SCHEME

A.

C.

B.

D.

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PROMOTIONAL MATERIALSimi Valley’s brand identity has created various promotion-al material as a way of telling her story. Simi has created a series of stationery sets, mobile and desktop applications, and advertisements as a way of engaging with her audience in fun and interactive ways.

SIMI VALLEYIPHONE APP

USE YOUR SIMI APP WHEN ON THE GO

GET IT AT THE APP STORE

91%

2:38 PMiPad 91%

Use the free Simi App on the go in any location to help scope out historical film sites. Experience your most memorable Movies and T.V. Series as you go on site. Break free of your Television set and experience the movie magic first hand.

Simi App IPhone and iPad features includes:

– Maps that locate over 50 historical filming locations

– A list of every movie and T.V. series shot in SImi Valley

– A breakdown on the history behind the camera

– A synopsis on the actors and movies shot on site

SIMI VALLEYIPHONE APP

USE YOUR SIMI APP WHEN ON THE GO

GET IT AT THE APP STORE

91%

2:38 PMiPad 91%

SIMI VALLEYIPHONE APP

USE YOUR SIMI APP WHEN ON THE GO

GET IT AT THE APP STORE

91%

2:38 PMiPad 91%

LOVE NOTES

LOVE NOTES

Come down to Simi Valley and enjoy the rich history. Ovwwer 100 years of bloopers, reels, and stars and over 3,000 movies of movie magic. Sit down and grab some pop corn as we take you back through time where it all began.

MEMORY LANE

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As the story goes, two lovers, the girl next door (Simi Valley) and the boy from the opposite side of tracks (Hollywood), come together to tell the ultimate tale about harmony and unity - bringing together the perfect pair in movie history.

The End

The End