01/17/2023 Chatsworth Historical Society - Superman Episodes in Chatsworth 1
Superman Episodes in Chatsworth
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Looking back ten years
•Tonight we are showing the first
Chapter of the 1948 Movie
Serial Superman, starring Kirk
Alyn.
•We showed the same episode
ten years ago, and were
honored to have Kirk’s
grandson, Brian Keller, and his
family join us.
Feb 2013 Homestead Acre Superman program
The Kirk Alyn family: back-Brian Keller, Jennifer, Liz
front-Summer
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A Thank You to our Chatsworth Movie Historians
•Included in this presentation are some contributions from the following individuals
•Jerry England - website at a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com. This site is
searchable, and has over 600 posts relating to movie sites in and around
Chatsworth
•Jerry shared photos of Kirk Alyn from his photograph collection
•Dennis Liff –website at iversonmovieranch.blogspot.com. This site is searchable,
and has over 400 posts relating to movie sites in and around Chatsworth
•An Interactive Map of Filming sites at
https://iversonmovieranch.blogspot.com/search?q=interactive
•Dennis provided details of the shooting locations and rock structures
identified in some of the Superman scenes filmed in Chatsworth.
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•This presentation will cover the following items. Our focus tonight is on the 1948
and 1950 Superman movie serials starring Kirk Alyn. Twenty-nine of the 30 movie
serial chapters have scenes filmed in Chatsworth.
• A brief history of movie serials, aka “Cliffhangers”.
•History of Superman from comics to radio to movie serials to TV to big
budget movies.
•Kirk Alyn photographs from the Jerry England collection
•We have posted 58 clips of Superman episodes filmed in Chatsworth
(under 5 minutes each) on our YouTube channel. We will share screenshots
of some of the scenes, with shooting locations and rock descriptions provided
by Dennis Liff.
•Viewing of Chapter 1 of 1948 Superman, followed by the beginning of Chapter
2.
Introduction
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•Movie serials date back to the
silent era, with The Perils of
Pauline (1914), The Exploits of
Elaine, and The Hazards of Helen
(119 12 minute episodes from
1914-17).
•Flash Gordon was a 1936 movie
serial with 13 episodes, featuring
Buster Crabbe on the Planet
Mongo. It was reissued as
Rocketship in 1949.
1914 The Perils of Pauline 1936 Flash Gordon
Movie Serial History
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•The movie serial or chapter
play, was a popular motion
picture form during the 1930’s
to 1950’s.
•Each chapter was screened at
a movie theater for one week,
and ended with a cliffhanger,
in which characters found
themselves in perilous
situations with little apparent
chance of escape.
1948 Superman Movie Poster
1948 Superman Movie Poster
Movie Serial History
•Viewers had to return each week
to see the cliffhangers resolved
and to follow the continuing story.
•Movie serials were especially
popular with children, and for
many youths in the 30’s to the
1950’s, a typical Saturday matinee
at the movies included at least one
chapter of a serial, along with
animated cartoons, newsreels,
and two feature films.
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1948 Superman
1950 Atom Man vs Superman
Movie Serial History
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History of Superman
•Superman is a superhero who first appeared in DC Comics, Action
Comics #1, in 1938
•Radio - From 1940 to 1951 the radio show Adventures of
Superman ran for 2,088 episodes, a five-a-week, 15-minute series.
•Film, Animated Shorts –From 1941 to 1943, 17 animated
episodes were made, each 8 to 10 minutes long. The episodes are
on YouTube. The first episode begins with the well known phrase,
“Up in the sky, look! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman”.
•Film, Live Action Movie Serials –1948 and 1950, Kirk Alyn as
Superman, 15 chapters each year totaling 30.
•Television, Adventures of Superman –1952 to 1958, George
Reeves as Superman, a total of 104 episodes.
•Big-budget movies –1978 to 1987, Superman, Superman II, III
and IV, Christopher Reeve as Superman
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Superman Episodes Filmed in Chatsworth
•The 1948 movie serial Superman
portrayed Kirk Alyn as the first
actor to portray Superman on the
screen.
•It was the most profitable
movie serial in movie history.
•In 1950, a sequel serial Atom Man
vs. Superman was released.
•Each serial had 15 chapters for a
total of 30 chapters.
•29 of the 30 movie serial
chapters have scenes filmed in
Chatsworth. We have published
those scenes on a YouTube
Playlist on our YouTube channel. Kirk Alyn in a promotional photo
At Saddlehorn Rock Iverson Ranch
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Kirk Alyn Photographs from the Jerry England Collection
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Today you can buy all 30
episodes on DVD at
Amazon for $25, or you
can buy each episode
individually on Prime Video
Superman Serials:
The Complete 1948 & 1950 Collection
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A review of some of the Superman Scenes
•Over the years, the many unique rock formations
of Iverson Ranch have been “named” by the
Iverson family and subsequent movie historians,
for either the descriptive nature of the feature, or
the famous actor or movie that is associated with
it. Examples are the Tower and the Sphinx, and
Lone Ranger Rock.
•Many thanks to Dennis Liff who provided details
of the rock structures and shooting locations
identified in each scene. We have provided
highlighted links identifying further filming
information and location for each scene that
follows, with links from Dennis’ website.
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Chapter 1 - Rocket near big rock, probably the
“Molar”, which is still there near Kanaina Ct.
Looking north. Johnson Motorway on the hillside in
the background.
Chapter 1 –Taken nearby the Rocket shot, on the
Upper Iverson, looking northwest. The rocky bluffs
on the left are above Fern Ann Falls neighborhood.
1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
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1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 1 –Train Depot on west side of the tracks
from today’s Train Depot
Chapter 2 –Train tracks looking north from Depot.
Water tank is upper center at Devonshire.
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1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 3 –Superman flying east to Stoney Point
from the Camera Mount in the Garden of the Gods
Chapter 3 –cartoon Superman landing in the
Garden of the Gods, between the Sphinx, on the
left, and Tower Rock, on the right. Cactus Hill is
visible in the background, looking north.
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1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 3 –the Hangover Shack, leaning against
Hangover Rock, looking north. Oat Mountain in
the distance. East of Golden Canyon Ct on private
property.
Chapter 3 –Superman ready to fly at Sphinx Rock
at Garden of the Gods, looking north.
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1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 5 –looking northeast along what was then
called Iverson Ranch Road, the main road through
the Lower Iverson. The Iverson family’s residential
area (off of Iverson Lane) is hidden behind the
clumps of trees in the background.
Chapter 7 –looking approximately southeast
showing the ranch house that was part of the
Middle Iverson Ranch Set. The hill in the
background is known as East Hill, and can be
found today immediately to the north of the
residential complex on Poema Place known as
Vistas at Indian Oaks.
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1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 8 –Upper Iverson and the gargoyle-like
rock at top center is known as Wrench Rock,
northeast of Kanaina Ct. The shot is taken looking
west.
Chapter 8 –slightly west of the previous shot,
Upper Iverson, looking north to Oat Mountain,
showing the concrete bridge that was originally part
of the road to the homestead properties north of
the Iverson homestead, including the George
Jones property.
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1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 11 –Superman changes next to Bigfoot
Rock, near Middle Iverson Ranch set. looking
southeast
Chapter 10 –Old Santa Susana Pass Road
looking west, just south of today’s Meraj Academy.
Garden of the Gods and other parts of the Iverson
Ranch visible in the background
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1948 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 13 –Car traveling southwest along
Iverson Ranch Road, camera looking east,
Batman Rock (south of Horizon Place) along the
right edge of the shot.
Chapter 15 –the Hangover Shack, leaning against
Hangover Rock, looking north. Oat Mountain in the
distance. East of Golden Canyon Ct on private
property.
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 1 – Iverson Gorge (today’s Red Mesa Rd),
with car headed north in an area that was buried
under dirt to build the condos. Car is passing
“Bald Knob,” which was destroyed during condo
development. Lone Ranger Rock visible at top
center, but not the usual angle.
Chapter 3 –Looking west to Pyramid Peak in the
Santa Susana Mountains. Car is traveling
northeast along Iverson Ranch Road through the
Upper Gorge, in an area that is now filled with
condos. A seasonal creek flowed through this area,
necessitating the buttressing along with a culvert.
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 5 –Same location, with camera looking
southeast to Stony Point.
Chapter 5 –Superman saves car at Camera
mount in Garden of the Gods, which overlooks
what today is Redmesa Road (but it wasn’t built
yet, and would not be visible from this angle even
today). Camera looks east to Nyoka Cliff.
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 5 –Northbound Train before Tunnel 27
just north of Chatsworth Park North, watchman
waving.
Chapter 5 –Southbound Train at the curve below
Red Mesa Road, heading to Tunnel 28. Camera
looking west with Pyramid Peak in the distance.
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 5 –Car heading north on the Old Iverson
Ranch entrance road, today among the condos
near the cul de sac at the west end of Redmesa
Road. Rockridge/Sunset/Elders Peak top middle
Chapter 5 –Car heading northeast on an obscure
back road on the Iverson Ranch near the Middle
Iverson Ranch Set
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 6 –Two sheds on the Middle Iverson
Ranch Set
Chapter 6 –Taken looking southeast, in what today
is the Indian Hills Mobile Home Village. Most of the
background rocks can still be found there today.
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 10 –Jimmy and Superman north of train
depot looking north, water tank at Devonshire
middle left.
Chapter 7 –Indian Hills Mobile Home Village
again, looking northeast. The small rock behind the
truck is fake. The large rock at top left is still there
today but is hidden behind mobile homes.
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 13 –Truck heading west on Plummer to
Lake Manor. The shot was taken immediately
west of the corner of Topanga.
Chapter 13 –Truck heading south on Topanga,
Devonshire and Stoney Point in back, Oat
Mountain in the distance.
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1950 Superman Serial Screenshots in Chatsworth
Chapter 14 –Indian Hills Mobile Home Village,
near where the swimming pool is today, looking
south, with Mushroom Rock at top center.
Chapter 14 –Garden of the Gods is visible at top
right and the camera is looking south, with the car
traveling north on one of several roads located
north of Garden of the Gods and used for filming.
Tower Rock is the one sticking up above and a
little bit to the right of the car.
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1953 Adventures of Superman Screenshots in Chatsworth
Season 2, Ep 1 –Lois at South Rim of the Upper Iverson, looking approximately south.
Overhanging rock on the left of the frame is known as “Gold Raiders Rock,” and it’s not nearly as
large as it’s made to look here. The overhanging rock on top was cemented in place by Joe Iverson,
and remains there today. This is a really unusual angle. Northeast of Kanaina Ct.
•The 1952 to 1958 Adventures of
Superman television show had six episodes
with scenes filmed in Chatsworth.
•All of the scenes were in Season 2, and
were shown in 1953.
•The scenes were not as extensive as the
scenes in the 1948 and 1950 movie serials,
but are also included at the end of the
YouTube Playlist
•Episodes are available on ch. 151 Heroes
and Icons, and can be purchased from
Amazon.
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Season 2, Ep 2 –Superman at Upper Iverson
looking east, at Wrench Rock, northeast of
Kanaina Ct.
Season 2, Ep 3 –Same area as Wrench Rock,
looking approximately east, with Gold Raiders
Rock visible directly above Clark Kent. All of these
rocks are still there.
1953 Adventures of Superman Screenshots in Chatsworth
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Season 2, Ep 12 –Still in the same area, looking
southwest, with the Cliff in the background also
known as the T-Cliff. Northeast of Kanaina Ct.
1953 Adventures of Superman Screenshots in Chatsworth
Season 2, Ep 3, 4 & 9 –The same scene was
used in three episodes. Superman changes to his
uniform, looking southeast. Wrench Rock appears
on the right of the frame, although it’s
unrecognizable from this angle. Northeast of
Kanaina Ct.
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Season 2, Ep 12 – Superman on an “asteroid” at the “Reflecting Pool”, northeast of Kanaina Ct. Both
shots are taken in the same place, and it’s the same area as the previous five shots. Superman is working
inside a small reservoir that was sometimes filled with water and used as a pool for filming
1953 Adventures of Superman Screenshots in Chatsworth
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Up next is the 20 minute 1948 Superman Serial
Episode 01 Superman Comes to Earth
Starring Kirk Alyn as Superman
To be followed by the first four minutes of
Episode 02 Depths of the Earth
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1948
Episode 01
Superman
Comes to
Earth
Starring
Kirk Alyn
as
Superman
20 minutes
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Up next is the first four minutes of
Episode 02 Depths of the Earth
To see if Superman can save Lois and Jimmy
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The first four
minutes of
Episode 02
Depths of
the Earth
To see if
Superman
can save
Lois and
Jimmy
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•Special thanks to Jerry England for sharing his Superman Photograph collection
•Special thanks to Dennis Liff for help with identifying the screenshots filmed in Chatsworth.
•Jerry England - website at https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/. This site is searchable, and has over
600 posts relating to movie sites in and around Chatsworth
•Dennis Liff –website at iversonmovieranch.blogspot.com. This site is searchable, and has over 400
posts relating to movie sites in and around Chatsworth
•An Interactive Map of Filming sites at https://iversonmovieranch.blogspot.com/search?q=interactive
•Prepared by Ann & Ray Vincent in January 2023
Sources / Acknowledgments
