Fryman Ranch

The Roots of Fryman Estates in Studio City – A Historic Location for Film and Community Events

A Place for Civic and Community Events

During the 1920s and 1930s, Fryman Ranch in Studio City was a well-known venue for barbecues, veterans’ gatherings, and press appreciation days. Community leaders and civic organizations regularly gathered in the canyon, drawn by the ranch’s natural beauty and expansive layout.

Archival photographs capture the vibrant social life hosted at Fryman Ranch and reflect the area's early role in shaping the local Studio City community.

A Location for Early Film Productions

Fryman Ranch became a popular filming location during Hollywood’s silent and early sound eras. Its scenic hills, oak groves, and open terrain made it ideal for period dramas, war films, and adventure stories set in European or rural landscapes.

Katherine Hepburn on Fryman Ranch set of The Little Minister (1934)

The Little Minister (1921)
An adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s novel, this film used Fryman Ranch to portray the Scottish countryside.

Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney in Tower of Lies filmed at Fryman Ranch

Tower of Lies (1925)
Starring Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney, filmed in Fryman’s wooded canyon backdrops.

Lillian Gish in The Enemy filmed on Fryman Ranch, 1927

The Enemy (1927)
Anti-war film starring Lillian Gish, with scenes shot on location at Fryman Ranch.

Lillian Gish in Annie Laurie at Fryman Ranch, portraying 18th-century Scotland

Annie Laurie (1927)
Set in 18th-century Scotland, Lillian Gish filmed Highland scenes on Fryman Ranch.

Horseback scene from Cossacks (1928) filmed in the hills of Fryman Ranch

Cossacks (1928)
Filmed across the rugged hillsides of Fryman Ranch for horseback battle sequences.

Bonnie Scotland scene showing Fryman Ranch landscape in 1935 Laurel and Hardy film

Bonnie Scotland (1935)
Laurel and Hardy’s comedy captured panoramic shots of Fryman Ranch in this preserved film.

Bonnie Scotland Scene: Laurel and Hardy at Fryman Ranch

Filmed in 1935, this classic comedy features Laurel and Hardy marching through Fryman Ranch. The rustic scenery and rolling landscape provided the ideal backdrop for depicting colonial India in Bonnie Scotland.

On December 22, 1939, the Charles Chaplin Film Corporation made a $1,000 rental payment to use Fryman Ranch for a production scheduled on January 15, 1940. This surviving document affirms Fryman Ranch's value as a Hollywood filming destination.

Receipt confirming Charlie Chaplin rented Fryman Ranch for a 1940 film — Historic receipt for Fryman Ranch rental by Chaplin’s production company

These archival black-and-white photos of Fryman Ranch have been digitally colorized to offer a richer understanding of the location’s visual character and setting during its most active decades.

Original

Colorized

Original

Colorized

Historic Film Productions at Fryman Ranch

This curated gallery of stills and behind-the-scenes photos highlights Fryman Ranch’s history as a movie location. Its use across genres—from silent-era dramas to slapstick comedies—underscores its role in shaping Studio City’s early ties to Hollywood.