In the 1970's when I was 15 to 17 years old...I worked for a house painter, along with his son...We painted the barns and fences, Met, Joel McCrea and Francis Dee once brought us cold Coca Colas on a hot, summer work day.

We lived in Simi Valley when I was a kid in the 60's. One day while on a "sunday ride" my Dad points to a driveway and says "there's where Joel McCrea lives".

Love that you have preserved your grandfather's memory. I grew up watching westerns and still love them. Of course Joel McCrae was one of my favorites.

wow, did not know about this... the ranch really kept the McCrea's from sliding into a sad ending like many stars!

Genuine nice man never any Hollywood scandal's in his life

Preserving a chapter of California 's Lifestyle History. Future generations will be so appreciative.

Beautiful place! I still love his old movies.

Thanks for this! I met Mr. And Mrs. McCrea when I worked at a Hotel in Ventura, CA. They would spend time there when TO got too hot in the summer. Very sweet, classy and down to earth people. Didn’t act like “Movie People” at all. Everyone I worked with liked them. Glad I got to meet them.

Loved this story about his Grandparent’s. Grew upon the forties and loved Westerns. Thank you for this and all your hard work to protect. 8:22

Great to see this part of history. Grew up in LA when Hollywood was uncrowded and when Thousand Oaks was just open land. Boy, how things grow and change!!

I'm glad there were a few old time Hollywood actors that owned large ranches in the area. It helped to slow down the urban sprawl for a while.

All positive stuff from two decent people

@Whatt787

2 ай бұрын

He cheated on her in the late 40's, kid was born

EXCELLENT VIDEO

I met Joel McCrea many times as a child at the Camarillo boys and girls club when it was first being built what a great guy

I’m so glad to hear that these two people “Lived The Life”, that the rest of us only dream about! ! ! GOD Blessed them!

I recall his starring in ," Stars in my crown," Which I think he really believed in, and in "Ride the High Country," Where he stated to Scott, after being questioned what he wanted in life, " I wan to enter my house justified," which is the key issue for anyone wanting , needing to exit this life in a safe condition, Eh? As the alternative is not to be countenanced. He Was,, an believer.

Good work.

I know McCrea best from his comedies - with (the great) Jean Arthur , Veronica Lake, Claudette Colbert. One of best of the screwball movies actors, circa mid 30's - mid 40's He was a gem of an actor. James Agee, the great movie critic from way back then, once stated he thought Frances Dee had the most beautiful face in the movies. Quite a couple: talent and beauty combined. Plus, generous in the donations of their properties.

Great Video. Thank you very much. Have a beautiful and blessed week.

@donnamcdowell4957

2 ай бұрын

So nice to see his grandson preserving the ranch and his grandparents legacy.

@chubbethsthunder

2 ай бұрын

@@donnamcdowell4957 Totally Agree. A true rarity these days.

California was so beautiful when I grew up in the fifties. So California was 2 lane roads open space small population. No Disneyland

"Far away from Hollywood". lol Thousand Oaks is only quick 30 minute ride down the freeway from Burbank. Btw - Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks were littered with movie ranches. Apart from Joel McCrea, Dean Martin, Chuck Connors, Micky Rooney, Ben Johnson and so many others all had ranches in Thousand Oaks. The Reagans had a ranch nearby too. Today, Tom Selleck owns the former Dean Martin ranch property and lives there currently. Billionaire owner of Dole Foods David Murdoch also has a ranch in the Thousand Oaks Hidden Valley area. Scenes from the movie 'Seabiscuit' were filmed on the Hidden Valley Ranch in Hidden Valley. Literally hundreds of movies have been filmed in this area. The list goes on and on and Joel McCrea wasn't alone in his desire to live in the Conejo Valley communities of Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks.

@bdcochran01

2 ай бұрын

It was far away. I remember when the 101 freeway was put in. The family went and collected the fruit from the trees on the right of way and we had fruit preserves for 10 years. A couple of years before Taft High School was constructed (my brother in the first class), there is a photograph of the migration of the sheep over Ventura Blvd where the school stands. Bob Hope owned the orange orchard across from the street where my parents built their house. I remember going to Roy Rogers home in the north end of the Valley There weren't any freeways then.

Great actor and man

I met Joel McCrae's grandson several years ago. What a lovely man, much like his grandfather 😅

I live a few yards away. And when you go up the road. The YMCA club is named after them.

OMG, I used to have the biggest crush on Joel McCrea even though I was 40 years younger. I loved horses and loved western movies. I can't remember when this meeting occurred but probably back in the 1970's(?) My friend from high school was dealing in antiques and used to get orders from a little shop in Solvang, CA. I loved the tourist town and had spent part of my honeymoon there. My friend Judy and I were spending the night in town after making a delivery to the shop and wanted to hit the Jacuzzi before bed. Unfortunately there was a bunch of loud college kids in the jacuzzi so we opted to try again in the morning. We got there and found only two people enjoying the bubbling spa so in we went. I looked and the handsome elder man and recognized Joel McCrea!! With him was his still lovely wife Frances. Joel asked us why we were in Solvang and after telling him our plans to go riding on the way back south he gave me a tip on how to hold the reins softly. I looked right at him and said "why you're Joel McCrea." I think he was pleased that I recognized him as well as his wife and I thanked him for his kind riding suggestions. I was so excited but I didn't show it until we got back to our room. Obviously I never forgot that meeting.

@TodaysWildWest

2 ай бұрын

cool story!

@Whatt787

2 ай бұрын

A super long marriage but he did cheat on her at least once and got the woman pregnant in the late 1940's, and the kid was born then

@1105pitbull

2 ай бұрын

@@Whatt787 1951 to be exact, a daughter, Mona Leigh McCrea

I heard Mr Joel McCrea’s Grandfather was a Stage Driver in Early California development..

He had a lot of great movies

Leave it to the state of California to tax the crap out of it's residents that ranches and other historical places are now being endangered in the state!!😡

Grandma knew a lot of those guys. She was good friends with Cookie and visited often when they filmed in Bishop, CA.

Very good story, but odd at the end when they say many branches have been lost to developement. Because many Spanish Ranches, Haciendas were all lost when the Americans and developing came west

God Bless all of you!!!

Best of McRea western my fav. is 'Union Pacific' lousy name great movie!!! One of best westerns!

Nice!!

Interesting story and interesting couple who started the ranch ❤

Wow! I feel lucky to have stumbled upon this. Is there a schedule of visiting hours or a calendar of events available? Would love to pay a visit or attend an event. Thanks.

I believe Joel was a good and decent man

Beautiful natural area. Now its all subdivisions, alas.

@LaurenceDay-d2p

2 ай бұрын

Or it will be if immigration continues.

Where's the train station tremendously in Las Vegas really taking the place of the Railroad passenger the Greyhound bus company said we need to expand and plan the criminal down in the heart of downtown Las Vegas the buses in Las Vegas for that period of time the quality of the transportation bus transportation to begin the oversight of mass transportation within the Las Vegas Valley

@monicaclark9581

2 ай бұрын

!??

2 most bossy guys in hollywood - McRea and Wayne to bad they werent in same movie.

I loved this film, actually was supposed to be a bomb.

You and I broke the laws of God & Jesus paid the price. With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:10

Garland is smug he must know this entire show is just that what a sham.

I love westerns. But I've read that Joel McCrea was a player with women. I hope it's not true but seems to be a consistent rumor

@monicaclark9581

2 ай бұрын

Best not to spread rumors.

@Whatt787

2 ай бұрын

@@monicaclark9581 MeCrea got a woman pregnant in the late 40's, and a kid was born from the affair