Popular movies and TV shows shot in Simi Valley

Simi Valley is most known for being the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. If you are a fan of popular culture, however, you might recognize Simi Valley as one of the frequently used locations for Hollywood productions.

Its rugged terrain, its untamed wildlife, and its proximity to Downtown Los Angeles make it a convenient location for film and TV producers to scout. Here are some of the most popular movies and TV shows shot in Simi Valley.

M*A*S*H (1972-1983)

One of the most popular TV shows in the United States, M*A*S*H told a story that revolved around the lives of doctors and their staff during the Korean War, with M*A*S*H as an abbreviation for the “4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.” M*A*S*H’s compelling story and multi-faceted characters have helped it become one of the most highly-rated shows in U.S. television history.

M*A*S*H shot most of its scenes in two separate locations. Indoor scenes were shot at Fox Studios in Century City. Meanwhile, exterior shots were filmed at Fox Ranch, which is now known as Malibu Creek State Park. The production team, however, made great use of Simi Valley and the surrounding areas by filming additional exterior shots and other scenes in the area.

Gunsmoke (1955-1975)

The long-running TV series Gunsmoke had a total of 20 seasons and over 635 episodes. It told the story of the Gold Rush, when settlements traveled to the American West in search of prosperity. Most of the stories took place in and around Dodge City, Kansas.

Like M*A*S*H, Gunsmoke took advantage of Simi Valley’s rugged terrain, which is roughly similar to the producers’ vision of what the American West looked like back in the 1870s. Neighboring Thousand Oaks was also used as a set location by the production.

Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)

Set in the town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota, Little House on the Prairie is another western drama TV series that gained critical acclaim in the U.S. A TV-series adaptation of the Little House books by Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie made use of expansive sets constructed at Big Sky Ranch, located north of Simi Valley and Santa Clarita.

After filming, the whole set was blown up with the Little House the only structure left intact. However, it succumbed to the forces of nature in 2004 when it was destroyed by a wildlife.

The Doberman Gang (1972)

Directed by Byron Chudnow, the Doberman Gang is a film about a bank robbery executed with the help of a pack of Dobermans. Sounds pretty unique, right? The Doberman Gang shot all of its scenes in Simi Valley. The movie was followed by two sequels in 1973 and 1976. According to rumors, a re-make is in the development stage.

Here are other movies and TV series shot in Simi Valley:

Bachelor Party (1984 film)
Poltergeist (1982, filmed on Roxbury Street)
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)
The Cat in the Hat (2003, starring Dakota Fanning)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2008)
The Benchwarmers (2006)

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