On April 29, 1944, the “Outlaw Trail,” a 53-minute black-and-white Western film, was released to the public.

“Outlaw Trail” was filmed in a Western town at the Monogram movie ranch in Placerita Canyon, a location based in the southeastern Santa Clarita Valley.

In 1952, Gene Autry purchased the ranch and mock Western town on the property and renamed it “Melody Ranch.”

The movie’s plot centers on Carl Beldon (George Eldredge), a character whose disappearance is investigated by a group called the Trail Blazers.

During their investigation, the group encounters a gang leader, ‘Honest John’ (Kendall), who controls everything in town and sets his gang after the protagonist’s heroes, according to the plot per IMDB.

The Western film was directed by Robert Emmett Tansey and written by Alan James and Frances Kavanaugh.

In addition, the ensemble cast included Gene Alsace, Bob Steele, Hoot Gibson, Chief Thundercloud, Jennifer Holt, Cy Kendall, George Eldredge, Warner P. Richmond, Charles King, Bud Osborne, Jim Thorpe, John Bridges, Hal Price, Charles Murray Jr., Frank Ellis, Al Ferguson, and Tex Palmer.

Although Jim Thorpe was considered the biggest name in this film, he was cast in one of its smallest roles as a henchman named Spike.

Before being cast in the “Outlaw Trail” film, Thorpe won Olympic gold in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon.

In addition, he went on to become “America’s greatest athlete” on the gridiron, the baseball diamond, and the basketball court.

Thorpe also made numerous appearances in other B-Westerns that were filmed in Placerita Canyon in the 1930’s and 40’s.

Thorpe’s first screen credit dates back to 1931, and he continued until 1950, three years before his death.

As a result, a 1951 film titled “Jim Thorpe – All American” was made in his memory, with Burt Lancaster cast as Thorpe.

To read yesterday’s Today in SCV History, click here.

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