RATED G—Top left, producer Brian Rooney with his winning prize for Best Local Short Doc at the 2026 Ladyface Mountain Film Festival.
Malabo Lake resident, historian, and filmmaker Brian Rooney is shining a spotlight on a little-known chapter of Hollywood history with his new documentary, “Our Hollywood Backyard.”
The film tells the story of three children who grew up on the historic 20th Century Fox Ranch near Calabasas, a site that has long served as a silent witness to the making of cinematic classics.
Once a private playground for movie moguls, the ranch has seen its rolling hills and rugged landscapes transformed into unforgettable film backdrops. Among the Academy Award-winning films shot there are “How Green Was My Valley” (1941, Best Picture), “MASH” (1971, Best Adapted Screenplay), and “Planet of the Apes” (1969, Best Makeup). In all, more than 100 movies were filmed there.
Today, the property is part of Malibu Creek State Park, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a public space. Visitors can hike the same trails once traversed by actors, directors, and crews, discovering firsthand the scenery that helped shape Hollywood’s golden age.
The film chronicles the lives of three children who grew up, literally, on the old sets of the Fox Movie Ranch near Malibou Lake.
In “Our Hollywood Backyard,” the 62-year-old Rooney combines interviews with former ranch residents, archival photographs, and footage from the ranch itself to tell a deeply personal story about place, memory, and the magic of growing up in a landscape steeped in cinematic lore.
The 35-minute film examines how the lives of the three children belonging to movie ranch foreman Ralph Torpin— cousin of 20th Century Fox cofounder Darryl Zanuck—intertwined with the legendary film sets around them, and how living amid Hollywood history shaped their identities and ambitions.
For his work, Rooney won Best Local Short Doc at the second annual Ladyface Mountain Film Festival held last month at Cinepolis theater in Westlake.
The documentary-focused festival emphasized real-world narratives that explored the natural environment and the human experience of community-driven stories. Rooney’s winning documentary comes at a time of renewed public interest in preserving local film history. As Malibu Creek State Park continues to welcome visitors, the film serves as both a celebration of Hollywood’s past and a reminder of the enduring connection between community, landscape, and storytelling.
Left, a boy plays on the set of the original 1968 film, “Planet of the Apes.” Above, the kids on a Western move set. Photos courtesy Bison Archives and Brian Rooney
The film was a labor of love, and earned much support while in production, he says.
“It’s a previously unknown piece of Hollywood history that was produced with generous help from AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences). I had a treasure trove of material to source from: over 800 photos (from) the movie ranch and 10 hours of 8mm home movies,” Rooney said.
The film was narrated by veteran actor Mike Farrell, best known for his role as Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt on the TV series “MASH.” It explored the seminal role the local landscape played in bringing Hollywood to life.
Other notable productions at 20th Century Fox Ranch, later called Century Ranch, include “My Friend Flicka” (1943-Roddy McDowell); “Cleopatra” (1963-Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton); “Daniel Boone” (1964 TV series Fess Parker); and “Planet of the Apes” (1968-Charlton Heston).
“With a rich history in film and television production thanks to its striking landscapes and classic Western backdrops— the area has quietly played a starring role in Hollywood for decades,” festival officials said on their website, ladyfacefilmfestival.com.
Following its Ladyface Mountain festival debut, “Our Hollywood Backyard” is set for an additional screening at the amphitheater in Malibu Creek State Park on the evening of June 13. Rooney will be there in person to discuss the film, giving audiences a chance to experience the ranch as Hollywood legends might have seen it, and to see it through the eyes of those who called it home. Cornell, not far from the old movie ranch, is where Rooney has called home for the past 25 years.
“Whether it’s his discovering new finds on local history for his books, or films and using his great communications and design skills to organize new signage and events for the local region, his impact on our community is massive, even if some don’t know his name,” fellow film location historian Harry Medved of Oak Park told The Acorn. “Tens of thousands of tourists visit Malibu Creek State Park each year to take photos in front of the M*A*S*H signpost or the show’s now-visible ambulances and have no idea that it took just one person to spearhead and maintain that project, one of many he has championed. He richly deserves this award which recognizes his community impact,” Medved said.
While the documentary was his first foray into film production, Rooney is no stranger to the print medium. In 2024 he released the fifth edition of his acclaimed publication of more than 20 years ago, “Three Magical Miles,” a definitive history of Malibou Lake and its Hollywood filmmaking lore.