Malibou Lake
Encyclopedia
Malibou Lake is a small, artificial lake in the Santa Monica Mountains
, as well as a community, near Agoura Hills, California
, USA. Located within Malibu Creek State Park
, and almost completely surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
, is situated between Malibu Beach and the Conejo Valley
of Ventura County, California
. It was created in 1926 after a dam was built at the confluence of two creeks, the lake and community of 250 residents are private.
The lake and the surrounding property of 350 acres consisting of rugged mountain terrain, exclusive ranch houses, villas and clubs has been a popular venue for filming about 100 Hollywood movies since the silent film period, within a short distance from the Hollywood studios.
A DVD made in 2007 has clippings of all films made in the backdrop of the Malibou lake which runs for two hours.
whose territory extended loosely from the San Joaquin Valley
to San Luis Obispo to Malibu, as well as several islands off the southern coast of California. They named it "Humaliwo" or "the surf sounds loudly." The region's name, originally given by the Spanish, derives from this, as the "Hu" syllable is not stressed.
At the turn of the 20th century, the Malibu area was going through a significant turning point. The original Chumash inhabitants were all but gone, and the Spanish who had "civilized" them had found their California in the hands of mostly Caucasian mountain men. As the Santa Monica Mountains
became a white, English-speaking community, ties with the area's Spanish roots were deliberately dropped. Hence, despite being aware of the Spanish spelling of Malibu, those who settled the Cornell
area often spelt it 'Malibou', so as to Anglicize it.
trees. Built in 1924, the Malibou Lake Clubhouse had 24 bedrooms, a 55’x 75’ lounge, a 40’x 60’ dining room, a stage, locker rooms, a trading post, a tennis court, baseball diamond, a fleet of rowboats, and swimming/changing facilities. Sadly, the clubhouse was lost during a 1936 fire
and a much smaller one, which stands today, was built in its place.
In 1961, Malibu Lake suffered severe drought and dried up. Attempts to resurrect the situation were initially unsuccessful. Over the past few decades the community of Malibu Lake has proved successful in preserving the lake area and resisting various proposals for mass development in the area and the building of condominiums. This location has been a popular location since the silent movie era for films, and has been depicted as part of the Mississippi River
, northern woods of Canada
, swamps of Philippines
and an Africa
n jungle.
, half a mile south of Mulholland Highway
, and over the hill, north of Malibu itself. It can also be reached via the .S. Route 101 in California|Ventura (101) Freeway), approximately 7 miles to the north. The Malibu Lake area includes parts of Point Dume
and Thousand Oaks
. The lake sits at the bottom of a sharp defile
where the confluence of Medea and Triunfo Creeks forms Malibu Creek. Here, the canyon floor widens into a valley that includes the lake, which occasionally dries out.
The lake is situated in the midst of the Malibu Mountains. Many large ranches had been set up here by Ronald Reagan. The lake periphery measures 3 km and its shores are studded with many film settings and villas. The depth of water in the lake is 25 ft which provided the ideal location for the heroes of the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
to jump from the top of a cliff. A similar stunt act of jumping into the lake was performed by James Coburn
, for the film “Our Man Flint”.
The Santa Monica mountains and the Agoura hills which form the catchment of the lake and the creeks which drain into the lake have been declared as the Malibu Creek State Park These locations were part of the CBS-TV series screened during 1972 to 1983.
A gated dam-bridge is located at the lake's southern end. When the area receives 4 inches (10.2 cm) or more of rain, the lake often overflows. The water flowing over Malibu Lake's dam finds its way to the ocean at the Malibu Lagoon.
, a 2002 American psychological horror
film, the 1931 version of Frankenstein
, and the 1956 Oscar-nominated film The Bad Seed
. Two famous actresses also shot movies at Malibu Lake. Claudette Colbert appears in "The Man from Yesterday
" and Betty Grable appeared there in "Thrill of a Lifetime". The Postman Always Rings Twice, a 1946 movie starring Lana Turner and John Garfield, mentions Malibu Lake, but the lake does not appear in the film. Other notable films and programs include:
Malibu Lake holds more than a 100 film credits.
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
, as well as a community, near Agoura Hills, California
Agoura Hills, California
Agoura Hills is a city in Los Angeles County, California, and has the ZIP code 91301. The population was 20,330 at the 2010 census, down from 20,537 at the 2000 census. It is located in the eastern Conejo Valley between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. This city on the Ventura...
, USA. Located within Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park is a California state park in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, in Calabasas. It opened to the public in 1976.-Location:Malibu Creek State Park stretches from below Malibu Lake in the west to Piuma Road in the east...
, and almost completely surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area or SMMNRA, is a United States National Recreation Area containing many individual parks and open space preserves, located primarily in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California...
, is situated between Malibu Beach and the Conejo Valley
Conejo Valley
The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both southeastern Ventura County and northwestern Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States...
of Ventura County, California
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
. It was created in 1926 after a dam was built at the confluence of two creeks, the lake and community of 250 residents are private.
The lake and the surrounding property of 350 acres consisting of rugged mountain terrain, exclusive ranch houses, villas and clubs has been a popular venue for filming about 100 Hollywood movies since the silent film period, within a short distance from the Hollywood studios.
A DVD made in 2007 has clippings of all films made in the backdrop of the Malibou lake which runs for two hours.
Etymology
Malibu was originally settled by the Chumash, Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
whose territory extended loosely from the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
to San Luis Obispo to Malibu, as well as several islands off the southern coast of California. They named it "Humaliwo" or "the surf sounds loudly." The region's name, originally given by the Spanish, derives from this, as the "Hu" syllable is not stressed.
At the turn of the 20th century, the Malibu area was going through a significant turning point. The original Chumash inhabitants were all but gone, and the Spanish who had "civilized" them had found their California in the hands of mostly Caucasian mountain men. As the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
became a white, English-speaking community, ties with the area's Spanish roots were deliberately dropped. Hence, despite being aware of the Spanish spelling of Malibu, those who settled the Cornell
Cornell, California
Cornell is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California. It is located south-southeast of Agoura Hills.A post office operated at Cornell from 1884 to 1904, with a closure during part of 1890...
area often spelt it 'Malibou', so as to Anglicize it.
History
In 1922, George Wilson and Bertram Lackey bought 350 acres of land near Cornell with the vision of creating a remote residential community surrounding a lake. In 1922, they formed the Malibou Lake Club (later the Malibou Lake Mountain Club) and that November began construction on the 44 feet (13.4 m) high Malibou Dam. Though the dam was finished in four months, for nearly four years Malibou "Lake" remained dry as a bone. Because of this, the Malibou Lake Mountain Club received harsh criticism from early cabin owners, who had purchased properties for up to $700 along roads such as "Lakeside Drive". Finally on April 5, 1926, a late spring storm produced nearly five inches of rain. The vast hillsides nearby drained millions of gallons of water into Medea and Triunfo Creeks and Malibou Lake was filled for the first time. The founding members threw a party that lasted for days. The clubhouse is surrounded by live oak trees and eucalyptusEucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
trees. Built in 1924, the Malibou Lake Clubhouse had 24 bedrooms, a 55’x 75’ lounge, a 40’x 60’ dining room, a stage, locker rooms, a trading post, a tennis court, baseball diamond, a fleet of rowboats, and swimming/changing facilities. Sadly, the clubhouse was lost during a 1936 fire
Malibu fire
Several fires have occurred in and around Malibu, California:*1970 Malibu Fire*1978 Agoura-Malibu Firestorm*1982 Malibu Fire*1993 Old Topanga Fire*Canyon Fire, in October 2007*Corral Fire, in November 2007-See also:*Malibu, California...
and a much smaller one, which stands today, was built in its place.
In 1961, Malibu Lake suffered severe drought and dried up. Attempts to resurrect the situation were initially unsuccessful. Over the past few decades the community of Malibu Lake has proved successful in preserving the lake area and resisting various proposals for mass development in the area and the building of condominiums. This location has been a popular location since the silent movie era for films, and has been depicted as part of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, northern woods of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, swamps of Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and an Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n jungle.
Geography
Malibu Lake is located in the Santa Monica MountainsSanta Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
, half a mile south of Mulholland Highway
Mulholland Highway
Mulholland Highway is a scenic road in Los Angeles County, Southern California that runs approximately 50 miles through the western Santa Monica Mountains from the near U.S...
, and over the hill, north of Malibu itself. It can also be reached via the .S. Route 101 in California|Ventura (101) Freeway), approximately 7 miles to the north. The Malibu Lake area includes parts of Point Dume
Point Dume
Point Dume is a promontory on the coast of Malibu, California that juts out into the Pacific Ocean.Point Dume, a long bluff, forms the northern end of the Santa Monica Bay, and Point Dume Headlands Park affords a vista of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Santa Catalina Island...
and Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
. The lake sits at the bottom of a sharp defile
Defile (geography)
Defile is a geographic term for a narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hills. It has its origins as a military description of a pass through which troops can march only in a narrow column or with a narrow front...
where the confluence of Medea and Triunfo Creeks forms Malibu Creek. Here, the canyon floor widens into a valley that includes the lake, which occasionally dries out.
The lake is situated in the midst of the Malibu Mountains. Many large ranches had been set up here by Ronald Reagan. The lake periphery measures 3 km and its shores are studded with many film settings and villas. The depth of water in the lake is 25 ft which provided the ideal location for the heroes of the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 American Western film directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman...
to jump from the top of a cliff. A similar stunt act of jumping into the lake was performed by James Coburn
James Coburn
James Harrison Coburn III was an American film and television actor. Coburn appeared in nearly 70 films and made over 100 television appearances during his 45-year career, and played a wide range of roles and won an Academy Award for his supporting role as Glen Whitehouse in Affliction.A capable,...
, for the film “Our Man Flint”.
The Santa Monica mountains and the Agoura hills which form the catchment of the lake and the creeks which drain into the lake have been declared as the Malibu Creek State Park These locations were part of the CBS-TV series screened during 1972 to 1983.
A gated dam-bridge is located at the lake's southern end. When the area receives 4 inches (10.2 cm) or more of rain, the lake often overflows. The water flowing over Malibu Lake's dam finds its way to the ocean at the Malibu Lagoon.
Haunting
The lake is reportedly haunted by Margaret Hersh Robertson (1907–1993), known as "The Lady of the Lake." She was a local resident and would swim on a daily basis out to the lake's island. Robertson has been sighted on numerous occasions, including one instance when canoers on the lake were startled when a figure wearing her bathing cap became visible below the surface of the water.Film location
Malibou Lake has been used as a location or setting for many films and television programs. These include Hollywood movies, such as The RingThe Ring (2002 film)
The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring....
, a 2002 American psychological horror
Psychological horror
Psychological horror is a subgenre of horror fiction that relies on character fears, guilt, beliefs, eerie sound effects, relevant music and emotional instability to build tension and further the plot...
film, the 1931 version of Frankenstein
Frankenstein (1931 film)
Frankenstein is a 1931 Pre-Code Horror Monster film from Universal Pictures directed by James Whale and adapted from the play by Peggy Webling which in turn is based on the novel of the same name by Mary Shelley. The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles and Boris Karloff, and features...
, and the 1956 Oscar-nominated film The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed (film)
The Bad Seed is a 1956 American horror-thrillerfilm directed by Mervyn LeRoy. It is based upon a play by Maxwell Anderson, which in turn is based upon William March's 1954 novel The Bad Seed. The play was adapted by John Lee Mahin for the screenplay of the film...
. Two famous actresses also shot movies at Malibu Lake. Claudette Colbert appears in "The Man from Yesterday
The Man from Yesterday
The Man from Yesterday is a 1932 American romantic war drama film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Berthold Viertel, and written by Oliver H.P. Garrett, bases on story by Neil Blackwell and Rowland G. Edwards.-Plot:...
" and Betty Grable appeared there in "Thrill of a Lifetime". The Postman Always Rings Twice, a 1946 movie starring Lana Turner and John Garfield, mentions Malibu Lake, but the lake does not appear in the film. Other notable films and programs include:
- (1933) Tillie and Gus with WC Fields
- (1936) Phantom PatrolPhantom Patrol- Cast :*Kermit Maynard as RCMP Sergeant Jim McGregor*Joan Barclay as Doris McCloud*Harry Worth as "Dapper" Dan Geary & Stephen Morris*Paul Fix as Jo-Jo Regan*George Cleveland as Inspector McCloud*Julian Rivero as Frenchie Le Farge...
- (1937) Quality Street
- (1937) Make a WishMake a Wish (film)Make a Wish is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Bobby Breen, Basil Rathbone and Marion Claire....
- (1939) Gone with the WindGone with the Wind (film)Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
- (1940) The Great DictatorThe Great DictatorThe Great Dictator is a comedy film by Charlie Chaplin released in October 1940. Like most Chaplin films, he wrote, produced, and directed, in addition to starring as the lead. Having been the only Hollywood film maker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, this was...
- (1942) Watch on the RhineWatch on the RhineWatch on the Rhine is a 1943 American drama film directed by Herman Shumlin. The screenplay by Dashiell Hammett is based on the 1941 play of the same title by Lillian Hellman.-Plot:...
- (1958) I Married a Monster from Outer SpaceI Married a Monster from Outer SpaceI Married a Monster from Outer Space is a 1958 science fiction film, directed by Gene Fowler Jr. and starring Tom Tryon and Gloria Talbott....
- (1961) Return to Peyton PlaceReturn to Peyton PlaceReturn to Peyton Place is a 1959 novel by Grace Metalious, a sequel to her best-selling 1956 novel Peyton Place.-Plot summary:After the phenomenal success of her first novel, Metalious hastily penned a sequel centering on the life and loves of bestselling author Allison MacKenzie, who ironically...
- (1965) Funny About LoveFunny About LoveFunny About Love is a 1990 American romantic comedy film starring Gene Wilder, directed by Leonard Nimoy. It was written by Norman Steinberg and David Frankel, based on the article "Convention of the Love Goddesses" in Esquire Magazine by Bob Greene....
- (1965) How to Stuff a Wild BikiniHow to Stuff a Wild BikiniHow to Stuff a Wild Bikini is a 1965 beach party film from American International Pictures. The sixth entry in a seven-film series, the movie features Mickey Rooney, Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, and Beverly Adams...
- (1970) M*A*S*HMASH (film)MASH is a 1970 American satirical dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and written by Ring Lardner, Jr., based on Richard Hooker's novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. It is the only feature film in the M*A*S*H franchise...
- (1976) Rich Man, Poor ManRich Man, Poor Man (TV miniseries)Rich Man, Poor Man was a 1976 American television miniseries that aired on ABC in one-hour episodes at 10:00pm ET/PT on Monday night for twelve weeks, beginning February 1. It was produced by Universal Television and was the second time programming of this nature had been attempted. The first TV...
- (1999) The Story of UsThe Story of UsThe Story of Us is a 1999 American film directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer as a couple married for fifteen years....
- (2002) The RingThe Ring (2002 film)The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring....
- (2005) Must Love DogsMust Love DogsMust Love Dogs is a 2005 romantic comedy film based on the book written by Claire Cook. It is the third film directed and written by Gary David Goldberg. The film, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, was produced on a budget of $30 million...
- Crazy Mama
Malibu Lake holds more than a 100 film credits.
Notable former residents
- Arthur EdesonArthur EdesonArthur Edeson, A.S.C. was a film cinematographer, born in New York City.He was nominated for three Academy Awards in his career in cinema.-Career:...
, American film cinematographer - Elizabeth MontgomeryElizabeth MontgomeryElizabeth Victoria Montgomery was an American film and television actress whose career spanned five decades. She is perhaps best remembered for her roles as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched, as Ellen Harrod in A Case of Rape and as Lizzie Borden in The Legend of Lizzie Borden.-Early life:Born in Los...
, American film and television actress - Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, President of the United States