Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Torpin Family Collection
- Dates:
- 1938-1963
- Extent:
- 3.75 Linear Feet (1 Carton, 1 Oversized Hollinger, 1 Oversized sign, 1 Blood Box)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder# or item name], Torpin Family Collection, Collection no. 0230, Malibu Historical Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection consists of photographs of the scenary and the sets taken by the family that includes slides, stereoscope slides (with the viewer), prints, and negatives. The documents and memorabilia are related to the ranch, family, and the studios with the films being related solely to the family home movies.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Around 1946, 20th Century Fox chairman Darryl Zanuck installed his cousin Ralph Torpin as caretaker of the studio's newly acquired filming ranch. Around 1955, Ralph's son Jack took over the extensive daily duties and maintenance required to keep a large property groomed and ready for filmning while Ralph handled all the paperwork. Jack was married on the Ranch and fathered Randy, Linda, and Marina.
These three children spent their childhood on this 2,000 acre motion picture ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains with a steady stream of filming sets as well as wagons, trains, and even a submarine to play on. Some of the most notable films and televisions shot here include M*A*S*H* (TV series and film), The Planet of the Apes (1968), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and many more. The old Fox Ranch has since become Malibu Creek State Park since 1976, where historic pieces of the sets are preserved and enjoyed by over 250,000 people every year.
- Processing information:
-
This collection was arranged with the help of Brian Rooney, who sorted and organized all the photographs. Fully arranged and described by Julianna Thomas, under the supervision of Chris Miehl.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged into four series: 1. Photographs 2. Documents 3. Memorabilia and 4. Film. Photographs are arranged aphabetically and the sets have their own sub-series.
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-04-10 20:21:14 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Advanced notice required for access.
- Terms of access:
-
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder# or item name], Torpin Family Collection, Collection no. 0230, Malibu Historical Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
- Location of this collection:
-
24255 Pacific Coast HighwayMalibu, CA 90263-4786, US
- Contact:
- (310) 506-4323