Historic Newspaper Archives

Pioneertown Is Becoming
Hollywood Of Westerns

These places will be used as movie sets, and in between are propped real false-front sets imported from Hollywood. The towns 300 pre-Hollywood residents will get in the act, too. The barber who runs the “Klip ‘N Kurl” place will play barber for “Cisco Kid.” The town electrician will work the klieg lights; the Red Dog bartender will act movie bartender.

Asheville Citizen Times
December 1, 1948

Dec. 1, 1948 - Tyler Morning Telegraph featured image

Producer Turns Desert Village Into Made-To-Order Movie Set

PIONEERTOWN, Calif, Nov 30. The Wild West not being so wild anymore, a Western movie company is turning this desert village into a permanent cowtown. This Hollywood version of the good, old days started out to be a resort for Western movie stars with millyuns. Even the stores of the tiny one-street town were built in old-fashioned Western style to make oatburner heroes feel right at home.

Tyler Morning Telegraph
December 1, 1948

Genuine Wild West Town
Springs Up in Desert

The Wild West not being so wild anymore, a Western movie company is turning this desert village into a permanent cowtown. This Hollywood version of the good, old days started out to be a resort for Western movie stars with millyuns. Even the stores of the tiny one-street town were built in old-fashioned Western style to make oatburner heroes feel right at home.

Logansport Pharos Tribune
December 1, 1948

Old News
The Tampa Tribune
December 3, 1948

DESERT VILLAGE NOW MOVIETOWN
Company Makes Permanent Location

The entrance to the village has a sign, "Pioneertown is this-a-way." Next sign: "Horseless carriages ain't aloud on Mane St." even Producer Krasne discreetly parks his Cadillac off the dirt street.

The Tampa Tribune
December 3, 1948

Pioneertown, Realtors’ Version of Old West,
Becomes Movie Producer’s Horse Opera Center

The entrance to the village as a sign "Pioneertown Is This-A-Way." Next sign: "Horseless carriages Aint Aloud on Mane St." Even producer Kranse discreetly parks his Cadillac off the dirt street.

San Bernardino County Sun
December 12, 1948

Former Oceana Residents
Now Live in Pioneertown

"This is Hollywood version of the good old days," said a recent Associated Press story, "started out to be a resort for Western movie stars with millions. Even the stores of the tiny one-street town were built in old-fashioned western-style to me I'll burn euros feel right at home. Then the picture company discovered the place, least it and made it one to colossal movie set."

The Ludington Daily News
December 18, 1948

Philip N. Krasne Establishes New Hollywood.

Philip N. Krasne, producer, has established a new Hollywood for western pictures--Pioneertown. One hundred and twenty miles from Hollywood. It has a studio, stage and $250,000 worth of sets purchased from the defunct Enterprise studios.

The Terril Record
January 6, 1949

Name Selected For Scout Area

Joshua Monument District was adopted as the official name of the new Boy Scout District of arrowhead area Council organized in this area. It includes the communities of Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Pioneertown, Yucca Valley and Morongo valley.

San Bernardino County Sun
January 23, 1949

Desert Search For Autry Horse’s Double

A posse of airplanes, sheriff's officers and cowboys is scouring the desert near Pioneertown for the double of actor Gene Autry's horse Champion.

Wilmington Daily Press Journal
March 19, 1949

Pioneertown, 30 Miles Away,
Will Revive Early Days

A new road to Pioneertown, the final phase of a scenic highway which brings Bear Valley about 55 miles from Palm Springs is now open. Pioneertown, the new old west town in the San Bernardino mountains, is only 30 miles from the Village by way of Indian avenue and a panoramic scenic road.

The Desert Sun
March 25, 1949