This list contains the titles of films which were shot entirely or partially in Santa Cruz County, California. The year following the film title is the release date. If that date was not found, then the shoot date is given, designated by an "s."
Each title is followed by a listing of local newspaper articles, with links to the full texts of many of the articles from the 1910's and 1920's. The Santa Cruz Public Libraries Central Branch has the majority of these articles on microfilm. The remainder can be found in the library's newspaper clipping file.
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
Note: The film was shot in 1928 but released in 1929.
"Shoot Scenes At Glenwood Today." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, September 27, 1928, p.5 [full text]
"Murdock, FBO Player, Figures In Unshot Scene." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, September 28, 1928, p.3 [full text]
"Big Basin Being Used As Location For FBO Picture." Santa Cruz Evening News, September 29, 1928, p.7 [full text]
"Redwoods In Big Basin To Frame Movie Action Tale." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, September 29, 1928, p.5 [full text]
"Film Company Returns South After Shooting Scenes Here." Santa Cruz Evening News, October 3, 1928, p.2 [full text]
"FBO Film Co. Ends Work Here." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, October 3, 1928, p.5 [full text]
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
Note: The film is based on the story of the same title by C. Gardner Sullivan.
Snell, Earle. "Us Folks on the Film; A California Mountain Town That Has Gone Stark Movie-Mad." Sunset, The Pacific Monthly, March 1918, pp.43-46 [full text]
Note: The film is based on the fairy tale "Hansel und Gretel" collected in "Kinder und Hausmärchen" compiled by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm.
"Juvenile Movie Company Arrives: The Fox Film Company To Produce Babes In The Wood In Santa Cruz Redwoods." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 26, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Movie People At Big Basin: Fox Juvenile Company In The Wood; Robards Put On Scene." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 27, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Local Children In Movies: Are Having A Great Day At The Powder Mill Canyon." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, April 2, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Fox Juvenile Company Leaves: Crowds Of Santa Cruz Children In "Babes In The Woods." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, April 4, 1917, p.8 [full text]
Swift, Carolyn. "This Was A Favorite Filming Spot In The Early Days Of Movies." Cabrillo Times & Green Sheet, October 28, 1976, p.16
"Mob Movie Scene: Children To Participate On Monday At The Powder Mill Flat." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 31, 1917, p.8
"Child Star, Known Here, Signed by New S. F. Film Company." Santa Cruz Evening News, November 3, 1922, p.5
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council List 4/29/98
Note: "Beyond The Law" was the working title. The film was shot and copyrighted in 1924 but released in 1925.
"Universal Pictures Concern Film Story Near Boulder Creek." Santa Cruz Evening News, June 10, 1924, p.4 [full text]
"Jack Hoxie, Film Cowboy, In Boulder Creek." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, June 10, 1924, p.4 [full text]
Beebe, Greg. "Making Films In Paradise." Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 18, 1980, p.13
Note: "Powers That Pray" was the working title. The film is based on the novel "Boston Blackie" by Jack Boyle. The novel was compiled from two short stories, "Boston Blackie's Mary" and "Fred The Count," which appeared in the "Red Book Magazine" in November 1917 and January 1918 respectively.
Sawyer, Preston. "Santa Cruz Yesterdays." Santa Cruz Sentinel, September 6, 1953, p.16
"Crew In The Area To Film CBS Movie-Of-The-Week." Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, October 14, 1992
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council List 4/29/98
Note: The film was shot in 1917 but released and copyrighted in 1918.
"Felton At Mercy of Two Gun Hart And His Crowd." Santa Cruz Evening News, November 21, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Ince Players Take Scenes Near Felton." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, November 22, 1917, p.5 [full text]
Quirk, Erin K. "Lights, Camera, Action: Filmmakers Turn Felton Into A Movie Set." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 2, 1996, p.A-2
Note: The film is based on the story by Winifred Kimball
"Prize Film Story Being Enacted In Boulder Creek Locale." Santa Cruz Evening News, July 14, 1922, p.4 [full text]
"A New Dog Star, in Film Firmament." Santa Cruz Evening News, March 20, 1923, p.6 [full text]
"Colleen Moore Wins Laurels in 'Broken Chains'." Santa Cruz Evening News, March 20, 1923, p.4 [full text]
Sawyer, Preston. "Santa Cruz Yesterdays." Santa Cruz Sentinel, September 6, 1953, p.16
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council List 4/29/98
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
"Santa Cruz Motion Pictures: Business Men And Other Invited Guests Witness The Films." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, April 7, 1916, p.8 [full text]
O'Keeffe, John M. "At the Fer-Dal Studio: Finishing the First Film Backed by Santa Cruz Scenery." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, April 4, 1916, p.3 [full text]
Sawyer, Preston. "Santa Cruz Yesterdays." April 21, 1957, p.20
Swift, Carolyn. "This Was A Favorite Filming Spot In The Early Days Of Movies." Cabrillo Times & Green Sheet, October 28, 1976, p.16
Note: The film is based on "In The Carquinez Woods" by Bret Harte. "In The Carquinez Woods" and "The Carquinez Woods" were the working titles.
McCrackin, Josephine Clifford. "Bret Harte in 'The Movies': An Appreciation of the Film Form in Which the Great California Author's Literary Masterpieces are Being Revived." Overland Monthly, June 1915, pp.487-497 [full text]
Snell, Earle. "Us Folks on the Film; A California Mountain Town That Has Gone Stark Movie-Mad." Sunset, The Pacific Monthly, March 1918, pp.43-46 [full text]
"Two More Local Films Accepted." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, June 4, 1916, p.1 [full text]
"Ince Company Filming Story." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, April 11, 1917, p.8 [full text]
Main, H. H. "Santa Cruz Is Vacation Land And Home Land For All; Nature's Gifts and Man's Work." Santa Cruz Evening News, May 28, 1921, p.2 [full text]
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
Note: "My Posse Don't Do Homework" was the working title. The film is based on the book "My Posse Don't Do Homework" by LouAnne Johnson.
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council List 4/29/98
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
"Makes Long Trip For Wagon Tongues; One Of The Expensive Details In The Production Of 'The Danites' Soon To Be Acted Out By The Selig People In The Hills Back Of The City--Local People Will Have Minor Parts." Santa Cruz Evening News, October 19, 1911, p.2 [full text]
"Selig Players Arrive." Santa Cruz Evening News, October 21, 1911, p.1 [full text]
"Motion Picture Company; Actors For Selig Company Are On The Hills Today." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, October 21, 1911, p.1 [full text]
"Deacon Sam Fowler Is Hit In 'The Danites'." Santa Cruz Evening News, October 23, 1911, p.6 [full text]
"Taking Motion Pictures; A Picturesque Outfit Leaves Town Yesterday Morning." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, October 23, 1911, p.6 [full text]
Sawyer, Preston. "Santa Cruz Yesterdays." Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 21, 1957, p.20
Swift, Carolyn. "This Was A Favorite Filming Spot In The Early Days Of Movies." Cabrillo Times & Green Sheet, October 28, 1976, p.16
Swift, Carolyn. "Movie Makers Liked Mountains, Big Trees For Film Backdrop." Cabrillo Times & Green Sheet, November 4, 1976, p.11
Swift, Carolyn. "Dreams Of Stardom In Early Santa Cruz County." The Mid-County Post, January 7, 1992, pp.9-10
"Actors Chop Cowell's Wood." Santa Cruz Evening News, September 29, 1911, p.5 [full text]
Note: "The Dead Line" was the working title. The film was shot in 1917 but released in 1920.
"Miss Michelena In Boulder Creek; New Film Hinted." Santa Cruz Evening News, June 19, 1917, p.1 [full text]
"Beatriz Michelena To Film 'The Dead Line' At Boulder." Santa Cruz Evening News, June 23, 1917, p.1 [full text]
"Beatriz Michelena At Boulder Creek." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, June 30, 1917, p.8 [full text]
McCrackin, Josephine Clifford. "Among The Movies." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, August 23, 1917, p.4 [full text]
Main, H. H. "Santa Cruz Is Vacation Land And Home Land For All; Nature's Gifts and Man's Work." Santa Cruz Evening News, May 28, 1921, p.2 [full text]
Santa Cruz County History Journal, No. 1, 1994, p. 70 (referred to here as "Dead End.")
"We Are Discovered By The Selig Company." Santa Cruz Evening News, September 25, 1911, p.6 [full text]
"Santa Cruz To Be Scene Of Moving Picture Enactments." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, September 26, 1911, p.1 [full text]
"To Take Moving Pictures; Hills Of Santa Cruz A Setting For Enactments For Show House." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, September 26, 1911, p.1 [full text]
"Selig Players Are Here." Santa Cruz Evening News, September 28, 1911, p.2 [full text]
"Actors Chop Cowell's Wood." Santa Cruz Evening News, September 29, 1911, p.5 [full text]
"Motion Picture Company; Actors For Selig Company Are On The Hills Today." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, October 21, 1911, p.1 [full text]
Note: The film was adapted from "The Chicken-Wagon Family" by Barry Benefield.
"Big Fox Company Here; Horse Car To Again Operate In City." Santa Cruz Evening News, December 17, 1925, p.2 [full text]
"Mulhall Here; Human Story To Be Filmed." Santa Cruz Evening News, December 18, 1925, p.1 [full text]
Sawyer, Preston. "Santa Cruz Yesterdays." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 17, 1956, p.16
"Film Company In Santa Cruz." Santa Cruz Evening News, March 12, 1928, p.8 [full text]
Sawyer, Preston. "Fox Films Unit Invades Santa Cruz." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, March 13, 1928, p.1 [full text]
"Fox Film Actors Send Pigeongrams." Santa Cruz Evening News, March 19, 1928, p.8 [full text]
Note: The series is based on the novel of the same name by John Steinbeck.
Chatenever, Rick. "Santa Cruz Is 'East Of Eden.'"Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 16, 1980, p.24
Speiser, Matt. "East Of Eden Remake Filming In Santa Cruz." Cabrillo Times & Green Sheet, April 16, 1980, p.2
Chatenever, Rick. "Celluloid Heroes Create Excitement." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 25, 1980, p.15
Jensen, Lisa. "On Location In Santa Cruz." Good Times, July 9, 1981, pp. 14-15 [full text]
"Filming In SC For 'East Of Eden'." Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 14, 1980, p.1 (photograph)
Beebe, Greg. "Making Films In Paradise."Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 18, 1980, p.13
Chatenever, Rick. "Movie Success No Overnight Sensation." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 25, 1980, p.15
Jensen, Lisa. "On Location In Santa Cruz." Good Times, July 9, 1981, pp.14-15 [full text]
Christie, Dana. "Lights! Camera! Santa Cruz!" Visitors Guide, July 23-August 5, 1982, p.10
Note: The film is based on the play of the same name by John Osborne.
Chatenever, Rick. "Movie Success No Overnight Sensation." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 25, 1980, p.15
Jensen, Lisa. "On Location In Santa Cruz." Good Times, July 9, 1981, pp.14-15 [full text]
Burnson, Patrick. "Straight Shots." Visitors Guide, July 23-August 5, 1982, p.11
Righetti, Don. "Lemmon Loves His '40's Role." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 30, 1975, pp.1-2
Lovejoy, Bill. "Everybody Is A Star." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 10, 1975, p.13
Note: The film is based on the novel of the same name by Alexander Key.
Anderson, Bruce. "Walt Disney Crews Come To Felton, Attract Crowds." The Valley Press, May 1, 1974, p.1; photographs on p. 5
Chatenever, Rick. "Movie Success No Overnight Sensation." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 25, 1980, p.15
Christie, Dana. "Lights! Camera! Santa Cruz!" Visitors Guide, July 23-August 5, 1982, p.10
Note: The film was adapted from the poem of the same name by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
"Evangeline Scenes To Be Filmed Here; Dolores Del Rio In Lead." Santa Cruz Evening News, January 3, 1929, p.3 [full text]
"Dolores Has Cold; Delayed." Santa Cruz Evening News, January 4, 1929, p.1 [full text]
"Movie Troupe Again Here To Shoot Scenes." Santa Cruz Evening News, January 10, 1929, p.7 [full text]
Jensen, Lisa. "On Location In Santa Cruz." Good Times, July 9, 1981, pp.14-15 [full text]
"Tom Mix Hurt in Blast." Santa Cruz Evening News, October 10, 1923, p.1 [full text]
"Plane Does Thriller Over Bonny Doon; Pilots in Tom Mix Sky Boat Escape in Bad Smash." Santa Cruz Evening News, October 23, 1923, p.6 [full text]
Jensen, Lisa. "On Location In Santa Cruz." Good Times, July 9, 1981, pp.14-15 [full text]
Christie, Dana. "Lights! Camera! Santa Cruz!" Visitors Guide, July 23-August 5, 1982, p.10
Note: "Madelon of The Redwoods" was the working title. The film is based on the novel "Madelon" by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman.
Preston, Sawyer. "Santa Cruz Yesterdays." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 17, 1956, p.16
"Movie Camera Men Visitors." Santa Cruz Evening News, September 11, 1920, p.6 [full text]
Marks, Jamie. "Watsonville's Charm Reels In Hollywood Film Crews." Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 20, 1988, p.A1
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council List 4/29/98
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
Note: The film was shot in 1917 but released and copyrighted in 1918.
"Photoplay Actors Here To Enact Film." Santa Cruz Evening News, May 7, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Another Motion Picture Co.; The New York Motion Picture Company At Work." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, May 7, 1917, p.8 [full text]
Sawyer, Preston. "Veteran Of Stage Screen Talks Of Early Film Days." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, May 19, 1928, p.6 [full text]
Sawyer, Preston. "Fox Rural Movie Picnic Draws Out Crowd Of Over 2000 People." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, May 22, 1928, p.4 [full text]
"Warner Co. Shoots In Big Basin; H.S. Girls In Fox Film." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, May 23, 1928, p.4 [full text]
"'Noah's Ark' Co. Depart; Fox Unit Finishing New Play." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, May 26, 1928, p.8
"Two More Local Films Accepted." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, June 4, 1916, p.1 [full text]
Note: "The Dead Line" was the working title. The film was shot in 1917 but released in 1920.
"Miss Michelena In Boulder Creek; New Film Hinted." Santa Cruz Evening News, June 19, 1917, p.1 [full text]
"Beatriz Michelena To Film 'The Dead Line' At Boulder." Santa Cruz Evening News, June 23, 1917, p.1 [full text]
"Beatriz Michelena At Boulder Creek." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, June 30, 1917, p.8 [full text]
McCrackin, Josephine Clifford. "Among The Movies." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, August 23, 1917, p.4 [full text]
Main, H. H. "Santa Cruz Is Vacation Land And Home Land For All; Nature's Gifts and Man's Work." Santa Cruz Evening News, May 28, 1921, p.2 [full text]
Santa Cruz County History Journal, No. 1, 1994, p. 70 (referred to here as "Dead End.")
Note: "Flare Up Sal Of Jimtown" was the working title. The film was shot in 1917 but released and copyrighted in 1918.
"Dorothy Dalton Starts Filming 'Flare Up Sal of Jimtown.'" Santa Cruz Evening News, October 20, 1917, p.4 [full text]
"Dorothy Dalton of Yukon Fame Arrives Today." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, October 20, 1917, p.4 [full text]
"Dorothy Dalton And Her Players Finish Their Work." Santa Cruz Evening News, October 27, 1917, p.1 [full text]
Note: "Beyond The Law" was the working title. The film was shot and copyrighted in 1924 but released in 1925.
"Universal Pictures Concern Film Story Near Boulder Creek." Santa Cruz Evening News, June 10, 1924, p.4 [full text]
"Jack Hoxie, Film Cowboy, In Boulder Creek." Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel, June 10, 1924, p.4 [full text]
Note: The film was adapted from the story of the same name by William Dudley Pelley.
"Movie People 'Shoot' At Aptos." Santa Cruz Evening News, April 5, 1923, p.6 [full text]
Note: The film was adapted from a story by Thelma Strabel.
Sawyer, Preston. "Santa Cruz Yesterdays." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 17, 1956, p.16
Chatenever, Rick. "Movie Success No Overnight Sensation." Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 25, 1980, p.15
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
Note: The film is based on the novel of the same name by Gene Stratton-Porter.
"Mary Pickford In Person At Santa Cruz: Will Be Here In A Few Days For Scenes In Freckles." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, February 26, 1917, p.3 [full text]
"Jack Pickford Arrives: The Lasky Company To Act "Freckles" For The Films." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 7, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Movies Near Boulder: Lasky Company Amid Most Beautiful Mountain Scenery." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 10, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Jack Pickford Leaves: Lasky Company Spends Nearly Three Weeks Here." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 22, 1917, p.8 [full text]
Snell, Earle. "Us Folks on the Film; A California Mountain Town That Has Gone Stark Movie-Mad." Sunset, The Pacific Monthly, March 1918, pp.43-46 [full text]
Gibson, Ross Eric. "In 1917, A Star-Struck Santa Cruz: Fans Flocked To Pickfords."San Jose Mercury News, February 8, 1994, p.1B
"Santa Cruz In The Films; Notes Up To Date." Santa Cruz Evening News, March 1, 1917, p.5 [full text]
"Jack Pickford Here Tomorrow: The Rolard Company Arrives on Sunday." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 5, 1917, p.8
"Mary Pickford Leaves; Realistic Murder Trial In Court Room - Miss Huff Lands A Trout." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, March 19, 1917, p.8 [full text]
"Fifty Movie Actors To Arrive: George Beban Will Be The Star Of The Play." Santa Cruz Daily Surf, October 3, 1917, p.3 [full text]
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council List 4/29/98
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
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