PHOTO: BRIAN ROONEY
M*A*S*H Lives!
Malibu Creek State Park is proud to be home to the outdoor set of television's legendary program M*A*S*H. The site still draws visitors from all over the world decades after the show left the air.
The park is the former location ranch of 20th Century Fox studios who owned the land between 1946 and 1974. They shot many films and television programs here including M*A*S*H between 1972 - 1983.
M*A*S*H was a deft blend of drama and comedy was just enough to take the minds of millions of Americans off of what was really happening on the other side of the Pacific during the Vietnam War era. M*A*S*H grew to become a landmark television series that garnered over 100 Emmy nominations during its eleven season, 251 episode run.
Shooting M*A*S*H on location was much like a real M.A.S.H. unit would operate. Electricity was sourced from powerful generators, water came from tanker trucks and bathroom facilities weren't much more than porta-potties such as those commonly found at construction sites (although they were definately a step up from the latrines on the show). On a M*A*S*H 30th Anniversary special that aired in 2002, Alan Alda (“Hawkeye”) observed that shooting at the Fox Ranch added to the realism of a show set amongst daily hardship and making do in minimal conditions.
The Restoration
Over the years, Nature began to reclaim the famous set. An ambulance left behind by the studio became so shrouded in wild bush that it could not be seen by visitors standing just by a few feet away.
Recognizing that M*A*S*H is still beloved worldwide and that visitors come from from all over America, Europe and Asia to see the set, in 2007, State Parks officials authorized an environmentally sensitive, partial restoration of the set that cleared some of the overgrowth and made it easier to see where tents and buildings were placed during the show. The vehicle road to the helipad was restored and is now the shortest hiking trail in the park.
Now on display are a recreation of the iconic signpost, and informational panels with photographs from the show.
M*A*S*H Site Project Mgr.
Brian Rooney
brian.rooney@R7Media.com
MAP to the M*A*S*H Site
The Celebration
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the final episode ("Goodbye, Farewell & Amen"), on February 23, 2008, hundreds of MASH fans gathered at the old set and were joined by special guests Mike Farrell ("BJ Hunnicut"), Loretta Swit (Hotlips Houlihan), William Christopher (Fr. Mulcahy), Jeff Maxwell (Igor the Chef), prolific M*A*S*H director Charles Dubin and producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe.
It was the first time that the cast members had been back to the old set since the show ended. They had a great time and the fans loved seeing them there again.Vintage military vehicles and re-enactors were on hand to dress up the event and a great time was had by all.
Site clearing crew: Kym Taborn, Debbie Shramer, Ira Taborn, Walter Higgins, Pat Evans, Rose Bernard, Jonathan Nowak, Octavio Fernandez, Don & Teryl Brooks
Signpost graphic design: Anielka Gallo
Signpost construction: Mark Rackow
Signpost painting: Brian Rooney
Restoration of the helipad vehicle road hiking trial was done by Rick Koeppel and his crew from the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council
Dr. Michael Low and friends brought their vintage military vehicles to the anniversary event and helped shuttle in the VIPs.
20th Century Fox: Peter Liguori, Chris Alexander and Joshua Mark
Press: Los Angeles Times, Fox Television and Kelly Ogle of News 9 who brought a crew all the way from Oklahoma to cover the event!
Blake Steele and his crew for miracle road repair
Official PR Whiz: Zan Dubin Scott www.zdscommunications.com
Special thanks to California State Parks Ranger Lindsey Templeton and Angeles District Supervisor Al Pepito for overseeing the project and to Roy Stearns at CSP headquarters in Sacramento for wrangling the press.
M*A*S*H Site Project Mgr: Brian Rooney brian.rooney@R7Media.com
Thank You!
The VIP convoy arrives
William Christopher
Mike Farrell
Loretta Swit
Metcalfe & Reynolds
Charles Dubin
Jeff Maxwell
Ron Schaeffer
Farrell & Reynolds on
the helipad
Together again after
25 years
Did You Know?
M*A*S*H was almost
cancelled after its first
season due to low ratings.
It became very popular in
season two.
Shade at the Set!!
There is finally shade at the M*A*S*H site for the first time so you can eat in comfort where the mess tent was on the TV series. Enjoy!
Special "thank you"s go to
Lofton Contracting, Renderix Architectural Drawings and Daniel Stieff for their kind assistance in making it happen!
IT'S FIXED! The damaged camo netting is now re-secured with a mesh cover to increase the shade!
