Enjoy “Dinner and a Movie” at Historic Carlsbad Ranch

Watch “Moonlight and Cactus,” starring Leo Carrillo at the city’s annual Dinner and a Movie fundraiser for Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, celebrating 10 years as a city park this year. The event takes place Friday, Aug. 16, with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. The movie will start promptly at sunset with a showing of “The Cisco Kid” before the main feature.

Be sure to bring your low back chair, warm clothes, a flashlight and a blanket. Tickets, which must be purchased by Aug. 9, are $30 each and include one dinner and a complimentary door prize entry.

Only 150 tickets are available for this popular annual event, and there will be no ticket sales at the door. Proceeds from the event support the Carrillo Ranch Trust Fund, which was established by the City of Carlsbad to enable the public to support the continued restoration and enhancement of this historic site. Donations to the trust fund are only used for the development, operation and maintenance of Leo Carrillo Ranch.

The featured movie this year is the 1944 production “Moonlight and Cactus,” which tells the story of Petty Officer Tom Garrison (played by Tom Seidel) of the Merchant Marines who returns on shore leave to his cattle ranch. He finds that due to the WWII manpower shortage, women have taken over operating the ranch. The cowgirls are played by Patty Andrews, Maxene Andrews and Laverne Andrews. Leo Carrillo plays neighboring rancher, “Pasqualito Luigi,” who makes claims to being a great detective.

Once owned by actor and conservationist Leo Carrillo, the ranch is secluded in the heart of a magnificently landscaped 27-acre canyon. The historic park features hand-crafted adobe buildings, antique windmills, a reflecting pool and many other beautiful historic structures where visitors can explore and experience California history. Nature-lovers delight in gorgeous agave, bougainvillea, Birds of Paradise, plentiful trees and the company of dozens of brilliant peacocks who call the ranch home.

Leo Carrillo Ranch is a designated National Historic Landmark that was opened to the public by the City of Carlsbad in 2003. It is connected to the citywide trails system via the four-mile long Rancho Carrillo trail. The ranch was established in the late 1930s by Leo Carrillo, best known for his Hollywood role as “Pancho” in The Cisco Kid television series. Some of the visitors back in the day included Clark Gable, along with other legends shown in exhibit photos throughout the ranch detailing the history of the property and its owner. During the past 10 years, the City of Carlsbad has worked closely with hundreds of dedicated volunteers to restore and preserve Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park and to offer such diverse programming as Movie Nights, Holiday at the Rancho, school sessions, docent led and self-guided tours, and host of the Wild West Fest and countless weddings and special events.

Ticket information: Tickets are $30 each and include one dinner, complimentary door prize entry, silent auction and popcorn. Only 150 tickets are available and will only be sold in advance (there are no sales at the door). Tickets may be obtained at Leo Carrillo Ranch Visitor Center or online at www.carlsbadconnect.org (Class / Event Number: 57385). For more information call 760-476-1042 or visit www.carlsbadca.gov/parksandrec. Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park is located at 6200 Flying LC Lane. Leo Carrillo Ranch contains irregular earthen and paved surfaces, including without limitations, stairs and trails. It is recommended that visitors wear appropriate shoes for the uneven terrain within the historic park.

–City of Carlsbad