It's a Wonderful Life, Encino [VIDEO]

It's a Wonderful Life, the James Stewart movie that has become obligatory viewing during the holiday season, was filmed at the old RKO studio ranch in Encino, as this article in the Los Angeles Times recently pointed out.

You'd be forgiven for not recognizing it, though. As Kevin Roderick notes in his book The San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb:

"No film ever required disguising the Valley as much as the production at RKO's ranch of It's a Wonderful Life, the Frank Capra Christmas classic with Jimmy Stewart as a suicidal banker who rediscovers the joy of life. Craftsmen worked for two months to build Bedford Falls, the film's mythical town, on the lot. The town's Main Street was planted with 20 large Encino Oaks."

According to Roderick, the ranch closed its doors in 1953. For a photo gallery of the ranch as it used to be, click here. For a map of its old location just west of the , click here.

And, if you don't have time to sit down and watch the full movie this year, watch a couple of classic scenes from the video gallery above, and watch out for a glimpse of Encino as "Bedford Falls."