Social Activitist. Nolie and Lela Murray owned "The only Negro dude ranch in the world - The Overall Wearing Dude Ranch." In operation from the 1920s to the 1940s, the ranch first catered to troubled and ill youngsters. In response to depression-era financial concerns, the ranch was converted into a resort for black families in then-segregated California. After Joe Louis's visit to the ranch was covered by Life Magazine, their financial woes were over. The ranch itself enjoyed celebrity: "The Bronze Buckaroo" and "Harlem Rides the Range," two of the four known Negro westerns, were filmed at the ranch. It was World War II, however, that saw the greatest social change, and Lela, Nolie and the ranch were smack in the middle of it. During the war, though, Lela opened the ranch to servicemen of all colors. In Lela's own words, during an interview, she explained, "We threw our own doors open to all soldiers, regardless of their color. And we promptly killed business at the [Catholic-owned] USO. Our place was a haven of pleasure. It was mixed in a lot of other ways, too. Officers wanted to come as badly as the regular GIs, but they had to mingle freely, just the same...We took care of their wives, their children. We turned no one away from here." After Lela died in 1949, Nolie remarried a few years later and kept the ranch operating until 1955, when the ranch was bought by entertainer Pearl Bailey. Nolie died on Saturday, June 30, 1958 and was buried in Victor Valley Memorial Park. In the late 80's the ranch became infested with brown recluse spiders and the old buildings were destroyed in a fire department training exercise.
Social Activitist. Nolie and Lela Murray owned "The only Negro dude ranch in the world - The Overall Wearing Dude Ranch." In operation from the 1920s to the 1940s, the ranch first catered to troubled and ill youngsters. In response to depression-era financial concerns, the ranch was converted into a resort for black families in then-segregated California. After Joe Louis's visit to the ranch was covered by Life Magazine, their financial woes were over. The ranch itself enjoyed celebrity: "The Bronze Buckaroo" and "Harlem Rides the Range," two of the four known Negro westerns, were filmed at the ranch. It was World War II, however, that saw the greatest social change, and Lela, Nolie and the ranch were smack in the middle of it. During the war, though, Lela opened the ranch to servicemen of all colors. In Lela's own words, during an interview, she explained, "We threw our own doors open to all soldiers, regardless of their color. And we promptly killed business at the [Catholic-owned] USO. Our place was a haven of pleasure. It was mixed in a lot of other ways, too. Officers wanted to come as badly as the regular GIs, but they had to mingle freely, just the same...We took care of their wives, their children. We turned no one away from here." After Lela died in 1949, Nolie remarried a few years later and kept the ranch operating until 1955, when the ranch was bought by entertainer Pearl Bailey. Nolie died on Saturday, June 30, 1958 and was buried in Victor Valley Memorial Park. In the late 80's the ranch became infested with brown recluse spiders and the old buildings were destroyed in a fire department training exercise.
Bio by: Shiver
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