Before there was Paramount Pictures, the studios on Melrose Ave in Hollywood were the Robert Brunton Studios. In this 1918 aerial photo, we can see their six soundstages lined up on the left. That big block of land to their right would later become RKO, which means that intersection on the far right about halfway down is where the famous RKO globe would later be built at Melrose and Gower. And that empty block of land in the bottom left corner with the white paths is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (established 1899.)

**UPDATE** Here is a brief history of the studio lot:

• 1917 to 1918 – Built as Paralta Plays, Inc.
• 1918 to 1921 – Brunton Studios. Peralta/Brunton’s address was 5451 Marathon, the approximate location of the original Paramount main gate at 5301 – 5601 Melrose.
• 1921 – Bought by M.C. Levee who renamed the lot United Studios. Joseph Schenck bought the lot amd moved his stable of players here from his studio in New York City.
• The lot was initially about 23 acres in size and in the United Studios era additional land was purchased on either side giving them a total of approximately 43 acres. FBO was United’s western neighbor.
• 1926 – Purchased by Famous Players-Lasky. Partners were Jesse Lasky (Lasky Feature Play Co), Adolf Zukor (Famous Players in Famous Plays), W.W. Hodkinson (Paramount Pictures Company), Cecil B. DeMille, and Samuel Goldwyn. A couple of years after the merger the name was officially changed to Paramount Pictures.
• In mid 1960s – Paramount acquired its neighbor, RKO, which had been purchased from Howard Hughes by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
• Mid 1980, the company purchased what is now the southeast corner, where Western Costumes stood.

The Robert Brunton Studio from the south looking north: