These days, we know this movie studio as 20th Century-Fox, but back in 1928, when this aerial photo was taken, it was still called the Fox Hills studio, named by William Fox after he bought the 100-acre site on Pico Blvd in 1916. A dozen years later, it had an impressive and sprawling backlot—and the talkies had barely even begun. Within a few years, William Fox would be broke and merge with Darryl Zanuck’s 20th Century Pictures. Meanwhile, maybe some of those oil wells can bring in some extra cash.
John J says: “Fox Corp bought the entire 450 acres in 1923 from the Janss’. Fox Realty Co. subdivided and sold lots on the western side. The eastern section was the Wolfskill Oil field, and by 1928 it was also the 18-hole Westwood Hills Public golf course, and a 9-hole pitch and putt. The photo is looking south from the main entrance on Santa Monica Blvd. The wall was painted with murals of movies and stars. The road is roughly in line with the entrance on Pico. 100 feer east of Club View. Behind is Hillcrest CC and the old Rancho GC on Pico. Fox sold the land in 1961 and leased back the 80 acres they are still using. There is a lot lot more to the story.”
This is how that studio looked in January 2020. A little more crowded now, isn’t it?
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