Like most movie studios, MGM had several entrances. This one looks different than how it is now because it’s now contained within the studio lot, and not on its perimeter. It was called the Eastern Gate and is next to the Thalberg Building, which was behind and to the left of the photographer. This photo was taken in 1939, when that building would have only been a year old, and the studio was reaching its zenith during what we now refer to as “Hollywood greatest year.” Those buildings with numbers on them are soundstages, and of course that great Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer sign could be seen for miles around.
Here is a map of MGM its heyday. We can see the Thalberg Building on the left with the “East Gate” clearly marked.
Matt H. posted this photo of how that view looks these days:
This satellite image isn’t dated, but it would have been taken in the past year or two. We can see how the Thalberg Building is now within the walls of the studios—which are now owned by Sony—and the old East Gate is hidden behind the huge rainbow art piece.
In September 2014, I visited the MGM/Sony lot and posted an album of photos of my visit on Facebook. You can see them HERE.
Hello Martin,
This is great! I’ve never seen a shot of the East Gate without the lintel with the studio name on it before, or this particular map of the studio either. Do you know where it came from or where I could get a version? It’s not high enough res on here to read the labels.
I didn’t find this one myself. It was sent to me by someone who asked if I could figure out where this gate was. I didn’t know and couldn’t figure it out until I saw a glimpse of it in a short called “The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story.”
Just put me in the time machine and point the way to the commissary. There’s some dining wares I need to take away….by the boxfull!
And how cool to see the two tone paint job on the Commissary. I wonder what colors were used? When I was there everything was painted ‘battleship griege’. The current Sony photos make the place almost unrecognizable.
Just think of all the great movies that were filmed at MGM that year! Oh, to be a fly on any wall in that studio!