Tag Archives: Culver City
Desilu Studios sign out front of the old Forty Acres studios, Culver City, circa late 1950s
In 1950, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz formed the now-famous Desilu Studios. In late 1957, they bought the RKO studios for $6 million, which seems ridiculously cheap now, especially as the purchase also included the Forty Acres studio lot in … Continue reading
Aerial view of construction of the San Diego Freeway (405) is underway between Wilshire Blvd and Venice Blvd, Culver City, 1957
In this 1957 aerial view, we’re looking north toward Sepulveda Pass where construction of the San Diego Freeway (the 405) is underway. The strip of land down the center of the photo is the next section scheduled for construction between … Continue reading
MGM Studios and its famous 10-column entrance in 1939
If I ever got my hands on a time machine, this is exactly where I’d be asking it to take me: to the MGM Studios and its famous 10-column entrance. This is even the year I’d pick: 1939, when they … Continue reading
Thomas Ince Movie Picture Co, Culver City, 1920
The studios at 9336 West Washington Boulevard in Culver City have operated under many names: Thomas H. Ince studios (late 1910s-early 20s) DeMille Studios (late 20s) RKO-Pathé studios (early 30s) Selznick International Pictures (1935 to 1946) Desilu Studios (1957 to … Continue reading
20 years after the production of “Gone with the Wind” the Tara set stands in ruins on Desilu’s “40 Acres” backlot, 1959
Twenty years after the production of “Gone with the Wind,” the Tara set stands in ruins on what by then (1959) was Desilu’s “40 Acres” back lot in Culver City, but had at one time been Selznick International Pictures.
Howard Hughes’ private airport, Culver City, Los Angeles ( 1940 until 1985)
You know you’re rich when you’ve got your own airport — and Howard Hughes was plenty rich to be able to afford this one, which was just near LAX in Culver City. What was once the largest privately owned airport … Continue reading
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Tagged Aerial photographs, Airports Aircraft Airlines, Culver City
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MGM art director, Cedric Gibbons, working on the floor of his office on the blueprints for the set of a movie.
Here we have MGM art director, Cedric Gibbons, working on the blueprints for the sets of some movie — I’d love to know which one. I also love the fact that he’s working on the floor. This doesn’t look to … Continue reading
Chorus girls crowd MGM’s dressing room as they prepare to film “Dancing Lady” (1932)
Here’s (what I would imagine to be) a rare shot: MGM chorus girls crowd into the dressing room as they prepare for the day’s shoot of the “Dancing Lady” (1932) starring ex-chorus girl, Joan Crawford.
MGM’s in-house monthly magazine, “The Lion’s Roar” – 1944
“The Lion’s Roar” was MGM’s in-house monthly magazine for employees to know what was going on at the studio. It was quite an impressively sophisticated publication. This one must have been from 1944 as it features Judy Garland in one … Continue reading
Louis B. Mayer, Harry Rapf and Irving Thalberg at the dedication ceremony for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, April 26th, 1924
On the stand at the dedication ceremony for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer merger on April 26th, 1924, are Louis B. Mayer, head of the new company, flanked by Harry Rapf (left) and Irving Thalberg, who shared production responsibilities.