Jump to content

Desilu Studios

From Alfawiki
The Culver Studios
Company typePrivate
IndustryFilm and television production
Founded1918
FounderThomas H. Ince
Headquarters
Culver City, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Michael Hackman (CEO, Hackman Capital Partners)
ProductsMotion pictures, television programs
OwnerHackman Capital Partners

The Culver Studios is a film studio situated in Culver City, California, initially founded by silent cinema innovator Thomas H. Ince. Throughout its history, it has been known by several names, including Ince Studio (1918–1925), De Mille Studios (1925–1928), Pathé Studios (1928–1931), RKO-Pathé Studios (1931–1935), Selznick International Pictures (1935–1956), Desilu-Culver Studios (1956–1970), Culver City Studios (1970–1977), and Laird International Studios (1977–1986).

This studio was the filming location for iconic Hollywood productions such as Gone with the Wind (1939), A Star is Born (1937), Intermezzo (1939), and Rebecca (1940).

It also functioned as a production hub for television programs including The Andy Griffith Show, Lassie, Batman, and The Nanny, alongside more contemporary series such as Scrubs, Arrested Development, and Cougar Town.

Prominent figures associated with the studio include entrepreneur Howard Hughes and filmmakers Cecil B. DeMille and David O. Selznick. In 2014, Hackman Capital Partners took ownership of the facility, initiating an extensive renovation over four years that modernized the lot while safeguarding its historic architecture.

Ince Studio

Established in 1918 by silent film trailblazer Thomas H. Ince, The Culver Studios originated after purchasing land from developer Harry Culver. Initially called the Thomas H. Ince Studio, it was crafted by the architectural firm Meyer & Holler. The first structure, known as "The Mansion," served as an administrative building designed in Colonial style, inspired by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, creating a unique corporate image.

This studio became the second significant motion picture facility in Culver City to be acquired by Amazon MGM Studios.

DeMille Studios

Following Ince’s passing in 1924, his widow sold the property to Cecil B. DeMille in 1925, who renamed it DeMille Studios. DeMille considerably enlarged the studio grounds, adding features like the DeMille theater and a Jerusalem street set constructed for his film The King of Kings (1927). Despite successful releases, DeMille faced financial challenges and merged with Pathé Exchange Inc. in 1928. He secured a contract for three films with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, while ownership transferred to a corporate group.

RKO-Pathé studios

In 1932, RKO purchased Pathé and renamed the complex RKO-Pathé studios to distinguish it from their Hollywood location. The facility underwent enhancements as stars such as Bette Davis, Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, and Katharine Hepburn worked there. The original sets for King Kong (1933) were notably constructed at this site.

Selznick International Pictures

Rather than producing films directly at this location, RKO mainly leased the lot. Between 1935 and 1946, it was leased to Selznick International Pictures, owned by David O. Selznick, who upgraded the studio’s infrastructure. Selznick produced Gone With the Wind (1939) on these premises, famously destroying entire backlot sets to depict Atlanta’s devastation.

After 1946, RKO-Pathé resumed control of operations and leased space to Selznick's Vanguard Films Inc. along with other independent producers. In 1950, industrialist and producer Howard Hughes acquired the studio, continuing to lease it until he sold RKO Pictures to General Tire.

Desilu Studios

In 1957, Desilu Productions, owned by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, purchased the lot from General Tire for $6 million (equivalent to roughly $62 million in 2022 dollars), redirecting the property's primary use toward television production.

The studio changed hands in 1968 when Perfect Film & Chemical Corporation acquired Desilu Studios from Gulf+Western, only to sell it to OSF Industries the following year, 1969.

Culver Studios

By 1970, Desilu Studios had been rebranded as The Culver City Studios. It transitioned to Laird International Studios by 1977, operating as a facility for rentals. Following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in December 1986, GTG Entertainment—a partnership between Grant Tinker and Gannett—purchased the studio for $24 million. GTG undertook renovations and restored the name The Culver Studios. In June 1991, Sony Pictures acquired the property for $80 million.

In April 2004, The Culver Studios was sold for $125 million to Studio City Los Angeles, a private investment consortium that included Lehman Brothers, Pacific Coast Capital, and Pacifica Ventures.

The roadway running through the lot is named Ince Boulevard in tribute to original proprietor Thomas H. Ince.

In March 2014, Hackman Capital Partners (HCP) became the new owners of The Culver Studios. Despite speculation about converting the site into condominiums, HCP CEO Michael Hackman clarified that their intention was to upgrade the studio with state-of-the-art technology, expand parking facilities, and increase production spaces.

Facilities

The Culver Studios boasted thirteen sound stages along with on-site office spaces, a screening theater, a fitness center, medical amenities, and parking accommodations.

Site development

Over its extensive history, The Culver Studios experienced significant expansions to keep pace with the changing demands of the film industry. Key growth phases took place between 1918 and 1946 under the leadership of Thomas H. Ince, Cecil B. DeMille, RKO Pictures, and David O. Selznick.

Originally established by Thomas H. Ince on a fourteen-acre parcel, the studio underwent major renovation after its acquisition by DeMille in 1925. These upgrades included reorienting sound stages, moving office bungalows, and adding Stage 2 (currently Stages 2/3/4), four dual-projection rooms, and seven editing suites.

The studio expanded again in 1930 under Pathé Exchange to accommodate the rising popularity of talking pictures. During this period, RKO Pictures built two substantial stage complexes (stages 7/8/9 and 11/12/14) along with supplementary production buildings.

From 1935 to 1946, under the direction of David O. Selznick, the facility was further developed with new bungalows and a final stage complex (stages 15/16), which largely defined its present configuration.

In late 2018, Hackman Capital Partners launched a $620 million expansion project at The Culver Studios, now home to Amazon Studios. This development added 413,000 square feet of leasable space to the existing fourteen-acre campus, bringing total area to over 720,000 square feet. It also incorporated two parking garages with capacity for 1,930 vehicles. Amazon had announced its relocation in late 2017 and leased adjacent space at Culver Steps, another Hackman Capital Partners project. Together, these facilities encompass approximately 600,000 square feet housing Amazon subsidiaries such as Amazon MGM Studios, IMDb, and Amazon Prime Video.

Mansion House

The Mansion House stands as the distinguished focal point of the Culver Studios campus and is recognized as a historic landmark. Erected soon after Thomas H. Ince purchased the property in 1918, it showcases the Colonial Revival style typical of the 1920s, inspired by George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. This building served as the primary administrative center and once accommodated the offices of renowned producers such as Ince himself, Cecil B. DeMille, and David O. Selznick.

Covering 15,000 square feet, the Mansion House features a lengthy hallway bordered by eight towering white columns spanning two stories, with views overlooking a carefully maintained lawn.

Despite common misconceptions, the Mansion House did not portray Tara in Gone With the Wind; that iconic set was created separately on the RKO Forty Acres backlot by art director Lyle Wheeler.

Bungalows

Located at the southern boundary of Culver Studios were four bungalows dating from the 1920s to 1930s, historically inhabited by prominent writers and actors. Alfred Hitchcock utilized one bungalow as his office for an extended period. Another bungalow, constructed in 1935, provided lodging for Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh during the production of Gone With the Wind. Other distinguished residents included Olivia de Havilland, Lucille Ball, Gloria Swanson, and Orson Welles.

Following expansion efforts led by Hackman Capital Partners, these bungalows were moved closer to the Mansion House and adapted into production offices and creative workspaces for writers, producers, staff members, and talent.

Cecil B. DeMille Theater

Built in 1927 under Cecil B. DeMille’s ownership of the studio, this nearby theater was officially named in his honor in 1984. It serves as a venue for exclusive screenings, fundraising events, and routine production viewings.

The theater accommodates 70 guests and is equipped with a 24-foot by 11-foot screen capable of digital and 35mm film projection.

Back Forty

During DeMille’s leadership, Culver Studios expanded by leasing a 28.5-acre backlot known as the Back Forty or RKO Forty Acres from Harry Culver. This space was utilized to construct extensive outdoor sets.

Among its notable uses were filming locations for scenes such as Tara plantation and Atlanta Depot in Gone With the Wind. The Back Forty also hosted numerous television productions throughout the 1960s including Hogan's Heroes, The Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek, and Bonanza.

Currently, this property is no longer part of Culver Studios and has been converted into an office complex.

Productions

Culver Studios has played a pivotal role in launching many film and television careers. In its early years, it was home to classics like Hitchcock’s Spellbound. During the 1950s, it became a central location for television productions such as The Andy Griffith Show and Hogan's Heroes.

In more recent decades, Culver Studios has supported major motion pictures including The Matrix, Armageddon, and I Am Legend, as well as popular TV series like Arrested Development and Cougar Town. Notably, Michael Jackson rehearsed for his Dangerous Tour at this facility in 1992.

Selected films

Selected Television Productions

Further reading

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Desilu_Studios&oldid=91884"