What movies and shows have been made in Culver City which is called the Heart of Screenland? The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, Tarzan, King Kong, Grease, Raging Bull, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, City Slickers, Air Force One, Wag the Dog, and Contact. TV shows made on Culver City: Gunsmoke, Mad About You, Lassie, Hogan's Heroes, Batman, The Green Hornet, Arrested Development, The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, Jeopardy!, The Nanny, Wheel of Fortune and countless others.
Home of MGM Studios, Culver City, National Public Radio West and Sony Pictures Entertainment now have headquarters in the city. The NFL Network studio is also based in Culver City.
1931 Beacon Laundry, A Zig Zag Moderne, is one of dozens of historic and unique buildings that make Culver City so interesting. But what people know best about the place is its distinction as the other Hollywood in L.A. When the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Culver City Chamber buried the hatchet in a ceremony in 1937 over their distinctions in the film industry, the action was largely symbolic. Tourists have flocked to Hollywood for decades, and not Culver City so much, even though it has held its own in the industry. Minus the glam, it is where many stars work their trade and films are made. Among its credits: Hundreds of movies have been produced on the lots of Sony Pictures Studios (MGM Studios), Culver Studios, Desilu Studios, and the former Hal Roach Studios.Harry Culver, the city's founder, watched Thomas Ince film a western on Ballona Creek, and convinced Ince to move his Inceville Studios from the beach to Washington Boulevard. The landmark colonnade on Washington Boulevard was built in 1915, and Culver City, incorporated in 1917, quickly became "The Heart of Screenland." Harry Culver married actress Lillian Roberts in June 1916.
In film: Hundreds of movies have been produced on the lots of Culver City's studios: Sony Pictures Studios (originally MGM Studios), Culver Studios, and the former Hal Roach Studios. These include The Wizard of Oz, The Thin Man, Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, Rebecca, the Tarzan series, and the original King Kong. More recent films made in Culver City include Grease, Raging Bull, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, City Slickers, Air Force One, Wag the Dog, and Contact. Television shows made on Culver City sets have included Las Vegas, Gunsmoke, Cougar Town, Mad About You, Lassie, Hogan's Heroes, Batman, The Green Hornet, Arrested Development, The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, Jeopardy!, The Nanny, the syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune and Tosh.O. The TV series The Green Hornet featured Bruce Lee as Kato, who also resided in Culver City during the Series' production. John Travolta's "Stranded at the Drive-In" sequence in Grease was filmed at the Studio Drive-In on the corner of Jefferson and Sepulveda. It served as a set for many other films, including Pee-wee's Big Adventure. The theatre was closed in 1993 and was demolished in 1998.
Sony Pictures Plaza - Present day. Main entrance to Sony Pictures Entertainment lot. Culver City's streets have been featured in many films and television shows. Since much of the architecture has not changed in decades, particularly in residential areas of town, the nostalgic sitcom The Wonder Years set many of its outdoor scenes in the neighborhoods of Culver City. The 1970s show CHiPs also featured many chase scenes through the streets. The Nicolas Cage film Matchstick Men included scenes made at Veterans Memorial Park, which was also featured in the opening scenes of the sitcom The Hogan Family.
In
1918
Ince/Triangle became Goldwyn Studios.
In 1919 Thomas Ince founded Thos. Ince Studios, his second Culver City studio (today 9336 Washington Boulevard)
Hal Roach built his studio, the "Laugh Factory to the World" at 8822 Washington.
By 1920 Culver City was becoming notorious for its nightlife. The City Council authorized the city painter to paint "Culver City" on the roof of six buildings on Main Street during this era.
In 1925 De Mille Studios was dedicated (formerly Ince Studios--9336 Washington Boulevard) and two years later Cecil B. DeMille was appointed "Special Police Officer".
1937 The Hollywood and Culver City Chambers of Commerce held a "Bury the Hatchet" ceremony over their distinctions in the movie and film industry.
In 1938 Wizard of Oz was filmed in Culver City.
1957 Desilu Productions used their Hollywood studios and 9336 Washington Boulevard
1970
Desilu became Culver City Studios
2004
Kirk Douglas Theatre opens as a performing arts venue
Sony sold The Culver Studios to PCCP Studio City Los Angeles