Culver Studios

Culver Studios is a historic film studio located in Culver City, California. Founded in 1918 by pioneering filmmaker Thomas H. Ince, the studio has been a production site for numerous landmark films and television series. Its iconic colonial-style administration building, featuring a distinctive white columned portico, has become a symbol of Classical Hollywood cinema. Over its century-long history, the lot has been operated by major entities including RKO Pictures, David O. Selznick, and Desilu Productions.

History

The studio was originally established by Thomas H. Ince as his own production facility, following his influential work at Triangle Film Corporation. After Ince's death in 1924, the lot was acquired by RKO Pictures, which expanded the facilities and produced early sound-era classics like *King Kong* there. In 1935, producer David O. Selznick leased the studio, renaming it Selznick International Pictures and overseeing the production of *Gone with the Wind* and *Rebecca*. Subsequent decades saw ownership by Howard Hughes and a transformative period under Desilu Productions, led by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who purchased the lot in 1957 to film series like *The Untouchables*.

Notable productions

The studio grounds have hosted an extraordinary number of seminal works across decades. The Selznick era yielded not only *Gone with the Wind* but also *The Prisoner of Zenda* and *Nothing Sacred*. During the Desilu Productions tenure, iconic television series such as *Star Trek* and *Mission: Impossible* were filmed on its stages. Later feature film productions include *Batman*, *The Matrix*, and *A Nightmare on Elm Street* films. Television hits like *The Carol Burnett Show* and more recent series like *Mad Men* also utilized its facilities.

Facilities and stages

The studio lot encompasses approximately 14 acres and includes numerous sound stages, production offices, and support buildings. The most recognizable structure is the historic HPMC-listed administration building, a frequent backdrop for films and media. Key stages include the large Stage 8, which has housed productions from *Citizen Kane* to *Deal or No Deal*, and the former Stage 9, a cornerstone for Desilu Productions television work. The backlot areas have been used to create diverse settings, from urban streetscapes to pastoral landscapes, for projects ranging from *The Twilight Zone* to music videos for artists like Michael Jackson.

Ownership and operations

Following its tenure under Desilu Productions, the studio was sold to MGM in the 1960s and later operated as part of the Culver City Studios complex. In 2004, it was purchased by a joint venture of The Gersh Agency and Bardas Investment Group. Since 2020, the studio has been owned and operated by Hackman Capital Partners, a major player in studio real estate which also owns the nearby Culver Steps and Tyler Perry's former lot. The facility continues to operate as a full-service rental lot for major film and television productions, serving clients like Netflix, Amazon Studios, and HBO.

In popular culture

The studio's iconic front facade is one of the most photographed in Hollywood, frequently appearing as a establishing shot or setting itself. It famously served as the fictional "*Titanic*" production lot in James Cameron's film and was depicted as the headquarters of ACE Chemicals in *Batman*. The administration building has been featured in countless television series, including episodes of *The Rockford Files*, *Murder, She Wrote*, and *Arrested Development*. Its recognizable image has cemented its status as a visual shorthand for the movie industry itself in global popular culture.

Category:Film studios in the United States Category:Companies based in Culver City, California Category:1918 establishments in California