CBS Studio Center

CBS Studio Center. Located in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Studio City, Los Angeles, this historic television and film production facility has been a cornerstone of the entertainment industry since its founding in 1928. Originally built by Mack Sennett as a silent film studio, the lot has evolved through numerous corporate owners, including Republic Pictures and MTM Enterprises, before becoming a key asset of CBS. It is renowned for its iconic New York City street backlot and for hosting a vast array of beloved television series.

● History

The studio's origins trace back to 1928 when pioneering film producer and director Mack Sennett established it as a base for his slapstick comedies featuring the Keystone Cops. In the 1930s, the facility was acquired by the newly formed Republic Pictures, which became famous for its B-movies, serials, and Westerns starring the likes of John Wayne and Gene Autry. Following World War II, the lot was purchased by the NBC-owned KNBC for television production, leading to its nickname "NBC-TV City." In 1963, the property was sold to CBS, which renamed it CBS Studio Center and solidified its role as a major television production hub. Under the ownership of MTM Enterprises in the 1970s and 1980s, the studio became synonymous with critically acclaimed series like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Hill Street Blues. It was reacquired by CBS Corporation in the 1990s and is now operated by CBS Studios, a division of Paramount Global.

● Facilities

The 55-acre lot features a comprehensive array of production resources, including 18 soundstages of various sizes, extensive office and support buildings, and a renowned backlot. The most famous backlot area is the "New York Street," a permanent outdoor set featuring facades replicating brownstones, tenement buildings, and storefronts designed to mimic Manhattan neighborhoods. Other standing exterior sets include a suburban residential street and a colonial town square, providing versatile filming locations. The facility also houses state-of-the-art post-production suites for editing, sound mixing, and visual effects, as well as dedicated spaces for set construction, prop storage, and wardrobe. Its infrastructure supports the entire production pipeline, from pre-production through final delivery.

● Productions

The studio has been the primary filming location for an extraordinary number of iconic television series across decades. Seminal sitcoms produced here include The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, and Seinfeld. It has also been home to landmark drama series such as Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, and The West Wing. In the realm of science fiction, the lot hosted productions like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The X-Files. More recent network hits filmed on the lot include The King of Queens, Two and a Half Men, Mom, and Young Sheldon. The facility has also accommodated major feature film productions, including The Truman Show and The Social Network.

● Location and Layout

Situated at 4024 Radford Avenue in the heart of Studio City, Los Angeles, the studio is bordered by the Los Angeles River to the east and the Ventura Freeway to the north. The lot's layout is organized into distinct zones, with soundstages clustered in the central and western sections, while the eastern portion is dominated by the expansive backlot areas. The iconic New York Street is located in the northeast corner, easily accessible from multiple stages. The facility's design facilitates efficient movement of personnel and equipment, with wide studio streets connecting production offices, support services, and filming locations. Its location within the San Fernando Valley places it in close proximity to other major studios like Warner Bros. and Disney.

● Notable Shows

The roster of television series produced at this facility reads like a history of American broadcast television. Landmark CBS programs include the long-running sitcom Seinfeld, the political drama The West Wing, and the crime drama NCIS. The studio was the creative home for MTM Enterprises' acclaimed lineup, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, and Lou Grant. It also served as the production base for the final seasons of the classic Western Gunsmoke. In later years, the lot became synonymous with successful CBS sitcoms like Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and their prequel Young Sheldon. Other notable series filmed here span genres, from the medical drama St. Elsewhere to the fantasy adventure The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr..

Category:Film studios in Los Angeles Category:CBS Category:Studio City, Los Angeles Category:Buildings and structures in the San Fernando Valley