Exterior set from the former RKO/Desilu "40 Acres" backlot studio in Culver City, California...most commonly seen in television's "The Andy Griffith Show" as a background building. Exterior filming sets from the former RKO/Desilu Studio Backlot "40 Acres" in Culver City, California. PATHÉ, RKO & SELZNICK Hearings. Desilu Productions, also credited as Desilu Studios, was the production company that started the Star Trek-franchise with the production of the, initially, un-aired 1965 pilot television episode 20px, and the 1Shipping television series which began airing in September 1966. #40_Acres #Backlot #Desilu_Studios … One of the first films shot on this new backlot ranch was The Road To Yesterday (1925), and over the next three years, DeMille used the area for his epic film The King of Kings (1927), among others. In 1968 Paramount sold the Culver City holdings to Perfect Film and Chemical. Airy, an Andy Griffith Show call sheet from 1964, including references to "40A-CoaltownStr" for filming of "Mayberry" town exteriors at 40 Acres...revealing that this area of the backlot was named for its appearance as "Coaltown" in the 1948 film, "Miracle of the Bells." See also The studio and backlot acreage changed hands again in 1958, after it was was purchased by Desilu Productions, the studio formed in 1951 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Movies. When I go behind a curtain to vote, nobody knows whom I vote for", For the next decade, Desilu Studios would be the outdoor setting for several films and numerous television shows including: T, Lucille Ball explains 1936 Communist link, Investigation of Communist activities in the Los Angeles area. Desilu Studios was very successful and had this little Mom and Pop feeling that accompanied all who worked there. One of Culver City’s most famous studio backlots was a 40-acre location property on the north bank of La Ballona Creek. Desilu on these back lots created some of the greatest television in history which still outshine all of what is on television since then. In 1958 the studio and backlot acreage was purchased by Desilu Productions, the studio formed in 1951 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. In 1950, Howard Hughes took over ownership of RKO and continued renting the RKO-Pathé studios to outside producers. Exterior filming sets from the former RKO/Desilu Studio Backlot "40 Acres" in Culver City, California. Above is a photo of where Lucille Ball's office was when this was Desilu Studios. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, 1997, p. 4) The new name, a portmanteau of the couple's first names, was … Exterior set from the former RKO/Desilu "40 Acres" backlot studio in Culver City, California...most commonly seen in television's "The Andy Griffith Show" as a background building. Over the next few years, Desilu TV shows such as “The Untouchables,” “The Texan,” “Whirlybirds” and “Sheriff of Cochise” used the backlot settings. Desilu Productions. The “40 Acres Backlot” was once home to Selznick International Pictures and was where “Gone with the Wind” was filmed. 3D Warehouse is adding a new feature for verified companies like yours. Menu. I at no time intended to vote that way. See also When Laird International purchased the studio property at the end of 1977, they thought they were buying the studio lot and the 40-Acre backlot. RKO Forty Acres was a film studio backlot owned by RKO Pictures and later Desilu Productions, located in Culver City, California.Best known as Forty Acres, or "the back forty", it had other names such as "Desilu Culver", the "RKO backlot" and "Pathé 40 Acre Ranch" depending on which studio owned the property at the time. A studio with 40 acres created illusions which delighted millions and still is delighting billions. To their surprise, the 40-Acre parcel had been pre-sold to a developer who demolished the entire lot and built an industrial park on the site – which has grown and developed into its current form. My Living Doll is an American comedy/science fiction sitcom that aired for 26 episodes on CBS from September 27, 1964 to September 8, 1965. In 1969, OSF became the new owners and n 1976, the Forty Acres back lot was bulldozed and turned into an industrial park. Aug 23, 2015 - Explore Brian Elia's board "Movie Studio Backlots & Ranches", followed by 190 people on Pinterest. Desilu fences have Dog on Duty postings on them. I especially like the eagerness that Paul Holtz presents in helping us members. L-R, Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. Originally, its studios were located in Los Angeles, but outgrowing their existing space, they purchased their Culver City location on the RKO "40 Acre" backlot from General Tire and Rubber in late 1957. Stages and Backlot Contact Information. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times. I know. Starring the two of them in a comedy version of their real lives, the show was an instant hit, and, for the six years… Over the next decade, television emerged as the primary business conducted at … Desilu has the best, by far. Looking at the photo below you will see "Lucy Park," which not only serves as a park area on the lot, but also, sometimes as a filming location. Filming Location Matching "Backlot, Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA" (Sorted by Popularity Ascending) The studio was sold to a chemical company in the following year and renamed the ”Culver Studios” where the television show ”Lassie” continued to use the studio and the backlot settings. In 1965, for the epic film, The Greatest Story Ever Told, several more sets were built among the many already there. 1 History: 2 Interior Filming 3 Image Gallery 4 External Links 5 Video The backlot was originally known as RKO but later was bought by Desilu Productions. In 1958, it was purchased by Desilu Productions, the studio formed in 1951 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Now it is part of the Paramount Studios lot. It was first used in 1927 for the filimg of The King of Kings. The “40 Acres Backlot” was once home to Selznick International Pictures and was where “Gone with the Wind” was filmed. This purchase included Forty Acres, the backlot where exteriors for Mayberry were filmed. This set appeared in the 1949 film "The Set-Up" as the "Hotel Cozy." This was truly a scary alternative and it is how Desilu kept us out as long as they did. Desilu (1956) Culver City Studios Laird International Studio (1977-1986) The Culver Studios. Desilu (and their three studios) became Paramount TV. Desilu Productions was formed in 1950 by Lucille Ball and her then-husband, Desi Arnaz. 818.777.3000 "Studio Backlot has taught me a wealth of effects and methods to make my movies pop! As the studio continued to change hands, the “40 Acres” backlot fell out of use and into disrepair in the early 1970’s, and in 1976 it was bulldozed and the land was sold to industry.’ The backlot ranch at this time contained around 32 acres and another eight acres were added along the north bank of La Ballona Creek. Keep up the great work and thanks so much!" Our huge 65-acre lot contains not only some of the biggest stages available, but also numerous lot locations … Desilu Productions (also known simply as Desilu) is the original name of the television production company now known as CBS Television Studios, a division of ViacomCBS.. History. Palms is situated 1¼ miles west of Desilu Studios. In 1958, it was purchased by Desilu Productions, the studio formed in 1951 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It was first used in 1927 for the… Toby DevjeAndy Griffith show ‘Under a variety of owners over the next two decades, the backlot appeared in dozens of films, and by the early 1950’s, the lot began to appear in television productions, including The Adventures of Superman. Your stars need a location to shine their brightest, and at The Studios at Paramount, we can accommodate almost anything you can dream up. Desilu Studios Backlot. For the next ten years, the backlot would provide outdoor locales for Desilu’s own television productions, as well as for series produced by others. On the set of Desilu productions' television series, I Love Lucy, 1951-1957. Jun 19, 2015 - The studio created by Lucy and Desi Arnaz. Not only would Desilu’s Culver City lot need a complete makeover to flavor the look of suburban Chicago in the 1920s, but an entire brewery with working vats would have to be constructed on a sound stage at Desilu’s Gower Street studios. Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0. Located in the Veterans Memorial Building at, In Memoriam: Sharon Shore (1943-2020), Costume Chair 2012-2015. Palms is a highly diverse, densely populated community in the Westside region of Los Angeles, California, founded in 1886 and the oldest neighborhood annexed to the city, in 1915. Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0. This one is fine, but nothing remarkable. Looking at the photo below you will see "Lucy Park," which not only serves as a park area on the lot, but also, sometimes as a filming location. Keep up the great work and thanks so much!" 40 Acres - The Lost Studio Backlot … M any locals know that the Desilu Studios were an important part of Culver City history. The backlot was originally known as RKO but later was bought by Desilu Productions. In 1951, the early “Superman” TV series was shot on the 40-Acres – beginning the backlot’s television history. Stages and Backlot Contact Information. The huge backlot was used for classic movies such as King Kong (1933) and Gone with the Wind (1939). Well Desilu (which was later bought out by Paramount) would never have had any legal claims on the series even if Desilu studios had been properly credited for where the show was filmed since they would have strictly operated on the basis of leasing space to Greenway/Fox, and not playing a role in actual production. Our huge 65-acre lot contains not only some of the biggest stages available, but also numerous lot locations … The studio wasn’t really prepared to handle a period theatrical feature of any consequence. Oct 16, 2017 - Explore Jerry Newsome's board "Mayberry - aka 40acres RKO/Desilu Backlot" on Pinterest. The hill top you see is the balcony for the Desilu backlot. Desilu Productions, co-owned by husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, was best known for its hit productions such as I Love Lucy, Star Trek, The Untouchables and The Jack Benny Program.The couple jointly owned Desilu Productions from its inception in 1950 until their divorce in 1960, after which Ball bought Arnaz out and ran the company by herself for several years. "Studio Backlot has taught me a wealth of effects and methods to make my movies pop! Pictured right in an aerial view from 1958, the backlot had just changed ownership to Desilu Studios. Originally, the studio was named Motion Picture Center, founded by Joe Justman (father of later Star Trek alumnus Robert Justman, and with whom Arnaz in particular had a mutual friendly relationship), the couple first rented before buying it. In 1967 Desilu was bought by Gulf and Western, who had just purchased Paramount. During the sixties, the most prominent show dominating the back lot was ”Hogan’s Heroes.” When Desilu was sold to Paramount in 1967, the “Star Trek” television series was the most popular show using the studio and 40-Acre backlot. Pictured above in an aerial view from 1963, the backlot had recently changed ownership to Desilu Studios. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz took over the old RKO-Pathé lot and renamed it “Desilu-Culver” in 1957. When Desilu was sold to Paramount in 1967, the “Star Trek” television series was the most popular show using the studio and 40-Acre backlot. By 1930, the backlot was called the RKO-Pathé ”40-Acres” (though, in fact, it was only 29 acres). Ball and Arnaz give a press conference at their home. The Desilu Years 1958-1967 By 1958, RKO Studios and the 40 Acres backlot had already changed ownership several times, including ownership by Howard Hughes from 1948 to 1955. Paul Dubov, a bit player in Confidential, would be hired on as Untouchable Jack Rossman, setting a precedent that many character actors from 1940s and 50s would inevitably wind their way through the Desilu backlot once the show went to series.Virtually out of nowhere and without an audition, Karlson would also tap actress Patricia Crowley for the role of Ness’ wife, Betty Anderson. I can’t wait to show you what I mean in future stories and posts. COVID-19 Announcement. For the next ten years, the backlot would provide outdoor locales for Desilu's own television productions, as well as for series produced by others, the most notable of all being The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968), for which the streets of Atlanta constructed for Gone With The Wind served as the town of "Mayberry." Interior Filming [edit | edit source] Interior shots of The Andy Griffith Show were filmed at the Desilu Studios in Cahuenga at stages 1 & 2. 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