Title supplied by cataloger. The vast studios of Metro Goldwyn Mayer first began as Triangle Pictures in 1915. The first building on the lot was the huge white edifice with classical colonnades fronting Washington Street and was built even before MGM owned the lot. Metro Goldwyn Mayer was founded in 1924 when entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures (founded in 1916), Goldwyn Pictures Corporation (founded in 1917) and Louis B. Mayer Pictures (founded in 1918). During its heyday, MGM was the most powerful studio in Hollywood and produced approximately fifty pictures a year, bragging that it had "More stars than there are in the heavens." It produced many box office hits, as well as spectacular musicals. In 1957 the studio lost money for the first time in its 34-year history, and by 1960, it had released all of its contract players with many either retiring or moving on to television. In 1969 the company was bought out by millionaire Kirk Kerkorian, who then auctioned off the studio's prized possessions and sold 38 acres of the studio's legendary back lots to housing developers, as the main appeal for Kerkorian was the Culver City real estate and the value of 45 years' worth of glamour associated with the MGM name. In 1986, the MGM sign and its lion logo were removed from atop the Culver City studio. In 1990, the grand old studio was purchased by Sony Entertainment of Japan, and is currently the home to both Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures. The once-famous home of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, and current home of Sony Pictures Studios, is located at 10202 Washington Boulevard in Culver City. It bounded by Washington Boulevard (on the north), Culver Boulevard (on the south), Madison (on the east) and Overland (on the west). The old main gate with its classical Greek columns is located at Jasmine Avenue and Washington Boulevard. Aerial view of the Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studio lot, located at 10202 Washington Boulevard in Culver City; view is looking southwest. Washington Blvd. runs vertically through center of image, from top to bottom; Motor Ave. is horizontally at right forefront; Mentone Ave. is horizontally at middle; Keystone Ave. is horizontally at top right corner. Photograph was taken for Flintkote. Photograph dated February 26, 1960.
Type
Image
Format
1 negative :safety ;10 x 14 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Motion picture studios--California--Culver City Motion picture industry--California--Culver City Industries--California--Culver City Dwellings--California--Culver City Streets--California--Culver City Culver City (Calif.)--Aerial views Culver City (Calif.) Aerial photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
