MGM on a Monday

Before digital movie magic reigned supreme, the scenery for most of your favorite films was painted right here in The Scenic Painting Building at MGM (now Sony Pictures Studio). Built in the 1930s, at one time, over 5000 paintings were stored here. During the day with the sunlight streaming in, you can see why this would be the ideal place for an artist to create these masterpieces of illusion. Here's a vintage shot from LIFE magazine showing an artist at work:



One of the side walls where the gigantic paintings were raised up and down through a narrow slot in the floor:



In this un-cropped photo also used in LIFE Magazine, you can see the top of the painting of Munchkinland from “The Wizard of Oz”:



Can you imagine the history in all of these paint drops?!?



In researching this building, I came upon this fantastic article which talks about how all of the backdrops were removed and catalogued in the last year. Here’s a shot of one of the backdrops from “Singin' in the Rain” being photographed:



...and the “Fit as a Fiddle” number with Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor where it was used:



During my visit, the building was vacant awaiting its next purpose. I probably don't want to know what’s going to happen to it next.

See more MGM/Sony Studios photos at my main website.