1950s Visit to MGM

This genuine FauxD© image shows two lovely lasses on the MGM lot, posed perfectly in front of the Thalberg Building. Stitching the left and right sides together gives us a wider view:



Zooming in, you can see the MGM lettering and Thalberg name on the right:



By the time I visited in 2018, MGM was gone and Columbia Pictures/Sony had moved in.



A rainbow was installed in the courtyard to acknowledge the filming of “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) on this very lot.



The building still looks like MGM in all its art deco glory…



but it now bears the name of Columbia.



I should be grateful that they kept the light fixtures in front. And I am.



Surprisingly, they also kept the Thalberg name, visible on the nameplate at right:



Thalberg, Vice President of Production, was known as the “Boy Genius” of the lot. Studio head Louis B. Mayer liked glamour; Thalberg preferred more cerebral material for his films. Inside the Thalberg, his portait is on display.



The Oscars on display are all for Columbia films.



Back in 1941, Shirley Temple joined the MGM stable of stars. She was welcomed to the lot by Gable, Rooney, and Garland. What a powerhouse quartet! Here they are in front of the Thalberg building.



See more MGM studio photos at my main website.

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.

Palooza Finale: Confused at MGM

Just when I thought the weekend couldn't get better, it ended with a bang. Not even a bang...more of a sonic boom. I arrived at the Sony Pictures Studio on Monday morning for the final event of the Shirley Palooza weekend. Once the home of the mighty Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studio, the Culver City facility was minus its famous backlot and had gone through a major rebranding since its heyday of the 1930s and 1940s. I was in shock to learn that our tour guide for the morning was none other than Keith Mitchell. If that name doesn't ring a bell, his stage name might: Keith Coogan, the grandson of Jackie Coogan. And please don't say "Jackie who?" or I might have to banish you from my blog. Jackie Coogan played Uncle Fester on "The Addams Family" TV show (below at far left) and also costarred with Charlie Chaplin as "The Kid" back in 1921.



But I digress...back to Keith Mitchell. He starred in one of my ashamedly favorite movies of all time, "Adventures in Babysitting," with Elisabeth Shue and can be seen on the right of this photo:



Our tour began with Keith introducing a movie about the history of the Studio. I was expecting Judy and Mickey; and instead I saw Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and the Three Stooges. It was odd to see a reel about the history of Columbia Pictures while sitting on the old MGM lot. It wasn't until well into the film that MGM's presence here was even acknowledged.



Studio 15 was where Munchkinland once existed. Although we didn't get to go inside, it sure was cool to at least be able to walk by it. Let me spell it out for you..."The Wizard of Oz" was filmed here back in 1938.



We did get to see where "Wheel of Fortune" is filmed. My mom would be so jealous; many an evening we rushed through dinner so that she and her hubby could watch "Jeopardy" and "Wheel." Before seeing the studio we got to see some of Vanna White's costumes on display. Ooooooh......



The actual set for one of America's favorite game shows, currently on hiatus and slipcovered for cleanliness:



Keith told us a few behind the scenes secrets about the show and kept us all entertained.



Yes, you can see his name tag.



Like most tours, I would have preferred to wander off on my own to study the details and stick my nose where it probably wouldn't be allowed, but still, I really enjoyed being able to walk around this historic property. Just check out some of these original architectural details:







An original MGM manhole cover; at least Sony left a few things untouched!



Then I was reminded that Columbia had moved in. Check out the Ectomobile from "Ghostbusters":



The Capra Building, named after Frank Capra, director of Columbia's 1934 runaway hit, "It Happened One Night."



Murals based on Columbia's hits of the past:





The most iconic building of the lot is the Thalberg building, where many an MGM star was photographed walking down these very steps:



Here are Clark Gable, Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney, and Judy Garland in 1941:



...and little old me in the exact same spot in 2018 (Thanks Kelly K. for the photo!):



Inside you can see the Oscar for "Oliver!":



and a large photo of Thalberg himself:



Back outside, we got to see the fancy doors for Studio 8:



zooming in, you can see Melissa (aka The Colonel) and me in the reflection.



Right by the Thalberg Building is a piece of sculptural "art" representing the rainbow from "The Wizard of Oz." I'll refrain from my commentary.



Many thanks to Gayle S. for encouraging me to get this reflection shot:



This historic recording stage where Judy Garland, Lena Horne, and MGM's orchestra recorded some of the most beautiful and memorable music is still being used today. I had to try hard not to get sick to my stomach when I saw what it had been renamed.



And then before we knew it, the tour was over. And the weekend. I cannot say enough good things for all that Melissa and David S. did to make this a very special time for all of the people who came to celebrate Shirley Temple's 90th birthday. It was an incredible time that I will not forget and definitely set the bar high for next year!



See more MGM/Sony Pictures Studio photos at my main website.

When a Wrong Makes a Right

As I was driving home from Venice Beach, I thought I knew which way to go and rather than rely on any navigation, I went with intuition. It wasn't long before I realized I had probably gone the wrong way. Still, my intuition was spot on, as I realized I was approaching the former MGM studio gates! I had never been through Culver City so this was a first. Of course I had to park the car and get out the camera.



Yes, yes, I know that it's no longer MGM but rather Sony Studios. Still, the building definitely bears the hallmark of its original occupant. Check out those lions on the light fixtures!



I have no idea what the rainbow beyond the gate was, but I can guess it must have had something to do with "The Wizard of Oz" which was shot here back in 1938.



Back in the car, I next found myself in front of the former Selznick Studios. This iconic building can be seen at the beginning of every Selznick picture, including "Gone with the Wind." Many have mistaken this as the façade for Tara.



Then I saw signs for the Culver Hotel, where the Munchkins (according to myth/legend) ran rampant during the filming of "The Wizard of Oz."



How about this marquee for the Kirk Douglas Theatre?



Obviously, I need to come back!

See more Los Angeles photos at my main website.