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.

Movie Studio Monday

Today’s post takes you on a tour of some of the biggest movie studios in Hollywood. These first two vintage shots from the 1950’s show Paramount Studios, beginning with a view of the Bronson Gate.



Here’s one I shot back in 2006 showing the Melrose Gate at Paramount. BTW: it's located on Melrose.



This Universal image from July 1974 just SCREAMS 70’s. The entrance signage could only exist in that decade. I think I smell polyester, too.



A September 1965 shot of the Universal City Studio Tours Tram. Universal is not only a studio; it’s a city, too! I wonder if Harry Potter is the mayor?



This shot was taken during the 1965 tour. A great overview of the backlot.



Here’s one I snapped in 2004, showing the Bates home. I believe Mother is in the window.



Welcome to Warner Brothers! Here’s the Gate 2 entrance:



Two images I took back in 2004 showing the backlot:





Let’s hop on over to Burbank to see the Disney Studio, featured in this June 1941 image with Walt surveying his property. I wonder if he’d still want his name associated with the current company?



The iconic street sign at the studio, with actor Farley Granger surrounded by two lovely ladies. Farley better watch that cig so that he doesn’t burn the lady on his right!



A 1958 shot of the Disney backlot which no longer exists:



How the animation building looked when I visited it a number of years ago. Almost like time stood still here.



Leo the Lion from MGM no longer roars here in Culver City. Sony & Columbia kicked him out years ago. However, many of the iconic buildings still exist from yesteryear, including the original front gate:



The Thalberg Building:



Stage 15, the largest on the lot and the fourth largest in the world:



...and the interior of Stage 15, which is where portions of “The Wizard of Oz” were filmed:



And finally, one 1954 image of RKO Studios:



You'll have to wait until Temple Tuesday for Fox Studios!

See more Hollywood 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.