Sunset Gower Studios

Coordinates: 34°5′46″N 118°19′16″W / 34.09611°N 118.32111°W / 34.09611; -118.32111
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sunset Gower Studios
Websitewww.sunsetstudios.com/los-angeles/sound-stages-los-angeles/

Sunset Gower Studios is a 14-acre (57,000 m2) television and movie studio at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and North Gower Street in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. Established in 1912, it continues today as Hollywood's largest independent studio[1] and an active facility for television and film production on its twelve soundstages.

History

The

Cohn-Brandt-Cohn (CBC) Film Sales Corporation rented 6070 Sunset Blvd in Poverty Row.[2][3] Following success and a move into feature films, CBC was renamed Columbia Pictures, and in 1926 acquired a Gower Street property with stages previously used by California Studios. In 1928, Columbia's official address became 1438 Gower Street and that year they bought the last piece of land of the old Gower Ranch at 1400 N Gower Street.[3]

The Sunset Gower Studios lot, the home of such Columbia classics as

Heroes, Dexter, NewsRadio, The Amanda Show, Deal or No Deal, Saved by the Bell, Hip Hop Harry, City Guys, Six Feet Under, JAG, Married... with Children, Soap, That's So Raven, Moesha, The Parkers, The Donna Reed Show, Father Knows Best, Hazel, I Dream of Jeannie (which also used the "Father Knows Best" exterior house and "Donna Reed Show" interior living room), Bewitched, The Monkees, the first two seasons of The Golden Girls,[2] the final three seasons of The Facts of Life, and the final two seasons of Silver Spoons
.

Harry Cohn died in 1958 at the age of 66. His memorial service was held on stages 12 and 14 at the studios (there is no stage 13).

Without the guidance of the Cohn Brothers, Columbia Pictures Corporation was not the profit-making company it once was. Between 1970 and 1972, Columbia moved from the 14-acre (57,000 m2) lot, and joined forces with Warner Bros. in Burbank, then subsequently later moved to the Sony Pictures Studios (formerly MGM and Lorimar Studio) in Culver City. Its "back lot" on Hollywood Way in Burbank, where the Columbia westerns were made, became the property of Warner Bros.

Columbia Pictures Corporation, renamed "Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc." after merging with its television subsidiary Screen Gems (now Sony Pictures Television) in 1968,[4] became a film entity without real estate.[citation needed] A large list of successful films were produced during this time, and in 1982, Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. was sold to The Coca-Cola Company for $750 million.[5]

The lot, in the meantime, sat fallow. In 1977, the property was purchased by the Pick Vanoff Company for $6.2 million.[

. For a time stages 12 and 14 became indoor tennis courts.

In November 2004, Sunset Gower Studios was purchased by

Technicolor SA
.

In August 2007, Sunset Gower Studios was bought by Hudson Capital. The Technicolor building opened its doors in 2008. Since 2007, the studio has been undergoing both interior and exterior improvements on the lot. Sunset Gower Studios is now working closely with its sister company

Sunset Bronson Studios, located just a couple of blocks east on the site of the original Warner Bros. lot (1923–37), formerly owned by Tribune Broadcasting, and Sunset Las Palmas Studios
, formerly the Hollywood Center Studios until 2017.

Expansion project

In 2017, developer Hudson Pacific Properties submitted plans providing details of its new vision for Hollywood's landmark Sunset Gower Studios. The firm plans to demolish approximately 160,600 square feet (14,920 m2) of existing buildings at 6050 W on the 16-acre (6.5 ha) site. Sunset Boulevard adding storage area of 628,000 square feet (58,300 m2).[6]

References

  1. ^ "Sunset Gower Studios - via Socialbilitty Places". Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Susan King (October 15, 2012). "Sunset Gower Studios, former home of Columbia, marks 100 years". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Natale, Richard (January 25, 1999). "Where Col travels, others follow". Variety (Columbia Pictures 75th Anniversary ed.). p. 12.
  4. ^ "Columbia, SG complete $24.5 million merger". Broadcasting: 53. 1968-12-23.
  5. ^ "Coke Completes Columbia Merger". The New York Times. June 23, 1982. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  6. ^ "Hudson Pacific Properties plans massive expansion at Sunset Gower Studios". The Real Deal. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2020.

External links

34°5′46″N 118°19′16″W / 34.09611°N 118.32111°W / 34.09611; -118.32111