The Lot / Warner Hollywood Studio

also known as:

  • Pickford-Fairbanks Studios,
  • Pickfair Studios,
  • United Artists Studios
  • Samuel Goldwyn Studios
  • Warner Hollywood

Now known simply as The Lot this studio was formerly a sister studio of Warner Bros at Burbank.
It can be found next door to the Formosa Cafe at 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, CA.

In April 2012 the current owners of The Lot (‘CIM’) began demolition of some of the historic buildings used by Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and countless movie stars, writers, directors and technicians.
The first to go was the Pickford Building, on 3rd April 2012.
> Facebook group “Save the Pickfair Studio”
> Save the Pickfair Studio website
> LA Conservancy article about the demolition

Studio Plans

2012 Studio Plan

History

1917/18
Hampton Studios (founded by Jesse Durham Hampton) begins construction at Santa Monica Blvd and North Formosa Avenue.

1919
United Artists is formed by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W.Griffith.

Mary Pickford and Doug Fairbanks, 1922 (LA Public Library)

1920
January – Hampton Studios opens a new studio to house their growing production company as they expand from their former home on Sunset Boulevard (the current home of KCET Studio).

1922
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks buy the 18-acre studio property and name it Pickford-Fairbanks Studios in their honor.

1924
Samuel Goldwyn leaves MGM and forms his own company, renting space at the Pickford-Fairbanks studio.

1927
Pickford Building is built on the site. (This building was demolished in April 2012).

1927/1928
Charlie Chaplin moves from his own studio as he co-founds United Artists with Pickford, Fairbanks and D.W.Griffith.
The studio is renamed United Artists Studio.

1932
Goldwyn Building is constructed (used for sound editing). The building was demolished in April 2012.

1933
Darryl Zanuck and Joseph Sheak bring 20th Century Pictures to Pickford-Fairbanks Studio until it merges with Fox Film Corporation two years later.

1936
Pickford Building is re-modelled.

1939/1940
Samuel Goldwyn left United Artists. The lot was renamed Samuel Goldwyn Studios. This name change resulted in the start of a lengthy court battle with Mary Pickford over control of the studio.

1955
After fighting in court for many years, Samuel Goldwyn teamed with James Mulvey to outbid Mary Pickford at an auction, resulting in him acquiring full control of the studio. Pickford was devastated by the loss of her studio.
Kevin Brownlow’s book ‘Mary Pickford Rediscovered’ recounts how after the sale of the studio she would drive up to the gates at 3am, the guards would let her in, she’d go center on a soundstage with a bottle of wine and drink and drink…and cry and cry. Soon after Mary became a recluse until her death in 1979.

1974
Samuel Goldwyn dies and the studio is transferred to his widow, Frances.

1976
Frances Goldwyn dies and the studio is bequeathed to the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

1980
The studio is sold to Warner Bros and renamed Warner Hollywood Studios (at the request of the Goldwyn Company), acting as an 11 acre sister studio to Warner Bros in Burbank.

1999
Warner Bros sold the studio to BA Studios, managed by Skye Partners, who renamed it ‘The Lot’ – a private studio for rental to any production company. It consists of 7 soundstages.
According to the Save the Pickfair Studios website, Skye Partners wanted to demolish the historic buildings on the property, replacing them with ‘ugly cube structures’. Hollywood Heritage (in the shape of Robert Hudelman) succeeded in negotiating them out of the idea.

2012 April
Current owners of The Lot, CIM, begin demolition of ‘aging wooden office buildings and sound-dubbing stages’ to replace them with glass and steel structures.
The first building to go is the Pickford Building (1927). The Writers’ Building, Fairbanks Building and Editorial Buildings will follow, along with the long line of production offices that line Santa Monica Boulevard.
The Goldwyn Building (1932) was next to go, on 12th – 17th April.

Facilities at Warner Hollywood / The Lot

  • 7 Soundstages
  • Goldwyn Sound Facility

Goldwyn Sound Facility

The world-class stages of Warner Hollywood’s Goldwyn Sound Facility are known throughout the industry for their technical excellence and outstanding personnel. The work completed in this facility has garnered numerous Academy Award nominations and several Oscars. In addition to the Re-recording, Scoring, ADR stages and Foley stages, we are heavily involved in the Sound Preservation and Archival of old and new titles and are very proud to be leading the new DVD Audio Mastering technology. [from old Warner Hollywood website)

 



Productions shot at The Lot / Warner Hollywood Studios


Feature Film (56)

TitleReleasedDirectorIMDB
Snakes on a Plane2006David R. EllisIMDB Database page about Snakes on a Plane
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Dangerous2005John PasquinIMDB Database page about Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Dangerous
The Majestic2001Frank DarabontIMDB Database page about The Majestic
The Majestic Theatre was built on the lot.
The Green Mile1999Frank DarabontIMDB Database page about The Green Mile
Wild Bill1995Walter HillIMDB Database page about Wild Bill
Robin Hood: Men in Tights1993Mel BrooksIMDB Database page about Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Basic Instinct1992Paul VerhoevenIMDB Database page about Basic Instinct
The Distinguished Gentleman1992Jonathan LynnIMDB Database page about The Distinguished Gentleman
Great Santini, The1979Lewis John CarlinoIMDB Database page about Great Santini, The
Sextette1978Ken HughesIMDB Database page about Sextette
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope1977George LucasIMDB Database page about Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
After returning from England, George Lucas reshot some sequences at Samuel Goldwyn Studios.
The Cheyenne Social Club1970Gene KellyIMDB Database page about The Cheyenne Social Club
Stalking Moon, The1968Robert MulliganIMDB Database page about Stalking Moon, The
The Party1968Blake EdwardsIMDB Database page about The Party
Frankie and Johnny1966Frederick De CordovaIMDB Database page about Frankie and Johnny
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying1966David SwiftIMDB Database page about How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Irma La Douce1963Billy WilderIMDB Database page about Irma La Douce
Jack the Giant Killer1962Nathan JuranIMDB Database page about Jack the Giant Killer
West Side Story1961Jerome Robbins, Robert WiseIMDB Database page about West Side Story
Apartment, The / The Apartment1960Billy WilderIMDB Database page about Apartment, The / The Apartment
A Hole in the Head1959Frank CapraIMDB Database page about A Hole in the Head
Horse Soliders, The1959John FordIMDB Database page about Horse Soliders, The
Porgy and Bess1959Otto PremingerIMDB Database page about Porgy and Bess
Some Like It Hot was shooting in an adjacent soundstage, and Sammy Davis Jr., Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge frequently visited that set.
Some Like It Hot1959Billy WilderIMDB Database page about Some Like It Hot
Run Silent Run Deep1958Robert WiseIMDB Database page about Run Silent Run Deep
Separate Tables1958Delbert MannIMDB Database page about Separate Tables
Stage 5
Guys and Dolls1955Joseph L. MankiewiczIMDB Database page about Guys and Dolls
Marty1955Delbert MannIMDB Database page about Marty
High and the Mighty, The1954William A. WellmanIMDB Database page about High and the Mighty, The
Hans Christian Andersen1952Charles VidorIMDB Database page about Hans Christian Andersen
Secret Four, The1952Phil KarlsonIMDB Database page about Secret Four, The
Unknown World1951Terry O. MorseIMDB Database page about Unknown World
Red River1948Howard Hawks, Arthur RossonIMDB Database page about Red River
Sin of Harold Diddlebock, The1947Preston SturgesIMDB Database page about Sin of Harold Diddlebock, The
Song of the South1946Harve Foster, Wilfred JacksonIMDB Database page about Song of the South
Stranger, The1946Orson WellesIMDB Database page about Stranger, The
The Best Years of Our Lives1946William WylerIMDB Database page about The Best Years of Our Lives
And Then There Were None1945René ClairIMDB Database page about And Then There Were None
Outlaw, The1943Howard HughesIMDB Database page about Outlaw, The
The Pride of the Yankees1942Sam WoodIMDB Database page about The Pride of the Yankees
Ball of Fire1941Howard Hawks, Arthur RossonIMDB Database page about Ball of Fire
Little Foxes, The1941William WylerIMDB Database page about Little Foxes, The
That Hamilton Woman1941Alexander KordaIMDB Database page about That Hamilton Woman
Foreign Correspondent1940Alfred HitchcockIMDB Database page about Foreign Correspondent
Gone with the Wind1939Victor FlemingIMDB Database page about Gone with the Wind
Music Score was recorded at United Artists Studios (now The Lot)
Stagecoach1939John FordIMDB Database page about Stagecoach
Wuthering Heights1939William WylerIMDB Database page about Wuthering Heights
Blockade1938William DieterleIMDB Database page about Blockade
Dead End1937William WylerIMDB Database page about Dead End
Stella Dallas 1937King VidorIMDB Database page about Stella Dallas
These Three1936William WylerIMDB Database page about These Three
City Lights1931Charles ChaplinIMDB Database page about City Lights
Taming of the Shrew, The1929Sam TaylorIMDB Database page about Taming of the Shrew, The
The Iron Mask1929Allan DwanIMDB Database page about The Iron Mask
The Thief of Bagdad1924Raoul WalshIMDB Database page about The Thief of Bagdad
Robin Hood1922Allan DwanIMDB Database page about Robin Hood

TV Series (16)

TitleReleasedCreator / ShowrunnerIMDB
True Blood2008Alan BallIMDB Database page about True Blood
Second season filmed at The Lot. The sets for the show were moved from Hollywood Center Studios, where season one was filmed.
Beverly Hills 902101990-2000Darren StarIMDB Database page about Beverly Hills 90210
Life with Lucy1986Bob Carroll Jr., Madelyn DavisIMDB Database page about Life with Lucy
Dynasty1981Esther Shapiro, Richard ShapiroIMDB Database page about Dynasty
Seasons 3 to 9
Love Boat, The1977-1986IMDB Database page about Love Boat, The
Land of the Lost1974-1977Marty Krofft, Sid KrofftIMDB Database page about Land of the Lost
Barnaby Jones1973-1980William KayeIMDB Database page about Barnaby Jones
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters1973Dick Darley, Murray GoldenIMDB Database page about Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
The Night Stalker1972John Llewellyn MoxeyIMDB Database page about The Night Stalker
Cannon1971-1976E. Arthur Kean, Jimmy SangsterIMDB Database page about Cannon
H.R.Pufnstuf1969Marty Krofft, Sid KrofftIMDB Database page about H.R.Pufnstuf
Invaders, The1967Larry CohenIMDB Database page about Invaders, The
My Mother The Car1965-1966Allan Burns, Chris HaywardIMDB Database page about My Mother The Car
Fugitive, The1963Roy HugginsIMDB Database page about Fugitive, The
Gunsmoke1955Charles Marquis WarrenIMDB Database page about Gunsmoke
The Roy Rogers Show1951-1957George Blair, John EnglishIMDB Database page about The Roy Rogers Show