Screenland turned 100 years old this year…
THOS. H. INCE launched the film making machine way back when Culver City just incorporated itself as a city. Sherman Place- just outside the studios East Border-would soon become Ince Blvd.
One afternoon, we were coming home in the family station wagon. Batman was filming out front on the porch of this administration building. Batwoman on her purple bat looking motorbike was assisting the two male capped crusaders against Catwoman “Eartha Kitt” and Joker”Caesar Romero”
This is exactly what I saw that afternoon. I was in dad’s pool cleaning station wagon with a leaf collector pole sticking out the back window. I hung out the side car window, like a puppy dog ready to jump!
Notice the angle of the two biggest stages. They are facing towards the sunrise. Windows line the upper portion for maximum sunlight penetration. The design was simply to maximize sunlight illumination inside as the sun traverses east to west...Interestingly, these stages were moved to conform to the neighborhood sprouting up alongside.No longer in need of chasing sun light.
Inside stage with natural sunlight peering through upper glass windows. Artificial lighting from electrical distress creates intense heat on stage, depending on amount and size of equipment. Air Conditioning must be factored into stage design, to keep actors make up from running. Interestingly, an ice company was directly across from the main gate, large blocks of ice helped cool down interiors. Ice picks were found stored inside Marion Davies make up trailer…Ice was King!
Top left corner-Lucerne/ Higuera intersect out front a home that once was part of the studio Ince built. Marion Davies was to be the first occupant to use this area connected to all utilities. They include power, sewer, and water. History that followed links King Kong in 1933, followed by Gone With the Wind. In the 60’s – Batman –Adam West was seen frequenting this area....I once used Adam West as an alias. A security guard stopped me and some friends visiting the set of Al Capone. Bruce Lee had already been taken or written down by another kid. This slip of alias’s was handed to Roger Corman-who stared puzzlingly at Mr. Security., while reading our fib list He said “they’re fine- leave them be.”– A hilarious backlot memory!
1924- A Man and his dream…Thomas Ince
Thomas Ince built this iconic Colonnade prior to building another studio just down the road a bit.
A very special sidewalk I perused down daily on my way to St. Augustine School.
This section of then Triangle Studio existed before MGM took control. This was largely thanks to the wealth of Marcus Lowe. It is identical to the stages Thomas Ince built at his other lot. They are built to follow the sun’s rays-illuminating all things inside. Stages align with the sun like a giant magnet.
Before Variety was launched in 1933-this was the movie insider magazine.
Lots of stuff happened here in 1924, forever shaping Hollywood.
In 1924– A Movie Star Compound on Lucerne was completed. The plan was Cosmopolitan Pictures and founder Randolph Hearst was to merge companies with Thomas Ince. One man had endless money and stories for scripts. The other man had filmmaking know-how and the facilities to do so. An example of Rented facilities…
Marion Davies and her famous first make -up trailer
In 1924–there was a Koi pond with a statue from antiquity located where I stand.
Inside this room – legendary mirrors reflect push button fancy switches…
Early 20’s luxury…A place to chill out as tedious make up is applied…
A camera was used in King Kong for make-up continuity. A massager that still works from 1921 was Marion Davies‘ tool of choice during long make-up processes in the chair.
This make up room and connecting compound, Anneberg Beach House and San Simeon were designed by this intellectual artist-Julia Morgan.
A statue dating back to Randolph Hearst and his vision for this Triangle property.
Then suddenly- on a yacht cruise announcing the merger of Ince/ Cosmopolitan, something went drastically wrong.
Best laid plans no more-alternate endings and mysteries happen in Hollywood. Enter Cecil B. DeMille to take over the landscape.
DeMille, in his fancy boots took control of the facility built by Mr. Ince
Across the way from The Ince Studio-The Culver Hotel woulds be added to this Main Street…also in 1924
The Hotel that started it all…Co built by Harry Culver and Charlie Chaplin, later sold to John Wayne.A corner where film history was continually made.
Down the street at MGM, another Hollywood Legend moved over from Paramount Studios. He forever put forth ingenuity and creativity into some of the most complex scenes ever put to film. The man all the stars looked up to- Mr. Arnold Gillespie. He had a St. Bernard named Joppa, a street name on the backlot. He was part owner of The Los Angeles Dons football club in 1946
Don’t laugh this off you- Hollywood types! Other owners besides Arnold included Louis B. Mayer, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Don Ameche. Before the Rams ever played a game in the Coliseum – The Dons owned Los Angeles. MGM owned The Dons. Bet ya never heard that on the tour!
This Wonderland was my backyard, The red lines are me” running” from security, much more red would later be added. Special effects had dungeons in strategic secluded places on the backlot. None more haunted than the Snow Room, located backside the Grand Central Station. It’s the type of place you would dare for another kid to go inside. Of course, lights off and be alone in this dark, musty corridor. Snow is everywhere you turn, powdered snow, plastic flake snow, and plaster molded snow…pipe tobacco seemed always present…”I dare you to go in, double dare ya!!!”
Baldwin Hills Oil Production beyond tanks/train. Comrade X -1940
Oil production just beyond the old MGM Lot 3 fences in 2024. This is located exactly where the black and white oilfield derricks are, these towers stared right into the backlot. Normally an extremely quiet area when Combat wasn’t filming…Seriously. Nature hidden away at it’s best. Often the only sounds were the back and forth hissing and hawing of a pumping well. A scent of sulphur and oil accompanied these sounds. Yes- I touch everything…
The film that started it all at MGM
Location-Italy– Before air-you set sail to this destination.
Arnold Gillespie-left, and the Neri Shop Forman-making sure all is -Sea Worthy-aboard these galleys.
The galleys are being towed out to sea by the lead tug boat. Unexpected challenges and delays infuriated Louis B. Mayer, who after a visit to Italy then and there decided this film was to be completed in Culver City.
Just off La Cienega Boulevard-is where the Roman chariot race was immortalized… Film making at its best!
Massala’s winged helmet, worn by Francis X. Bushman, was salvaged at the MGM Auction by Debbie Reynolds. Right, 2 Technicolor Trailer Frames.
Ben Hur nearly bankrupted the studio. However, it went on to be MGM’s highest-grossing box office hit. It pulled in 9 million dollars. This figure was unsurpassed for the next 25 years. This film established MGM into the top tier of movie studios. A force to be reckoned with.
My slice of the Golden Years…
Another fine collectible found inside this ancient trailer dating back to this time is Spanky McFarland of Little Rascals fame. This light dates back to that series that filmed originally at near by Hal Roach Studios. Some of the spirits that occupy this triangular plot of land. Everything inside this room turned on as if–Magically “Welcoming me”
Culver City 1924-We begin…
Movie studios begin sprouting up everywhere. Hal Roach started with his Little Rascals. Thomas Ince established his shiny new play land. Just down the street, MGM set sail in year one. What a time to be alive…
“There’s oil in them there hills” At the same time, Standard Oil struck gold in the hills surrounding these studios. A man named Howard Hughes bought property not destined to have oil derricks drilling into the depths. Entrepreneurs from various backgrounds establish their presence all over this perfectly landscaped city.
These hills framed the studios backlots while filling up drum after drum, tank after tank of crude oil. Black Gold competes with shiny –Glittering Gold, inside studio fences. Pioneer Howard Hughes was the most ambitious of all, a master of adventure, a brilliant engineer, his specialty –Aviation. Howard owned the highest peek in Culver City, Hughes Tool Company signs dotted the upper hill sides. All entities fit along side each other – with all being extremely successful, but not without hardships.
From MGM Lot 3, you could see the derricks standing tall on the Baldwin Hills side of the chain link. Oil did better than film early on and has long outlasted backlot film making.
Doing this stuff was not easy; otherwise, anyone could have done it. These pioneers laid the groundwork. Abundant resources were available for visionaries at that time. The saying goes-“You have to see it to be it!”
Speaking of which…
I conclude with an exciting finish. This long awaited book is being cleared to land. Maureen, Mike, and I have worked very hard. We have been diligent in finishing the trespassing stories we lived in the 1970’s. Included will be a boat load of my personal pictures including the tear down of MGM Lot 2. This is not a destruction book, it is an adventure book. We start with the British Invasion of MGM in 1977. Join Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees aboard this hot air balloon. Yes- these stars are inside that basket hovering above MGM. Many Rock Star guest appearances included. Even Sylvester Stallion is involved. Director “Sly” selects me for a part in a film at Universal titled Paradise Alley. I take you on Stage 12 with me, the start of a 48 hour straight non-stop studio party.
Coming soon on Amazon
Written and lived by… Donnie Norden
Phantom of the Backlots 