History The Culver Studios, since 1918.
1918
Silent movie pioneer Thomas Ince builds the studio. The Mansion is the first building to go up on the lot.
1924
After Ince’s suspicious death aboard William Randolph Hearst’s yacht, the studio is purchased by Producer/Director
Cecil B. DeMille.
1928
RKO acquires the studios and controls it for years bringing stardom to Bette Davis, Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
1933
King Kong (Scene on Skull Island)
“You won’t find that island on any chart.”
— Carl Denham
1938
A Star is Born
“I’m going out there and BE somebody!”
— Esther Blodgett
1940
Stage hands high in the catwalks have reportedly been confronted by a ghostly figure resembling Thomas Ince.
1940
Orson Wells’ Citizen Kane and Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound are filmed on the lot.
1940
Citizen Kane
“Rosebud…”
— Charles Foster Kane
1950
Multi-millionaire tycoon and movie producer Howard Hughes acquires RKO Pictures.
1956
Desilu Productions, co–owned by husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, purchases the lot and television emerged as the primary business conducted at the studio.
1959
The Untouchables
“There is nothing in that area… except an old abandoned warehouse.”
— Police Officer
1960
Andy Griffith Show
“If there’s anything that upsets me, it’s having people say I’m sensitive.”
— Barney Fife
1965
Hogan’s Heroes
“ I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!”
— Schultz
1966
Batman (TV Show)
“Holy atomic pile, Batman!”
— Robin
1967
Star Trek (Pilot)
“Check the circuit.”
— Spock
1978
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
“With a little help from my friends.”
— The Band
1980
Raging Bull
“I got these small hands.
I got a little girl’s hands.”
— Jake LaMotta
1981
E.T.
“I’ll… be… right… here.”
— E.T.
1986
Pee-wee’s Playhouse
“Mekka Lekka Hi-Mekka Hiney Ho.”
— Jambi
1986
Grant Tinker and Gannett buy the lot and complete a $26 million renovation and restore the studio’s original luster and beauty.
1987
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
“Six bucks and my right nut says we’re not landing in Chicago.”
— Del Griffith
1988
Beetlejuice
“Pardon me. Did you do that?”
— Beetlejuice
1989
Baywatch
“Are you sure this is a life guard
initiation thing?”
— Lt. Stephanie Holden
1991
Sony Pictures Entertainment buys the studio.
1991
Bugsy
“You thought you could steal from ME?”
— Bugsy Siegel
1992
A Few Good Men
“Walk softly and carry an armored tank division, I always say. ”
— Col. Jessep
1992
Rumors fly that late at night a spirit—some say Gloria Swanson—roams the halls of
the mansion.
1995
Nixon
“There’s a cancer in the presidency
and it’s growing.”
— John Dean
1997
Fallen
“Time is on my side, yes it is.”
— Azazel
1998
Armageddon
“I ain’t gonna kill him. I’m just gonna take a foot off of him. A man can work with one foot.”
— Harry Stamper
1999
The Matrix
“You take the blue pill, the story ends…
You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland.”
— Morpheus
2001
Legally Blonde
“Bend and snap.”
— Elle Woods
2002
Kill Bill
“Wiggle your big toe.”
— The Bride
2004
Studio City Los Angeles buys the studio from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
2004
Arrested Development
“I’m a monster.”
— Buster
2006
Deal Or No Deal
“Hi Howie.”
— All 26 Models
2006
Night at the Museum
“ I’m made of wax, Larry. What are you
made of?”
— Teddy Roosevelt
2007
I Am Legend
“What the hell are you doing out here Fred?”
— Neville
2008
Alice In Wonderland (Tim Burton)
“Off with their heads!”
— The Red Queen
2009
America’s Next Top Model
“If conceited drag queens are ‘in’, she’s got a shot at being America’s Next Top Model.”
— Nigel Barker
2009
Cougar Town
“I know, you’re impressed.”
— Bobby Cobb
2009
Giada at Home
“Ricotta.”
— Giada De Laurentiis
2011
X-Men First Class
“How would you like a job where you get to keep your clothes on?”
— Professor Charles Xavier
2012
The Campaign
“Bring your brooms ’cause it’s a mess.”
— Marty Huggins
2012
Argo
“ Argo F**k Yourself.”
— Lester Siegel
2013
SILICON VALLEY
“It’s about a predatory flautist who murders children in a cave.”
— JARED
2014
The Culver Studios is bought by an affiliate of Hackman Capital Partners
2014
ALL THE WAY
“Politics is War… Period.”
— LYNDON B. JOHNSON
2017
BIG LITTLE LIES
“I love my grudges, I tend to them like little pets.”
— MADELINE
2017
THE LAST SHIP
“Okay. Here’s the plan, boys. Win.”
— MIKE SLATTERLY
2017
Amazon Studios announces plans to occupy 280,000 SF at the studios by 2020, including the Mansion and Bungalows.
2018
Hackman Capital Partners begins construction at the studios, a transformation that will more than double its size to 720,850 SF.
2021
The Innovation Plan is completed, and productions are in full swing.