Last week my friend Jay and I made a pilgrimage of sorts down to Culver City to see a famous mansion that stands on the corner of Washington and Ince. Culver Studios, as is it known today, is the former home of Desilu, RKO, DeMille, Ince and Selznick International. The mansion’s famous facade can be seen at the beginning of many illustrious films of the 1930s and 40s, including a Civil War epic loved by many.
The former office of David O. Selznick
Gone with the Wind was filmed here in 1939 on stages 11 and 12 and many of the outdoor sequences were shot on the backlot which, according to the studio website, used to stretch all the way to the hills. This is where Tara once stood and where Scarlett O’Hara ran through the streets of war-torn Atlanta. The front of the building was used as the exterior shot of the Butler’s Atlanta mansion in GWTW, with one of William Cameron Menzies’ famous matte paintings disguising the colonial columns. Walking up to the front of the studio was like stepping back in time. Except for the “Culver Studios” sign across the top, it doesn’t look as if the facade has changed much since the golden days of Hollywood.
They’re really looking at the front of the studio
The streets of Atlanta, on the “Back 40”
Tara was also constructed on the “Back 40”
Culver’s present glory can be attributed to Grant Tinker and Gannett:
“In 1968, while the industry was suffering, the studio changed hands again and the new ownership sold off most of “back forty” — the studio’s 28-acre back lot. By the late 1970s the once lovely studio had become a dilapidated wreck and remained that way until the mid 1980s, when it was purchased by the joint ownership of Grant Tinker and Gannett. They completed a $26 million renovation which created new state-of-the-art television stages and updated all the existing facilities. More impressively, the construction restored much of the studio’s original luster and beauty. The process included extensive renovations of the mansion, bungalows and Selznick wing.”
Laurence Olivier was very familiar with this studio, having been under contract first to RKO in the early 1930s and then making Rebecca for Selznick in 1940. It was easy to imagine stars like Clark Gable (who had been loaned out from MGM, located just a few blocks away), Cary Grant, Vivien Leigh, Gloria Swanson and Lucille Ball driving through the gates to start a day’s work.
A major geek moment
During my stay in LA, I had the opportunity to visit Sony (formerly MGM) and Paramount, both of which are still enclosed behind large walls and gates, inaccessible to the average passer-by. Culver Studios is so open in terms of what can be seen from the street, which is something I really appreciated. It looks just as it does in the movies!
Dearest Kendra, thank you so much for this post! I have always wondered whether this building still existed, and now I know, thanks to you, that it does. How wonderful! There’s so much to see in this great documentary “The making of GWTW”, and now you have been there, you go girl! Wish I could have been there with you…. Dearest regards. PS Great to know that Larry too was familiar with this studio.
Hi Juliette,
Thanks for the comment! It’s still there and in operation! Hollywood is a fun town, if you know where to go to see all of this old stuff 🙂
Another great post, Kendra, and fantastic photos of the studio! I’m so glad to see the place in such beautiful condition. Your pictures made me think of 2 references Irene Selznick made to this place in her memoirs (which you definitely need to read if you still haven’t). First, she says that David Selznick drove her by this very spot on their first date, pointed to the white columned studio, and said “That’s the kind of place I’d like to have” (at this point he was still at his first job as an assistant at MGM). Later, after he left MGM for the 2nd time to form Selznick International, Irene relates in her book that she happened to drive him to work on the day that the Selznick name was being painted onto the building, and that they sat in the car watching with tears streaming down their faces, remembering the moment he had first told her of his dreams in connection with this place. Irene remembered this moment as “romantically, the climax of his career” … and it took place just about where you were standing, Kendra. So cool!
I really have to get this Irene Selznick book and I know you’ve recommended it several times. That will be my present to myself after I finish my dissertation!
It’s such a beautiful building and I love that you can see the facade from the street! Plus, it has so much history aside from even the Selznick bit 🙂
Great post, Kendra! I love the fact that you were having your “major geek moment” on the same spot where David O. Selznick’s career peaked (romantically). Hope you have (or have had) a chance to read Irene Mayer Selznick’s memoirs.
Thanks! You’re the second person to recommend Irene Selznick’s book, so I’ll definitely check it out when I have some time to do fun reafing 🙂
Hi Kendra … I’ve been watching the horrible scenes of violence and senseless destruction currently taking place in London, and I’m hoping that all is well with you and that you’re safe. Hard to believe you so recently left the safety of California and returned to London just in time for this terrible situation. Do take care of yourself and post something soon to let us all know that you’re alright. DAVID
Hi David,
Aww, bless you for worrying about me. I’m fine, the craziness hasn’t hit my area (and hopefully it won’t). It seems to have died down in London but has spread to other cities. Really senseless and stupid, destroying family businesses, etc. It’s sad. But yes, I’m ok!
That’s a huge relief to know you’re alright and so far unaffected, Kendra. The news here in the U.S. is just full of this story, and the footage is just unbelievable! I feel so terrible for the people who have lost so much. It’s been reported that many buildings that actually survived the Blitz have been lost … such a stupid waste. Stay safe and all the best to you as always! DAVID
PS: Loved this post about the Selznick Studio so much, as well as the last one with the beautiful pics of you in vintage costume. You don’t happen to resemble Bette Davis (you’re MUCH prettier!), but when you put her dress on you certainly started channeling your inner Margo! Loved it.
Hi Kendra
Your post about the Culver Studios carried me a few years back when I stood at the very place you just were. In 2009 I was in Hollywood and decided to go searching for the former Selznick International Studio…
I walked on Ince street along the huge soundstages, and found myself in the “business” area behind the studio, where the backlot once was. I climbed up the hill which is nearby (you can see it on many behind-the-scenes pictures of GWTW) and could embrace the whole landscape. I took tons of pictures and afterwards I compared them with various documents I have found on the Net. It was easy to locate every piece of the exteriors (Tara, Atlanta streets, the station, etc…). The huge buildings of the soundstages look quite the same as in the 40’s.
I would have liked to enter the Culver studio, though, and see the soundstages and the small bungalow which was built for Vivien, and which is still there, according to a few pictures I saw.
Thanks for your wonderful website,
Eric
Hi Eric,
Way to go hiking further afield! I’m glad to hear things look relatively the same after all these years. I think you can do a guided backstage tour. Jay and I asked the guy at the security gate about Vivien’s bungalow but he didn’t know what we were talking about. Figures.
Thanks for the lovely comment!
Eric, I too was there in 1995 and I thought it was reported that the the “back 40” was torn up long ago in the 1970’s for condos…..Is there that much still left to see? Thanks for the post.
Yesterday I went on a search for the site of Tara. I have studied many aerial photographs of the old backlot (from different years). Anyway, I determined that the EXACT spot where Tara stood is now within a warehouse looking building (go to the end of Hayden Place, it’s the building immediately to the right, i.e. to the north). Tara stood on a spot which is now inside the northwest part of this particular warehouse looking building (not sure if it’s a warehouse, but it looks like one).
I’m going to visit this warehouse looking building on a weekday and see if I can talk to someone who works there and maybe they will let me look inside the building, specifically the northwest corner area (where Tara stood). I want to feel the exact geographic spot where Tara stood so that I can connect to the “ghost” of Tara and imagine the Tara scenes from GWTW more deeply and emotionally.
James Miller
Los Angeles, CA
I’m with you! I want to go to that exact same spot!!! I wish they’d reconstruct Tara right there.
Kendra, I was wondering……. do you have any comments about the new book about Vivien Leigh…
“Damn You Scarlet O’Hara!”.
I haven’t read it yet was wondering if you had?
Any validity to this book? I heard that it was way out!
Thanks Diane
Dear Kendra,
I sincerely want to thank you for your wonderful “labour of love” on your site. I feel so fortunate you send me these beautifully photographed and well written pieces, etc. Your mighty talented! Congratulations on your graduation and much success in your future!
Again many thanks for your passion and dedication to the these gifted, beautiful people who graced the stage and screen.
All the best to you in 2012!
Laura
Hi there,
For all who are interested I recently finished a short documentary on the studio and the locations of Gone with The Wind in honour of the 75th anniversary since its production. You can find it on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPhgIpkEgsA
Regards,
David Duncan
P.S I really enjoyed Kendra’s book on Vivien – finished it not long ago.
Wonderful! I shared the video with the fans over at http://www.facebook.com/vivandlarry. Keep up the good work!
This August 2016 , We had the opportunity to visit a very unique museum .It is the ” Gone with the Wind “Museum in Cleburne, Texas. The owner has collected GWTW since forever , to the point where her husband had to buy her a building in order to get it all out of their house. It is amazing how many items she has. Everything from coloring books to the original costumes that Bonnie Blue wore and other costumes that Scarlett wore. Well worth the trip to see it.You can even watch the movie while you are there.