Lot History (cont'd)

The actors and actresses under contract to the studio included Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Joan Crawford, as well as an impressive list of child stars: Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. The sudden death of Irving Thalberg in 1936 shocked the industry, and a new million-dollar administration building built on the lot was dedicated in his memory two years later.

Mayer continued to manage the studio, making such notable movies as GRAND HOTEL, THE THIN MAN, MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY and The WIZARD OF OZ. Production Chief Dore Schary gradually assumed power, replacing Mayer in 1951. Even though MGM added television production capabilities, it declined steadily through the 1960’s.

The studio was sold to Kirk Kerkorian in the 1970’s and much of the lot was sold. An auction was held on the spot where Dorothy had once skipped down the Yellow Brick Road. Lot #2, where SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, NATIONAL VELVET and GIGI were made, was dismantled. Lot #3 was sold as land for housing. The monkey farm, plant nursery and antique car lot were sold for commercial development.

MGM merged to form MGM/UA in the 1980’s. By 1986, Turner Broadcasting had purchased United Artists and its impressive film library. The main lot became Lorimar Telepictures. MGM moved across the street to the modern Filmland building until its move to Santa Monica in 1992.

In 1989, Sony Corporation purchased Columbia Pictures Entertainment (which then shared The Burbank Studios lot with Warner Bros. in Burbank) as well as the old MGM lot in Culver City, later renaming the company Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). Soon major renovations were underway to turn the property into a state-of-the-art facility. The studio became known throughout the motion picture and television industry as the model for the renovation efforts of others. The nearby Culver Studios joined the SPE family in 1991 and was sold in 2004. Today, preservation efforts have turned the studio into a modern facility and an historic landmark.