Desilu 40 Acres Backlot Television Memories from Desilu & RKO days

A look back at the "40 Acres" Backlot in Culver City, Ca. Some of the locations on the lot and how many of the shows shared the same real estate.

[@LesterMoore]

Wow. Those TV producers, directors and camera directors/camera men sure were ingenious. Using different camera angles, snippets of various sets and all, why they turned 40 acres into the world in different era's of history. I'm constantly amazed by the hard working, thinking and entrepreneurial abilities of all these wonderful people. Oh ... yeah the actors too. Thank you for your outstanding presentation.

[@grahamhill6340]

Having worked in HOLLYWOOD for some 40 years as both a writer and studio historian, I congratulate you Greg on a fine presentation of the old Desilu Culver backlot... My old studio of 20th Century-Fox leased studio space here for TV shows like BATMAN and Land of The Giants, and for the movie THE ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE. The backlot never had a true western town till TV's THE TEXAN built one. When Paramount bought Desilu they gained the iconic shows that Lucy herself greenlit including MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and STAR TREK... THE UNTOUCHABLES TV series made good use of those 29 acres and the studio sound stages served as breweries and warehouses that would see Elliot Ness smashing through the doors each week. I had worked on E.T. and AIRPLANE here, later on the VEGAS TV show. Apart from KING KONG and GONE WITH THE WIND, the backlot town was extensively seen in THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. Obviously new generations will embrace the AMAZON version of the historic lot, but I'm glad I was there to see the actual studio in its iconic original look still.

[@gregslookback3656]

Thanks for the awesome history! So many stories, It could be a multi part series of it’s own.

[@grahamhill6340]

@@gregslookback3656 You should take a look at MGM's Lot 3 (Jefferson & Overland), now a sprawling apartment complex and LA City College... but once upon a time it's film and TV history from Mutiny on the Bounty to the Twilight Zone -WOW! Many years ago, I produced 90-minute documentaries on all the studio backlots and movie ranches within the 30-Mile Studio Zone, Hollywood's own backyard. Each featuring so many clips from the iconic movies and TV shows that used them.

[@LesterMoore]

Your informative narrative combined with archival photographs gives grand insight toward the genius of the producers, directors and especially the cameramen who used the wonderful scripts of the very talented writers in utilizing forced perspective to transport viewers to different times and lands. Wizards of story telling and acting of which I was a grateful viewer. I hope our family purchased enough aspirin, dippity do, Brylcream (a little dab will do ya), Bell Brand potato chips, Wheaties, Ipana toothpaste (brushya, brushya, brushya), RC Cola, White King laundry detergent and Langendorf bread to keep all well employed.Thank you for your presentation.

[@sniper6818]

I can't get enough of this

[@raymondsharpe4638]

Great memories and thank you for sharing. I hate everything becomes a “tear-down”

[@ggrizz6066]

Great job on both videos! Took me down memory lane for sure! My father let us , as children, to watch The Andy Griffith Show and banned alot of others for our care. He said the Andy show was "wholesome good lessons". He watched the reruns long into his 80's and always had a smile on his face. Thanks for posting and tugging at my heart!

[@GarryPlouzek]

Fantastic historical reference video to the BEST television show ever made. I was lucky enough to catch your first video within an hour of this new release on the 40 acres. Great work on both! No matter what Desilu was able to create via illusion, I know Mayberry really does exist in my heart. Someday, when I pass, I know there will be a version of my Mayberry in God's heaven.

[@StreetCarChronicles]

These shows reruns defined my youth! So many great lessons learned. This was very well put together! Nice job

[@miltoncallan1471]

As a young boy in the 60's, I noticed that many different shows were using the same sets. When I would tell others, they thought I was crazy, even saying that Mayberry was in North Carolina and Stalag 13 was shot in Germany. It just goes to show that the illusion was very powerful.

[@brianrussell7691]

Love it! My dad Camp Russell worked at Universal Studios and MGM as a still photographer. As a kid, I’d be watching a show and Dad would say oh, that’s the back lot of Desilu, Universal, MGM studios, I was annoyed then. But now, I wish that i would have listened closer and got more details. Thanks Greg. I appreciate your efforts of putting your historical videos of tv and movie magic together!

[@miltoncallan1471]

@@brianrussell7691 Just the opposite for me. When I arrived in Los Angeles in 1972, I went crazy looking for locations and visitng studios. When my parents came to visit (and eventually moving here) I was quick to point out all the location information I had gained. I still crave to know new things about the movies and TV locations.

[@rickluque6429]

Thank you for sharing your video… Loved it !👍👍🍑 I’m a big Back Lot movie fan nut. It was great looking at all the shots of the 40 acres . And thanks again for sharing 😁

[@100chuckjones]

Great work

[@katrun55]

Great info and follow up to your Andy Griffith video. So full of fun facts! Thanks!

[@ba611]

Excellent ! Best Yet! Thanks for all your hard work. Please do more like this. Really great job and the song at the end....Priceless! Thank you.

[@MarkTrain-hw2xt]

Very well done and interesting...Thanks

[@davidheizer5887]

Love looking back at some of my favorite shows that I still watch today thanks for the video

[@jabbaa6500]

Excellent and accurate video. Thank you!

[@Terrysoddy]

Thanks for this awesome video, I find this so interesting and entertaining.

[@heygetoffmylawn1572]

Excellent vid and most excellent content. Presented well, with great hold your interest, narration. Thank you, Greg, for the time you took to put this together.👍

[@mikedandurand3548]

Very enjoyable. Thanks for the memories.

[@CuppaTeaandaSliceoCake]

Absolutely brilliant ... thank you very much indeed.

[@camickelson]

That was really nice!! thank you!! So Valuable! GOD Bless you!!

[@FIREBRAND38]

Great job making a terrific documentary.

[@iainmhor123]

Excellent post!!!

[@CCM2361-]

Great video Thanks!

[@mattdawg83686]

So fascinating to watch!

[@ChannelWright]

It was a lot of fun - thanks!

[@brandond73]

Great video!!!!

[@videmon]

The multi-level building you are pointing to at 1:11 is the remnants of the reform school from THE GODLESS GIRL (1929).

[@gregslookback3656]

Nice, thanks

[@davebenson2125]

Great job. I know it's too late, but i would have loved to see you do Columbia Ranch and especially Blondie St..Keep on keeping on.

[@KD-hi6hh]

Thank you!

[@johnkern7075]

I enjoyed your video. In reference to Hogan's heroes I noticed that water tower in those palm trees that you pointed out. I always thought it was so funny. I would tell people did you spot the palm trees and the water tower? They're like what? I said the next time you watch it be on the lookout for palm trees and water tower. Then they would get back to me sooner or later and say You know I saw palm trees and a water tower!😅

[@Cyberbizbuddy]

Excellent work Greg. I'm glad you followed up this video with the references to go check out. Thanks

[@kevinw9073]

Well done!

[@joed9491]

Thanks for the video, I really enjoyed it.

[@johnjenpettinger6818]

Just finished this video and the Andy Griffith video that is similar. I love the way you present the details! I will follow you and watch anything that is similar to this type of information. Great voice!. Thanks, Greg.

[@joec1576]

Great video. I"ve read the book you mentioned. Such a shame the lot couldn't have ben preserved as an historical trust. I believe most of it is a business park now.

[@rogerhoke3103]

You go!

[@laurencefeyh6543]

Well done !!

[@markjanssens5484]

Excellent history.

[@pedaldancer]

Back in the early 90's before the internet, I used to Wait on Sheldon Leonard. (He was a famous Actor that would play Gangsters and he was the Bartender in "Its's a Wonderful Life") I'd found out that Frankie Canyon may have been the filming location of the opening scene of the Andy Griffin show who Mr. Leonard created and Produced. I wasn't sure if that was the actual filming location and I asked him if that was the location and he confirmed with me that was true. You have a great voice and do a nice job with these videos, Thank you!

[@scottmiller6495]

Give credit to Lucille Ball she was not only beautiful but Brilliant as Well!!!!!

[@dacaliman]

you know you gotta do a Star trek ! :)

[@dbcooper7164]

Just wanted to make a correction. Around one minute and ten seconds into this video, you show a photo of Barney running with cymbals and there is a big yellow arrow. The arrow is "NOT" pointing at Pittypats house. The arrow is pointing at a three story building left over from war movies. The Pittypats house is only "TWO" stories tall, "NOT" three. In fact, Pittypats house is not even visible in this shot due to the trees. The house below the arrow is next door to Pittypats. In other words, the house just above Barneys head with the four post on the front porch is the Taylor house and Pittypats house is behind the trees, next door to the Taylor house and the house we see is on the other side of Pittypats, under the yellow arrow. In order of placement, it is the Taylor house, Pittypats and then the house under the yellow arrow. Your arrow is pointing at a war movie building, "NOT" Pittypats. Just wanted to clarify, to many people throw these videos together and "FORGET" to do their homework. Goober says "Hey."

[@gregslookback3656]

@@dbcooper7164 thank for your in depth comment. Actually I was made aware of the building you referred to. I believe it was depicted as an orphanage in a movie. I spoke to a number of experts on the issue before making the video including Marc Wannamaker who as you probably know co-wrote a book on 40 acres. Some problems in telling a story about a place that no longer exists is you can’t find pictures that exactly show what you’re trying to reference but I certainly appreciate experts like you adding your thoughts.

[@thomastrout9997]

The shot of Superman (George Reeves) juxtaposed with "Tara" from GWTW is poignant as Reeves played on of the Tarelton twins and appeared in a scene filmed on the porch.

[@moviesgalore9947]

They should've had Gomer and Sgt. Carter go back in time to Stalag 13 they go thru a top secret military time travel portal and wind up in Germany in 1944 that would've been fun.

[@razorsedge7100]

What's the song at the end Greg?

[@stevetrevino5346]

I just saw an episode of Andy and Gobber going to a car show. The end of the episode ends up at a gas station. I swear the building in the background looked the the gray exterior of the back lot building. Maybe you can use your expert knowledge to investigate. Let us know if you find out anything. It was a later episode in color.

[@100chuckjones]

Gilligan's island where Hogan's hero was as well ?

[@thebeaz1]

I wonder what ever happened to the film vaults?

[@donf3739]

1:07 That building in the background has three stories. The next two pictures of it are only two-story. How is that possible?

[@SavedbyGraceAlone1962]

Back when Hollywood wasn't woke.

[@Funkystuff-sg9jt]

What is wrong with you? The deplorables in the cult want to make EVERYTHING political. Why demean this You Tuber with this absurd nonsense? Even if you could rationally explain what the heck woke is, what would it have to do with this video? Hope you get some help, you mind is possessed with garbage from Faux News. The same Faux News that just paid almost $1B for lies and defamation. Thoughts and prayers to you, bless your heart