Did you know that this very spot was once home to Mack Sennett’s silent film studio? Welcome to CBS Studio Center a legendary place in the heart of Studio City.
Here on this 70-acre lot history unfolds. Mack Sennett a pioneer of silent film comedy started it all back in May 1928. His studio became a breeding ground for comedic genius. Charlie Chaplin Mabel Normand Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle all graced these very grounds. It was more than a studio it was the birthplace of a comedic era.
Financial woes struck Sennett in the 1930s. His studio changed hands becoming Mascot Pictures then Republic Pictures. Republic Studios became a powerhouse of B-movies. Roy Rogers Gene Autry and even John Wayne got their starts here. Imagine the dust and excitement of those early Westerns filmed right where we stand.
By the 1960s CBS leased the lot. The name changed again to CBS Studio Center. This place became a television factory. Classic sitcoms like Gunsmoke My Three Sons and Gilligan’s Island were filmed here. That’s right the famous Gilligan’s Island lagoon was once here on the northwestern edge. It’s paved over now though to make way for parking.
CBS’s purchase of the studio in 1967 marked a new era of growth. New soundstages and office buildings were built. MTM Enterprises became a major tenant with The Mary Tyler Moore Show filming here. This launched a whole generation of successful spin-offs. The legacy of Mary Tyler Moore is deeply woven into the fabric of this location.
Through the years the studio’s name changed again and again. CBS/Fox Studios CBS-MTM Studios and finally back to CBS Studio Center. American Gladiators even found a home here from 1991 to 1996. The original Gladiator Arena Stage 3 still stands today. You can even tour it.
In 2021 ViacomCBS sold the studio to Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management. This marked the end of an era for ViacomCBS. Yet a new chapter is beginning with a planned billion-dollar upgrade. This will modernize the facilities adding new soundstages and enhancing its digital capabilities.
So as you stand here at CBS Studio Center remember the laughter the drama the history. This is more than just a studio. It is a living testament to the evolution of entertainment itself. It’s a place where dreams are made and history continues to unfold.