Raleigh Studios

In 1915, a star was born. Not a person, but a place: Raleigh Studios. Right here, on Melrose Avenue, Adolph Zukor’s Famous Players Film Company Studios opened its doors. The very first feature filmed on this historic Hollywood lot starred Mary Pickford. Raleigh Studios has been a vital part of Hollywood ever since. It’s the country’s longest continuously operating studio of its kind. The studio has been a witness to the evolution of entertainment, from silent films to the age of Netflix. Originally spanning a vast 40 acres between Bronson and Western Avenues, Raleigh Studios has always been a hub for creativity and innovation. During the silent era, owner William Clune built one of the world’s first sound stages. It even had a glass top, allowing natural light to flood the set without interfering with the sound recording. This forward-thinking approach has defined Raleigh Studios throughout its history. The studio has seen many famous faces grace its stages. From Douglas Fairbanks and Lillian Gish in the 1920s to Bette Davis filming “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” and Jim Henson’s Muppets, Raleigh Studios has hosted some of the entertainment industry’s most influential figures. Even Walt Disney called this lot home, starting his sound recording company, Walt Disney/RCA-Protophone, here in 1928. While many studios struggled with the rise of television, Raleigh Studios embraced the change. It quickly became a hot spot for television production, hosting iconic shows like “Superman,” “Gunsmoke,” and “Perry Mason.” Today, Raleigh Studios continues to thrive. It boasts thirteen state-of-the-art stages and offers a wide range of production services. Currently, streaming giant Netflix occupies a significant portion of the lot, a testament to the studio’s enduring appeal. From Mary Pickford to Netflix, Raleigh Studios has been at the heart of Hollywood’s story, and continues to shape the future of entertainment.