Warner Bros. Buys Former NBC Studios & Sells WB Ranch in Burbank

Wow, a massive Hollywood story just hit a few minutes ago: Warner Bros. is buying the former NBC lot (now known as The Burbank Studios), and also buying two large skyscrapers in Burbank designed by Frank Gehry. And they're selling the Warner Bros. Ranch property on Riverside Drive, all as part of a $1 billion real estate deal. The story is not linkable yet, but here's the pertinent facts from the LA TIMES...

WARNER BROS. LAND DEAL IS BLOCKBUSTER


This will once again change the face of the Hollywood Studios, following WB Records moving downtown, away from their classic wood building on 3000 Warner Blvd. in Burbank. The WB Ranch was home to many famous exterior sets used in Columbia & Screen Gems TV series from the 1960s, including the famous Bewitched house, the Partridge Family house, and the "Friends" fountain, among many others. One assumes the property will remain intact, since it's still frequently used for commercials, TV, feature films, plus there's production & office space at the facility.

 

Oh wow! Looks like the dominos are going to start falling all over the place as studios respond to new models and especially this horrid Disney world takeover. It’ll be an interesting next few years to say the least.

dan c

 

I assume this 'ranch property' is where Neil Young had lived at, as part of his contract, back in the '70's, right?

 

Noted Hollywood historian Randy West posts this picture I think from the 1960s showing what the Columbia Ranch looked like 50 years ago...



The ownership of the Columbia Ranch changed to Warner Bros. when they took over the original Burbank Studios in 1990. Who's going to own it now is a good question, since the LA Times story doesn't reveal that information.

Right in the center, you'll notice the short "NY Street" which has the big park and water fountain in front of it, which was used for the opening of Friends. The suburban street with "houses" on the far left is the one used for Father Knows Best, Donna Reed, Dennis the Menace, Gidget, Hazel, Bewitched, Partridge Family, The Monkees, and many other classic TV shows, as well as numerous Columbia productions like The Three Stooges, Lost Horizon, and dozens (if not hundreds) of others.

The official linkable newspaper story is here:

Warner Bros. plans to buy Burbank Studios and occupy new Frank Gehry ‘iceberg’ towers

And covered here in the trades...

Warner Bros. Expands Burbank Soundstages, Office Space

 

...anyone remember the MGM backlot in Culver City?.... now a giant condo community.
Greenscreen / CGI rules

 

What a minute.. is this a monty python skit?
Like part one meaning of life the doctors talking about renting a maching then leasing
it back to company that made it?

 

Interesting tidbit in the Times story about Universal regretting GE’s sale of the Burbank property. Further proof that GE had no business in show business.

dan c

 

Gloria Estefan? Agreed!