Former RKO Studios, FBO Studios, and Desilu Studios-Historical Site (Los Angeles, California)

USA / California / West Hollywood / Los Angeles, California / North Gower Street, 860
 place with historical importance, film/video production studio/facility, historical layer / disappeared object

860 N. Gower.

Home of Citizen Kane, Astaire and Rodgers, and the world famous RKO globe.

Built as Robertson-Cole Studios in 1919, and changed its name to FBO (Film Booking Office) in 1922, and occupied by Better Pictures Service in 1923. it was bought Joseph P. Kennedy (father of president John F. Kennedy) in 1926. Bought by RCA 1928, who merged with K-A-O (Keith Albee Orpheum) and renamed the combine RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum).

The studio was driven into the ground by the next owner, Howard Hughes. In 1955 he sold it to General Tire and Rubber who sold it to Desilu (Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball) in 1957 as a part of their ever expanding empire (they owned 3 studios and leased part of a fourth).

In 1967, after the death of Arnaz, Ball sold her interest in the lot to Paramount as Paramount Television and it was merged into the bigger lot next door. For years it was Paramount Pictures television production facility.

Today the name RKO and its minimum assets are owned by actress and heiress Dina Merrill.

www.paramount.com/
www.rko.com/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_Booking_Offices_of_America
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°5'7"N   118°19'16"W

Comments

  • Desi Arnaz didn't die in 1967, he lived until 1986. Lucy bought him out after their 1960 divorce & sold to Gulf + Western (Paramount) in 1967 because she was tired of running the studio.
This article was last modified 7 years ago