Selig Movie Studio and Zoo (Los Angeles, California)

 zoo, place with historical importance, interesting place, film/video production studio/facility, historical layer / disappeared object

Historical place 3800 Mission Rd.

This huge site was the film studio of William Selig, a pioneer of Los Angeles area film production in the early 1900s. This studio was built in 1913 as an expansion after outgrowing his Edendale (Echo Park) studio at 1845 Allesandro Street (now Glendale Blvd.). In 1915, Selig moved in and a zoo and movie studio, and this Edendale (now Glendale) lot was taken over by William Fox Studios (the predecessor to 20th Century Fox) until 1919.

It was, for a while (ca mid1920s), occupied by Louis B. Mayer and B.P. Schulberg, whose company (Mayer-Schulberg Studios) was folded into M-G-M, leaving the property vacant.

The first Tarzan movie was filmed here. It was also the home of Jackie, the second MGM lion. He appeared before every black and white movie made by MGM between 1928 and 1956. Jackie was also the first roaring MGM lion.

Even though Selig ceased production in 1917, he maintained the zoo until the 30s. After it was sold in 1925, it was renamed as the Luna Park Zoo. It was again sold in 1932 and renamed California Zoological Gardens. The site was razed in the 40s.