At the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Formosa Avenue in West Hollywood sits a storied landmark whose every brick echoes Hollywood history. The Lot at Formosa is more than a production facility—it’s a living, breathing chronicle of cinema, a place where the past and future of entertainment continually converge.
From Silent Beginnings to Silver-Screen Legends
The Lot’s roots stretch back to 1912, when independent producer Jesse D. Hampton broke ground on a modest film studio. By 1918, the space was acquired by Hollywood powerhouses Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, who transformed it into Pickford-Fairbanks Studios—a creative haven dedicated to artistic independence. In 1919, Pickford, Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and D. W. Griffith launched United Artists from this very lot, a revolutionary pivot that forever changed how filmmakers controlled and distributed their work.
Throughout the 1920s and ’30s the studio thrived. Classics such as Robin Hood (1922) and The Thief of Bagdad (1924) rolled cameras here, while legends like Gloria Swanson, Al Jolson, and Ronald Colman roamed its grounds. Howard Hughes left his mark with Scarface (1932) and The Outlaw (1943), cementing the site’s place in cinematic lore.
The Lot, then and now: the photo on the left was taken in 1958.
Evolution Through the Decades
- 1955: Producer Samuel Goldwyn gains full control, re-christening the property Samuel Goldwyn Studios and cultivating a hub for independent filmmaking.
- 1980s: Under Warner Bros., now Warner Hollywood Studios, the lot enters a golden era of TV with The Love Boat and Dynasty shot on-site.
- 2007–Present: Real-estate leader CIM Group assumes stewardship, meticulously restoring historic structures while infusing state-of-the-art production infrastructure.
A Campus Re-Imagined for Modern Storytelling
Today The Lot features seven soundstages, more than 200,000 square feet of production and support space, and three LEED Gold-certified office buildings across 11 immaculately maintained acres. On-site resources now include:
- Crateful Catering—our full-service food-and-beverage partner operating both large-scale event catering and the charming Crateful Café for tenants and guests.
- A historic ADR building currently undergoing a cutting-edge upgrade led by post-production giants Picture Shop and Picture Head, ensuring world-class sound and finishing services.
- Casting Networks—the entertainment-tech platform linking talent with opportunity—relocates its headquarters here in Fall 2025.
“When we were looking for a new home for Casting Networks, Cast It Systems, and the other companies in the Talent Systems family, we wanted a creative, welcoming space in the heart of media and entertainment in LA. With its mixture of old-world Hollywood and modern offices, The Lot fit our needs perfectly.”
— Yossi Langer, SVP Operations
Current tenants mirror that caliber—HBO (with Euphoria and Big Little Lies), Miramax, Live Nation, Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, and Dotdash Meredith (People, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly) all call The Lot home.
Built to Pivot—Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Just as Mary Pickford pivoted from starlet to studio founder in response to an industry in flux, The Lot at Formosa has repeatedly reinvented itself whenever Hollywood changes course. Our stages are no longer limited to scripted content; they morph overnight into:
- Movie premieres, red carpets, and world-class summits
- Business expos and tech conferences
- High-fashion runway shows and gala events
The All-In Summit and the Fashion Trust Awards have already leveraged this flexibility, and our calendar continues to diversify.
That spirit of adaptation drives every upgrade—from next-gen post facilities and sustainable production practices to culinary partnerships that serve everything from a crew breakfast to a Michelin-level soirée.
The Next Pivot: AI & The Future of Production
In partnership with StageRunner, we’re hosting a groundbreaking AI Summit at The Lot in Fall 2025—an industry gathering that explores how artificial intelligence will shape content creation, distribution, and audience engagement.
Standing at the Crossroads
Pause the next time you’re near Santa Monica Boulevard and North Formosa Avenue. The hum you feel isn’t just traffic; it’s the resonance of a place that has pivoted with every seismic shift in entertainment—just as its founders once did—while always honoring its storied past. From silent films to streaming, from classic ADR to AI-powered workflows, The Lot at Formosa remains Hollywood’s epicenter for reinvention—ready for whatever story the future tells next.
The courtyard at The LOT at Formosa is a stylish open-air space framed by historic architecture and modern elegance.
Built for What’s Next
More than a historical landmark, The Lot at Formosa is now a fully integrated production campus. The site supports every phase of content creation—from pre-production and staging to live shoots, voiceover, ADR, post, and green-initiative-based recycling systems for sustainable filmmaking. Events are just as dynamic, with the Lot hosting everything from fashion shows and galas to business summits and private celebrations like weddings and bar mitzvahs. Notably, the All-In Summit and the Fashion Trust Awards have both found a home here.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, so too does The Lot at Formosa—always grounded in its legacy, yet reaching forward with purpose.
So the next time you’re near Santa Monica Boulevard and North Formosa Avenue, pause and take in the energy. You’re standing at a crossroads of cinematic history and Hollywood’s bright future.
To learn more about The Lot at Formosa or to schedule a tour, click HERE.
Sleek glass facades and modern lines define this newly constructed wing, seamlessly integrating contemporary architecture with the timeless charm of classic Hollywood just beyond its frame.
This immersive event space transforms into a lush, cinematic dreamscape, where cascading chandeliers, dramatic lighting, and verdant trees create a spellbinding atmosphere worthy of Hollywood’s most unforgettable celebrations.
