Culver Studios

Posted: 06.22.2024 | Updated: 02.10.2025

Hollywood promises the celebrity lifestyle brimming with extravagances and evenings spent clinking glasses with California’s elite. For some, though, it’s a final stop on an express ticket to a bitter end.  

It’s not all lights, cameras, and action at Culver City Studios, a prominent studio from Hollywood’s Golden Age. There’s a darkness that many who have worked on or visited the lot are familiar with. It’s ingrained in the studio’s history, with references to a ghostly presence stamped on the official historical timeline dating back to 1940. With a link to so many careers and broken dreams, it’s no surprise that some may have caught a glimpse of a ghostly presence on the catwalks or a familiar, long-dead face roaming the halls of the on-site mansion.

Culver Studios in Culver City, California, is a sprawling venue home to some of the most notable haunted buildings in Los Angeles. Some of its facilities, like the red-bricked Culver Hotel, attract ghostly enthusiasts from all over, hoping to glimpse a departed star or hear of the building’s eclectic history.

With connections to the Lollipop Guild, John Wayne, and a Presidential campaign, it’s sure to pique curiosity. Does it have your interest? Check out an LA Ghost Tour to hear more terrifying tales of LA.

Why is Culver Studios so famous?

Culver Studios has a fascinating and dramatic history that has earned it a place in Hollywood legend. Originally designed with inspiration from George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the studio’s architecture adds a touch of historical grandeur to its already storied reputation.

The studio gained additional fame after a tragic event: the mysterious death of Thomas Ince, a Hollywood mogul who was deeply involved in the studio’s early days. Ince died under mysterious circumstances on a private yacht in 1924, and the event has been surrounded by scandal and intrigue ever since. Some believe that Ince’s death was linked to a Hollywood love triangle involving major stars of the time, including William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies.

In addition to its dark history, Culver City Studios has been home to some of Hollywood’s most iconic films and continues to stand as a symbol of the glamour and intrigue of the golden age of cinema.

Who Owns Culver Studios?

Culver Studios has had a long history of influential owners, each shaping its legacy, making it a fascinating stop on a Los Angeles ghost tour.

It all started in 1918 with Thomas H. Ince, a silent film pioneer who built the studio. After his mysterious death in 1924, Cecil B. DeMille took over but was forced to sell in 1928 due to financial struggles. The studio then became RKO-Pathé Studios after a merger.

Around the same time, the nearby Culver Hotel was built in 1924 by city founder Harry Culver. This historic hotel became a hub for Hollywood stars, especially during the filming of The Wizard of Oz (1939), when the cast and crew, including the Munchkin actors, famously stayed there. Over the decades, the Culver Hotel has hosted countless celebrities and remains a cherished landmark in Culver City.

In the 1930s, David O. Selznick took control, using the lot to produce classics like Gone with the Wind. By 1957, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz bought the studio under Desilu Productions, shifting its focus to television.

The studio changed hands in 1968, becoming Culver City Studios in 1970. In 2004, Hackman Capital Partners modernized the lot while preserving its history. Finally, in 2017, Amazon acquired Culver Studios, making it the home of Amazon Studios, Prime Video, and IMDB.

From silent films to streaming, Culver Studios remains a key part of Hollywood’s story.

The Birth of Culver Studios: A Hollywood Legacy

Culver Studios has been at the heart of Hollywood’s greatest creations for generations. The West Washington Boulevard studio came to life in 1918 when Thomas Ince, a silent film-era giant, purchased land from Harry Culver, the Nebraska native responsible for Culver City, and established Thomas H. Ince Studios.

The Colonial Revival mansion was the first stage of construction, a pillared white facade housing the future offices of notable figures in the industry. Modeled after George Washington’s Mount Vernon home, the Mansion was the focal point of Ince Studios, even when additional facilities like the bungalows, added sometime during the ‘20s or ‘30s, and the Cecil B. DeMille Theater, built in 1927, began to take shape under the studio’s second owner.

Under DeMille’s ownership, the studio achieved several box office successes, though it struggled to meet necessary financial goals. To keep the studio afloat, DeMille merged with the Pathé Exchange, Inc., eventually creating a new phase for the studio.

The Question of Thomas Ince’s Fate

Over the next four decades, the studio changed hands several times, with mergers promising brighter futures. In 1927, DeMille was out, and Pathé merged with RKO Radio Pictures to form the RKO-Pathé Studios. This new iteration of the studio saw major productions like King Kong filmed on its grounds, contributing to Hollywood history.

By the ‘30s and ‘40s, Selznick International Pictures had rented the lot to other productions, rarely using it for its own films. In the ‘50s, the studio shifted focus from movies to television when Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s Desilu Productions took the reins. By 1970, Desilu Studios was sold and resold before officially adopting the name Culver Studios, cementing its place as an iconic part of Hollywood’s history.

But amid this whirlwind of ownership changes and legendary films, one question remains unanswered: What ever happened to Thomas Ince?

The Death Thomas Ince

From 1918 to 1924, Thomas Ince oversaw operations at Ince Studio. Then, one November day in 1924, just three days after his 42nd birthday, he mysteriously died. 

Ince was winding down his birthday festivities aboard The Oneida, the yacht of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, Sr., when he fell ill. His condition worsened, and he returned to land for proper care. After a night at the Del Mar hotel in Los Angeles, Ince returned home, and before the day’s end, he was dead.

In the wake of Ince’s tragic death, Hollywood did what it does best and sensationalized the ordeal. Was the producer murdered? One of Hearts’s papers allegedly led many to believe so. After Ince’s passing, The Los Angeles Times ran a headline stating, “Movie Producer Shot on Hearst Yacht.” Rumors started circulating, propagated by Charlie Chaplin’s valet driver, who claimed he saw blood and a bullet wound on Ince’s forehead. 

It took no time for the rumor to grow legs and for stories to be spun. Before long, Hearst was pegged as a suspected killer. According to the San Diego District Attorney Chester C. Kempley, the real cause was likely much simpler: heart failure as a result of indigestion. As it were, Ince dined on almonds and sipped champagne, which flared up his peptic ulcers, resulting in his passing. 

The mystery and suddenness of his death spurred conspiracy theories and left his spirit unsettled. The shadowy form of Ince is said to remain at Culver Studios, watching from the rafters, but he’s also believed to be only one of several ethereal figures causing frights across the studio.

Who Remains at Culver City Studios?

Culver Studios isn’t just famous for its film history—it’s also known for being haunted, especially by the ghost of Thomas Ince. After his mysterious death, Ince’s spirit is said to still watch over the studio he founded. The nearby hotel is also known for paranormal activity, with stories of other Hollywood ghosts lingering in the area. If you’re on a ghost tour in Los Angeles, Culver Studios is a must-see for a glimpse into Hollywood’s haunted past.

Many believe that, after his death in 1946, the ghost of Harry Culver remained within the confines of the hotel. He had an office on the second story, and his spirit still seems tied to the workspace. It’s difficult to say what he’s up to during these supernatural visits, but some have claimed to have heard banging windows coming from his office.

Culver Studios and its associated facilities are riddled with mystery and intrigue, their stories lively and spirited, much like their grounds. Are there hidden tunnels connecting the hotel to the studio lot, once used to usher the Munchkins of Oz, known for their debauchery and riotous parties in the hotel, to the set during the 1939 filming of The Wizard of Oz? Do some of the Munchkins still cause mischief throughout the hotel, their presence trapped in the heyday of their career? Is the spirit of a Cecil B. DeMille favorite, actress Gloria Swanson, still seen in the Mansion’s halls?

Whether intrigued by historical Hollywood or the haunts of an iconic studio lot, Culver Studios beckons all with a thirst for information and a curious bone for the paranormal. 

Looking to dig into the history of Culver Studios and seek your own answers about Thomas Ince’s death? Then, visit our blog and check out on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Don’t miss out on an unforgettable evening—book your Los Angeles ghost tour! 

Haunted Los Angeles

Nestled in the heart of Culver City, Culver Studios holds a history as fascinating as it is storied. Originally built in 1918 by silent film pioneer Thomas H. Ince, the studio quickly became a cornerstone of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Over the years, it has been home to some of the most iconic films in cinematic history, including Gone with the Wind (1939) and Citizen Kane (1941).

Following Ince’s mysterious death in 1924, Cecil B. DeMille took ownership, only to sell it in 1928 due to financial struggles. The studio later became RKO-Pathé Studios, playing a significant role in shaping Hollywood’s legacy.

Just steps away, the Culver Hotel, built in 1924 by city founder Harry Culver, became a popular gathering spot for film stars and executives. During the filming of The Wizard of Oz (1939), the Munchkin actors famously stayed at the hotel, adding to its Hollywood lore. Over the years, it has welcomed celebrities, politicians, and filmmakers, solidifying its place as a historic and cultural landmark in Culver City.

With its deep connection to the film industry and its rich history, Culver Studios remains an essential piece of Hollywood’s past, while the Culver Hotel continues to capture the charm and elegance of a bygone era.

Book a Los Angeles ghost tour with LA Ghosts today. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real California hauntings.

Source:

• https://theculverstudios.com/history/
• https://www.culvercity.org/Explore/About-Culver-City/Culver-City-Fact-Sheet
• https://theculverstudios.com/history/
• https://deadline.com/2017/06/amazon-studios-gone-with-the-wind-mansion-house-culver-studios-1202118685/
• https://la.curbed.com/2019/11/21/20965989/culver-studios-history-amazon-studios
• https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-did-father-of-the-western-thomas-ince-die-on-william-randolph-hearsts-yacht#:~:text=Famed%20Hollywood%20producer%20Thomas%20Ince,on%20William%20Randolph%20Hearst%27s%20yacht.
• https://horrorwoodpodcast.podbean.com/e/the-remarkably-unremarkable-death-of-thomas-h-ince/
• https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/mysterious-death-newport-movie-mogul-thomas-ince/
• https://laist.com/news/culver-hotel