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Fox Studios Historical Timeline

Fox Film Corporation Founding

June 1, 1915

William Fox, a Hungarian immigrant, formed Fox Film Corporation by merging Greater NY Film Rental and Fox Office Attractions.

1920s

January 1, 1920

Film production conducted on two Fox Film’s Western Avenue film lots – the 8 ½-acre “Comedy lot” on the east side of Sunset Boulevard and the 5-acre “Dramatic lot.”

1924

January 6, 1924

William Fox bought 99 acres of land located between Santa Monica Boulevard and Pico Boulevard from the Janss Company.

1925

November 6, 1925

William Fox bought the rights to the Movietone sound system, which became Fox Movietone.

1928

November 6, 1928

Fox Movietone City was dedicated to producing only sound films. Fox built the first sound stages converted from silent picture production.

1932

November 6, 1932

Twentieth Century Pictures is created by Darryl F. Zanuck, Joseph Schenck, William Goetz and Raymond Griffith to distribute films.

1935

November 6, 1935

Twentieth Century Pictures merged to create The Twentieth Century- Fox Film Corporation (TCFFC).

1936

November 6, 1936

TCFFC purchases a 97.17-acre portion of a Golf Course in West Los Angeles at the border of what is now Beverly Hills. The property extended from Pico Boulevard to the future Olympic Boulevard, and is now the eastern half of Century City.

1942

November 6, 1942

During a shakeup in management, Wendell L. Willkie (the 1940 Republican nominee for President) succeeded Joseph Schenck as Chairman of Fox Film.

1946

November 6, 1946

TCFFC purchases 89.97 acres, the remainder of the Golf Course and the balance of the eastern half of Century City (running from Olympic Boulevard north to Santa Monica Boulevard. This addition increased the total area of Fox Movietone City to 286.31 acres.

1947

November 6, 1947

Fox agreed to sell 6.125 acres to the city of Beverly Hills to build Beverly Hills High School and another 15.5 acres for streets.

1952

November 6, 1952

The Robe was the first film to be distributed in widescreen Cinemascope.

1954

November 6, 1954

TCF begins making television series. The first is My Friend Flicka based on the 1943 Fox film.

1958

November 6, 1958

Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and Roddy McDowell began a well-publicized, troubled production. It became at the time the most expensive movie ever made.

1959

November 6, 1959

With the studio finances in trouble, Fox entertained an offer to sell to William Zekendorf, but negotiations broke down.

1961

November 6, 1961

Aluminum manufacturer Alcoa Corporation purchased the 260-acre Fox Film lot and leased back 75.7 acres to Fox for film production.

1961/1962

November 8, 1961

Richard Zanuck, President of TCFFC, rushed completion of Cleopatra then shut down the studio to reorganize following severe financial losses.

1961

November 10, 1961

April 17, 1961 The Aluminum Company of America entered in a joint venture to purchase and develop the 176-acre property. The plan was to create a “city within a city.”

1961

November 11, 1961

historic photo of a meeting
Architectural Meeting, (L-R) I.M. Pei, Architect, Century Tower Apts.; Minoru Yamasaki, Architect, Century Plaza Hotel; Pietro Belluschi, Dean of School of Architecture, M.I.T.; Frederick J. Gebers, Executive Director, Century City; and Welton Becket, Century City Master Planner.

1962

November 6, 1962

Movietone Newsreel ceased production.

1963

November 6, 1963

Fox Studios reopened in the Spring of 1963 and production resumed.

1963

November 10, 1963

historic image of buildings
The first office buildings completed in Century City, designed by Welton Becket, Gateway West in 1963 (right) and Gateway East in 1964, form the northern entrance of Avenue of the Stars.

1964

November 10, 1964

historic image of shopping mall
Century Square (now Westfield Century City) opened in 1964 as an innovative 15-acre, open-air shopping center with 30 acres of underground parking for 2,700 automobiles.

1965

November 6, 1965

Fox Studios reopened in the Spring of 1963 and production resumed.

1966

November 10, 1966

historic photo century plaza hotel
June 1, 1966 – Century Plaza Hotel, designed by Minoru Yamasaki and developed by Century City Inc., a subsidiary of Alcoa, opened its doors. A double room cost $30 a night at the 750-room hotel. Prince Philip was the first of many visitors.

1968

November 6, 1968

The original Planet of the Apes, starring Charleston Heston and Roddy McDowell, was filmed in Century City and debuted to critical and audience rave reviews. It was the beginning of a 5-movie franchise and TV series, including a 2001 reboot.

1968

November 7, 1968

Construction of the Hello Dolly set began, which changed the face of the lot forever.

1969

November 10, 1969

historic century city photo
An advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, dated July 18, 1969 proclaims Century City as a “Modern Acropolis… An environment created today for business of tomorrow.”

1972

November 10, 1972

ab c entertainment center
ABC Entertainment Center opened. Cabaret premiered at the ABC Entertainment Center’s movieplex. That same year, Follies debuted at the Shubert Theatre.

1973

November 6, 1973

Twentieth Century Fox Film repurchased 75.7 acres of film lot from Alcoa.

1974

November 10, 1974

century plaza towers
Circa 1974 View of the newly built Century Plaza Towers from a section of the Hello Dolly! set on the back lot of Fox Studios.

1975

November 6, 1975

Between 1975 and 1980, after years of successful operations, Fox acquired TV stations, and among other companies, Coca-Cola Bottling, Aspen Skiing Corp., Magnetic Video Corp. and Pebble Beach Corp.

1976

November 10, 1976

historic emmy light show
May 17, 1976 This helicopter shot freeze- frame photo was taken on the night of the 28th Annual Emmy Awards at the Shubert Theatre. A monumental effort was required to create this stunning opening for the live show.

1977

November 6, 1977

Fox sold 13 acres north of Olympic Boulevard to Ring Brothers. The Studio lot is now 62.7 acres.

1977

November 8, 1977

Star Wars opened to amazing reviews and instantly became a worldwide phenomenon.

1981

November 6, 1981

Marvin Davis acquired TCFFC.

1982

November 10, 1982

Watt Plaza
Watt Plaza, 1875 and 1925 Century Park East, was dedicated.

1984

November 6, 1984

Davis transferred Fox Studios’ interests in Aspen Skiing, Pebble Beach and Coca-Cola Bottling into partnerships which he controlled.

1984

November 10, 1984

Century Plaza Hotel Tower, with President and Mrs. Reagan
Century Plaza Hotel Tower, later The St. Regis Hotel, opened on December 27, 1984 with President and Mrs. Reagan as the Tower’s first official guests.

1985

November 6, 1985

Davis sold his interest in Fox Film to News Corp.

1986

November 6, 1986

FBC commenced operations as the 4th television network. Within a year, FBC had signed 125 affiliated stations across the U.S.

1987

November 6, 1987

Fox Plaza was constructed on the northeast corner of the lot, and served as the location for the first of the Die Hard films.

1987

November 10, 1987

 Bestside Gala at the Century Plaza Hotel Tower
The City of Los Angeles adopted a resolution November 7, 1987 that recognized Century City as a leading center of business, recreation, shopping and residential life at the Bestside Gala at the Century Plaza Hotel Tower.

1994

November 6, 1994

Fox Sports broke onto the broadcast scene with NFL. Subsequently, coverage of the NHL, MLB and NASCAR was added.

1994

November 7, 1994

Fox Searchlight was established as Fox’s specialty film arm. Its first big hit was the Full Monty.

1994

November 8, 1994

Fox Animation Studios opened, producing Anastasia, its first full-length feature.

1996

November 6, 1996

Roger Ailes was hired as founding CEO of Fox News Channel.

1998

November 6, 1998

Fox Cable Networks disseminated all Fox products worldwide from Fox Network Operations Center on the studio lot for a variety of cable channels including National Geographic Channel, FX, Speed, Fox Movie Channel, Fuel and Fox Sports.

2000s

November 6, 2000

Fox Animation merged with Blue Sky and released Ice Age, creating an iconic franchise.

2004

November 10, 2004

November 17, 2004 St. Regis Hotels & Resorts announce the sale of its Century City property, St. Regis Los Angeles, and its conversion into residential units.

2005

November 10, 2005

Bestside Gala at the Century Plaza Hotel Tower
The first stage of the Westfield redevelopment boasted an additional 71,000 square feet of luxury shopping; the first Dining Terrace in the United States; and a new and expanded 15-theater flagship AMC – all setting Westfield Century City as the premier shopping destination in Los Angeles.

2007

November 10, 2007

building in avenue of the stars
2000 Avenue of the Stars at Century Park debuted on January 18, 2007. Superblock project offers tenants, visitors and guests a comprehensive array of amenities and services including a lushly landscaped, 4-acre park, destination dining, a Promenade of Cafes and a Cultural Pavilion.

2007

November 10, 2007

The Century luxury condominium residence
In March 2007, construction began on The Century luxury condominium residences. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, this 42-story tower is located on nearly 4 acres of landscaped gardens. The Century will offer an exceptional array of services and amenities including an on-site restaurant.

2008

November 10, 2008

MTA Board meeting
June 26, 2008, at the MTA Board meeting, the Century City Chamber of Commerce supports plans to bring a subway to Century City. The Long Range Transportation Plan was adopted in 2009.

2009

November 10, 2009

 Champagne Reception in lobby of 2000 Avenue of the Stars
May 14, 2009 Champagne Reception in lobby of 2000 Avenue of the Stars celebrating Century City’s 50th Anniversary.

2009

November 10, 2009

 Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Special Guest Celebrities Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars at Century City’s 50th Anniversary “Golden Gala on Avenue of the Stars.”

2012

November 10, 2012

bronze statue of tiger
Century City’s first public art project debuted with 22 bronze sculptures by artist Gwynn Murrill along the Avenue of the Stars median.

2014

November 10, 2014

groundbreaking for the 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard residential building
The groundbreaking for the 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard residential building was conducted. The development is set to be the only high-rise and high-end rental project in West Los Angeles.

2015

November 10, 2015

 Westfield Century City
Work begun on the $800-million remodel of the Westfield Century City, which will feature 70 new shops and restaurants once construction wraps up in 2017.

2016

January 1, 2016

Century Plaza
The iconic hotel closed its doors on March 1 to start a $2.5 billion renovation. The reimagined crescent-shaped Century Plaza will open again in 2018 as a luxury hotel and residence, with two 46-story towers behind.

2016

November, 2016

sculpture in front of SunAmerica Center
The Arts Council of the Century City Chamber announced the first acquisition of the area’s first permanent sculpture in front of SunAmerica Center.

2017

October 3, 2017

Westfield Century City’
Completed in 2017, Westfield Century City’s $1 billion renovation features 260 retailers, including Nordstrom’s new three-level flagship store for Los Angeles, a completely remodeled three-level Bloomingdale’s, a new two-level Macy’s, as well as Eataly’s first store on the west coast.

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