Culver City History Timeline (A work in progress)
Click on the dates for more information.
1769
- King Carlos of Spain mandated colonization of California
1771
- Mission San Gabriel was established
1780
- José Manuel Machado was recruited, married María de la Luz in the new cathedral in Los Alamos
1781
- José Manuel and María Machado came north from Sinaloa, Mexico on a Rivera expedition
- The pobladores and soldados walked from San Gabriel Mission to establish the pueblo of Los Angeles
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La Ballona School
Harry Culver |
1819
- Agustín Machado claimed Rancho La Ballona with brother Ygnacio, and Felipe and Tomás Talamantes; permit issued for grazing rights
1822
- Ygnacio Machado began grazing cattle on Centinela Springs
- Mexican rule of California began
1834
- Ygnacio Machado built Centinela Adobe
1839
- Grant of La Ballona approved (cattle, horses grazed, grapes grown for wine)
1849
- The California Gold Rush
- Ygnacio Machado traded Centinela for a home at the pueblo
1850
1865
- La Ballona School was constructed (wood frame building)
- Agustín Machado died
1868
- court order to partition La Ballona
1869
- The first transcontinental railroad was completed--western isolation ended
1874
- Saenz Family Dry Goods Store (Overland Avenue/Washington Boulevard -- Machado Post office within)
1878
1880
- Harry Culver was born in Milford, Nebraska
1883
- The Figueroas donated land to build St. Augustine's, the first church (completed in 1887), in what became Culver City
Abbot Kinney founded nearby "Venice of America" as a resort
1907
- Ivy Substation constructed-converted current for the electric cars on Venice
1910
- Harry Culver arrived in California, worked for I. N. Van Nuys
1913
- Harry Culver announced his plans for a city at the California Club in Los Angeles
- Culver filed Main Street with the Los Angeles County Recorder on property (downtown was on the border of Rancho La Ballona and Rincón de los Bueyes)
1914
- Palms voted to become a part of Los Angeles
- Culver City remained independent (by vote)
1915
- Thomas Ince built the colonnade as the entry to Ince/Triangle Studios at what is now Washington Boulevard at Jasmine Avenue
1916
- Culver City Grammar School opened with six rooms (later rebuilt and renamed Linwood E. Howe Elementary School)
- Culver City Grammar School PTA was formed (Mrs. D. Coombs, first president)
1917
- Culver City was incorporated on September 20, (September 8 election, ordered August 13 by Board of Supervisors)
- First Board of Trustees (council) took office: R. P. Davidson, Dan F. Coombs, Walter Edwards, V. R. Day, B. J. Higuera. City Clerk : Chas. F. Shillito, Treasurer: C. N. Rosenthal.
- Resolution #1: provided for appointment of a city attorney at $50/month
- Resolution #4: leased upper floor of the theater, located on the Culver Hotel site, for city offices, at $15 per month (published in the Culver City Call newspaper)
1918
- Ince/Triangle became Goldwyn Studios
- Resolution #11: "In accordance with government conservation, discontinue illuminated sign over City Hall" until general condition of the county improved
- Resolution #16: established entire city as one voting precinct; polls at City Hall
- Resolution #19: appointed R.P. Davidson as Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, City Electrical Inspector at $25 per month
- Resolution #26: City Treasurer's salary was fixed at $10 per month
- Resolution #31: fixed the tax rate at $1 per $100 as assessed by county assessor.
- Resolution #37: Harry H. Culver appointed as Trustee to fill term of Clyde W. Slater
- Resolution #38: Paul R. Cowles appointed as City Engineer.
1919
- Resolution #41: Official City map adopted (defining streets, roads, avenues, highways, alleys)
- Resolution #50: Manuel Saenz appointed Chief of Fire Dept. at $10 per month
- Resolution #57: appointed Dr. Foster Hull as the second City Health Officer, replacing Mortensen.
- Resolution #58: appointed City Clerk, Katherine Megary, as Janitor of the City Hall at $25 per month
- Thomas Ince founded Thos. Ince Studios, his second Culver City studio (today 9336 Washington Boulevard)
- Hal Roach built his studio, the "Laugh Factory to the World" at 8822 Washington
- Culver City was notorious for its nightlife
1920
- April election: 37 votes cast
- Culver City Woman's Club established
- Council authorized the city painter to paint "Culver City" on the roof of six buildings on Main Street
- City adopted a plan for numbering houses and buildings
- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors changed the Palms School District to Culver School District
1921
- Chamber of Commerce was founded; incorporated in 1923
- City authorized a sewer system be constructed
1922
- Western Stove signaled the beginning of industry in Culver City
- Pacific Military Academy was founded on Washington Boulevard by Harry Culver; later moved to Cheviot Hills
- City Council changed meeting location to Van Buren Place
- Resolution #175: City Attorney was authorized to petition the state for a permit to run a muncipally owned bus line between Culver City and the City of Los Angeles
Pacific Military Academy |
- Resolution #246: dancing prohibited in cafes, restaurants after 11:00 p.m.
- Resolution #250: City Attorney directed to take immediate legal steps because of City of Los Angeles' failure to abate nuisance in Ballona Creek.
1923
- Culver City Lions Club established
- Steller and Skoog Hardware was founded on Main Street (closed 2008)
1924
- Resolution #423: City authorized a water works system, estimated cost $325,000
- Thomas Ince died; wife Elinor took over Ince Studios temporarily
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (M-G-M) merger
- Hotel Hunt (later became the Culver Hotel) was constructed by Culver; his offices occupied the first two floors
- Special election authorized a franchise to Speedway Corporation of Los Angeles to construct an auto race course in Culver City (now Carlson Park area); 50,000 attendees on December 14 opening
1925
- Legion Building was constructed as a meeting hall over the first swimming pool
Hull Building |
- Hull Building constructed as first hospital
- De Mille Studios dedicated (formerly Ince Studios--9336 Washington Boulevard)
- Washington Building constructed (now on National Register)
- Washington School was opened on McManus Street
- City executed a lease agreement with Camilo and Marie Louise Cereghino for a library building.
1927
- Cecil B. DeMille was appointed "Special Police Officer"
- Council approved action of the Parks Board and Art Commission to name the first park "Victory Park" (now Carlson Park)
- First land accepted by the City for Lindberg Park; second acquisition in 1938
- Bonded indebtedness passed for Propositions I (City Hall- $126,000) and II (Fire Station $59,000)
- Ordinance #239: (third reading) changed Del Rey to Culver Boulevard
- U. Barnett was appointed as first School Crossing Officer
- First Street was changed to Overland Avenue
1928
- City Hall at 9770 Culver Boulevard was dedicated
- Culver City's municipal bus line was founded (State's second oldest)
- a City Planning Commission was created
- City Council established a bus and transportation system
- City Council took action to prohibit gambling
- DeMille Studios became Pathe Studios
Desilu Studios |
1929
- Citizen Building constructed by the Donovan family (publishers of The Citizen Newspaper)
- City Council (Board of Trustees) joined the Lions Club, local citizens and state in an effort to prevent the invasion of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly
- Chamber of Commerce supported the notion of a municipal airport
- City moved Council meetings from Van Buren Place to the new City Hall at 9770 Culver Boulevard
- City Council officially refused "gypsies" a business license at 7024 Washington Boulevard
- Lantana became the official city flower, by Council action
- City Clerk notified the School Board that the City Council donated a room in the City Hall to be a dental clinic for school children
1930
- Culver Boulevard ornamental street lights installed, Ince to Jackson
- Pathe Studios became RKO-Pathe Studios in a merger
- Helms Building constructed; occupied by 1932 (designated a city landmark structure)
Selznick Studios |
1931
- Beacon Laundry constructed (significant structure- Zig Zag Moderne)
1932
- Olympics held in Los Angeles; Helms Bakeries supplied bread to the nearby Olympic Village in Baldwin Hills
- Culver City Kennel Club granted a permit for canine racing at 13455 Washington Boulevard
1934
- City Yard at Jefferson & Duquesne purchased for $4,000
1935
- Army Corps of Engineers concreted the sides of Ballona Creek
- RKO-Pathe sign was changed to Selznick International Studios
1936
- City Seal (3rd and current one) adopted with pictorial of city flower (Lantana), movie industry camera equipment, a rising sun, and California Golden Bear, along with the city motto, "The Heart of Screenland",and 1917 date of incorporation.
- MGM purchased land on Jefferson for outdoor sets (beginning of Lots 3-6)
1937
- The Hollywood and Culver City Chambers of Commerce held a "Bury the Hatchet" ceremony
1938
- The "little people" came to Culver City to film The Wizard of Oz
- First land acquired as "Exposition Park;" now Veterans' Memorial Park
1939
- Major Releases: The Wizard of Oz and Gone With The Wind
- McManus Park land purchased by the City
- Hal Roach Studios made training films and became known as "Fort Roach"-- Ronald Reagan and Alan Ladd were amongst those stationed there.
Hal Roach Studios |
1943
- Selznick International Studios suspended operations
1944
- Culver Palms YMCA was established
1946
- After a long lease arrangement, RKO-Pathe purchased the "40 acres" back lot
1947
- Culver City became a charter city
- Betsy Ross, Farragut, and La Ballona Schools became a part of Culver City when the charter was approved
1948
- Western Hemisphere Marathon founded
- Studio Drive-In constructed
- Land acquisition began for West End Park; now Culver West Park
1949
- Culver City became a unified school district (Kindergarten through 12th grade)
- Chamber president, Adolph Steller, promoted an industrial tract--The Hayden Tract
- Car dealerships were "the thing" on Washington Boulevard
- Culver Center opened as the city's first major shopping center
- The Sister City Program was established (an Eisenhower People-to-People program)
- The Lugo Ranch, at Jefferson Boulevard and Cota Street), was sold and became Studio Village Shopping Center
1950
- Veterans Memorial Auditorium cornerstone laid
- National Guard Armory, a cooperative city-state venture, was dedicated on city property
- Plans realized for a Junior and Senior High School
- Farragut School opened
1951
- Fiesta La Ballona was founded
- Culver High opened its doors in January
- Veterans Memorial Building dedicated
- Plunge opened
1952
- Baldwin Hills and Crank Annexation #1, which became Culver Crest
- El Rincon School was built on land donated by developer, R. J. Blanco
- Blanco Park dedicated
- El Marino Elementary School was opened
1953
- the Culver Judicial District boundaries were determined by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
- Culver High's first class graduated
1954
- City purchased property from C. Cereghino for El Marino Park
1955
- City passed first Charter Amendment
1956
- Culver Municipal Court established
1957
- Desilu Productions used their Hollywood studios and 9336 Washington Boulevard
1958
- San Diego Freeway was dedicated by Governor Edmund G. (Pat) Brown on the bridge over Washington Boulevard
- Culver City Guidance Clinic was established, an outgrowth of the Culver City Coordinating Council
1959
- Linda Vista School in Blair Hills opened
1963
- Hal Roach Studios Inc. closed its doors; (now the Landmark Industrial Tract)
- the Baldwin Hills dam broke
1964
- Fox Hills was annexed to Culver City
- Robert Frost Auditorium was completed
- Culver City established its first Sister City relationship (Uruapan, Mexico)
1965
- First condominiums were built in the city (Studio Village Townhouses)
- Temple Akiba broke ground on Sepulveda Boulevard
- Kaizuka, Japan, became Culver City's second sister city
1967
- Mayor Dan Patacchia received a loving cup from Mrs. Harry Culver at the City's 50th anniversary celebration
- Second City Charter Amendment was passed
- Doris Hechinger composed first city song: "Culver City"
1969
- Helms Bakeries closed its doors
- MGM divested itself of properties and props (was reduced to the main lot) and Culver City got a new library on Overland Avenue.
1970
- Desilu became Culver City Studios
1971
- Culver City Redevelopment Agency was formed
- Hazelton Avenue was renamed Kinston Avenue
1972
- Culver City opened the Senior Citizens and Community Center in the old library
- Naradel requested approval to develop a community shopping center on west 22 acres of MGM Lot. #2- approved and later disapproved
1974
- Kaizuka (sister city) made a gift of a Japanese Meditation garden in front of the Culver City Library
1975
- Fox Hills mall opened
- CCRA established first Project Area Committee (citizens) under new state law
1977
- Culver City Studios became Laird International Studios
1979
- Sunrise (later Culver Park) High School opened
- During this decade, four elementary schools were closed owing to declining enrollment
1980
- Culver City Historical Society founded
- Ground broken for the first of three phases of 40 acre Culver City park
1981
- Graffiti Removal Program began as a public/private partnership
- Culver City Education Foundation was founded to support CCUSD after Prop 13 cut funding
1983
- Iri City (now Iksan City), Korea became the third sister city relationship
1984
- Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (2 miles of the Men's and first Women's Marathon were in Culver City)
1985
- "Filmland" building was completed (later Sony Pictures Plaza)
- Marilyn Freiden Clark composed the second city song, "Our Culver City."
1986
- Lorimar bought the MGM Studio Lot
- Gannett purchased Laird International Studios and renamed it The Culver Studios
1987
- Direction 21 involved the community in strategic planning
- Sunrise High School became Culver Park High School
1988
- City Council established an Art in Public Places program
1989
- Lethbridge, Canada sister city relationship established
- Council established a Historic Preservation Advisory Committee
Fire Station 1 Closes |
1990
- Lorimar lot acquired by Sony; became Columbia Pictures, then Sony Pictures
1991
- Council adopted CCMC Chapter 38, a historic preservation ordinance and designated structure in protected categories (i.e. Landmark, Significant)
- Charette addressed the vision of "Downtown Culver City"
- Sony Studios Executive Arnie Shupack announced that beginning with "Hook" and "Bugsy", the credits of movies made in town would read: "Filmed in Culver City"
- The Culver Studios became a part of the Sony Pictures Entertainment family
1992
- Culver City celebrated its 75th anniversary; Hal Roach acted as Honorary Chairman; Kickoff was in January (as Mr. Roach turned 100)
- MGM moved from Filmland to Santa Monica
- Sony Pictures Entertainment moved into Filmland; it became Sony Pictures Plaza
- Watseka Parking structure opened
- Syd Kronenthal Park dedicated (renamed from McManus 4/21)
1993
- Fire Station 1 closed February 22nd; flag was taken down and paraded to new station opening a block away
- Yanji City, China established sister city relationship with Culver City
- Ivy Substation redevelopment was completed
- President Clinton visited Culver City on October 5, for an American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) event on health care at Carlson Park
- Culver City and CCUSD boundaries became co-teminous with the annexation of Fox Hills to the school district
1994
- January 17, Northridge Earthquake damaged many Culver City historic buildings and residences
- One CCUSD elementary school (El Marino) was reopened as a language magnet, for Spanish and Japanese Immersion programs
1995
- June: dedication of new City Hall at 9770 Culver Boulevard
1996
- Downtown Redevelopment created a new look for the city
- Charter amendment passed to initiate term limits for city offices
- "Measure T," school bond measure, overwhelmingly passed with 80%.
- Culver Hotel renovation was almost completed by Catlett
- City Council adopted Susan Gregory's "Culver City, You're a Star" as another official city song.
1997
- January 10: groundbreaking for the new Transportation Facility at Duquesne Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard
- City celebrated its 80th anniversary; first televised Council meeting aired September 20th
- November 10: groundbreaking for the renovation of the Police Station
- Second Charette was held on Downtown Culver City
1998
- City Hall Conference Room 1A was renamed to honor Mayor Emeritus Dan Patacchia, (April 6)
- Washington Streetscape was dedicated
- Culver City Woman's Club placed an El Camino Real bell on Sepulveda and Jefferson Boulevards
- TLI, Inc. reopened The Culver Hotel
- Syd Kronenthal, Director of Human Services, retired
- The mosque on Washington Boulevard at Huron held a grand opening in June
- Studio Drive-In demolition; groundbreaking for redevelopment as The Classics at Heritage Park and Eras Center, (originally Machado property)
- Cardiff/Main Street parking structure broke ground
- CCRA area increased
1999
- Active Service Clubs include: Lions, Exchange, Rotary, Soroptimist, Optimist, Kiwanis
- Downtown's Town Plaza went through the city approval process
- St. Augustine Church celebrated its 75th anniversary as a parish
- Japanese Meditation Garden at the Culver City Library 25th anniversary rededication
- Jody Hall-Esser retired, new CAO Mark Winogrond
2000
- Ground broken for new Senior Center at Overland and Culver
- Measure M defeated- April election (development issues)
- Town Plaza vested (entertainment complex)
- Congressman Julian Dixon died unexpectedly 12/8
2001
- The issues included the energy shortage, MTA- light rail/bus use of Exposition Right of Way, LAX expansion, and a fast tracking of a Baldwin Hills Power Plant
- January, rolling blackouts up north due to energy crisis spread south
- Culver City High School celebrated the 50th anniversary of opening
- St. Augustine School celebrated its 75th anniversary
- Culver City Library renamed CC Julian Dixon Library by the County Supervisors
- City Council Chambers named for former Mayor Mike Balkman who died 3/01
- Cultural Affairs Commission (5 members) established by City Council ordinance (combined Art in Public Places with Historic Preservation)
2003
- NPR West comes to Culver City
- Culver City Bus celebrated 75th anniversary
- New Senior Center opens (on part of old MGM Lot 2)
2004
- Kirk Douglas Theatre opens as a performing arts venue
- Sony sold The Culver Studios to PCCP Studio City Los Angeles
2006
- Culver City voted to change the city charter to a CAO form of government; changes will be enacted in two years.
-The Boneyard dog park is opened
2007
- Culver Citys permanent Skateboard Park opened
2008
- March- Culver CityBus, the second oldest municipal busline in the state celebrated 80 years of service
- April- the 2006 charter changes are complete, with new City Manager form of government and transition from elected to appointed City Clerk and City Treasurer.
Resources: files of the City of Culver City, Culver City Historical Society Archives, City Historian files Honorary City Historian, Julie Lugo Cerra 2/99, revised 5/99, 5/2000, 8/2000, 9/2000, 12/2000, 2/2000, 6/2001, 7/01, 1-09