Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Canyon, the heart of Studio City

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Coordinates: 34°08′37″N 118°23′43″W / 34.14357°N 118.39526°W / 34.14357; -118.39526 Studio City is a seven-square-mile district in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States.^[1] It is bounded roughly by Ethel Avenue to the west, Highway 101 to the north and east, and Mulholland Drive and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south.

[edit] Origin of name

Studio City Theater, now a Barnes & Noble branch

Studio City earned its name in the 1920s when Mack Sennett moved his studios from a neighborhood known as Edendale (near modern Echo Park) to a property near Colfax Avenue and Ventura Boulevard. His soundstages, Mack Sennett Studios, were later renamed Mascot Pictures Studios, Republic Pictures Studios, MTM Enterprises Studios and today are known as the CBS Radford Studios.[1] Some residents wanted the town to be named Laurelwood, but the Chamber of Commerce pushed for Studio City to please the studios. [2]

[edit] Geography

Studio City is located in the southeast San Fernando Valley. Highway 101 is the major freeway linking the area to Hollywood and the western valley. Access to other parts of the city is also provided by Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Ventura/Cahuenga Boulevards. Ventura Boulevard is where the bulk of its commercial activity resides.

The area, like many parts of L.A., has seen a great deal of tear-down building, with large condominiums replacing single family homes, and a surge in retail. Nearby, the historic Sportsmen's Lodge is also threatened with eventual redevelopment. However, negotiations among the Los Angeles Conservancy, Studio City Residents Association, and the facility's owner have led to the suggestion of public review before any planned alterations to this site.^[2] Traffic and parking problems have recently worsened, and the construction of parking structures has not made a visible improvement.

[edit] Population

Dupar's Restaurant, Ventura Blvd.

According to the 2000 San Fernando Valley Almanac, Studio City has a population of 25,841 people and 13,086 households. The median home price is $811,000. The population demography is 81.6% White, 8.1% Latino, 5.8% Asian, and 8.6% African American. True to the city's name, many residents work in film, television and media. [3]

Like its neighbor Sherman Oaks, Studio City has seen a surge in restaurants of note in past decades[4], including a number of high quality sushi bars, two top delis and many restaurants known for fine dining (such as Firefly, Spark, La Loggia and Outtake Cafe).

[edit] Landmarks

Little Brown Church in the Valley

Studio City Hand Car Wash, Ventura Boulevard

• CBS Studio Center
• Ventura/Laurel Canyon shopping districts
• Little Brown Church in the Valley [5]
• Fryman Canyon Park
• Wilacre Park
• Los Angeles River walk [6]
• Exterior of Brady Bunch house [7]
• Exterior of the Wilkersons' House (Malcolm in the Middle) - 12334 Cantura Street
• Exterior of the "Gidget" house (SE corner Hortense St. and Beeman Ave.)
• Sacred Heart set from Scrubs
• Several buildings by Rudolph Michael Schindler.^[3]

[edit] Local government officials

Studio City is part of the city of Los Angeles and sits largely within City Council District 2 (depending on the rather loose definition of L.A. neighborhoods, portions may also lie in districts 4 and 5).

The area is also represented by Los Angeles County District 3 Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, District 23 California state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, California state Assemblyman Mike Feuer and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman.

Studio City is also represented by the Studio City Neighborhood Council under Council President Ben Neumann.

[edit] Education

[edit] Primary and secondary schools

[edit] Public schools

Walter Reed Middle School

Studio City is zoned to Los Angeles USD schools. Carpenter Avenue Elementary School, Rio Vista Elementary School, Walter Reed Middle School, and North Hollywood High School serve the community.^[4] Carpenter Avenue and Walter Reed are in Studio City, Rio Vista is in North Hollywood, and North Hollywood High School is in Valley Village.^[5]

[edit] Private schools

Studio City is also home to private schools Campbell Hall Episcopal School, Oakwood School's Elementary School campus, Harvard-Westlake School's Upper School as well Bridges Academy, a private middle and high school for gifted students with learning disabilities.^[5]

[edit] Public libraries

• Los Angeles Public Library operates the Studio City Branch.

[edit] Notable residents

California History Mural on Washington Mutual Branch, Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Canyon Boulevard

La Ve Lee Jazz Club Restaurant

CBS Studio Center, Soundstage 2

Studio City's Ventura Boulevard Shopping District

• George Clooney^[6][7]
• William Shatner^[8]
• John Sturges^{[9][page needed]}
• Wally Wingert

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Los Angeles portal

• Studio City Neighborhood Council
• Studio City Residents Association
• Studio City Chamber of Commerce
• Ventura Blvd on the Web
• Los Angeles Times, Real Estate section, Neighborly Advice column: "That's why it's called Studio City" (20 Mar 2005)
• LA Valley Pride - event held in Studio City

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