Looking back on Hollywood history: Inceville, the Studio by the Sea, destroyed by fire a century ago

Southern California has a rich history of devastating fires, with the Palisades and Eaton fires standing out as some of the most destructive blazes in the region’s past. Over a century ago, fires in what is now the Palisades area destroyed Inceville, one of the earliest film studios established in the region.

Founded in 1912 by Thomas Ince, a prominent producer-director during the silent film era, Inceville was situated where Sunset Boulevard now meets the Pacific Coast Highway. Spanning 18,000 acres and accommodating 700 people, the studio was a hub for shooting Western films, contributing to the popularization of the genre. Ince’s work at Inceville also played a role in shaping the star system and establishing the distinct roles of director, screenwriter, and editor in filmmaking.

Despite its success, Inceville suffered fire damage in 1916 due to the highly flammable nitrate film being utilized at the time. Real estate developer Harry Culver persuaded Ince to relocate the filmmaking operations to Culver City, leading to the establishment of Triangle Studios in 1916 in collaboration with D.W. Griffith and Mack Sennett.

After selling Inceville to Western star William S. Hart in 1916, Ince went on to form Ince Studios in Culver City, operating from 1919 to 1924. Tragically, Ince passed away in 1924 from heart failure, under mysterious circumstances while aboard William Randolph Hearst’s yacht.

Despite his untimely death, Ince’s legacy endures through his films, with three of his works preserved by the National Film Registry. Films like “Gone With the Wind” and “Rebecca” were also shot at Ince Studios, which was later acquired by Amazon in 2017.

This article originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter magazine and highlights the rich history of filmmaking in Southern California. Subscribe here for more industry news.



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