Culver City’s signature is ‘The Heart of Screenland’, and with some justification. It was built by MGM and Hal Roach Studios (now Culver Studios) which moved there in the 1920s, and the Hughes Aircraft Company, which established its headquarters there in 1932 so that founder Howard Hughes could work within commuting range of his hobby, Hollywood. Hughes left in 1985 but MGM and Culver Studios remain and have been joined by massive Sony Pictures Entertainment and National Public Radio West, making it one of the primary media nodes in LA. Parts of the city still retain a sort of main street, small-town quality that has attracted sidewalk cafes, a score of small galleries and a new population of youthful artists. It’s a dizzying eruption of culture that is attracting attention from across the country. Sony is the sponsor of an annual Culver City Art Walk, which takes place early in June (www.culvercity.org).

During the prohibition era, nightclubs and speakeasies crowded along a swank, honky-tonk Washington Boulevard; that era was also Culver City’s golden age of the silver screen with The Thin Man, Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, and the original King Kong all produced at this time. The original yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz is still preserved on Stage 27 of Sony Studios. The well-preserved 1950s era residential streets of Culver City are in continuous demand for production shoots – fans of The Wonder Years may recognise some of the locations from the series.

Culver City isn’t known for conventional attractions. The best reason to explore the area is to check out the architecture and hip lifestyle. Museum lovers shouldn’t miss the unusual Museum of Jurassic Technology, which strives more for amazement than pure education. Also worth a visit is the relatively new (2004) Kirk Douglas Theatre. The tiny space features original plays by the popular Center Theatre Group.

Culver City is also home to some of the most remarkable and revolutionary architecture in Los Angeles. There are now more than a dozen futuristic structures designed by renowned architect Eric Owen Moss, running through Culver City mainly concentrated around Hayden Avenue. For building buffs in search of the cutting edge, these structures are well worth seeking out.