The remaining studio lot that was established in 1926 will be sold off and the rest rented out. One of the few stand alone studios that was best known among industry members as a studio "of risk and innovation". The sense of history when filming at the studio will be gone. I can't say what will happen with the studio's library of films but I certainly do hope they continue to be available to the public.
As for the history of the studio, 20th Century Fox was first established as Fox studios by William Fox, whose family originally came from Hungary. Like many moguls, he started in the garment industry in New Jersey. He began his movie career with his earnings by buying nickelodeons-common shows i.e. small movie houses. Then he bought theaters. He would buy his films from distributors. Later on, he would create an actual movie making company. By the 1920's he was producing movies, distributing them and owned about a thousand movie theaters. He had always dreamed of dominating the movie industry. By 1929, Fox's glory had gone down the tubes due to the unpaid loans and the Depression. That is when the movie company 20th Century decided to merge with the financially struggling Fox Films, bringing in Darryl F. Zanuck and Joseph Schneck. Fox himself had been ousted out in 1930 by other heavy investors. Twentieth Century Fox took hold as a company in 1935. Executive producer Zanuck became strongly associated with 20th Century Fox Studios. What made him such a stronger producer is that he had began as a script writer and knew better the process of making films.
One of Fox's first stars was Theda Bara. Between 1915 and 1919, Bara was Fox studio's biggest star, but tired of being typecast as a vamp, she allowed her five-year contract with Fox to expire. Her final Fox film was The Lure of Ambition (1919).-(Wikipedia) Unfortunately the movie that made her famous "Cleopatra" 1917 was destroyed in a fire and no known prints exist but there are pictures of her in her costume.
As the years passed 20th Century Fox became home to many stars among them Shirley Temple, whose films saved the studio from bankruptcy during the Depression. Her film career at the studio began when "Fox Film songwriter Jay Gorney was walking out of the viewing of Temple's last Frolics of Youth picture when he saw her dancing in the movie theater lobby. Recognizing her from the screen, he arranged for her to have a screen test for the movie Stand Up and Cheer! Temple arrived for the audition on December 7, 1933; she won the part and was signed to a $150-per-week contract that was guaranteed for two weeks by Fox Film Corporation. The role was a breakthrough performance for Temple. Her charm was evident to Fox executives, and she was ushered into corporate offices almost immediately after finishing Baby Take a Bow, a song-and-dance number she did with James Dunn."-Wikipedia
Beginning in the 1930's, the studio produced the Charlie Chan mystery movies with Warner Olan and Sidney Toler. The popularity of the movies helped the studio keep afloat.
Nowadays, we can see that since both Oland and Toler were American and not Asian at all, their characterizations were politically incorrect. However, it would be one of the few times at that time that Asians were portrayed in a positive way. Up until then, Asians were usually portrayed as villains.
The studio was also home for the films of handsome leading man, adventurer Tyrone Power.
20th Century Fox also produced another mystery movie series "Mr. Moto" movies starring Peter Lorre. Eight films were made.
Darryl F. Zanuck also signed Norwegian -Sonja Henie, Olympic Ice Skating champion, World champion and European Champion. She worked for 20th Century from 1936 to 1943.
The other mystery series that helped the studio in the 40's, survive, was the Sherlock Holmes mystery films starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson.
Other notable films for the studio were "Drums along the Mohawk" 1939:
One of the few films that brought prestige to 20th Century Fox; "The Grapes of Wrath" 1940
