Dates: 1997 – 2003

Former address: 6625 Variel Avenue, Canoga Park, Los Angeles
This studio has now been demolished. 

Originally built by Rockwell North American Aviation in the 1960s, the plant was then bought by shampoo manufacturers Redken. After some damage in the 1994 earthquake, the potential of the 189,000 sq.ft. facility for TV/film production was spotted by producers Bob Papazian and James Hirsch. After a short period as an indoor baseball training facility, Ray-Art Studios were born in 1997.

1997 – Ray-Art Studios opened, with four sound stages and 90,000 sq.ft. office space.

1998 – A loan was provided to retrofit the studio buildings to make them more Earthquake-resistant, following the Northridge Earthquake. LA Times Article

2000 – As part of a $10-million expansion, Ray-Art Studios opened a sixth sound stage, on what was a parking lot behind the Variel Avenue studio, just north of Warner Center (seen bottom right of aerial photo, right).

April 2000: Website www.rayartstudios.com created.

January 2001 – Air Hollywood is launched as a joint venture with Ray-Art Studios, to offer a 28,000 sq.ft. facility with standing sets of an airport terminal, security gates, ticketing and concourse areas, and jets and helicopters. The location of this facility is 13240 Weidner Street, Pacoima, Los Angeles.

August 2001 – The 8,000 sq.ft. floating backlot that was home to Nash Bridges before it was cancelled by CBS was relocated temporarily from San Francisco Pier 39 to Long Beach, and became part of Ray-Art Studios. [Article 1] [Article 2]

2003 – Ray Art Studios is sold by James Hirsch and Bob Papazian.

2004-2006 – The studio buildings are demolished and the site is cleared, as a new block of residences is constructed, complete with large central swimming pool.

June 2006: The domain name www.rayartstudios.com expired and has not been renewed.

2007 – The facility has been completely demolished and is now residential. No evidence of the studio remains.

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Productions shot at Ray-Art Studios

TV Series (5)
Title	Released	Creator / Showrunner	IMDB
Love Boat: The Next Wave	1998-1999	Jeraldine Saunders
Charmed	1998 - 2006	Constance M. Burge
Seasons 1 - 6 were shot at Ray-Art Studios but production had to move when the studio was sold.
413 Hope Street	1997-1998	Damon Wayans, Janine Sherman Barrois
Nothing Sacred	1997	David Manson
Nash Bridges	1996-2001	Carlton Cuse
Floating backlot at Ray-Art Studios home to this show between 1997 and 2001

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