40 Acres
"40 Acres" was a large studio backlot, located in Culver City, California, which was used as filming location for several  episodes.

History 

The backlot (actually measured appr. 29 acres) was first acquired by  to use as a filming location for his 1927 production of King of Kings. In the late-1930s, producer  bought the land, and used it to build the Atlanta and Tara sets for  (which was photographed by Ernest Haller). In the 1940s, the backlot was sold to , who filmed several film and television productions there, including The Adventures of Superman.

Desilu owners Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz purchased the property in 1957, to use it extensively for television productions. During these years, "40 Acres" was most famous for being the site of the Mayberry sets on The Andy Griffith Show. It also housed the POW camp for Hogan's Heroes and the barracks for Gomer Pyle, USMC. The backlot was dismantled in the 1970's.

Star Trek locations 
"40 Acres" was first used during the filming of Star Treks first pilot, , where the so-called "Arab Village" section housed the surface of Rigel VII, filmed on Monday  and Tuesday . The castle exterior was later enhanced with a matte painting by Albert Whitlock.

On Wednesday , the "Mayberry" sets were used in filming the desolated planet surface for . The same sets depicted the town on Beta III for , filmed on Wednesday  and Thursday .

Filmed on Friday , the "Arab Village" part (including the same castle archway seen in "The Cage") was used again for the exteriors of Organia in .

The last time Star Trek utilized the backlot was for the filming of  on Friday , where the "Mayberry" sets represented 1930 New York City. Several buildings and signs from The Andy Griffith Show can be seen in the episode, including .

Star Trek productions 
 
 
 
  (archive footage from "The Cage")

External links 
 
 40 Acres at Star Trek History
 40 Acres - The Lost Studio Backlot of Movie & Television Fame
Filming locations