The Best Hollywood Studio Tours, From Warner Bros. to Universal

Ideal for: Game show fans and a vision of Oz

The Times first reported on a visit to the famed MGM studio lot in the late 1960s. Times, culture and ownership have changed, and the current Sony Pictures Studio Tour no longer offers, for example, a look at Esther Williams’s private pool. Today, it begins with a recreation of the “Seinfeld” set and props from the “Men in Black” films. The Culver City lot still offers occasional nods to its past, through architectural allusions to MGM history or the 94-foot rainbow built in 2012 by artist Tony Tasset that references “The Wizard of Oz,” which was filmed on-site.

A hallmark of modern Sony Pictures tours is a stop at the sets of venerable game shows like “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” — provided they’re not in the middle of filming. But even if they are, you’ll still get a chance to stand in front of a green screen and take home a “Jeopardy!” photo as a souvenir.

You'll probably also get to see various aspects of the studio's work. The day I visited, we walked through the sound production offices to see how the Foley artists work. Picture a dark, cramped room that looks like someone's garage filled with old clothes, dried leaves, a variety of footwear, and broken machinery.

Tourists look at the RV used in “Breaking Bad” at the Sony Studios Tour.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

It was a brief opportunity to play around, as guests walked between different types of flooring to create various sounds. We also spent a moment in a dubbing room, mimicking the creation of white noise from a crowd.

Fans of “Breaking Bad” and “Ghostbusters” will be able to see the vehicles used in the productions. For a different perspective, schedule one of Sony’s evening tours.

Sony Pictures, 3990 Overland Ave., Culver City. Tours start at $55. For more information, visit sonypicturesstudiostours.com.