Final answer:
Many of the old studio backlots from the 1920s and 1930s were sold and redeveloped during the 1960s as the film industry underwent transformative changes. Innovations in film-making techniques and the rise in popularity of television as well as a focus on on-location shooting led to the decline of these historic shooting venues.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 1960s, many of the old studio backlots from the 1920s and 1930s faced significant changes. With the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. (1948), the traditional studio system of Hollywood began to dismantle. This led to the decline in the use of studio backlots as filmmakers moved towards on-location shooting and the old backlots were frequently sold and redeveloped to suit contemporary needs. As television and new technologies emerged, Hollywood was compelled to innovate, with investments going into new filming techniques such as CinemaScope and Cinerama to draw audiences with large screens and 3-D experiences.
Additionally, after World War II, the introduction of affordable automobiles and airplanes catalyzed a transformative period for the United States, emphasizing mobility and contributing to the further expansion of the film industry beyond the confines of traditional studio spaces. The economic changes and advancements in travel technology influenced the fate of studio backlots by encouraging the film industry to explore new locations and storytelling methods. The backlots that remained often underwent renovations or were repurposed for television production, while others were left to decay or were demolished to make way for entirely new developments, reflective of the socio-economic shifts of the times.