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44-818: Singer and composer Anita Kerr and her husband, Swiss businessman Alex Grob, hired Westlake Audio and studio designer Tom Hidley to build the studio in the Montreux Casino, where it recorded all live performances of the Montreux Jazz Festival . Additionally, the tax advantages of the studio's location in Switzerland proved popular, with British artists such as David Bowie , the Rolling Stones , Yes , Rick Wakeman , Emerson, Lake & Palmer , and Queen recording at Mountain Studios over

88-696: A wildlife corridor linking the Santa Monica Mountains with other undeveloped habitat. Mountain lions have been seen roaming the neighborhoods. The lake lies within the watershed of Malibu Creek . Water from the lake must be released into the creek in compliance with an agreement between the California State Water Resources Control Board and the Westlake Lake Management Association, a private entity that oversees

132-675: A Sinatra associate Val Valentin , who invited Hildley to assist in the building of the MGM/Verve recording studios in New York in 1962. Two years later, Phil Ramone hired Hidley as the audio technical manager of A & R Recording . Also employed by A & R at that time was Ami Hadani, and in 1965, Hidley and Hadani left A & R and moved to Los Angeles, where together they founded TTG Studios . During his time at A & R, Hidley had begun to experiment with building monitor speakers whose frequency range extended to lower frequencies than

176-528: A city from existing in two separate counties. In addition to being a bedroom community for Los Angeles via the Ventura (101) Freeway , it is also home to many large commercial offices and the headquarters of the Dole Food Company , K-Swiss and J.D. Power and Associates . The western region office (Region 5) of Anheuser-Busch Inc. is also located in the community. Pacific Coast Highway , and

220-533: A new Record Plant studio in Los Angeles. Record Plant West opened in December 1969, with Hidley becoming director of technical operations for all Record Plant locations. Hidley's studio design innovations continued, including the drum booth and the use of sliding glass doors to separate isolation booths from live rooms. While at Record Plant, Hidley also began selling pro audio equipment system packages from

264-727: A plain of considerable extent and much beauty, forested on all parts by live oaks and oak trees, with much pasturage and water." Crespí named the place El triunfo del Dulcísimo Nombre de Jesús (in English: The Triumph of the Sweetest Name of Jesus ) to a camping place by a creek. Other villages were found throughout the valley, including Satwiwa and two villages near Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park . These Chumash villages are believed by archeologists to have first been settled over 2,000 years ago. Another village

308-614: A return trip from Northern California in January 1770, a group of men led by Gaspar de Portolá are believed to be the first Europeans to encounter the Chumash Indians in the Conejo Valley. Father Juan Crespí , chaplain and diarist of the expedition, wrote about El Triumfo, a Chumash village. He wrote that there was plenty of water and firewood in the village, and that the land was covered with pastures. He wrote: "We are on

352-547: Is headquartered in Westlake Village. In 1994, Dole announced that it would finalize its plans to build its world headquarters on a 30-acre (120,000 m ) site owned by the company, located north of the Ventura Freeway in Westlake Village. The decision had been delayed by groundwater contamination tests and reviewing of possible site plan revisions. Dole was expected to submit its plans for final approval by

396-697: Is in the Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD). Residents are zoned to White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village, Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills , and Agoura High School in Agoura Hills. A portion in the south is in the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District . The Ventura County portions of the master planned community of Westlake Village, which is in

440-482: The Mercury Phoenix Trust being the beneficiary. 46°30′57″N 6°50′56″E  /  46.5159°N 6.8488°E  / 46.5159; 6.8488 Tom Hidley Tom Hidley (born 27 May 1931) is an American recording studio designer and audio engineer whose companies have been responsible for the design of hundreds of professional studios worldwide since 1965. Hidley coined

484-592: The Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway also run nearby. It is a short drive to the mall in Thousand Oaks. Much of Westlake Village is surrounded by open space, including hiking and horse trails, as well as the vast Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area . The town is in the northwestern Santa Monica Mountains area, and is 9 miles (14 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean. The area is within

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528-484: The state legislature , Westlake Village is located in California's 27th State Senate district , represented by Democrat Henry Stern , and in California's 44th State Assembly district , represented by Democrat Jacqui Irwin. Federally, Westlake Village is located in California's 26th congressional district , which has a Cook PVI of D +2 and is represented by Democrat Julia Brownley . As of May 2009, 1,943 (33%) of

572-639: The 5,876 registered voters in Westlake Village are registered as Democrats, 2,583 (44%) as Republicans, and 1,101 (19%) declined to state a party affiliation. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Malibu/Lost Hills Station in Calabasas , serving Westlake Village. As of 1990 the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District includes Westlake Village. The majority of the municipality

616-636: The Albertson Company used the vast area as a movie ranch. Many movies and television shows were filmed in the Conejo Valley, including Robin Hood , King Rat , Laredo , and various episodes of Tarzan , Buck Rogers , Gunsmoke and Bonanza . The 1940 film Danger Ahead was filmed on Westlake Boulevard. In 1963, Daniel K. Ludwig 's American-Hawaiian Steamship Company bought the 12,000 acre (49 km ) ranch for $ 32 million and, in partnership with Prudential Insurance Company, commissioned

660-733: The City of Thousand Oaks, are in the Conejo Valley Unified School District . An off-campus center of California Lutheran University is located nearby in Thousand Oaks. The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District supplies potable, recycled and wastewater services to residents and businesses in Westlake Village. Westlake Village was home to Russell Ranch which was used to film Robin Hood (1922), Come On, Tarzan (1932), Buck Rogers (1939), King Rat (1965), Laredo (1965–67), Gunsmoke (1955–1975) and Bonanza (1959–1973). The Lash (1930)

704-759: The Westlake Golf Course, halfway between Lakeview Canyon and Lindero Canyon roads, and half of the Lake itself. Lake Sherwood is nearby. The City of Westlake Village is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) West of downtown Los Angeles in the Conejo Valley . Other communities in the surrounding area include Thousand Oaks , Oak Park , Agoura Hills , Calabasas , Newbury Park , and Malibu . Coastal breezes sweep through canyons to allow Westlake to sometimes be up to 10 degrees cooler and considerably less hazy than nearby San Fernando Valley during

748-584: The Westlake Village City Council on February 9, 1994. K-Swiss , Guitar Center , PennyMac Loan Services and Ryland Homes also have their headquarters in Westlake Village. According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Adjacent to Westlake Village is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area , which offers nature trails for hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, equestrians, picnickers, and campers. Parks include: In

792-402: The age of 18 living in them, 1,985 (60.9%) were married couples living together, 292 (9.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 119 (3.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 103 (3.2%) unmarried partnerships . 712 households (21.8%) were made up of individuals, and 376 (11.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

836-427: The age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.93. In the city, the age distribution of the population showed 23.8% under

880-431: The age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males. About 2.5% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over. Dole Food Company

924-459: The available speakers of the time. At TTG, Hidley modified an 8-track recorder to create one of the first 16-track, 2-inch tape recorders in the world. In 1968, after visiting Hidley's studio with Animals frontman Eric Burdon , Jimi Hendrix excitedly told Record Plant founders Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone about how great the studio sounded. Kellgren and Stone visited TTG and were so impressed with Hidley that they contracting Hidley to design

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968-523: The city was 8,029 at the 2020 census , down from 8,270 at the 2010 census . The city is named after the master-planned community surrounding Westlake Lake . With the lake at the center, the community straddles the line between Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Roughly two-thirds of the community is in the Ventura County city of Thousand Oaks . About 3,000 years ago, the Chumash moved into

1012-554: The city. The population density was 1,605.9 inhabitants per square mile (620.0 inhabitants/km ). There were 3,347 housing units at an average density of 642.3 per square mile (248.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 89.70% White , 6.08% Asian , 0.82% African American , 0.13% Native American , 0.07% Pacific Islander , 1.02% from other races , and 2.17% from two or more races, plus one of California's largest communities for Russian American and American Jewish ancestral groups. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of

1056-504: The competition in buying the land by racing across 6,000 acres (24 km ) on a fifteen-minute trip in a buckboard and sealed the deal with a $ 20 gold piece. The price per acre was $ 2.50. The area continued to be known as the Russell Ranch although it was sold in 1925 to William Randolph Hearst and again in 1943 to Fred Albertson. The Russell family leased back part of the land to continue its successful cattle ranch operation while

1100-457: The condition that he would design and build two rooms: the first a Westlake/Eastlake design, and the second a new, improved design. Once built, the better-sounding room would be kept, while the other would be demolished and rebuilt to match the better-sounding room. Machijiri agreed, and Hidley worked with former Pioneer speaker designer Shozo Kinoshita on the project. Inspired by his new "Non-Environment" control room concepts, Hidley returned to both

1144-462: The fall. The Chumash also hunted wild animals, fish and gathered plants. Their diet consisted of acorns, gophers, cottontail rabbits, skunks, jack rabbits, rats, mice, and seeds. They made their clothing from the skins of animals such as rabbits, deer, and sea otters. Women wore long skirts woven from grass or soft bark, while men wore pieces of deerskin tied around their waists. Both men and women painted designs on their bodies and wore shell beads. On

1188-462: The first few years. In 1979, Queen acquired the studio from Kerr and Grob, and subsequently utilized the studio for several subsequent Queen albums, as well as solo projects from band members Freddie Mercury , Brian May , and Roger Taylor . In 1993, the long-time Queen producer David Richards bought the studio. Upon Richards' death in 2013, the location of the former studio became the charity museum/exhibition Queen: The Studio Experience , with

1232-495: The garage of his home in Westlake Village , naming the company Westlake Audio. In 1971, Hidley partnered with Glenn Phoenix and Paul Ford to open Westlake Audio on Wilshire Boulevard . Westlake specialized in selling complete recording studio packages, including not only the design and construction of a studio space, as well as all of the related pro audio equipment, including a line of Hidley-designed speakers. Westlake

1276-716: The idea, so Hidley sold his share of Westlake and founded Eastlake Audio in Switzerland, where he continued to design studios and sell monitor speakers. Sierra Audio, a sister company to Kent Duncan's Burbank recording studio Kendun Recorders, was formed to represent Eastlake Audio in the Western Hemisphere, South America and the Pacific. In 1980, Hidley sold Eastlake and moved to Hawaii, intending to retire, but when Harumitsu Machijiri wanted Hidley to design Sedic Studios' new facilities in Tokyo, Japan, Hidley accepted under

1320-556: The operation of the lake. The area has several golf courses: the Westlake Golf Course , Sherwood Country Club , and North Ranch Country Club. Over one half of the original "Westlake" development lies west across the county line, wholly within the city limits of Thousand Oaks . This boundary which divides the Incorporated City of Westlake Village, and Thousand Oaks portion of Westlake Village, crosses over

1364-449: The population. Many locals (the Conejo Valley and Simi Valley region in general) were of Italian , Portuguese and Spanish ethnic origins. The median income for a household in the city was $ 120,089, and the median income for a family was $ 148,885. The per-capita income for the city was $ 137,355 in 2007, while the median home price was (as of 2007) $ 1,163,800. There were 3,270 households, out of which 32.3% had children under

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1408-455: The preparation of a master plan by architectural and planning firm A. C. Martin and Associates. This new "city in the country" planned to have a firm economic base including commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, and ample green space with the lake as a focal point. Prominent architects, engineers, and land planners participated in designing the new community, a distinctive example of planned 1960s-style suburbanism . The original tract

1452-416: The region and lived by hunting rabbits and other game , and gathering grains and acorns. Excavations, archaeological sites, and polychrome rock paintings in the area provide a glimpse into the social and economic complexity of the ancient Chumash world. A Chumash village was settled here in 500 BCE, known as Hipuc. The Chumash Indians gathered and prepared acorns and other seeds. These were collected in

1496-495: The studio design business and Switzerland, where he founded Hidley Designs in 1986. In 2005, Hidley and his wife relocated to Australia to retire. Westlake Village, California Westlake Village is a city in Los Angeles County, California on its western border with Ventura County . Upon its incorporation in 1981, Westlake Village became the 82nd municipality of Los Angeles County. The population of

1540-601: The summer months. However, it generally remains 10 degrees hotter than the coastal plains below the Conejo Grade, in the communities of Santa Rosa Valley , Camarillo , and Ventura among others. The 2010 United States Census reported that the self-incorporated portion of Westlake Village, on the Los Angeles County side, had a population of 8,270. The population density was 1,502.4 inhabitants per square mile (580.1/km ). The racial makeup of Westlake Village

1584-514: The term "bass trap", and is credited with a number of recording studio design innovations, including soffit-mounted monitor speakers, and sliding glass doors between live and isolations rooms. As a teenager, Hidley spent long hours playing the saxophone, clarinet, and flute, until ordered by his physician to cease after suffering a physical breakdown. Turning to other music-related activities, Hidley began working at loudspeaker and tape-machine companies while recording at clubs after-hours. By 1956, he

1628-454: Was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 6,906 people (83.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,236 people (14.9%) lived in rental housing units. According to the 2010 United States Census, Westlake Village had a median household income of $ 112,083, with 3.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line. As of the census of 2000, there were 8,469 people, 3,270 households, and 2,491 families residing in

1672-688: Was 2.50. There were 2,396 families (73.5% of all households); the average family size was 2.92. The population was spread out, with 1,737 people (21.0%) under the age of 18, 479 people (5.8%) aged 18 to 24, 1,380 people (16.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,917 people (35.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,757 people (21.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males. There were 3,384 housing units at an average density of 614.7 per square mile (237.3/km ), of which 2,745 (84.2%) were owner-occupied, and 517 (15.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate

1716-550: Was 7,326 (88.6%) white (83.9% non-Hispanic white), 98 (1.2%) African American , 12 (0.1%) Native American , 490 (5.9%) Asian , 13 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 114 (1.4%) from other races , and 217 (2.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 533 persons (6.4%). The Census reported that 8,142 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 121 (1.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 7 (0.1%) were institutionalized. There were 3,262 households, out of which 971 (29.8%) had children under

1760-601: Was also filmed at Russell Ranch, while Danger Ahead (1940) was shot on Westlake Boulevard. Baxter (GTE corporate headquarters at the time) was dubbed for a police station in the film Demolition Man (1993), while scenes from Gridiron Gang (2006) were shot at Westlake High School . Other movies filmed here include The Karate Kid (1984), American Pie (1999) and Bridesmaids (2011). Two episodes of Charlie's Angels (1976–1981) were filmed in Westlake Village: "The Killing Kind" (1976) and "Angel in

1804-559: Was divided by the Los Angeles/Ventura county line. In 1968 and 1972, two portions of the Westlake development consisting of 8,544 acres (35 km ) on the Ventura County side were annexed into the city of Thousand Oaks . In 1981, the Los Angeles County portion (3,456 acres (13.99 km ) or roughly 1/3) of the Westlake master-planned community was incorporated as the City of Westlake Village. California state law prevents

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1848-583: Was highly influential in standardizing acoustic design in the recording industry, with prospective studio clients commonly seeking out "Westlake rooms." In 1975, after completing three new Westlake-designed studios in Europe, including The Manor Studio in England, Mountain Studios in Switzerland, and , Hidley returned to the US and proposed opening a European Westlake Audio office. His partners unanimously opposed

1892-642: Was located by Lake Sherwood . In 1795, the area became part of one of the first Spanish land grants, Rancho Simi , given to the Pico family of California . When Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, Alta California became Mexican territory, and the Rancho Simi grant was confirmed in 1842. In 1881, the Russell brothers purchased a large portion of the land for cattle ranching. According to Patricia Allen, historian and family descendant, Andrew Russell beat

1936-419: Was working for JBL Loudspeaker Co. and performing audio engineering of custom installations, including installations in the homes of Frank Sinatra , Ella Fitzgerald , Lucille Ball , and Danny Kaye . In 1959, " Madman Muntz " hired Hidley to assist in the development of the first car stereo . Among the first to own a Muntz car stereo was Frank Sinatra, and through Sinatra's purchase, Hidley became known to

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