The NBC network opened its radio studios on the northeast corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St on October 17, 1938, but by the time that black 1950 Ford convertible drove past it, NBC had converted its studios to television. In fact, the signage on the corner of the building was still fairly new that day. KNBH – aka Channel 4 – first went on the air on January 16, 1949. (Source: transpressnz)
This is roughly how that view looked in July 2024. The NBC studios were razed in 1964. In it’s place now stands a bank building with beautiful Millard Sheets murals.
Such a shame that beautiful building was torn down. Why in the world would they have done that? Makes no sense to me at all.
By the 60s, NBC had out-grown their building and needed to expand. Still, you’re right. It’s a shame some other company couldn’t move in a keep the building intact.
Or at least kept the mural, wink wink.
I see what you did there!
In 1949, NBC added 2 more studios to the Sunset & Vine facility, it was studio E & F. They were designed for TV broadcasts. The other studios were meant for radio broadcasting and really didn’t work that well for TV and that’s one of the reasons NBC built state of the art TV studios in Burbank. When construction began for studio E & F, an old concrete foundation, dating back to the Lasky Famous Players studio, had to be removed. It was so over built, it took lots of days of jackhammering to remove it. The noise seeped into some of the radio studios and caused problems. The old NBC studios should have been repurposed instead of being demolished back in 1964.
Thanks for that useful interesting info, Ron. I wasn’t aware of any of this.
God… what a time to be alive in L.A.
Super pix, Martin. I agree. If you know your Hollywood history, originally the Hollywood and Vine location was the site for producer Jesse Lasky’s silent film studio, which lasted into the mid 20s. Rudolph Valentino made films there. When Lasky’s studio became Paramount and moved to Melrose, the facilities were used by other independent producers until NBC bought the property. There’s supposed to be some placques in the area, but who knows? The old folks are gone! The CBS studios (later KNX radio) were a block or two away on Sunset, near Gower. That was the former site for Al Christie’s studio. Christie was like Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, producing all those goofy silent comedies. CBS gutted the property in the 30s. Could you imagine the steal of deal NBC and CBS got buying up the land back in the day? The real money in Hollywood was real estate, not films. Ask actors like Fred MacMurray, who wisely bought up lots of land.
It is so amazing that every corner in Hollywood seems to have some history back to the golden age of Hollywood. I love reading all the comments and learning so much about its history. Thanks for sharing the picture, Martin. I just can imagine the NBC studio in it’s heyday with all those radio programs and stars!
What I noticed is that the old NBC studio building with that rounded corner and brick steps, seemed more personal, and inviting, compared to the stark flat Chase facade with the impersonal fountain “blocking” the front entrance! Even the murals by Millard Sheets don’t really catch your eye, unless you are aware of them while driving!
If only I could time travel back to the 30’s and 40’s to see Los Angeles in her prime? I think I would stay at the Roosevelt!
I’d LOVE to see LA in her 30s and 40s prime. I’d meet you down in the dining room for dinner!