Tag Archives: Television
Looking north up Vine Street from south of Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, 1955
Driving up Vine Street just after dusk in 1955 offered Hollywoodites a streetscape of bright neon lights. Standing south of Sunset you could see the lights for NBC Studios, The Broadway Hollywood department store, Plaza Hotel, ABC Studios, and Wallichs … Continue reading
CBS Columbia Square broadcasting center, Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street, Hollywood, 1939
NBC Studios at Sunset and Vine get most of the attention but down the street at Sunset and Gower were CBS’s Hollywood facility, known as Columbia Square. The eight-studio complex got a splashy opening on April 30, 1938 and quickly … Continue reading
Don Lee’s Cadillac dealership and W6XAO television broadcasting station, 7th and Bixel Streets, downtown Los Angeles, circa early 1930s
In the history of early Los Angeles television, Don Lee stands out as a pioneer. But what I didn’t know until I came across this photo, was that he started out as the owner of a Cadillac dealership. This is … Continue reading
El Capitan Theatre (formerly Hollywood Playhouse), 1735 Vine St, Hollywood, circa 1950s
When this venue at 1735 Vine St, Hollywood opened on January 24, 1927 it was a live-theater called the Hollywood Playhouse. During the Great Depression, it was the WPA Federal Theatre and was used for government-sponsored programs. By the 40s … Continue reading
Corner of Vine St and Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, circa late 1940s
I’m guessing this shot looking north up Vine Street, Hollywood from the Sunset Boulevard corner was taken in the late 1940s. On the far left, we can see that Wallichs Music City has its “Television Corner” sign and NBC has … Continue reading
Color shot of the NBC / KNBH Studios at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St, Hollywood, circa early 1950s
As much of fan as I am of vintage sepia shots, there’s something about color photographs like this to really bring to an era to life. We’re looking at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St in Hollywood. I’d … Continue reading
Demolition of the NBC Studios at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St, Hollywood, 1964
This photo is quite a heartbreaker—the demolition of the NBC Studios at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St, Hollywood in 1964. From when it opened in 1938, those studios were an iconic anchor to the broadcasting life in … Continue reading
Looking north on Vine Street from NBC Radio City, Los Angeles, late 40s/early 50s
The neon lights of Hollywood light up the sky as the last of the setting sun fades across Vine Street in 1948. This photographer would have been standing with his back to the NBC studios at the Sunset Boulevard corner. … Continue reading
Corner of Sunset and Vine, Hollywood with KNBH television studio, circa late 1940s
The Hollywood and Vine corner is the one with the legendary reputation, but for my money, it’s the Sunset and Vine intersection that hold endless fascination for me. Take this circa late 1940s photo for example: We can see Tom … Continue reading
Overhead shot of the “I Love Lucy” sets
Here’s a doozie for all us Lucy fans: this is an overhead shot of (a model of) the “I Love Lucy” sets. I’ve never really given much though to how they were laid out, but this does make sense!