KCBS/KCAL Break Ground On New Studios

[heywhatsupglenn]

At CBS Studio Center in Studio City.

They really played up the Friday ground breaking on CBS 2 and KCAL 9 on Friday's newscasts.

162,000 square ft. state-of-the art facility.

Most recently the "Big Brother" house stood on the land where it is being built.

Newsroom will be named the Jerry Dunphy newsroom.

Completion in early 2007.

You can see the video, it won't be up but a few days, at www.kcal9.com under top videos. As of this writing, it was even on the homepage. I can't link it as they host it but if anyone can figure out how to, please post.

As for their current home at Columbia Square in Hollywood, last report a developer wants to demolish it to make way for a mixed use project (of condos, stores, restaurants and entertainment venues). Haven't heard an update on that in months.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Save Columbia Square!

The people developing Columbia Square should at least try to keep the building's exterior intact.

Can it get declared a historical landmark, considering that many shows from the "Golden Age Of Radio"---and the pilot for TV's "I Love Lucy"---were produced there??

Maybe it can become some sort of museum of broadcast production, with all sorts of vintage equipment, and some of the studios restored to what they were "way back when".

 

[RobertAnthony]

Re: Save Columbia Square!

> The people developing Columbia Square should at least try to
> keep the building's exterior intact.
>
> Can it get declared a historical landmark, considering that
> many shows from the "Golden Age Of Radio"---and the pilot
> for TV's "I Love Lucy"---were produced there??
>
> Maybe it can become some sort of museum of broadcast
> production, with all sorts of vintage equipment, and some of
> the studios restored to what they were "way back when".
>
What about making it the new home of the Museum of TV and Radio? Aside from New York, there is an MT&R in L-A

 

[heywhatsupglenn]

Re: Save Columbia Square! Metromedia Square

> The people developing Columbia Square should at least try to
> keep the building's exterior intact.
>
> Can it get declared a historical landmark, considering that
> many shows from the "Golden Age Of Radio"---and the pilot
> for TV's "I Love Lucy"---were produced there??
>
> Maybe it can become some sort of museum of broadcast
> production, with all sorts of vintage equipment, and some of
> the studios restored to what they were "way back when".
>

They didn't save Metromedia Square (KTTV-Fox 11/KLAC/KMET). It had a tremendous amount of history. Now totally demolished and on its way to being a new high school. I don't think they'll save Columbia Square from the wrecking ball as that area is just east of the current major redevelopment area of Hollywood. Hollywood has just two radio stations left which are about to move out to the museum district (KFWB and KNX) and one major televison station (KTLA). Not much left to preserve.

 

[miamimadman]

You can't compare both Squares

Columbia Square will be missed much more than Metromedia Square. I'm sure a handfull of us got the KNX2, Channel T Tour (loved that Blooper) and those memories will live on forever!
> They didn't save Metromedia Square (KTTV-Fox 11/KLAC/KMET).
> It had a tremendous amount of history. Now totally
> demolished and on its way to being a new high school. I
> don't think they'll save Columbia Square from the wrecking
> ball as that area is just east of the current major
> redevelopment area of Hollywood. Hollywood has just two
> radio stations left which are about to move out to the
> museum district (KFWB and KNX) and one major televison
> station (KTLA). Not much left to preserve.
>

 

[heywhatsupglenn]

Re: You can't compare both Squares

> Columbia Square will be missed much more than Metromedia
> Square. I'm sure a handfull of us got the KNX2, Channel T
> Tour (loved that Blooper) and those memories will live on
> forever!
> > They didn't save Metromedia Square (KTTV-Fox
> 11/KLAC/KMET).
> > It had a tremendous amount of history. Now totally
> > demolished and on its way to being a new high school. I
> > don't think they'll save Columbia Square from the wrecking
>
> > ball as that area is just east of the current major
> > redevelopment area of Hollywood. Hollywood has just two
> > radio stations left which are about to move out to the
> > museum district (KFWB and KNX) and one major televison
> > station (KTLA). Not much left to preserve.
> >
>

Your right, you can't compare both. I will miss Metromedia Square more. Where I saw tapings of All in the Family, Truth or Consequences and got a tour of KMET and KLAC, including souvenirs supplied by station management which I still have. I'll remember and miss that much more than Columbia Square.

Los Angeles is an ever changing city. We don't preserve, we bulldoze for the next project. Nothing really gets preserved here. If we want to go back to the original days of the silent era movie industry, then one should spend some time in the Edendale area (adjacent to what is now known as the Silverlake area) of Los Angeles. But again, you won't find much of the original movie studios there.

And I don't see a reason to preserve Columbia Square either. Columbia Square is old and not earthquake safe. There really isn't anything "classic" about its architecture either. And if you were a KCAL/KCBS employee, you'd e quite happy that you are getting out of that building for something new, larger and state-of-the art. And finally, they won't have to lease parking spaces from Bally's Total Fitness since the lot is so jam packed at Columbia Square.

 

[miamimadman]

Do you have a Square to Spare?

Talking about History between the two Squares and you mention All in the Family? The History of Columbia Square started in 1938 and continues today. During my incredible tour there in 1989 I saw the great Bill Stout leaning on a Desk doing a Teaser for the Channel 2 News. Oh sure I’ve seen Metromedia Square, roaming the Halls of KMET, where they had Mannequins on Display holding rolls of Toilet Paper, how gauche , but it was the 70's

 

[KMRichards]

Here, you each get $1.25

MTA #2 bus on Sunset goes past both locations. Knock yourselves out reminiscing.
<P ID="signature">______________


</P>

 

[heywhatsupglenn]

Re: Here, you each get $1.25

> MTA #2 bus on Sunset goes past both locations. Knock
> yourselves out reminiscing.
>

I haven't been on a bus in years. But if you cough up the $$ for a limo, I'll go.

I can point out where KIIS, K-West/Magic/Power, KIQQ/K-Lite, KMPC-AM/FM, KMET, KLAC, KPOL(AM and FM)/KZLA, KLAX, KBIG, KZLA again, KNX-FM/KCBS-FM/Arrow 93, KWHY 22 (among others) and the old NBC Studios (before my time) were along Sunset Blvd. Don't let me forget to point out Merv's TAV location. It also housed Merv Griffin Radio Productions.

All WERE just like Columbia Square will be in a few years.

Note: I think KZLA is the only radio station to ever be in two different locations on Sunset. Once at the junction of the Hollywood Fwy and Sunset (to the east of Metromedia Square) and also where KBIG was. KIIS and KIQQ had different suites in their buildings but didn't move to another Hollywood building.

 

[KMRichards]

Re: Here, you each get $1.25

> KIIS and KIQQ had different
> suites in their buildings but didn't move to another
> Hollywood building.

Your memory is a bit faulty on that one, Glenn.

Although KIIS was in the First Interstate Bank building just east of Sunset and Vine for many years, they were originally in the old KKDJ offices/studios across the street and on the corner, in the Sunset-Vine Tower. The move (in 1976, IIRC) was when the AM and FM studios were consolidated; before that, the simulcast and FM-only hours were at the old KKDJ studios and the nighttime AM-only hours originated from the old KIIS-AM studios farther west on Sunset.

Now see what you made me do ... put a radio-only post on a TV board ...

<P ID="signature">______________


</P>

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Re: Save Columbia Square!

> What about making it the new home of the Museum of TV and
> Radio? Aside from New York, there is an MT&R in L-A

I thought the Los Angeles branch of the MT&R was in a building custom-built for them.

But how about a Museum Of Broadcasting Technology??

Maybe Chuck Pharis, a veteran television engineer with an extensive collection of broadcasting equipment, could be persuaded to loan or donate some of his gear to it so they could rennovate some of the studios to what they were "back then", with equipment to match.

 

[ShawnHill]

Re: Save Columbia Square!

> > What about making it the new home of the Museum of TV and
> > Radio? Aside from New York, there is an MT&R in L-A
>
> I thought the Los Angeles branch of the MT&R was in a
> building custom-built for them.
>
> But how about a Museum Of Broadcasting Technology??
>
> Maybe Chuck Pharis, a veteran television engineer with an
> extensive collection of broadcasting equipment, could be
> persuaded to loan or donate some of his gear to it so they
> could rennovate some of the studios to what they were "back
> then", with equipment to match.
>
I seen his old pictures of the ABC Television Center (now The Prospect Studios), some of which date back to when ABC brought the property in 1949, same year KABC-TV when on the air. My job is an mile and a half from Prospect, and just out of curiosity, I visited the neighborhood during my lunch hour just to see what it looked like in person.

I haven't visited the CBS Studio Center since a taping of Gladiators 2000 (kids version of American Gladitators) back in 1995, its soundstage was across the way the Roseanne set. It's a pretty big facility, and I saw the area where they filmed the exterior scenes of Gilligan's Island, which eventually became a parking lot for the studio.

Columbia Square certainly isn't as special as Television City or the Studio Center, but they do have some history. If we were talking about Television City being demolished, then that's a different matter.

 

[paulsecic]

Lisa Joiner

Lisa Joiner acts dumb. Is she as dumb as she seem? I'm glad CBS2 dumped her in the morning for that man who knows weather. Lisa didn't!



At CBS Studio Center in Studio City.
>
> They really played up the Friday ground breaking on CBS 2
> and KCAL 9 on Friday's newscasts.
>
> 162,000 square ft. state-of-the art facility.
>
> Most recently the "Big Brother" house stood on the land
> where it is being built.
>
> Newsroom will be named the Jerry Dunphy newsroom.
>
> Completion in early 2007.
>
> You can see the video, it won't be up but a few days, at
> www.kcal9.com under top videos. As of this writing, it was
> even on the homepage. I can't link it as they host it but if
> anyone can figure out how to, please post.
>
> As for their current home at Columbia Square in Hollywood,
> last report a developer wants to demolish it to make way for
> a mixed use project (of condos, stores, restaurants and
> entertainment venues). Haven't heard an update on that in
> months.
>

 

[BeachBum]

Re: Save Columbia Square!

> Columbia Square certainly isn't as special as Television
> City or the Studio Center, but they do have some history.
> If we were talking about Television City being demolished,
> then that's a different matter.
>

Depends on how old you are, or how interested in broadcast history you are.

I love old time radio, and it was a thrill to see the studios where Jack Benny and other stars did their shows, even if they've been changed up. The feeling of history was awesome.

On the other hand, the Arrow folks looked like they were operating out of a half-assed college station; really badly laid out. And I have no idea how the rest of the place works for the 21st century. It makes sense for them to leave, but it would be nice if it could be preserved. But nobody cares about early radio, and not many care about local TV history (and early network TV history). So I guess those of us who got to see it in person should just count ourselves lucky.

 

[bpatrick]

Re: Save Columbia Square! Metromedia Square

> > The people developing Columbia Square should at least try
> to
> > keep the building's exterior intact.
> >
> > Can it get declared a historical landmark, considering
> that
> > many shows from the "Golden Age Of Radio"---and the pilot
> > for TV's "I Love Lucy"---were produced there??
> >
> > Maybe it can become some sort of museum of broadcast
> > production, with all sorts of vintage equipment, and some
> of
> > the studios restored to what they were "way back when".
> >
>
> They didn't save Metromedia Square (KTTV-Fox 11/KLAC/KMET).
> It had a tremendous amount of history. Now totally
> demolished and on its way to being a new high school. I
> don't think they'll save Columbia Square from the wrecking
> ball as that area is just east of the current major
> redevelopment area of Hollywood. Hollywood has just two
> radio stations left which are about to move out to the
> museum district (KFWB and KNX) and one major televison
> station (KTLA). Not much left to preserve.
>
A long. long time ago, NBC had its studios at Sunset and Vine.
Many of its radio classics originated there, as did Groucho's
You Bet Your Life in the television era. When NBC moved to
Burbank, either the building or the site it was on was taken
over by Home Savings and Loan. Might some other business
move into the Columbia Square site?

 

[collinsradio]

Re: Save Columbia Square! Metromedia Square

How can you compare Columbia Square to Metromedia Square?
Columbia Square was the HQ for the CBS Radio Network, home
for some of the biggest stars of the 30's, 40's & 50's.
Plus CQ is a much more interesting building.



> > The people developing Columbia Square should at least try
> to
> > keep the building's exterior intact.
> >
> > Can it get declared a historical landmark, considering
> that
> > many shows from the "Golden Age Of Radio"---and the pilot
> > for TV's "I Love Lucy"---were produced there??
> >
> > Maybe it can become some sort of museum of broadcast
> > production, with all sorts of vintage equipment, and some
> of
> > the studios restored to what they were "way back when".
> >
>
> They didn't save Metromedia Square (KTTV-Fox 11/KLAC/KMET).
> It had a tremendous amount of history. Now totally
> demolished and on its way to being a new high school. I
> don't think they'll save Columbia Square from the wrecking
> ball as that area is just east of the current major
> redevelopment area of Hollywood. Hollywood has just two
> radio stations left which are about to move out to the
> museum district (KFWB and KNX) and one major televison
> station (KTLA). Not much left to preserve.
>

 

[collinsradio]

Re: You can't compare both Squares

You are a bonified idiot


> > Columbia Square will be missed much more than Metromedia
> > Square. I'm sure a handfull of us got the KNX2, Channel T
> > Tour (loved that Blooper) and those memories will live on
> > forever!
> > > They didn't save Metromedia Square (KTTV-Fox
> > 11/KLAC/KMET).
> > > It had a tremendous amount of history. Now totally
> > > demolished and on its way to being a new high school. I
> > > don't think they'll save Columbia Square from the
> wrecking
> >
> > > ball as that area is just east of the current major
> > > redevelopment area of Hollywood. Hollywood has just two
> > > radio stations left which are about to move out to the
> > > museum district (KFWB and KNX) and one major televison
> > > station (KTLA). Not much left to preserve.
> > >
> >
>
> Your right, you can't compare both. I will miss Metromedia
> Square more. Where I saw tapings of All in the Family, Truth
> or Consequences and got a tour of KMET and KLAC, including
> souvenirs supplied by station management which I still have.
> I'll remember and miss that much more than Columbia Square.
>
>
> Los Angeles is an ever changing city. We don't preserve, we
> bulldoze for the next project. Nothing really gets preserved
> here. If we want to go back to the original days of the
> silent era movie industry, then one should spend some time
> in the Edendale area (adjacent to what is now known as the
> Silverlake area) of Los Angeles. But again, you won't find
> much of the original movie studios there.
>
> And I don't see a reason to preserve Columbia Square either.
> Columbia Square is old and not earthquake safe. There really
> isn't anything "classic" about its architecture either. And
> if you were a KCAL/KCBS employee, you'd e quite happy that
> you are getting out of that building for something new,
> larger and state-of-the art. And finally, they won't have to
> lease parking spaces from Bally's Total Fitness since the
> lot is so jam packed at Columbia Square.
>

 

[collinsradio]

Re: Save Columbia Square!

Finally an intelligent comment.
Beach Bum, you get it. First: the building is considered
historic both from it's broadcasting history and the
moderne streamline architecture. The Metromedia square
was a generic building, with nowhere near the history
of CBS. The real gem was the NBC facility at Sunset,
from what I've seen in postcards and photos. ABC of
course later became the TAV studios home of Merv Griffin
& Love Connection. Homeless bums managed to burn it to
the ground.


> > Columbia Square certainly isn't as special as Television
> > City or the Studio Center, but they do have some history.
>
> > If we were talking about Television City being demolished,
>
> > then that's a different matter.
> >
>
> Depends on how old you are, or how interested in broadcast
> history you are.
>
> I love old time radio, and it was a thrill to see the
> studios where Jack Benny and other stars did their shows,
> even if they've been changed up. The feeling of history was
> awesome.
>
> On the other hand, the Arrow folks looked like they were
> operating out of a half-assed college station; really badly
> laid out. And I have no idea how the rest of the place
> works for the 21st century. It makes sense for them to
> leave, but it would be nice if it could be preserved. But
> nobody cares about early radio, and not many care about
> local TV history (and early network TV history). So I guess
> those of us who got to see it in person should just count
> ourselves lucky.
>