July 25, 1964…CBS Radio Bids Farewell To 485 Madison Avenue
(Photo above: CBS News Studio 9 with Murrow in suit and the short man in the background is news director Paul White. On the right, Douglas Edwards looking at wire copy.)
On September 18, 1927, the CBS Radio Network, with 18 affiliates went on the air from their studios in The Steinway Building near Carnegie Hall on West 57th Street.
Exactly two years later, CBS Radio moved into the new 485 Madison Avenue building on September 18, 1929.
On July 25, 1964, the last broadcast from the heart of CBS Radio News…Studio 9, was a hosted by Steve Rowan, and the next day, Rowan was the first to broadcast from the new CBS Broadcast Center. At this link is the 2 page CBS press release. http://donswaim.com/cbs-radio-moves-1964.pdf
That last show from 485 Madison, “Farewell To Studio 9” was historic in every way, and included clips from the many world shaping newscasts, and the most iconic newscasters this country
has known, including Edward R. Murrow, and many more that you can hear at this link to that last show.
http://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/historical/farewell-to-studio-9/farewell-to-studio-9-19xx-xx-xx
Some Interesting History: When 485 Madison Avenue was first built, CBS occupied only the upper floors. As need grew, CBS expanded throughout the building. Originally, there were six studios.
Studios 1, 2, and 6 were on the 22nd floor. Studio 1 was reached by a staircase as its floor was higher in order to accommodate the higher ceilings of Studios 3 and 5 which were directly underneath.
Studios 3, 5, and 4 were located on the 21st floor. Master Control and the upper part of Studio 1 occupied the 23rd floor.
Studios 1 to 6 were remodeled in the mid 30s reflecting acoustic enhancements unknown when first built. Suspended light fixtures became recessed, sound insulation, wooden panels, and rubberized flooring were among the improvements. Also in the mid 30s, Studios 7 and 8 were constructed on the 3rd floor of 485 Madison Avenue.
Studio 9, which was the news studio and the news department were located on the 17th floor. CBS also had radio studios at 49 East 52nd Street, just around the corner from 485 Madison.
CBS television studios were also in the process of moving to the Broadcast Center including 41 through 44 at Grand Central. Studios 53 to 56 at Liederkrantz Hall, 111 East 58th Street were also moving to the Broadcast Center. The corporate offices later moved from 485 to Black Rock which opened in 1965 at 51 West 52nd Street. Happy Birthday to the CBS Broadcast Center! -Bobby Ellerbee
Studio 1 1932 election coverage
Studio 2 after the update in the early 40s
Studio 3 during an episode of “Gang Busters”
Studio 3 after the remodeling in the 40s
John Glenn was the first US astronaut to circle the earth on my birthday, I think it was 1961 .
In 1938 Orson Welles’s “War of the World” originated in Studio 1.
This is an unknown program, which appears to be originating from studio one.
Here are some early photos of the different CBS studios at 485 Madison Avenue when first opened. The photo prints do not identify them by studio numbers – any ideas?
I worked at 485 Madison when it was WRFM and the Bonneville short wave studio
Steve Rowan anchored some Special Reports on the Apollo 7 television transmissions in October 1968 and the Apollo 8 astronauts in Hawaii in December 1968. Does anyone know where I might reach him to interview for my narrative history of radio and television space coverage please, or where his papers might be? Does anyone know when he worked at CBS News in NYC? Thank you.