May 29, 1950…Dual Debut! “Broadway Open House”, NBC Studio 6A

When 30 Rockefeller Plaza was dedicated in November of 1933, the sixth and seventh floors were empty. The only thing in this space was the raw infrastructure and some work lights, and the elevators didn’t stop there till 1941.

In 1933, television was still in the infant stages, but this space was left empty just in case it decided to grow up, or radio took off. As it turns out, radio took off, and with 8H and 8G the only theater style radio studios in the building, NBC went ahead with plans to build two big radio theaters on six and seven, but with a design eye toward television eventually catching up. World War II was on the horizon, and just a month before Pearl Harbor, 6A and 6B were finished. Perfect timing!

But…the timing wasn’t exactly all due to NBC’s crystal ball! In 1940, an impatient landlord threatened to turn the vacant floors into the worst possible acoustical neighbor of all…a bowling alley, unless NBC followed through on their studio plans.

NBC Radio Studios 6A and 6B began operations in early November of 1941. At this link is RCA’s first article on the new studios. This 9 page description of the mirror image studios includes many rare details of the look, the design and acoustical properties and several one of kind photos. This is from the RCA Review, dated January 1942.

As we now know, before many of the NBC radio studios were converted to television, which meant adding lighting and a control room, NBC had roving in-house mobile units consisting of 3 TK30s each, and mobile lighting. The Camera Control Units were rolled into the studio sound locks, and cables ran to remote trucks in the basement for switching, then back to Master Control.

The first known television show from, then radio studio 6A, was a “Break The Bank” simulcast October 5, 1949. It is possible that some of the “Chesterfield Supper Club”, fifteen minute broadcasts came from here in 1948.

The first broadcast to originate from 6A as a television studio is was the May 29, 1950 debut of “Broadway Open House”. Although it debuted there, I think it moved to 6B soon after.

There is a long list of shows from here, but the stand outs are “Jeopardy” in the 60s, “What’s My Line” and “To Tell The Truth” in the early 70s, and of course “Late Night With David Letterman” from ’82-’93, followed by Conan O’Brien as host. Letterman had been in 6A even earlier hosting the short lived mid morning “David Letterman Show” in 1980.

As for “Broadway Open House”, well, that was television’s first foray into late nights, and the Slate article linked below, will fill you in on a lot of background.

On the photos, I’ll add extra info, so be sure to check those out too. Happy Anniversary to Studio 6A, which has just been renovated, and is the new home of NBC’s new prime-time variety series, “Maya & Marty”. The show, starring Maya Rudolph and Martin Short, debuts on Tuesday, May 31, and promises a frothy mix of sketches, celebrity guests, music and other performances. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2015/05/broadway_open

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Although this is the debut night of “Texaco Star Theater” in 1948 in Studio 6B, the debut of “Broadway Open House” in Studio 6A would have looked almost like this, when it debuted 2 years after 6B was converted.

Studio 6A as it looked in 1961

“Broadway Open House” host, Jerry Lester at the end of the center camera ramp.

From the 1980s, here is a layout of 6A and 6B.To help you get your bearings, the stage is always to the left end and audience area is always on the right end in both A and B.

Until just a few months ago, “The Meredith Vieira Show” was done in 6A. IT was there for 2 years, and followed “Dr. Oz” in this space. Oz is now taping in ABC’s TV 1. (More recently, Jimmy Fallon is using this studio during Covid lockdown and 6B is being used by SNL for about half the band.)

6A Vieira Show

Conan set in 6A

6A Conan stage

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