A Rare And Detailed Look At NBC’s Brooklyn Studios…Part 2 of 2
A Rare and Detailed Look At NBC’s Brooklyn Studios…Part 2 of 2
Today, we will take a look inside what was once the world’s biggest color television studios…that’s biggest in size and reputation.
Starting with the floor plan and sizes, Studio I was 163′ by 70′ with 24′ from the floor to the light grid. The floor area is 11,200 square feet and had an audience capacity of 420 in fold away bleachers.
Studio II, built from the ground up by NBC, was the smaller of the two, but had much more head room. It had 9,700 square feet of floor space and from floor to lighting grid was 39′. It was 131′ by 75′ and held an audience of 582 in fold away bleachers.
The famous swimming pool built for ‘The Ester Williams Aqua Spectacular’ which aired live November 29, 1956 is still there, under the floor of Studio I. Amazingly, there is a full basement under both studios and back in the day, was jam packed with scenery, props and equipment. I think the swimming pool was on the back wall, at the top of the Studio I floor plan. Studio II was used as the “dry” set with all the dance numbers and Studio I was the “wet” set.
I’ve included an October 1956 Broadcasting Magazine article that talks about the three-color studios opening soon, which include Brooklyn II, The Ziegfeld Theater and Burbank’s Studio 4. Remember from yesterday’s post, Brooklyn I debuted September 12, 1954. I have put notes on all the attached photo to let you know what you are seeing, so please click on each individually. Thanks to Dennis Degan for saving these treasures from the now defunct JC Studios site. Enjoy and SHARE! -Bobby Ellerbee
Here a link to Part 1 A Rare And Detailed Look At NBC’s Brooklyn Studios…Part 1 of 2 – Eyes Of A Generation…Television’s Living History
Up top’s the floor plan…notice in the wedge, we see the control room for Studio I about halfway up. The control room for Studio II is near the entrance at the lower left. 14th Street is at the bottom, 13th at the top. On the left is Avenue M and, on the right, Locust Avenue.
This is photo 1 of Studio I…to help you get your bearings, Studio II would be to our left. There are two 20′ doors on the left wall, one (the one open here) opens to a loading dock area, the other unseen door into Studio II. The CR would be on our right and is behind these recently added craft rooms on the right.
Photo 2 of Studio I, now we see both elephant doors…the one on the far left opens into Studio II. This is where all 4 color productions of ‘Peter Pan’ were done. I think in the live colorcast of 1957, the flying rig went through this upper left door into Studio II and both studios were used.
Photo 3 of Studio I. According to the floor plan, these added on structures on the right are craft rooms and are in front of the audio and control rooms which are behind them on that wall.
This is photo 1 of Studio II…here we are looking at the back wall and behind that elephant door is Studio I. The main entrance to Studio II would be behind us on the far right (not shown). On the right is the 14th Street wall and Avenue M would be behind us. The blue door opens into a hallway that gives access to production offices, audio, video and control.
Photo 2 of Studio II showing the grid.
Photo 3 of Studio II. 14th street is behind us, Avenue M to our left and Studio I, to the right. This door opens to the loading dock area.
This is the rear of Studio I…we are at the corner of E 13th and Locust Ave. The cars are parked on Locust Ave. I think the Esther Williams swimming pool was on this end, just behind this wall.
Just for fun, here is one of the old WB audio units that was garaged at WB-Vitagraph Brooklyn studios in the 40s. Nice restoration job,
This was where the Cosby Show was Taped in the earlier Seasons
I worked there with Bill Vacarro and many others. It would be a shame if these studios went unused !!
I spent nearly ten years working there on Another World. Boy, I miss that place, and the great cast and crew.
I’m a native NYer and never knew the Peacock had facilities like this. Are they still in use as studios, Bobby?
This is Studio II…the red truck is on Ave M and 14th is the cross street. There was a lobby entrance on both sides of the Studio II building. You can see the 14th street entrance just above the truck cab.
This is the 14 street side entrance. There was another at the corner of M and 14th.