A Rare Color Photo of CBS Television City Studio 33
A Rare Color Photo of CBS Television City Studio 33
Perhaps the most famous of the TVC studios is 33. This is the only one left that has the side wings and the built in theater seating. Here is a shot from behind the lighting directors console from around 1953.
As mentioned in the post just before this, the dynamics of production changed as with this much space, you could have horizontal production with the cameras and crew moving from side to side on stage instead of operating in a maze of set walls as was necessary in most NYC productions. I think this set is either ‘My Friend Irma’ or ‘My Favorite Husband’.
You can’t see the wings, but you can see how far the center ramp comes out into the audience. Studio 31 was originally a mirror image of 33…the only difference was that in 31, the lighting board was on the other side of the control room which we see the corner of at the far right in this photo. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Why wouldn’t there be B&W cameras on the runway past 1953?
I’m intrigued by what appear to be the vintage color monitors overhead!
I’m really taken by the Izenour lighting console. Prof. Izenour was a theatrical stage technical wizard. Prior to his electronic Thyratron tube dimmer, which he licensed to Century Stage Lighting, large “boards” covering a whole wall were the norm using large rheostats and later, I. Some cases, auto transformers. Interestingly the new lighting control system couldn’t be used in many New York theaters as they were stilled wired for Edison’s DC power distribution rather then AC.
I got to walk the perimeter of Studio 33 in 2004. The Price Is Right set was up at the time. We walked in the studio through the large scenic doors on the one end of the studio. We then turned right and walked behind The Price Is Right doors. We next took a left and passed between the turntable and Door#1 and walked around the front of the turntable. We next went behind the curtain to the left side of the audience and passed through the producers and sound effects area behind the curtain. We took another left and entered the control booth behind the audience and continued on through the audio booth next door. We took still another left and walked behind the curtain on the right side of the audience and came out directly behind Rich Field’s announcer’s stand. We then walked behind Door#3 and back out the large scenic doors through which we originally entered. What an exciting and heart pounding experience. I was fascinated by Studio 33 since I was 17 years old and The Price is Right first came on the air. I even attempted to draw the floor plan many times.
Please keep up the great work on this page Bobby. It’s just great!!! Thank you.