CBS Studio 52: 254 West 54th Street
CBS Studio 52: 254 West 54th Street
As you may know, this became the famous Studio 54 nightclub in 1977, but it was built in 1924. It started as the Gallo Theater and by 1940 had become the New Yorker Theater. It sat empty for three years till CBS bought it in 1943 as a radio theater and named it Studio 52, because in New York, CBS named properties and studios in the order they were purchased. In 1948 it was converted to a television facility with a large and a small studio. Studio 52’s small studio was where a lot of commercials were done but many famous shows came from the big stage including ‘What’s My Line?’, ‘The $64,000 Question’, ‘Password’, ‘To Tell the Truth’, ‘Beat the Clock’, ‘The Jack Benny Show’, ‘I’ve Got a Secret’, ‘Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour’, and ‘Captain Kangaroo’. The soap opera ‘Love of Life’ was produced there until 1975. In 1976, CBS moved most of its broadcast functions to the Ed Sullivan Theater and the CBS Broadcast Center, and sold Studio 52. The Ed Sullivan Theater once had access to Studio 52 through an access door, which was cinder-blocked during the theater’s 1993 renovation for ‘Late Show with David Letterman’. There is a special attraction for me to Studio 52 because that’s where my first Norelco PC 60 came from.
What entrance is this? This can’t be the main entrance to the theater.
When I was 10-years-old I had a ventriloquist act and was featured on the TED MACK AND THE ORIGINAL AMATEUR HOUR program emanating from CBS-TVs Studio 52. It was a magical place!
I forgot to mention–I was taping a segment of Perry Como’s Christmas in New York. Jeff Margolis was the Executive Producer and Director. We taped a guitar solo with Tommy Motola.
If I remember correctly, this was a busy studio before color. It was located next to a power plant (with a building facade) and the generators put out energy waves that distorted pictures.
From 1975 to 1977 we lived @888 8th Avenue. Our apartment faced 53rd St. and we saw a lot of activity out the back door of Studio 54. My daughter was a pre-schooler at the time, and often the noise would awaken her. Still think of that every time I see Studion 54 mentioned!
And it was that access between 52 and 54 that resulted in The Honeymooners episode where the Kramdens appear on Beat The Clock. During breaks on The Honeymooners set Gleason liked to wander away and watch the game show.
I was there to produce the First Yahoo online music awards. Back in ’99. First meeting of the new media and old television media!
I saw a To Tell The Truth taping there in 1963
Thanks for the post. This is the first time I’d heard of Studio 52. I worked for CBS Chicago for 30 years and wasn’t aware of this facility! Nice historical update!
Thanks for the history! What laughs those walls have heard!