Deep CBS Studio History…Part 1, The Dumont Camera Mysteries
Deep CBS Studio History…Part 1, The Dumont Camera Mysteries
Occasionally, we see Dumont cameras in use on some early CBS soap operas. Some of us had thought CBS may have had a half dozen at Leiderkrantz Hall, but in fact, they were at the Dumont studios where CBS leased space for for daytime programs.
Due to a building freeze during WW II and the rapid advance of television after that, studio space in New York was very tight. From what I can piece together, before the Dumont Tele Center was built in 1954, their programs came from 515 Madison Ave., Wanamakers, The Adelphi and the Ambassador Theaters.
The first and second photo with the old CBS logo is ‘The First Hundred Years’ which debuted on CBS December 4, 1950. The next two photos are from ‘Love Of Life’ with Larry Auerbach directing, in 1951. I think these either came from 515 Madison or The Ambassador Theater.
Even with Leiderkrantz Hall coming on line around 1949, ‘As The
World Turns’ and ‘The Edge Of Night’ both started at the DuMont Tele Center Studios at 205 East 67th Street, both on April 2, 1956.
‘The Edge Of Night’ moved to Studio 72 after ‘The Verdict Is Yours’ moved to Hollywood and ‘As The World Turns’ moved to Studio 65 around 1963. Studio 65 was reserved for a weekly Judy Garland show, but in April, 1963 she decided to do all her shows at CBS Television City in Hollywood. ‘The Edge Of Night’ moved to Studio 61 after some David Susskind drama specials left. Sometimes, ‘Candid Camera’ and ‘On Broadway Tonight’ aired there until the end of the summer of 1965.
More to come tomorrow in Part 2. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Mystery solved..?? I had always been under the impression that the two shots of my dad above (Larry Auerbach) were in Liederkranz (although he did briefly work in the old Dumont Grand Central studio as well). But there was some doubt whether Liederkranz ever had any Dumont cameras. Answer: indeed they did! I just noticed the studio number stenciled onto the pedestal in another photo from the same time period: Studio 56 (Liederkranz) — with a Dumont camera on it!
Thank your for all that you do. Happy New Year!
The Guiding Light and I think The Brighter Day originated from Liederkrantz Hall. Until 1956, TGL’s cast would do the TV version then go to 485 Madison to do the same script for radio. CBS NY Retired Engineers has a website with info on the studios used by the three nets – I don’t recall if Dumont’s are included.
Found It! CBS Leases Leiderkarntz Hall, June 1949. Billboard Magazine, thanks to David Schwartz.
Didn’t Larry Auerbach pass very recently.