Insider’s History of The Hollywood Palace
Insider’s History of The Hollywood Palace
Thanks to ABC Hollywood veteran Don McCroskey, here’s a look behind the curtain of a place many of us remember as The Hollywood Palace.
ABC started doing shows from what was then called the El Capitan theater in the fall of 1957 using equipment installed by NBC in 1950 to do musical-variety shows such as Martin & Lewis. The Frank Sinatra and Guy Mitchell shows were done from there for only one season. In the Summer of 1963, the theater was reactivated with an RCA TS-40 video switcher and an RCA (Hollywood built) audio console.
The Jerry Lewis show was expensively produced but a failure after only 12 shows. It was replaced by the Hollywood Palace show (and the name of the theater changed) which ran from January 4, 1964 thru February 7, 1970. The King Family show ran January 23, 1965 thru January 8, 1966. The above picture was probably taken sometime before the summer of 1965 since the barber shop was bought out to make room for the TK-41-C color camera and Ampex color video tape installation. All shows from the Palace were in color from September, 1965 on. Lawrence Welk did shows from the Palace until PC-60 color cameras were installed in Stage E in the Fall of 1966.
When I started in 1972, I did utility on the Merv Griffin Show that was shot here also. As a tape operator, I worked there along with Nick Giradano who was the lead tape editor using two AMPEX VR-2000 2 inch machines. It was a fun show to work and I learned a lot from Nick. Later the tape machines were removed and the show was taped at the Prospect Lot via TELCO lines.
Indeed, the pioneer era of television was a golden time. However, I’m happy about the current technology. The marriage of television and computers have brought the people of the world into uncharted territory. Instead of only a few “corporations” deciding the information flow, its now an Amazon river of visual and audio flow from the people. When I can put the entire history of the written word of humans, the total history of the audio and visual world, and make my own HD world with a device that fits in my back pocket, THIS is the golden age!
I sure miss the old days of analog TV Dave. These bits of TV equipment I saw in my childhood is what developed my interest in working in Television. Who would think that 30 years later I would have a video projector in my home that less than 30 pounds instead of 500. If I was born in 1993, TV today would not fascinate me as it did in the 60’s with video tape machines, telecine equipment, switchers, and big cameras. Now everything is just a box with a Windows or Mac logo on it. Gone is a lot of the physical skill, reaction time, and creativity that went into making Television programs.
Great stuff to share, Bob!!
I saw shows there at least 3 times there in the late 60’s. I remember a BIG SCREEN projector in the balcony called a BIG SKY. Used 3 tubes to project a very nice image. If you had to sit in the balcony, you were so far away you needed it to see what was going on below. It was a great show of a type we will never see again. Sad.
I always liked it when they did high wire acts in the parking lot.’
“This is Your Life” was done here in the 1950s….including the Laurel and Hardy episode (available on Youtube).
I have stood outside the theater. Now it is a venue for music concerts.
Fantastic! Loved Hollywood Palace and Marvelous Merv (who was one of the nicest multi-millionaires I have ever met).