More From Glenn Mack, NBC’s Studio 6B ..
More From Glenn Mack
Below is another photo from Glenn of NBC’s Studio 6B just after Johnny Carson had left for California. In the weeks ahead, there will be more but in the meantime, here is a little about Glenn and how these photos came to be in his own words.
I grew up on Long Island, just outside New York City. It was during the golden era of New York television production. I had taken the NBC studio tour more times than I can remember. I was always interested in what went on behind the scenes. While watching The Tonight Show, I’d watch for a glimpse of the normally unseen part of the studio. I guess I got it from my dad, who was able to get into some Hollywood movie studios in the 40’s and 50’s. My Godfather was Robert Pittack, Cinematographer. (To me, most famous for shooting some of the Twilight Zone TV series). In that sense, I was always aware of the business.
I was thrilled when a friend of the family, who worked for NBC, brought me in for a personal tour. This was in 1972. I was around 15 years old, and I was just starting my interest in photography. My dad, who was really the photographer in the family, wasn’t going to let an opportunity like this go by. So, he outfitted me with a 35mm Pentax, a 400 ASA color slide film, and I was on my way. Keep in mind, no photography was allowed on the regular tour, so I was in heaven.
About a month later, another family friend who worked for CBS in New York, took me on a personal tour of CBS studios. There were no public tours of CBS, so this was really a coup. Of course, I brought the camera once again.
Now, many years later, I didn’t know if there was any interest in what I had. Until I found eyesofageneration.com, and Bobby Ellerbee. For a while, I was happy just looking at some of the great pictures Bobby would post. Then I decided to email him and tell him about some photos I had, that were “pretty good”. Judging by his reaction, I guess they are “pretty good”.
The are INDEED “pretty good” Glen! Do you have photos like this? Please let me know if you do!
Regarding the taking of pictures….I’ve taken a few, but never kept them much to my regret. Of course, I could also mention how many potential keepsakes I didn’t keep. I better start educating my grandkids now on what NOT TO THROW AWAY!!! 😉 (sorry, I had to get that out of my system.)
great!!
The status of Studio 6B at the moment is that it has been cleared out in preparation for the installation of two 50-foot long beams at the ceiling. These beams will support the floor of Studio 8G above and will allow the removal of a steel column in the floor of Studio 6B. This column has always been in the studio since the original construction in 1932. In addition to supporting the floor above, the column also supports a lighting equipment room which is accessible from the 7th floor. This equipment room has always intruded into the studio space, but creative set designers were always able to work around it. The lighting equipment will be moved to other space formerly occupied by part of the 7th floor commissary kitchen. Once the new beams are installed and the vertical column is removed, the entire studio will contain clear space with no obstructions. This will allow the studio to include a larger audience than it ever had before. With the Late Night show, there were approximately 190 seats. The new Tonight Show will have about 240 seats. I will have more photos of the studio once the show begins in February!
During my time at NBC, I have always taken opportunities to shoot pics of interesting activities in the building. I am still taking pictures to this day. When you’re taking the photos, you don’t think much about the future value of such pictures. But you must know by now that as things change, the history of your pictures becomes more important every day. Glenn, the few photos you’ve shown so far are history. You should be proud to have captured this historic studio as it once was. Thank you for doing so. Tony, I look forward to seeing your photos as well!
Somewhere in my attic I have lots of photos of this studio, including a few of Carson rehearsing in the afternoon. They were taken in 1967. I was a college student and had blanket permission from the NBC PR guy, Sid DesFore, to have a camera anywhere in the RCA Building. I was doing a feature for the Tampa newspaper on a student who was working as a paige at the NBC studios during the summer months. Yes, I will continue hunting for those negatives!
I’d say they’re better than “pretty good”. More like GREAT!