October 3, 1952…Television City Debuts 1 Day Before NBC Burbank
Both networks were working hard to finish their new west coast production facilities in the fall of 1952. When NBC announced in late September they had moved up their first broadcast date to October 4, a mad rush to finish CBS Studio 31 at Television City went into high gear, and on October 3, CBS broadcast “My Friend Irma” from there live. They were thrilled to beat NBC…even by one day.
In the photo, Studio 31 with the “Irma” set. In the foreground, the producers desk with the new master lighting console just behind it. Also shown here are tickets from what would be a wild weekend for TV audiences in Hollywood! -Bobby Ellerbee
What is in that studio today?
I believe Studio 33 was the home to The Carol Burnett Show, too.
Was NBC the 1st to broadcast in color?
Two daggers in NYC’s production roster. NYC Mayor Impelliteri was somewhat tone deaf to the need for larger sound stage – like floor plates for TV production then, which was live, though there were NYC officials who tried to address the issue. Know the networks were also unsure about which way TV production–film or live or future videotape–would go. In any case land in the L.A. basin was cheaper, and the Western film colony was a sleeping giant working out its disposition to TV even at those late dates.
A few years CBS did a special for Television City’s anniversary. Carol Burnett was one of the hosts. It also featured John Ritter. He mentioned that other networks used the studio too. Three’s Company was also filmed there.
I worked on Barry & Enright game shows on that stage.
Two days before I was born…
It’s too bad they couldn’t have saved a kinescope of the occasion as a memento. It would’ve been nice to have at least one Wilson-Lewis TV episode of My Friend Irma in existence.
Seeing all of Bobby’s great posts today about TV debuts, I think we should designate October 3rd as “Television History Day”.
TV City started with Studios 31, 33, 41, and 43 before adding 36 and 46 in the 1980’s. 36 was home to American Idol (and at one point, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon), while Dancing With The Stars of course occupies 46. And until they moved to Studio City a few years ago, CBS News’ Los Angeles bureau was also at Television City; they were never at KCBS/Columbia Square.
But unlike The Voice (which is done at Universal Studios), there’s no need to rent out mobile units or satellite trucks; everything’s right there at 7800 Beverly Boulevard.
Looks like a giant shop floor, like they could build mobile homes in it.
Listened to it on radio first. Cathy Lewis played Jane on both.
The ticket for IRMA states 5:30-6 PM. I looked up the 1952-53 schedule and there it was, (LIVE!) Friday at 8:30 PM ET. Was it carried live at 5:30 PT on the coast, or kinnied for 8:30 or another later broadcast time?
I had not realized live regular entertainment programs ever originated from CBS Television City in CA — let alone in 1952. Maybe this was in part a sweet recoup by CBS-TV from NBC’s flagship TV station in NYC — reminiscent of those Sooners in the Oklahoma land rush — slightly beating CBS-TV’s flagship station onto the air with commercial service on 1 July 1941! Thanks for yet another fascinating and illuminating post.
Television City gave a magic quality to live (and live on tape shows) done there. I enjoy watching kinescopes of The Jack Benny Program but if Don Wilson doesn’t say “from Television City in Hollywood,” I skip it. The one-camera filmed episodes shot at Desilu or Revue/Universal are dead by comparison. It seems like the intimacy of the audience to the performer made great performers even better. Even today, I can’t imagine “The Price Is Right” working as well without the audience right there and up close. Television City was unique in that the equipment didn’t get in the way. Whoever designed it that way was brilliant.
Stage 31 is the longtime home of “The Bold and the Beautiful”…