CBS Studios…Before And After The Broadcast Center Opened
CBS purchased the Sheffield Farms dairy depot in 1952 and for many years, it was used mostly for scenery and storage. In the early 60s, it was known as the Production Center as many of CBS’s shows had offices here, like Ed Sullivan. In early 64 work began to convert the building to studio space and by late that year master control finally moved from Grand Central to the new CBS Broadcast Center. With five large studios, and other smaller ones, CBS moved shows in from their many of site stages. More in Comment section.
Among other department heads, CBS News president Bill Leonard (below with Cronkite) was elated with the move. It was the first time many of the CBS News people ever met. Film labs, editing, offices and studios had been spread all over town, but now the department became much more cohesive and efficient. Director of Engineering, Joe Flaherty (who was in charge of the conversion) said the same of his engineering and production people.
Does anybody know what happened to the scale model that stood in the 57th Street lobby of the Broadcast Center for many years?
Studio 65 on 26th St. still survives as All Mobile Video’s Chelsea Studios.
I loved working in that building. I swear I knew every inch of that place.
What was “Master Control”?