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Overview

The Columbia Broadcasting System's Los Angeles Studio Building was one of the rare commissions undertaken by the pioneering New York-based Modern architect, William Lescaze, on the Pacific Coast. The International Style complex included a five-story, office tower and two, lower-rise buildings housing studios--including a central structure, the Columbia Playhouse, that could seat 1,050 people--and other facilities. It was bounded by Sunset Boulevard on the south, El Centro Avenue on the west, Selma Avenue on the north and North Gower Street on the east.

Building History

The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), headquarterted in New York CIty, purchased the Los Angeles KNX radio station from the struggling Western Broadcast Company in 1936 for about $1,200,000, envisioning that it would be company's Pacific Coast headquarters. (Western was owned by Guy C. Earl, Jr., Edwin Earl, Ransom Henshaw, Naylor Rogers, Calmon Lubovski and the Paul G. Hoffman Company, Incorporated. See "Plea Filed on KNX Deal," Los Angeles Times, 05/05/1936, p. 9.) In 1937, both the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and CBS planned and built large new radio facilities in the same section of Hollywood along Sunset Boulevard.

For its new West Coast broadcast center, CBS obtained land on Sunset Boulevard occupied after 1911 by the Nestor Film Company, Hollywood's first motion picture studio: “The new headquarters occupies the site of one of the earliest Hollywood motion-picture studios and will become the nerve center for the system’s western network, according to Donald W. Thornburgh, vice-president in charge of Pacific Coast operations. (See "New Broadcast Unit Dedicated," Los Angeles Times, 05/01/1938, p. A8.)

Swiss-born architect William Lescaze (1896-1969), who practiced primarily in New York, NY, created the original configuration, for the CBS Studios in 1936-1937. As originally built, Columbia Square consisted of a five-story office tower, surrounded by two buildings containing studios numbered 1 through 7, as well as the colossal, 1,050-seat Playhouse located in the center of the property. The studios combined the latest in broadcast and recording technology along with the capacity to accommodate live audiences, a first in the radio business. After 1940, two more studios, lettered B and C, were attached to the east of the Playhouse, which was then rechristened "Studio A."

Lescaze associated with Los Angeles architect Earl T. Heitschmidt (1894-1972), who was licensed in CA, on the CBS project. The CBS Pacific Coast headquarters opened on 04/30/1938 to much fanfare. (See "Columbia Broadcasting System Opens New Hollywood Headquarters Today," Los Angeles Times, 04/30/1938, p. 8.) As noted in the Los Angeles Times'sarticle of 05/01/1938, "William Lescaze of New York, designer of the new building participated in the dedication with [CBS President William S.] Paley and Thornburgh, who announced the intersection on which the unit is built has been officially named Columbia Square by the Board of Public Works.” (See “New Broadcast Unit Dedicated,” Los Angeles Times, 05/01/1938, p. A8.)

A Los Angeles Times newspaper article stated in 1937: “To its other distinctions Los Angeles is adding new fame as one of the world’s greatest radio cities. This is being accomplished by creation of a new Radio Center extending for three blocks along Sunset Boulevard from Vine street at the west to Gower street at the east in the heart of Hollywood. Within this area, the National Broadcasting Company, Inc., is about to begin construction of an extensive new plant and Columbia Broadcasting Systems new studios are rising. Columbia’s new plant is well advanced in an area that takes in all the block between Sunset Boulevard, Salem Place at the north, El Centro avenue at the west and Gower street at the east, exclusive of two small separated sites fronting on Salem Place. The investment there for land, improvements and equipment comes to $1,750,000. Columbia’s new five-story building on El Centro corner will house seven studios and two audition rooms. Set back the width of the principal building, in the center of the tract, is a theater with seating capacity of 1050. Space remains for construction of a second theater, and the main building foundations are strong enough to permit addition of four more studios. Architect William Lescaze designed the Hollywood building for Columbia Broadcasting System. Earl Heitschmidt is resident architect. The William Simpson Construction Company is the builder.” (See Charels C. Cohan, "Steps Taken for Huge Radio Center," Los Angeles Times, 10/31/1937, p. E1.)

Also in the 1938, a building on the eastern edge of the property housed three commercial storefronts facing Sunset Boulevard for Brittingham's Radio Center Restaurant, a Bank of America outlet and a menswear store.

After 1940, the studios were located next to the popular Palladium Night Club on West Sunset Boulevard. Earl Carroll's Theatre and Restaurant was also located nearby at 6230 West Sunset Boulevard. Some CBS musical programs were staged at both venues during the 1940s.

In 1968, Columbia Square supported multiple divisions of CBS, including "...the Hollywood headquarters for CBS Radio, CBS Television Stations Divisions and CBS Records Divisions and includes the offices of KNX. KNXT, Columbia and Epic Records.” (See “Renovation Started on CBS Columbia Square,” Los Angeles Times, 07/28/1968, p. N5.)

The coworking space and membership club, NeueHouse, signed a lease to open its first Los Angeles outlet in the former Columbia Square beginning in 07/2014 and moved into the renovated space by 10/2015.

Building Notes

The CBS Studios Building was given an Honor Award by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Southern CA Chapter, in 1939.

Alteration

In 1940, Studios B and C were built adjacent to the Columbia Playhouse studio, which was then renamed "Studio A."

Los Angeles architectural firm William Pereira and Associates began a renovation on 07/01/1968. The Los Angeles Times reported on this renovation that occurred at CBS Columbia Square in 1968-1969: “A $200,000 renovation project is under way on the CBS Columbia Square facility at Sunset Blvd. and Gower St. in Hollywood. The project, which began on July 1, involves exterior changes including new front and rear entrances and changes in the interior design of the building. A new main entrance will be located in the rear of what is now the forecourt between the frontal wing entrances for KNX, Columbia Records and KNXT. Included in the plan is a pedestrian walkway leading to the new rear entrance and exterior painting of all buildings. The design is being handled by William Pereira & Associates." (See “Renovation Started on CBS Columbia Square,” Los Angeles Times, 07/28/1968, p. N5.)