Coordinates: 40°45′33″N 73°58′27″W / 40.759164°N 73.974123°W / 40.759164; -73.974123

The CBS Studio Building is a seven-story office building at 49 East 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan that has at various times served as a Vanderbilt family home, the first graduate school of the Juilliard School, CBS Radio studios and Columbia Records studio.

It is currently owned by the Fisher Brothers who converted it to an office building in conjunction with construction of the 45-story Park Avenue Plaza to its east.

Contents 1 Vanderbilts 2 Juilliard 3 CBS Radio 4 Columbia Records 5 Fisher Brothers 6 References

[edit] Vanderbilts

It was built in 1908 as a guest house for the Vanderbilts who had a home a block away at Fifth Avenue (Manhattan) and 52nd. It was designed by Warren & Wetmore.^[1]

[edit] Juilliard

In 1924 the Vanderbilts sold it to the Juilliard Musical Foundation where it became Juilliard's first graduate school.^[2]

[edit] CBS Radio

In 1939, CBS which had its corporate headquarters across the street at 485 Madison Avenue bought the building to move its radio operation (except for the main network newsroom) across the street. CBS called the building 'Studio 21.

Architects Fellheimer & Wagner extensively renovated the building including eliminating the earlier Vanderbilt ornate external features eliminating windows for soundproofing and carved up the building into seven studios including one which could accommodate audiences of 300 as well as symphony orchestras that could broadcast. Arthur Godfrey broadcast from the building and had his main office there. ^[1]

[edit] Columbia Records

With the advent of television, the radio studios no longer needed the large studios that could accommodate audiences; the focus of the studio shifted to a recording studio for Columbia Records. Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and Paul Simon recorded music there.^[1]

[edit] Fisher Brothers

In 1965 CBS sold its headquarters building as well as the studio and moved to new quarters two blocks west on 52nd Street in the CBS Headquarter Building. Radio operations moved to the CBS Broadcast Center.

In 1979 the Fisher Brothers acquired the building in conjunction with construction of the Park Avenue Plaza building to its west. A Duane Reade store opened on the ground level and CBS for several years used the space for office use. Fisher ultimately undid the building stark modern style, replacing the windows and restoring the building to its original Vanderbilt appearance.

[edit] References