The Vibrant History Of Sky Hollywood

1900-1920s

Early Hollywood History

Black-and-white photo of a small house with trees and a vintage car parked at the curb.

Even before the construction of Columbia Broadcast Studios, the site at the northwest corner of Sunset and Gower had long been engrained in the entertainment industry. In 1911, the Nestor Film Company opened the first movie studio in Hollywood - under English-born, American film pioneers David and William Horsley. The site was formerly the Blondeau Tavern, and the first motion picture stage in Hollywood was built behind the tavern.

Photo // Blandeu Tavern

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Silent-film title card for “Rowdy Ann” by Fay Tincher, with a cowboy, bull, and silhouetted rider on a hill.

In 1919, short film producer Al Christie took ownership, and Nestor Film Company was dubbed a part of “Poverty Row” - 1920s slang for small B movie studios, many of which were located in the area of Sunset and Gower.

View Short Film

Black-and-white street view of KNX building under construction, with cars parked along the road.

In the 1920s there were great improvements made in sound recording and radio technology, allowing for radio to spread across the country with Hollywood as an early epicenter for the industry. In 1936 KNX Radio was purchased by Columbia Broadcasting System, one of two nationwide broadcast networks, and plans were made to construct Columbia Square, which would serve as CBS’ West Coast Flagship.

Photo // Herman Scultheis photo of KNX radio with Columbia Square being built

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1930s

The Beginning of Columbia Square

Man seated at a desk speaking into a CBS radio microphone while reading papers

William S. Paley, founder of CBS, commissioned the construction of CBS Columbia Square and hired high-profile architect William Lescaze to design the complex.

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Black-and-white city skyline under dramatic clouds, captioned “April 1938.”

The exteriors were designed in Lescaze’s trademark International Modernism Style, and the interiors were designed to accommodate the latest innovations in broadcast technology; it was the first building to integrate broadcast technology with the capability to include a live studio audience.

Photo // Marc Wanamaker photo of completed Columbia Square

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"IT IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THESE NEW HOLLYWOOD HEADQUARTERS, REFLECTING MANY INNOVATIONS OF DESIGN AND ACOUSTICS AND CONTROL, WILL IMPROVE THE ART OF BROADCASTING THAT WE HAVE BUILT THEM AND ARE DEDICATING THEM HERE TONIGHT."

- William S. Paley

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The grand opening celebration included a star-studded radio program, "A Salute to Columbia Square," which was broadcasted nation wide and included guests Al Jolson, Bob Hope, Cecil B. Demille.

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1930s

The Beginning of Columbia Square

William S. Paley, founder of CBS, commissioned the construction of CBS Columbia Square and hired high-profile architect William Lescaze to design the complex.

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Photo // Marc Wanamaker photo of completed Columbia Square

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"IT IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THESE NEW HOLLYWOOD HEADQUARTERS, REFLECTING MANY INNOVATIONS OF DESIGN AND ACOUSTICS AND CONTROL, WILL IMPROVE THE ART OF BROADCASTING THAT WE HAVE BUILT THEM AND ARE DEDICATING THEM HERE TONIGHT."

- William S. Paley

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The grand opening celebration included a star-studded radio program, "A Salute to Columbia Square," which was broadcasted nation wide and included guests Al Jolson, Bob Hope, Cecil B. Demille.

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