Can Public Radio Save Columbia Square

[mwebster]

Viacom has moved all their radio and TV operations out of Columbia Square in Hollywood (see threads on the Classic Radio Board).  This historic art deco temple of radio was home to CBS' West Coast operations for much of radio's golden age.  Jack Benny, Bergen and McCarthy, Burns and Allen, Amos & Andy, Gunsmoke, Suspense and others all originated from these studios.  When old time radio faded, local station KNX became a full service station with Bob Crane doing morning drive.  Since 1968, it has been home to KNX Newsradio.  Now, according to an LA Times artice, this historic building is fated for the wrecking ball.  

I know people who work in public radio read this forum.  Columbia Square, restored to its former glory, would make an idea venue for public radio.  It would be great to have studio audiences lining up in the courtyard again to view public radio broadcasts in the same auditorium studio in which classic radio broadcasts originated.  Hope this plants a seed with the right people.

[Mark Jeffries]

> Viacom has moved all their radio and TV operations out of
> Columbia Square in Hollywood (see threads on the Classic
> Radio Board).  This historic art deco temple of radio was
> home to CBS' West Coast operations for much of radio's
> golden age.  Jack Benny, Bergen and McCarthy, Burns and
> Allen, Amos & Andy, Gunsmoke, Suspense and others all
> originated from these studios.  When old time radio faded,
> local station KNX became a full service station with Bob
> Crane doing morning drive.  Since 1968, it has been home to
> KNX Newsradio.  Now, according to an LA Times artice, this
> historic building is fated for the wrecking ball.  
>
> I know people who work in public radio read this forum.
> Columbia Square, restored to its former glory, would make an
> idea venue for public radio.  It would be great to have
> studio audiences lining up in the courtyard again to view
> public radio broadcasts in the same auditorium studio in
> which classic radio broadcasts originated.  Hope this plants
> a seed with the right people.

Great idea, but NPR just built a spanking new West Coast production facility a few years ago, as did Minnesota Public Radio when they took over KPCC.

KCRW could take it over, especially considering that XPN is opening their World Cafe Live club in Philly, but Santa Monica College might not be too happy and there'd be those who would say that it would be a monument to Ruth Seymour's ego.

As I said, great idea--it just may be too impractical to implement right now.