Here’s some of the TV Studio information from a former Times Square Studios employee.
Following WOR, Times Square Studios (TSS) owned by Marcelino Miyares opened in the 80’s with FNN-Financial News Network. When they moved out, the facility operated a variety of programs from two studios, one on the 3rd floor (Studio 3) and the other on the 4th floor (Studio 4). Both studios were above the main Rialto Theater. The decrepit mechanical room housing HVAC was above Studio 4.
Rumor had it some of the staff used to go up on the roof, get drunk and throw up on tourists below.
Some of the shows included Geraldo, Jane Pratt (short lived Fox talk show), Montel Williams, Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, numerous sports and cable shows as well as tapings for corporate videos such as Citibank.
Studio 3 housed green rooms; make up rooms, general client office space, video control room, audio control room, scenic storage, master control and engineering housing the equipment, video camera control (camera shading), the engineering repair office and the lighting director’s office. A small independent music producer was also sharing space on this floor.
Studio 4 is where the talk shows were taped (Geraldo, Jane and Montel). In addition to the studio support rooms as described in Studio 3, there was an audience holding area and electronic graphics department.
The main entrance to the studios at 1481 Broadway was the first door just north of the Rialto box office in between the theater and the arcade. The common staircase separated 1481 and 1485 Broadway. TSS’s general office space was actually in 1485 Broadway above the arcade. Joe Franklin’s office was up the staircase to the left located in a nook above the Rialto and below Studio 3.
We attempted to take over the Rialto upper theater and convert into a talk show stage but the cloud of condemnation from the Times Square Redevelopment Project always hung over it. We eventually gave up on that plan. In 1995/1996 TSS was forced heavy handedly to shut down. The city posted a security detail inside to prevent further operations but we did not go out without a fight. As a matter of fact, the music producer barricaded himself inside so the city wouldn’t confiscate his recording equipment.
Eventually, TSS gave in to bankruptcy and an auction was held for its equipment assets.
BTW, we did find and keep the WOR Romper Room Bumble Bee set piece in scenic storage.
Here’s some of the TV Studio information from a former Times Square Studios employee.
Following WOR, Times Square Studios (TSS) owned by Marcelino Miyares opened in the 80’s with FNN-Financial News Network. When they moved out, the facility operated a variety of programs from two studios, one on the 3rd floor (Studio 3) and the other on the 4th floor (Studio 4). Both studios were above the main Rialto Theater. The decrepit mechanical room housing HVAC was above Studio 4.
Rumor had it some of the staff used to go up on the roof, get drunk and throw up on tourists below.
Some of the shows included Geraldo, Jane Pratt (short lived Fox talk show), Montel Williams, Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, numerous sports and cable shows as well as tapings for corporate videos such as Citibank.
Studio 3 housed green rooms; make up rooms, general client office space, video control room, audio control room, scenic storage, master control and engineering housing the equipment, video camera control (camera shading), the engineering repair office and the lighting director’s office. A small independent music producer was also sharing space on this floor.
Studio 4 is where the talk shows were taped (Geraldo, Jane and Montel). In addition to the studio support rooms as described in Studio 3, there was an audience holding area and electronic graphics department.
The main entrance to the studios at 1481 Broadway was the first door just north of the Rialto box office in between the theater and the arcade. The common staircase separated 1481 and 1485 Broadway. TSS’s general office space was actually in 1485 Broadway above the arcade. Joe Franklin’s office was up the staircase to the left located in a nook above the Rialto and below Studio 3.
We attempted to take over the Rialto upper theater and convert into a talk show stage but the cloud of condemnation from the Times Square Redevelopment Project always hung over it. We eventually gave up on that plan. In 1995/1996 TSS was forced heavy handedly to shut down. The city posted a security detail inside to prevent further operations but we did not go out without a fight. As a matter of fact, the music producer barricaded himself inside so the city wouldn’t confiscate his recording equipment.
Eventually, TSS gave in to bankruptcy and an auction was held for its equipment assets.
BTW, we did find and keep the WOR Romper Room Bumble Bee set piece in scenic storage.
The building was a fun place to work in.