Kaufman Astoria Studios
Paramount Studios Complex | |
New York City Landmark No. 0977
| |
Location | 35th Ave., 35th, 36th, and 37th Sts., Astoria, Queens, New York City |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°45′27.74″N 73°55′25.77″W / 40.7577056°N 73.9238250°W |
Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
Built | 1921 |
Architect | Multiple |
NRHP reference No. | 78001897[1] |
NYCL No. | 0977 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | November 14, 1978 |
Designated NYCL | March 14, 1978 |
The Kaufman Astoria Studios is a film studio located in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York City. The studio was constructed for Famous Players–Lasky in 1920, since it was close to Manhattan's Theater District. The property was taken over by real estate developer George S. Kaufman in 1982 and renamed Kaufman Astoria Studios.
The studio is home to New York City's only
History
20th century
The studio was originally constructed for
Paramount used the Astoria studio heavily in the early years of talking pictures, primarily for short subjects starring New York-based stage and radio performers:
In 1932, after Paramount Pictures moved all studio operations to California, the Astoria location was turned over to independent producers, including Walter Wanger, whose films were released through Paramount[4] or other Hollywood film companies. All the films starring tango icon Carlos Gardel made in the United States were shot at Astoria Studios. Gloria Swanson cites the studio as, "the studio where I'd been making all of my pictures since 1923" in her autobiography Swanson on Swanson. In 1938, ...One Third of a Nation... was the last feature film to be shot there during that era.[3]
Educational Pictures rented space at the facility during the 1930s, until Educational closed its doors in 1938. The last theatrical films produced at Astoria were a series of short Robert Benchley comedies released by Paramount between 1940 and 1942.
In 1942, the United States Army Signal Corps Army Pictorial Service took over the studio for the making of Army training films until 1971, including The Big Picture, shown on American network television and later in syndication.
In 1975, the studio opened again for shooting on Thieves.[3]
In 1978, the property was designated a national
In 1981, New York City received an Urban Development Action Grant from the federal government for the renovation and expansion of the studio which Kenneth Schuman, NYC Commissioner for Economic Development, described as being of "compelling public interest".[5]
In 1982, the property was taken over by real estate developer George S. Kaufman and renamed Kaufman Astoria Studios.[6]
21st century
Kaufman Astoria Studios has seven sound stages including the new Stage K, designed by the Janson Design Group.[7]
In 2008,
On December 3, 2013, a 34,800 square foot backlot was dedicated. It is the only studio backlot in New York City.[2]
In 2014, Kaufman Astoria Studios announced plans to build a new 18,000-square-foot sound stage on its Astoria campus within two years.[9]
In 2020, Kaufman Astoria Studios announced a five-block redevelopment project around the studio, in conjunction with Larry Silverstein, Bedrock Real Estate, and ODA Architecture. The area would be called Innovation QNS and stretch from 37th to 43rd Streets from 35th to 36th Avenues. The project, to cost $2 billion, would add 2,700 residential units, 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) for shops and restaurants, and 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) for creative industries.[10][11] Construction could begin in 2023.[12]
Notable productions
Motion pictures filmed there include the musicals
Television shows filmed at the studio include
Performers' images
The walls of the studio are lined with signed images of the performers who have worked in the studios, including
References
Notes
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b Anuta, Joe (December 3, 2013). "Kaufman Astoria Studios grows Hollywood-style backlot and matching gate". Crain's New York Business.
- ^ Archive.org.
- ^ "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on July 1, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2016. Note: This includes Elizabeth Spencer-Ralph (August 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Paramount Studios Complex" (PDF). Retrieved August 1, 2016. and Accompanying 12 photographs
- ^ Allen, Joy (March 21, 1981). "Koch Aides Vow to Fight for Studio". Newsday. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ Levere, Jane L. (June 11, 2008). "Square Feet: A Big New York City Movie Studio Is Getting Bigger". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ "Sesame Street Wedding". Studio Times. Kaufman Astoria Studios. Summer 2009. p. 4. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- ^ Barbarino, Al (April 22, 2014). "Kaufman Astoria Studios to Build Eighth Studio". Commercial Observer.
- ^ Loria, Keith (July 2, 2020). "Kaufman, Silverstein and Bedrock Unveil $2B Development in Astoria". Commercial Observer. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Brand, David (July 2, 2020). "Developers propose new five-block residential district near Astoria's Kaufman Studios". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Weaver, Shaye (July 6, 2020). "This massive $2 billion cultural hub could be coming to Astoria". Time Out New York. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Munoz, Cassandra (December 6, 2013). "Film Locations: Orange is the New Black". Untapped New York. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
Further reading
- "Famous Players–Lasky Studio" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. March 14, 1978.
- Richard Koszarski, The Astoria Studio and Its Fabulous Films: A Picture History with 227 Stills and Photographs. New York: ISBN 9780486244754
- Richard Koszarski, Hollywood on the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff. New Brunswick, NJ / London: ISBN 978-0-8135-4293-5
External links
- Official website
- Army Pictorial Center, built in 1919 as Famous Players Studio
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NY-5716, "Astoria Studios, Barracks Buildings, Thirty-fourth Ave between Thirty-fifth & Thirty-sixth Streets, Queens (subdivision), Queens County, NY", 3 data pages
- Kaufman Astoria Studios at Internet Movie Database