History of the Capitol Tower

Standing on what was formerly farm land and then a parking lot, the Capitol Tower is one of Hollywood’s most famous and identifiable landmarks. The structure can be spotted from miles away on the busy Los Angeles freeways – and even the skies are made aware of its presence, thanks to the red beacon light on top of the building that has blinked out H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D in Morse code since the Tower was officially opened on April 6, 1956, except, starting in June 1992 and lasting for one year, the beacon flashed "C-A-P-I-T-O-L-5-0" to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. Vacationers from all over the world visit the Capitol Tower each year to view the unique design and admire the Platinum® and Gold® records that adorn the building’s lobby.

Ground breaking for the Capitol Tower took place on September 27, 1954. Set to cost a then astronomical $2 million to construct, press releases at the time noted that this structure would be unlike any other – it would be the world’s first round office building.

The man responsible for this innovative circular design was architect Welton Becket, who had already become internationally renowned for his advanced and unorthodox creations including Los Angeles’ Prudential building and the Cairo Hilton, and would go on to help design the Los Angeles International Airport’s space-age inspired Theme Restaurant.

All though the sturdiest rumor about the building is that it was designed to look like a stack of records with a needle on top, this is not true. Beckett explained his design as providing “economy of construction, operation, and maintenance, plus maximum utilization of space.”

The master-of-ceremonies for the Tower’s groundbreaking was the announcer and cast member of the Jack Benny Show, Don Wilson, who would later become the narrator of many of Capitol's children’s records. Among those present were Capitol’s then President and chairman of the board (and one Capitol’s three co-founders) Glenn Wallichs and his family, song-writer Johnny Mercer (another of Capitol’s co-founders), and Mrs. Buddy DeSylva (who's husband was the third of Capitol's founders and the company’s first president).

Also attending the ceremonies were Mel Blanc, Les Baxter, as well as other Capitol recording artists, members of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Los Angeles City Council, and many, many interested fans. Afterwards, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Ad Club held a testimonial lunch banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel honoring, and roasting, Wallichs. Attendees included emcee Dean Martin, as well as Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and many local disc jockeys who helped narrate Capitol's history of hits up until that time.

Though completion was originally scheduled for October of 1955, the Capitol Tower enjoyed its official grand opening on April 6, 1956. The ceremonies were conducted with great Hollywood flair which included a multitude of celebrities, a dozen swirling searchlights, and bleachers erected to let fans watch all the excitement. The highlight of the evening came when Samuel Morse’s granddaughter, Leila, pulled the switch that lit the spire’s beacon for the first time. Attendees included EMI’s chairman of the board Sir Joseph Lockwood, many of Capitol Records’ recording artists including Gordon MacRae and his wife Shelia, future Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant, then KTLA reporter Stan Chambers, Ava Gardner, Pattie Andrews of the Andrews Sisters, and many other of Hollywood’s elite.

The Capitol Tower’s first nickname was “Glenn’s Silo,” referring to Glenn Wallichs’ Nebraska farm upbringing. It would also be known both as “The House That Nat Built” and “The House That Bozo Built” due to the vast amounts of records and merchandise both had sold for the company.

The Tower became an immediate Hollywood landmark, a "must-see" for tourists.

On July 23, 1987, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley proclaimed it “Capitol Tower Day,” characterizing the building as “one of Los Angeles’ most distinguishable landmarks” which has become “almost as recognizable as the Hollywood sign itself.”

Through the contributions of all of Capitol Records’ artists and employees, the Capitol Tower remains a symbol of exciting growth and progress and honors the memories of those who turned a dynamic little record company into one of the world’s leaders in the field of recorded entertainment.

Capitol Tower Facts and Figures:
• The Tower was Hollywood’s first air-conditioned high-rise office building.
• The Tower has 13 stories and is 150 feet tall.
• The circular floors of the building are approximately 90 feet in diameter.
• The second floor has a diameter of only 78 feet to give the rest of the Tower the appearance of “floating.”
• There are 72 windows on each floor and the Tower's distinctive porcelain enameled louvres protect the glass area from excessive heat and glare of the sun.
• The 82 foot trilon spire atop the Tower is just for looks except during the holiday season, when it supports the strands of lights that turn the top of the Tower into an award-winning giant Christmas tree display.