Radio Recorders, Inc.

Radio Recorders, Inc. was an influential American recording studio based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1933 at 932 North Western Avenue, it developed from a radio-production facility into one of the largest and most important independent recording operations in the world during the 1940s and 1950s. The studio moved to 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard by 1949, where its facilities supported radio transcription, commercial recording, disc mastering, music production, and sound-effects work. A major part of Radio Recorders' early business was the production of delayed-broadcast radio programs. Before magnetic tape became standard, network and local radio programs were recorded onto lacquer-coated aluminum discs. Studio C served as the technical center for this work. It contained multiple recording lathes and playback turntables, including a protected turntable used for programs being transmitted on the air. The lathes were mounted to reduce vibration from streetcars and other traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard, while telephone connections linked the studio with major stations and networks. The arrangement allowed several programs to be recorded or replayed simultaneously, often around the clock. Radio Recorders also became a preferred facility for record companies that had not yet established their own West Coast studios. RCA Victor, Columbia, Capitol, and Decca all used the company at various points, while independent labels and artists continued to book its rooms even after major labels expanded their own technical infrastructure. The client list included performers from popular, classical, jazz, country, and traditional music, including Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Sam Cooke, Jimmie Rodgers, Louis Armstrong, Mario Lanza, Patti Page, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Frankie Yankovic, Frank Zappa, and the Carpenters. The studio was also used by broadcaster and voice performer Paul Frees. Commercial jingles and sound-effect production became another important line of business. In 1959, the company's affiliate MP-TV Services acquired the sound-effect, jingle, and commercial-aid libraries of Standard Radio Transcription, Inc., strengthening Radio Recorders' position in the advertising and broadcast-services market. The company expanded through related facilities. In 1946, a former RCA Victor warehouse at 1032 North Sycamore Avenue was remodeled into a large room capable of accommodating approximately fifty musicians. Known as Radio Recorders Annex, or simply The Annex, it became an important recording and mastering location. Radio Recorders merged with Universal Recorders in 1960, and the combined organization operated as Radio-Universal Recorders. A new Sunset-Highland Division was established at 1441 North McCadden Place, making the combined operation the largest recording-studio organization in the United States at that time. The Annex later became independent. In 1965, engineer Thorne Nogar purchased the facility and operated it as Annex Studios. It attracted television, record-label, and mastering work, including music prepared for The Lawrence Welk Show and projects for Uni, GNP Crescendo, Dot, and Ranwood. The property later became associated with Record Plant and, in the late 1980s, reopened under the name Studio 56. During that period, artists including Guns N' Roses, Sugar Ray, Toni Braxton, Brandy, and No Doubt recorded there, and the facility was partly used for the documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown. In 2002, Pride Hutchison and Michael Dumas became partners in the operation and revived the original Radio Recorders name. The City of Los Angeles installed a historical street sign at the site in 2004. Between 2002 and 2008, the revived studio hosted projects by clients including Natalie Cole, Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Lil Jon, Xzibit, and Annie Lennox. The facility closed in 2008. The historical sign at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Orange Drive remained as a marker of the site's role in Los Angeles recording history.

Radio Recorders began in 1933 at 932 North Western Avenue in Los Angeles. Its initial importance came from the growth of radio broadcasting and the need to preserve programs for later transmission. During the 1940s and 1950s, the studio recorded large volumes of network and local radio transcriptions for delayed broadcast across the western United States. Since magnetic tape was not yet the normal recording medium, these programs were cut onto lacquer-coated aluminum discs. Studio C was central to this operation. It reportedly contained at least six recording lathes and turntables, together with a dedicated playback turntable for programs that were being transmitted on air. The playback equipment was protected from accidental contact, and the recording lathes were isolated in sand to limit vibration from traffic and streetcars on Santa Monica Boulevard. Telephone circuits connected the studio to important stations and networks. This infrastructure allowed the studio to operate continuously and to handle multiple programs with a relatively small engineering staff. By 1949, Radio Recorders was based at 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard. It became a major independent recording facility used by leading labels including RCA Victor, Columbia, Capitol, and Decca. These companies relied on Radio Recorders before building or expanding their own West Coast studios, and many continued to use the facility afterward. The studio's clientele ranged across popular music, jazz, classical music, country, traditional music, radio, and voice recording. Its documented users included Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Sam Cooke, Louis Armstrong, Mario Lanza, Patti Page, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, the Carpenters, and Paul Frees. Radio Recorders was also prominent in commercial audio. It became a major location for recording advertising jingles and maintained sound-effect and commercial-aid resources. In 1959, its affiliate MP-TV Services acquired the relevant libraries of Standard Radio Transcription, Inc., reinforcing the company's position in this sector. The company expanded its physical footprint in 1946 by converting a former RCA Victor warehouse at 1032 North Sycamore Avenue into a large studio. The room could accommodate roughly fifty musicians and was known as Radio Recorders Annex, or The Annex. In 1960, Radio Recorders merged with Universal Recorders. The combined business, Radio-Universal Recorders, opened a Sunset-Highland Division at 1441 North McCadden Place and was described as the largest recording-studio operation in the United States. The Annex followed a separate path after 1965, when engineer Thorne Nogar purchased it and operated it as Annex Studios. The facility provided recording and mastering services for record labels and television production. The Lawrence Welk program was an important long-term client, while the studio also handled work for Uni Records, GNP Crescendo Records, Dot Records, and Ranwood Records. The property later became associated with Record Plant, and in the late 1980s it reopened as Studio 56. During the Studio 56 period, artists such as Guns N' Roses, Sugar Ray, Toni Braxton, Brandy, and No Doubt used the facility. It was also partly used in the production of Standing in the Shadows of Motown. In 2002, Pride Hutchison and Michael Dumas became partners and revived the Radio Recorders name. The City of Los Angeles installed a historical street sign at the site in 2004. The renewed operation hosted projects for Natalie Cole, Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Lil Jon, Xzibit, Annie Lennox, and other clients between 2002 and 2008. The facility closed in 2008. The historical sign at Santa Monica Boulevard and Orange Drive remained visible as a reminder of the location's role in the development of Los Angeles recording.

• 2008

  Facility closes

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  The revived Radio Recorders operation ends, although the historical street sign remains at the site.

• 2004

  Los Angeles installs historical street sign

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  The city places a sign recognizing the historical significance of the Radio Recorders site.

• 2002

  Radio Recorders name is revived

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  Pride Hutchison and Michael Dumas become partners and restore the Radio Recorders identity at the facility.

• 1986

  Record Plant opens at the Annex location

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  Record Plant opens at the former Annex site in January.

• 1965

  The Annex becomes Annex Studios

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  Engineer Thorne Nogar purchases the Annex and operates it independently as Annex Studios.

• 1960

  Merger with Universal Recorders

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  Radio Recorders and Universal Recorders combine, with a new Sunset-Highland Division created at 1441 North McCadden Place.

• 1959

  Affiliate acquires commercial-audio libraries

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  MP-TV Services acquires Standard Radio Transcription's sound-effect, jingle, and commercial-aid libraries.

• 1949

  Main operation moves to Santa Monica Boulevard

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  Radio Recorders establishes itself at 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, its best-known Los Angeles location.

• 1946

  Radio Recorders Annex is created

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  A former RCA Victor warehouse at 1032 North Sycamore Avenue is converted into a large studio for ensembles of approximately fifty musicians.

• 1933

  Radio Recorders is founded

  [1]Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org

  The recording company begins operations at 932 North Western Avenue in Los Angeles.

A technically advanced, full-service independent recording facility serving radio networks, record labels, advertisers, broadcasters, and professional musicians.

• Broadcast production · 1933

  Radio recording and transcription

  Radio Recorders produced recordings of network and local programs for delayed broadcast, especially during the 1940s and 1950s. Before magnetic tape became widespread, the work was performed on lacquer-coated aluminum discs. The studio's telephone links, recording lathes, and protected playback equipment supported continuous, multi-program operation.

• Studio recording · 1933

  Music recording

  The company operated large studios and smaller rooms for popular, jazz, classical, country, and traditional music. Its facilities were used by major labels and by a broad roster of prominent performers, including Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and the Carpenters.

• Audio mastering

  Disc mastering

  Radio Recorders maintained disc-mastering capabilities alongside its recording rooms. Related facilities, particularly the Annex after its transition to independent operation, continued to provide mastering for record labels and music projects.

• Advertising audio · 1959

  Commercial jingles and sound effects

  Commercial audio was a significant part of the business. Radio Recorders recorded advertising jingles and used its affiliate MP-TV Services to expand access to sound-effect and commercial-aid libraries after the 1959 acquisition of Standard Radio Transcription materials.

• Studio recording · 1946

  Large ensemble recording at The Annex

  The Annex was created from a former RCA Victor warehouse and designed to accommodate approximately fifty musicians. It supported large-format music sessions, mastering, television music production, and later independent studio operations.

• 1962Goodie Knight re-election campaign recording

  United States

  H. B. Barnum and Bill Aken used Radio Recorders Annex to record a big-band version of "Goody, Goody" for Governor Goodwin J. "Goodie" Knight's re-election campaign.

  Source

• 2002

  Revival of the Radio Recorders nameStrategy

  Background

  After successive identities and uses at the site, the historic Radio Recorders name retained value as a Los Angeles recording landmark.

  Action taken

  Pride Hutchison and Michael Dumas became partners and brought the facility back under the original Radio Recorders name.

  Aftermath

  The studio operated under the revived identity until its closure in 2008 and hosted projects for established recording artists.

  Source

• 1965

  The Annex is separated into an independent studioStrategy

  Background

  The Annex had developed into a substantial recording and mastering facility distinct from the main Radio Recorders operation.

  Action taken

  Engineer Thorne Nogar purchased the property and began operating it as Annex Studios.

  Aftermath

  The independent studio attracted television production and mastering work for several record labels, including long-term work associated with The Lawrence Welk Show.

  Source

• 1960

  Merger with Universal RecordersM&A

  Background

  Radio Recorders operated in a growing market for large professional recording facilities, serving major labels, broadcasters, and independent artists.

  Action taken

  The company merged with Universal Recorders and established the Sunset-Highland Division at 1441 North McCadden Place.

  Aftermath

  The combined Radio-Universal Recorders organization was described as the largest recording-studio operation in the United States.

  Source

1. 1Radio Recordersen.wikipedia.org