This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
No More NBC Studio Tours in Beautiful Downtown Burbank
Photo by ˜db˜ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
It's the end of an era in beautiful downtown Burbank. At noon today, guests took the last tour of the NBC Studios there.
For decades, tourists have been able to pop in on NBC's Burbank lot and get visits to sets including"The Tonight Show" from willing and cheerful pages. But the studio has been sold and most of NBC has or is moving over to the Universal lot so the tours are ending.
The NBC Studio tour was unique among its contemporaries, as no other major commercial network offers visitors a chance to see television production facilities behind-the-scenes. Seeing Stars has warned past guests that the modest tour "is not a theme park in disguise," (you know, like that one down the way in a city called Universal), but also glossed quite a bit (or just walked you by key spots on the lot) during the 90-minute tour, of which for many the highlight remained the Johnny Carson "Tonight Show" set (Leno moved out of that in 1994).
For local blogger Mike (Schneider) of Franklin Avenue, who ended up working in media in L.A., the NBC Studio tour was a personal favorite when visiting the area in the 1980s:
A trip to see the NBC lot was cool in itself -- I was steps away from the likes of Brandon Tartikoff, a name I knew thanks to reading TV Guide. But then we actually got to see the "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" set when it was dark, plus walk past soundstages and see the local news set. For a 10 year-old, that was all awesome.
Since not many NBC TV shows were actually shot at NBC Studios, the tour in recent yearswas more likely to appeal to the heftily nostalgic, thrifty (tours were less than $10), or soap opera fanatics.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
