DuMont Building
Encyclopedia
The DuMont Building is a 532 foot (162 m) high building at 53rd Street
and Madison Avenue in New York City
.
The building was built in art deco
style by John H. Carpenter and designed by his brother, architect J.E.R. Carpenter who also designed Lincoln Tower
as well as nearly 125 buildings along Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
.
One of the building's most distinctive features is a broadcasting antenna that traces back to the building's role in the first television broadcasts of WNYW
in 1938.
In 1938, Allen B. DuMont
began broadcasting experimental television W2XWV from the building. In 1944, the station became WABD
(named for his initials). The station was one of the few that continued to broadcast through World War II
. The broadcast of news about the dropping of the atomic
bomb on Nagasaki in 1945 was considered the beginning of the DuMont Television Network
. After the war, the network/station moved to bigger studios - first at the old Wanamaker's
store at Ninth and Broadway
in Greenwich Village, then the Adelphi Theatre, the Ambassador Theatre, and in 1954 to the Jacob Ruppert
Central Opera House at 205 East 67th and which today is the Fox Television Center.
In 1947, the building was the site of a protest by 700 picketers demanding that the United States end diplomatic relations with Spain
as a protest against the government of Francisco Franco
at the site of the Spanish consulate, located in the building.
In 1962, the 250000 square feet (23,225.8 m²) building was sold to Newmark & Co. which still owns and manages it.
In 1977, WKCR-FM, the radio station of Columbia University
, became the first radio (or television) station to transmit from the antenna atop the World Trade Center
, having previously broadcast from an antenna atop the DuMont Building for 19 years, until the construction of other surrounding skyscrapers started interfering with the station's signal.
53rd Street (Manhattan)
53rd Street is a midtown cross street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, that contains buildings such as the Citicorp Building. It is 1.83 miles long. The street runs westbound from Sutton Place across most of the island's width, ending at DeWitt Clinton Park at Eleventh Avenue...
and Madison Avenue in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The building was built in art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style by John H. Carpenter and designed by his brother, architect J.E.R. Carpenter who also designed Lincoln Tower
Lincoln Tower
Lincoln Tower may refer to:*Lincoln Tower, a skyscraper at Lincoln Center in Oregon, United States*Lincoln Bank Tower, an Art-Deco skyscraper in Indiana, United States*Lincoln Memorial Tower, a nineteenth century building in London, United Kingdom...
as well as nearly 125 buildings along Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
.
One of the building's most distinctive features is a broadcasting antenna that traces back to the building's role in the first television broadcasts of WNYW
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
in 1938.
In 1938, Allen B. DuMont
Allen B. DuMont
Allen Balcom DuMont also spelled Du Mont, was an American scientist and inventor best known for improvements to the cathode ray tube in 1931 for use in television receivers. Seven years later he manufactured and sold the first commercially practical television set to the public...
began broadcasting experimental television W2XWV from the building. In 1944, the station became WABD
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
(named for his initials). The station was one of the few that continued to broadcast through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The broadcast of news about the dropping of the atomic
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
bomb on Nagasaki in 1945 was considered the beginning of the DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
. After the war, the network/station moved to bigger studios - first at the old Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. At its zenith in the early 20th century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York City at Broadway...
store at Ninth and Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
in Greenwich Village, then the Adelphi Theatre, the Ambassador Theatre, and in 1954 to the Jacob Ruppert
Jacob Ruppert
Jacob Ruppert, Jr. , sometimes referred to as Jake Ruppert, was a National Guard colonel; a U.S. Representative from New York; and brewery owner, who went on to own the New York Yankees...
Central Opera House at 205 East 67th and which today is the Fox Television Center.
In 1947, the building was the site of a protest by 700 picketers demanding that the United States end diplomatic relations with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as a protest against the government of Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
at the site of the Spanish consulate, located in the building.
In 1962, the 250000 square feet (23,225.8 m²) building was sold to Newmark & Co. which still owns and manages it.
In 1977, WKCR-FM, the radio station of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, became the first radio (or television) station to transmit from the antenna atop the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
, having previously broadcast from an antenna atop the DuMont Building for 19 years, until the construction of other surrounding skyscrapers started interfering with the station's signal.