Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

Columbia's 30th Street Studio Revisited


By

Jen Carlson

Published Jul 1, 2008

Modified Jul 2, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Sly, May 1973

 

Gothamist

View all 5


By

Jen Carlson

Published Jul 1, 2008

Modified Jul 2, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

The Morrison Hotel Gallery (Soho loft) has announced their latest upcoming exhibit, opening later this month on July 18th. The installation will explore the history of Columbia Records 30th Street Studio through photographs. The space, which was converted from an Armenian church, is where Dylan recorded Highway 61, Miles made Kind of Blue, and Leonard Bernstein created West Side Story.

Now long gone, the only way back inside is through the old images on display, which Sony BMG (through their Icon Collectibles arm) culled from a massive photo archive containing more than one million. The small exhibit is comprised of around 30 of these photographs, mostly taken by Columbia Records in-house photographer Don Hunstein at the 207 East 30th Street studio; Huntstein also took the photo that became the cover art for The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.

Built in 1949, the building was later demolished; The NY Times took a look back at its glory days and ponders how the photo archive could be a "gold mine" for the struggling recording industry...at least for Sony.

Tagged

30th Street Studio

columbia records

Don Huntstein

morrison hotel gallery

photographs

studio


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE arts-entertainment

A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history

In 1972, legendary documentarian William Greaves filmed a party he threw for Harlem Renaissance luminaries. With help from his family, "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" brings that decades-old footage to theaters.

By

Sonia Rao

Published Oct 21, 2026


The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.

Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.

By

Sonia Rao

Arts & Entertainment

The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.

Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.

By

Sonia Rao


Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.

By

Sonia Rao

Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?

By

Elizabeth Shwe

and

James Ramsay

How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years

By

Hannah Frishberg


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .