Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles

The Capitol Records building is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Hollywood. The 13-story earthquake resistant tower, designed by Welton Becket, was the world's first circular office building, and is home to several recording studios. The wide curved awnings over windows on each story and the tall spike emerging from the top of the building combine to give it the appearance of a stack of vinyl 45s on a turntable. The rectangular ground floor is a separate structure, joined to the tower after it was completed. It was built in 1956 just north of the intersection of Hollywood and Vine as the consolidated West Coast operations of Capitol Records. The blinking light atop the tower spells out the word "Hollywood" in Morse code.

Capitol Records was the first record company based on the West Coast, and has promoted such acts as The Beatles, the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Bob Seger, Duran Duran, Bonnie Raitt, Robbie Robertson, Steve Miller and Tina Turner.

The world's first circular office building resembles a stack of records; Nat King Cole is attributed to coming up with this concept. At night the tip of its spire blinks out "Hollywood" in Morse code. Both John Lennon and Garth Brooks have their "Walk of Fame" stars in front of Capital Records.

In 1956 Capitol Records built this building to resemble a stack of records at the suggestion of singer Nat King Cole and songwriter, Johnny Mercer. The red beacon atop the tower spells out "Hollywood" nonstop in morse code.

The Capitol Records Building is one of the more recognizable buildings in Los Angeles. It's located near the corner of Hollywood and Vine, an area that has been run down for years but is just starting to become interesting again with an influx of clubs and theatres.

Legned has it that singer Nat King Cole suggested that the their record company's headquarters be shaped to look like a stack of 45s (records). However, the architect (Welton Beckett )claims he just wanted to design a structure that was space efficient. Whatever the origin of the idea, it is an interesting design that still intrigues visitors.

Capitol Records was the first record company based in Los Angeles (traditionally, all the labels were located in New York). Over the years, they have produced albums for acts such as The Beatles, the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Duran Duran, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Miller and Tina Turner.

On the south wall of the building, be sure to check out artist Richard Wyatt's mural called "Hollywood Jazz, 1945-1972." It depicts musical legneds Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Miles Davis. Another random bit of trivia: the blinking light at the top of the tower spells out "Hollywood" in Morse code!

Here is a shot of the Capitol Records building from the intersection of Hollywood and Vine. This is a famous record company. Click on the web site below for more information.