kaufman studios tour

Kaufman Astoria Studios

New York City

Opened in 1920 by Paramount Pictures

1941 – 1971 – Army took over making training films

1977 – Astoria Motion Picture and Television Foundation created

1981 – One of the studio buildings made into the American Museum of the Moving Image

1992 onwards – Sesame Street (since 1969, in Manhattan)

2020? – New ONStage office building opened

Films – The Wiz (Diana Ross, Michael Jackson Radio Days The Cotton Club

Productions shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios

Simply Queens

Kaufman Astoria Studios: Iconic NYC Filming Hub

Amidst the bustling landscape of New York City, Kaufman Astoria Studios emerges as a beacon of the entertainment industry. Nestled in the heart of Astoria, Queens, this historical gem serves as an epicenter for film …

Amidst the bustling landscape of New York City, Kaufman Astoria Studios emerges as a beacon of the entertainment industry. Nestled in the heart of Astoria, Queens, this historical gem serves as an epicenter for film and TV production , where the passion for storytelling meets the marvel of moviemaking. With its legacy of legendary projects and state-of-the-art facilities, Kaufman Astoria is not just one of the premier New York film studios but an iconic filming location revered across the globe. The fusion of Astoria Queens entertainment culture within its walls has solidified Kaufman Astoria Studios as an invaluable asset to creatives and visionaries in the world of cinema.

Key Takeaways

• Historic stalwart among New York film studios , offering unparalleled services.
• A central pillar in Astoria Queens entertainment , thriving in film and TV production .
• Known for its iconic filming locations , fostering cinematic creation and innovation.
• A diverse array of facilities that accommodate modern filmmaking demands.
• A storied venue that upholds the allure and grandeur of New York City’s vibrant film culture.

A Storied Past: The History of Kaufman Astoria Studios

The historical film studios of Kaufman Astoria have witnessed a remarkable century of cinematic innovation, from the birth of silent era cinema to the digital age that defines the contemporary NYC film industry . Nestled in the heart of New York, these legendary studios not only echo the glories of classic movies but also resonate with the vibrant beats of modern, Emmy-awarding TV shows .

The Origins and Early Years

In the rosy dawn of the 20th century, Kaufman Astoria Studios germinated as a seedling in the sprawling garden of Paramount Pictures, during the halcyon days of silent films. Its early years were characterized by sterling silver screens where dialogues were unspoken yet emotions resounded through expressive pantomime. These studios have stood as silent witnesses to the remarkable oeuvre that murmured the first tales of American cinema.

A Transition Through Time: From Silent Films to Modern Productions

As decades cascaded, Kaufman Astoria Studios transitioned seamlessly with the changing tides of filmmaking. From the monochromatic whispers of black-and-white to the kaleidoscopic burst of Technicolor, and from silent narratives to the symphonies of sound cinema, its walls have embraced every epoch of storytelling. Transitioning into the modern era, the studios have adopted cutting-edge technologies, attracting a myriad of film genres and becoming a touchstone for innovation in film and television production.

Iconic Films and Shows Made at Kaufman Astoria

Among its revered soundstages, Kaufman Astoria Studios has hosted an illustrious roster of film and television content. Each project, whether a cult classic that stirred the psyche or a mainstream hit that captured the zeitgeist, added a unique stitch to the studios’ rich tapestry of visual narrative. This legacy has cemented Kaufman Astoria’s place in the pantheons of American entertainment, contributing immeasurably to NYC’s illustrious status as a cultural linchpin.

This storied institution of American cinema continues to narrate tales with the gravitas befitting its golden heritage, ensuring that the legacy of Kaufman Astoria Studios is as indelible as the classics it once produced.

The Facilities and Soundstages of Kaufman Astoria

At the heart of New York’s cinematic excellence, Kaufman Astoria Studios exemplifies unparalleled commitment to the craft of filmmaking. Its expansive network of professional soundstages and multifaceted film production studios set the stage for boundless creativity and unfettered storytelling. These first-rate facilities provide industry professionals with a sophisticated canvas upon which they can realize their cinematic ambitions.

Kaufman Astoria’s entertainment complexes are more than just a place to shoot films; they’re carefully curated environments that foster an atmosphere where innovators and artists alike can thrive. The studio’s soundstages are celebrated for their state-of-the-art acoustics and design, accommodating everything from indie features to blockbuster masterpieces.

Respecting the magnitude of the artists’ vision, Kaufman Astoria has meticulously engineered each of its NYC filming facilities to facilitate optimal production efficiency. Whether it’s the precise lighting grids or the robust soundproofing, every element is in place to ensure productions are conducted under the most professional standards.

• Comprehensive technical infrastructure for seamless production
• Versatile set designs to suit a diversity of film genres
• Connectivity and modern amenities to enhance the filmmaking process
• Supportive environments conducive to both large and small-scale productions

With such a broad palette of resources available, it is no wonder that Kaufman Astoria continues to solidify its status as a beacon of innovative film and television production, maintaining the illustrious luminescence of New York’s entertainment heritage.

Why Kaufman Astoria Studios is a Filmmaker’s Top Choice

Kaufman Astoria Studios, a renowned filmmaking hub , continues to draw creators from across the globe thanks to its advanced production technology and comprehensive on-site amenities. As an epicenter of cinematic storytelling in New York City, Kaufman Astoria is well-regarded for significantly enhancing the filmmaking experience with its innumerable resources and support services.

State-of-the-Art Equipment and Technology

Kaufman Astoria Studios understands the need for fusion of creativity and technology and delivers by providing cutting-edge tools necessary for the art of filmmaking. The studio’s commitment to technological excellence not only satisfies current industry standards but also fosters innovative storytelling.

The Advantage of Location: Filming in NYC

One cannot underestimate the myriad of New York City film benefits , which Kaufman Astoria Studios encapsulates so brilliantly. The city’s dynamic backdrop serves all genres, offering filmmakers a canvas of endless possibilities and ease of access to a variety of urban landscapes.

Support Services and Amenities for Productions

The extensive production support services at Kaufman Astoria simplify the complexity of film production schedules. On-site amenities align seamlessly to ensure that productions run smoothly, exemplifying the studio’s dedication to providing a complete solution for all phases of filmmaking.

As a premier NYC film studio , Kaufman Astoria Studios has played an immeasurable role in shaping the cultural filming heritage of New York City. The facility’s unique blend of historical significance and state-of-the-art resources makes it a standout production destination for filmmakers worldwide. Its walls hold the echoes of past cinematic accomplishments while opening its stages to the stories yet to be told. Whether it’s the reverberating laughter from a comedy classic or the whispered intimacies of a dramatic scene, every corner of Kaufman Astoria carries the indelible mark of the city’s dynamic entertainment history.

With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Kaufman Astoria Studios continues to contribute to the rich Astoria film legacy . Its ability to evolve while honoring its foundational roots in the arts is a testament to its enduring contribution to the film industry. Offering much more than just a place to shoot, the studio encapsulates the spirit of New York City filmmaking, supported by a community that values innovation and creativity.

Looking ahead, Kaufman Astoria Studios is not simply resting on its laurels but is actively forging a path for the future of film and television making. The studios’ forward-thinking approach ensures its relevance and leadership in the industry for years to come, further solidifying its reputation as an axis upon which the wheel of NYC’s film culture turns. It stands not just as a mere facility, but as a beacon for those who seek to create, inspire, and leave their own mark within the world of visual storytelling.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Forest Hills Gardens: Your Enclave of Serenity

Roy wilkins park: green oasis in nyc.

Kaufman Astoria Studios

Photos & videos.

See all 193 photos

See All 193

Services Offered

Verified by Business

Recording and rehearsal studios

Review Highlights

“ KAS Music and Sound studio is also located there, recording all of the audio needs for Sesame Street . ” in 3 reviews

“ . It was a significantly better experience than audience tapings I've attended at televisio n studios in Chelsea, Columbus Circle and Midtown ” in 2 reviews

“ I love how convenient it is to get to compared to Steiner and some of the other studios. ” in 3 reviews

You Might Also Consider

ProTalent Hub

6.1 miles away from Kaufman Astoria Studios

Discover your talent and express yourself with the help of our voice and piano coaches. read more

in Musical Instruments & Teachers, Vocal Coach

Palazzo Studios

4.7 miles away from Kaufman Astoria Studios

Welcome to our stunning photo studio nestled in the heart of SoHo, where creativity knows no bounds and every shot is infused with natural light and urban charm. Step into a space bathed in luminosity, thanks to expansive windows… read more

in Recording & Rehearsal Studios

JML Recording Studios

Just 20 minutes from downtown NYC, JML Studios is a poolside oasis to escape the city and "dive" into your music. Featuring a vast and unparalleled collection of vintage and modern gear, mics & instruments, we have it all. Private… read more

in Music Production Services, Recording & Rehearsal Studios

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

34-12 36th St

Astoria, NY 11106

Amenities and More

Ask the community.

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Kaufman Astoria Studios .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

Came here for a studio production and it was wonderful. Attentive staff, great space and incredible ambiance. Security guards are also highly helpful for any questions you have. This place is the go to for high end production, would highly recommend. A gem in Queens!

what hours is the entrance and how much cost, it what street is the entrance for visitors

Kaufman Studios is a one of a kind venue in the heart of Astoria. It has been utilized for a variety of things, especially movie making, but also has been the site of festivals, fairs, community events, and outdoor gatherings. Kaufman means many things to different people, but ultimately, it is a treasure of the borough. While it might not seem obvious to first timers, there is a ton of history here. Constructed in the 1920s for small projects and films, this studio has seen plenty of actors come and go. Throughout the 40s, 50s, and 60s it was home to the US Army, where they would make training films for the military until the early 70s, where it was finally recognized as a historical site in NYC. In the 80s, it provided scenes to Goodfellas, Carlito's Way as well as musicals such as Hair and The Wiz. Several scenes of mainstream movies throughout the last two decades have been shot here and it continues to serve as a place for films, television, and various projects that eventually the see the light of day. For budding actors, this is a place I've seen auditions take place here as well. I still have yet to attend one. And did you know it is still the *only* place in all of NYC with a backlot? Well now you do. Things are only looking brighter for Kaufman's future, close to 3 years ago they announced that there are plans to an additional 18,000 square foot sound stage. Kaufman is so legit that at some point it'll become the premiere destination for all film related projects in the borough.

My sweetheart and I came here yesterday night for a live television taping of Neil Patrick Harris' new variety show, "Best Time Ever". It was the show's premier episode and the Audience Warmer-Upper told us that we were the best audience he had seen all season. Har har. The space here is really large and seems to be very well-stocked with state-of-the-art equipment. The interior studio's walls are lined with industrial quality sound proofing material. I joked around about how if someone were to pick me up and throw me against the wall I would be okay because of said sound-proofing material...it was soft squishy and with a little bit of bouncy-ness...it was also white to off-white and yellowing a but...whoever installed this stuff should have gone with a darker color so that it would better stand the test of time...but I digress... Being a native New Yorker, I've had the opportunity to attend several television show tapings and have even been a Production Assistant for 1 reality show (hey there Project Runway!) and for another show that was a pilot (it was so painfully bad that I'm not even sharing the name of the show. Kate Gosselin and Paula Deen were a part of it though ^___^)...and I've got to say, last night's taping was easily one of the most painless and well-organized tapings I had ever been to. It was a significantly better experience than audience tapings I've attended at television studios in Chelsea, Columbus Circle and Midtown. Yep yep. If you score some tickets to a taping here, I'm pretty confident that they'll actually stick to the set schedule (if you're provided with one, as I was). The only annoying part was at the end of the show when they filmed promos and brief adverts for future episodes with us there. They weren't filming us nor did they need anyone to clap, hoot or holler so it was really lame that they wouldn't let us go. ...It was also lame that there were no giveaways (for a show premier, c'mon now :-/) and that there were such obvious "plants" in the the audience...but then again, the taping was live and such is the magic of live television. It also wasn't Kaufman Astoria Studios' fault... Another thing that excited me about being here last night is that this is also where they film "Sesame Street" and "Orange is the New Black"...when it's not a street or house scene. I also love, love, love that something like this exists just up the block from my apartment. Almost reminds me of the big studios in Burbank, California...but Kaufman isn't thereat big...yeahhh...5 Yelpy Yelp stars. Thanks for the fun Tuesday night Kaufman Astoria Studios!

See all photos from Stephanie P. for Kaufman Astoria Studios

"Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" Yes I can. To get to Sesame Street, you have to go to Astoria, in Queens. Sesame Street has been taped within Kaufman Astoria Studios since 1992. The television series and most of the home video releases are taped here. KAS Music and Sound studio is also located there, recording all of the audio needs for Sesame Street. My family and I were very fortunate to tour the studios and view a taping of a segment with Gordon and Susan at 123 Sesame Street.

See all photos from Jeff S. for Kaufman Astoria Studios

Nice and clean, very easy to get there, I love coming here with my family. Some time parking is difficult here but this is the only place I like to come to movie, very clean and roomies.

Is in the heart of everything. Nice atmosphere, rooftop parking. Restaurants in any direction...

So this review is about the best time ever which is filmed at Kaufman studios. It's Neil Patrick's new show and you can get tickets either thru 1iota or todaytix app. I ended up getting priority tickets from 1iota which meant we were the first group of people inside. I got there around 7pm even though check in ends at 830pm. We were wrist banded, went thru a metal detector and waited in a line. I don't know if it was because the forecast said there would be rain but we were under blue canopies. It was super humid and hot and waiting underneath that for about 2 hours was no Bueno. Eventually they gave us tickets ( they kept all the parties together) with assigned seating. You can either sit in the balcony or floor and each ticket had a different color. They escorted everyone in based on their ticket color. Good thing the ac was on blast inside because it was so gross outside. We ended up with seats next to the special guest booth who was Tyler perry! There's plenty of photo opportunities before the show starts. The comedian went on at 930 pm to warm up the crowd. Since this is a live show our laughter and clapping is all they've got. But once the show starts we were told to power down our phones. All the segments were very random and included people from other places. I'm not sure how long the show will last but it's cool to say that I got to see NPH and was on national tv!

One of the better studios in town. Convenient to the subway via the Broadway stop (N) or Steinway stop (R). This is where the magic that is Sesame Street happens. It's also home to dozens of films and TV shows through the year, but come on. Sesame Street. Nuff said. While it's not the most hi-tech studio, it is a very pleasant work environment. And if you have a walkaway lunch, Broadway and Steinway have plenty of eating options.

CLASSIC FILMING STUDIO. It is not as large as Steiner Studios over in Brooklyn. It is however WONDERFUL to work in if you get the opportunity to.

5 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Other Recording & Rehearsal Studios Nearby

At x8studio , we are passionate about capturing moments and creating memories that last a lifetime. As a premier recording and photo studio, we offer a unique space where artists, musicians, photographers, and creatives of all kinds… read more

La Casa Studios

16.5 miles away from Kaufman Astoria Studios

LaCasaStudios809 read more

in Music Production Services, Recording & Rehearsal Studios, Musicians

Collections Including Kaufman Astoria Studios

NYC | Queens: The Greatest Borough

By Jando S.

NYC: Timeless / Old School

NYC | Queens: Welcome to Queens

💎 Gems of NY

By Caitlin C.

NYC | Queens: Astoria

The princess of Queens

By Natalie B.

Please God I need this job

New York City

By Stevens T.

Browse Nearby

Things to Do

Music Practice Rooms

Piano Rental

Drum Lessons

Vocal Coach

Find more Recording & Rehearsal Studios near Kaufman Astoria Studios

People found Kaufman Astoria Studios by searching for…

Music Recording Studios Astoria

Piano Rehearsal Rooms Astoria

Best Music Rehearsal Studio in Astoria

Best Recording Studio in Astoria

Rehearsal Studios in Astoria

Band Rehearsal Space in Astoria

Film Studio in Astoria

Piano Studios in Astoria

Related Cost Guides

Clock Repair

Data Recovery

Environmental Abatement

Mobile Phone Repair

Musical Instrument Services

Recording & Rehearsal Studios

Septic Services

• 5 More Cost Guides

People Also Viewed

Astoria Soundworks Rehearsals

Empire Rehearsal Studios

RWS Studios

Brooklyn Art Haus

Ripley-Grier Studios

Danny Screams Studio

The National Opera Center

New York Stage of Mind

Sunlight Studios

The Nest Studios

Search Museum of the Moving Image

• Search Site

The Astoria Studio: From Paramount to KAS

The Astoria Studio has been at the heart of filmmaking in New York City since 1920, with a fascinating history integral to the origin of Museum of the Moving Image. A New York City landmark, the Astoria Studio, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020, is the country’s first motion picture studio to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, cited for its architectural significance and its extensive role in the history of American cinema.

Known affectionately as “The Big House” by three generations of filmmakers because of its monumental main stage, the Astoria Studio was opened by Famous Players-Lasky (later Paramount) in 1920 as its East Coast production center. Such stars as Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, and W. C. Fields brought glamour to its stages in the silent film era. The Marx Brothers and Claudette Colbert made their first talking pictures there after the Studio’s transition to sound. Over the decades, the Studio complex expanded steadily into the residential streets adjacent to its main building, eventually covering more than five acres. With Paramount’s departure in 1932, the Studio became a rental facility until the U.S. Army purchased it in 1942, turning the site into a center for military motion picture production and distribution for the next 30 years. After falling into disrepair in the early 1970s, a unique public/private partnership transformed the ailing studio complex, leading to the establishment of Kaufman Astoria Studios and to the founding of Museum of the Moving Image. Since its revival, the Studio has thrived, providing stages for such films as The Age of Innocence , Scent of a Woman, The Bourne Ultimatum, and The Irishman , and a home for the production of such television shows as Orange Is the New Black, The Affair, and Sesame Street.

Using film stills, behind-the-scenes photographs, oral histories, posters, and other artifacts from MoMI’s permanent collection, this MoMI Story explores five eras of the Studio’s history, shining a light on the filmmakers, actors, and craftspeople who worked in front of the camera and behind the scenes at the Astoria Studio. Read the history of the studio below to better understand how this storied complex in Queens has remained a vital site of filmmaking from the silent era through the digital streaming revolution.

Paramount: The Silent Years (1920–1927)

In 1920, Famous Players-Lasky (later known as Paramount) combined its four film laboratories and five stages across New York and New Jersey into a single studio complex in the residential neighborhood of Astoria. Its convenient location a few blocks from the elevated subway line (opened in 1917) meant that the hundreds of daily workers needed to operate the studio had easy access to cheap and dependable public transportation, while stars and executives enjoyed a short drive over the Queensboro Bridge. 

Construction on the Astoria Studio began in May 1919 at Pierce Street and Sixth Avenue, now known as 35th Avenue and 35th Street. It was a two-million-dollar project that would eventually balloon to two-and-a-half (adjusting for inflation, $2 million in 1920 would be $12,890,000 in 2020). Though the Studio’s official opening was announced for December 1920, nine features and a handful of shorts had already been shot by the end of November. In June 1921, Paramount temporarily closed the Studio for cost-cutting measures during a postwar economic depression. 

Production resumed in Astoria one year later, and between June 1922 and spring 1927, 103 films were produced at the Studio—forty percent of Paramount’s output during that period. Though tensions had steadily risen between the Studio’s West and East Coast factions, shooting in New York provided temporary solace for such stars as Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino, temporary Hollywood expats who loved the cultural life New York had to offer.

Gloria Swanson

A leading light at Paramount studios, Gloria Swanson was one of the biggest movie stars of the twenties. Nevertheless, she despised Hollywood, and was disdainful of the men in the Los Angeles office. Under the guise of requiring emergency medical treatment, she transferred to the more culturally sophisticated New York, where she felt far more comfortable. “I experienced more art and culture in six months than I had seen in my whole life,” she said after her arrival.

“Every day we all drove across the Queensboro Bridge to the new studio in Astoria in the borough of Queens. It was certainly not another Hollywood. The place was full of free spirits, defectors, refugees, who were all trying to get away from Hollywood and its restrictions. There was a wonderful sense of revolution and innovation in the studio in Queens.”—Gloria Swanson (from Swanson on Swanson , Random House, 1980)

Rudolph Valentino

Like Swanson, the Italian-born Rudolph Valentino—dubbed “The Great Lover”—was unhappy with the way his career was being handled at Paramount’s West Coast studio. In July 1923, he signed a new contract to make films in New York, where he had lived and worked years earlier as a young immigrant who had arrived through Ellis Island. Despite this high-profile move, Valentino only ended up making two films at Astoria in 1924 before another new contract with a different producer brought him back to the West Coast.

D. W. Griffith

Pioneering director D. W. Griffith helped establish Los Angeles as the center for filmmaking in the United States with such elaborate productions as The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), but he enjoyed a greater degree of creative control while based in New York. For Griffith, New York was “home of the best actors, the best artisans, the best and the newest in theatrical production.” Griffith made three films at the Astoria Studio: Sally of the Sawdust (1925), That Royle Girl (1926), both of which feature W. C. Fields, and The Sorrows of Satan (1926).

Louise Brooks

Wichita, Kansas, native Louise Brooks was “discovered” by Paramount producer Walter Wanger while she was a dancer with the Ziegfeld Follies. Brooks began her film career at the Astoria Studio in 1925, making a total of six films for Paramount before moving to Hollywood. She made her two best known films in Germany, Pandora’s Box (1929) and Diary of a Lost Girl (1929), and gradually faded into obscurity. Interest in Brooks’s career and appreciation of her artistry was rekindled in the 1970s. Articles, widely seen photographs, and books—including her own collection of autobiographical essays, Lulu in Hollywood (1982)—cemented her reputation as a fiercely independent, sui generis 1920s icon.

“The stages were freezing in the winter, steaming hot in the summer. The dressing rooms were windowless cubicles. We rode on the freight elevator, crushed by lights and electricians. But none of that mattered, because the writers, directors, and cast were free from all supervision. Jesse Lasky, Adolph Zukor, and Walter Wanger never left the Paramount office on Fifth Avenue, and the head of production never came on the set. There were writers and directors from Princeton and Yale. Motion pictures did not consume us. When work was finished, we dressed in evening clothes, dined at The Colony or ‘21’ and went to the theater. [In Hollywood] to love books was a big laugh. There was no theater, no opera, no concerts—just those god-damned movies.” —Louise Brooks, describing her time at the Astoria Studio

Behind the Scenes at Paramount

The designers, camera operators, technicians, script supervisors, musicians, editors, and others who worked behind the scenes at Paramount’s Astoria Studio rarely received on-screen credit. Only occasionally documented in promotional images, the work of these women and men was instrumental in the production of the hundreds of feature and short-subject films created at the Studio throughout the 1920s.

All but one of the photographs featured here were donated to Museum of the Moving Image by the family of Philip Kandel, who began his career at the Astoria Studio in the 1920s, and remained through the 1960s, when the Studio was known as the Army Pictorial Center.

Paramount: THE EARLY SOUND ERA (1928–1932)

Fourteen months after Schulberg convinced Paramount to shut down production in New York, Zukor changed his mind. The ability to poach actors from the New York theater world was an undeniable selling point with the coming of sound. The transition was rocky, however. Western Electric completed the first Astoria soundstage in July 1928, but the environment was uncomfortable for crew and actors, with its small rooms, thick walls, awful heat, and lack of air conditioning, and because of the tight spaces, the camera could barely move. Paramount eventually installed both sound-on-film and sound-on-disc recording systems, a multi-lingual production center for foreign exports, and by early 1929, new soundproofing, soundstages, and multiple audio channels. By summer, Astoria was averaging a feature a month. 

Thanks to the extraordinary talent coming to work in Astoria—both behind and in front of the camera—Paramount’s East Coast films of the burgeoning sound era would make their mark. Paramount founder Adolph Zukor noted, “Certain types of stories can best be made here in the East on account of the availability of particular types of talent.” The Marx Brothers, Claudette Colbert, Maurice Chevalier, Fanny Brice, Helen Morgan, and Burns & Allen were among those who brought their talent to the Astoria stages in the early sound film era. The next four years saw the production of more than 200 short comedies, talking features, and musicals, including Rouben Mamoulian’s Applause (1929), Jean De Limur’s The Letter (1929), the Marx Brothers’ The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930), and Ernst Lubitsch’s The Smiling Lieutenant (1931).

Nevertheless, there was increasing financial uncertainty due to the Great Depression. By the early thirties, Paramount was hemorrhaging cash, and a rumor began to circulate that the Astoria Studio would be closed. Despite a few successes; a buffet of newly minted stars like Ginger Rogers, Miriam Hopkins, and Tallulah Bankhead; and top-flight talent like Preston Sturges and George Cukor at the Studio, Paramount’s best films were being made on the West Coast. In 1932, Paramount left the studio to consolidate its operations in California.

The Marx Brothers

The Marx Brothers were among the biggest attractions of early sound cinema. Already beloved on the New York stage, they first appeared on-screen in 1929’s The Cocoanuts, directed by Robert Florey from a 1925 play written by George S. Kaufman and Irving Berlin. It was a hit despite a difficult shoot, which occurred during the day, while Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo were back in Manhattan every night performing their latest play, Animal Crackers, on Broadway. The 1930 film adaptation of Animal Crackers , directed by Victor Heerman, would prove a more sedentary affair in terms of filmmaking than the fluid The Cocoanuts , and as a result offered poorer sound recording. Nevertheless, it would also prove a major box office success, marking the Marxes as some of the biggest stars to ever make movies in Astoria.

Eastern Service Studios, Inc. (1933–1941)

After Paramount left in 1932, Western Electric’s ERPI (Electrical Research Products, Inc.) began operating the Astoria Studio as a rental facility. With the goal of marginalizing their chief rival, RCA, ERPI offered independent producers financing in exchange for a commitment to work on sound stages outfitted with Western Electric systems. This investment plan helped to bring Paul Robeson to the screen in The Emperor Jones (1933); allowed noted Hollywood screenwriters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur the opportunity to direct; and provided work for actors, writers, and producers who embraced the chance to work outside of the Hollywood studio system. Throughout the 1930s the Astoria Studio stages were busy with a mix of slapstick comedies, newsreels, musical shorts known as “soundies,” corporate films, documentaries, and Spanish-language musicals.

Paul Robeson

The Emperor Jones (1933) remains the best known and most acclaimed movie of the independent era shot at the Astoria Studio. Starring Paul Robeson in the leading role, which he originated on-stage, Dudley Murphy’s adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s controversial play follows the journey of Brutus Jones from Pullman porter in the American South to despotic ruler of an African country. The film remains the highest profile screen starring  role for the legendary actor and activist Robeson.

Carlos Gardel

Four Spanish-language films featuring Argentine singing star Carlos Gardel were shot at Eastern Service Studios over eighteen months beginning in 1933: El Tango en Broadway, El Dia me Quieras, Cuesto Abajo, and Tango Bar . The heartthrob’s stardom would prove short-lived, as he died in a plane crash in Colombia in 1935 at age 44.

HECHT AND MACARTHUR

Screenwriters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur took a hiatus from Hollywood, temporarily settling in New York; their first film in Astoria was the hit Crime Without Passion (1934), with Claude Rains as an unscrupulous lawyer. Though mechanically directed by Hecht and MacArthur, Crime Without Passion was expertly shot by Lee Garmes and acclaimed by critics as innovative and economical. Their next film, Once in a Blue Moon (1935), a vehicle for Broadway clown Jimmy Savo, was considered cloying and sentimental, and went unreleased by Paramount for a year, but their next film was perhaps the greatest critical success of Hecht and MacArthur’s independent years: The Scoundrel (1935), starring Noel Coward, which won an Oscar for Best Original Story. Their next and final film made in Astoria, the satire Soak the Rich, was such a flop—the lowest grossing movie of the first half of 1936—that Hecht and MacArthur returned to Hollywood.

THE ARMY YEARS (1942–1970)

Through the 1930s and into the 1940s, Hollywood studios had become increasingly disinterested in making films in New York. The onset of World War II exacerbated the decline of commercial filmmaking on the East Coast, and production on the Astoria stages all but ground to a halt. While the entertainment industry was at least temporarily stalled by the outbreak of war, the U.S. Army, which recognized the value of film as a training and communication tool, was gearing up for production. The cavernous space of the Astoria Studio was perfect for what the U.S. Army Signal Corps needed: a full production center for making training and safety films, as well as entertainments for American soldiers and propaganda films for the American public. By 1945, 2100 men and women were employed at the Signal Corps Photographic Center (SCPC) making movies; during World War II, it was the most prolific movie studio in the U.S. The Army era, which continued in Astoria until 1970, would prove influential on New York filmmaking in general, as many trained there would become professional filmmakers in the coming years, and the methods learned would have an impact on style, skill, and technique in mainstream cinema.

THE SEVENTIES NEW YORK REVIVAL (1976–1979)

New York was on the verge of bankruptcy in the seventies, with neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs feeling the socioeconomic crisis. The Astoria Studio, which the Army left at the beginning of the decade, had become little more than a shell, but by the mid-seventies, union leaders and city officials were instrumental in working with Queens Borough President Donald Manes and Deputy Borough President Claire Shulman reviving the community and helping to restore the building. In 1977, they helped found the Astoria Motion Picture and Television Center Foundation, and in 1978 the Foundation successfully campaigned to designate the original Studio building a National Landmark. The Astoria Studio complex would be added to the National Register of Historic Places before the decade was up. As part of the major revival period, the New York State Council on the Arts helped support the restoration of the main soundstage, and several major film productions were shot there, which demonstrated the viability of the Astoria Studio, and set the stage for the major redevelopment of the site by George S. Kaufman, leading to a dramatic and exciting new era for the Studio.

ENTER KAUFMAN ASTORIA STUDIOS (1980–2009)

In 1980, the City of New York awarded the management of the studio site to developer George S. Kaufman. Kaufman, the Studio’s chairman, and Hal Rosenbluth, its president, expanded and modernized the facility—known as Kaufman Astoria Studios since 1982—ushering in a new era of feature film, television, and audio production. Operating independently as a commercial enterprise, with an emphasis on versatility and service, KAS would quickly become a hub for East Coast studio film production as well as an anchor for the rejuvenation of the neighborhood. 

At the same time, the Astoria Motion Picture and Television Center Foundation reorganized as the American Museum of the Moving Image, with Rochelle Slovin as its founding director, opening to the public in 1988 in what had once been Army Pictorial Center Building #13. Renamed Museum of the Moving Image in 2005, it houses a permanent collection that includes significant holdings from every era of the Studio’s history. Motion pictures filmed at the Studio have been directed by Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Jodie Foster, Woody Allen, Ron Howard, and Mike Nichols. Television production simultaneously became a mainstay of KAS, including such high-profile programs as NBC’s The Cosby Show ; PBS’s Sesame Street , which began its residency at Kaufman in 1993; and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie , starring Edie Falco. Kaufman and Rosenbluth’s complete revitalization of the Studio proves that an historic landmark can live on, continue to change, evolve, and grow with rapidly changing times.

SESAME STREET

In 1993, Kaufman Astoria Studios welcomed its most exciting long-term resident. After 24 years of being filmed in Manhattan, Sesame Street picked up and moved to Queens, where KAS offered more space for the ever-expanding universe of the children’s educational television classic. Ever since, Astoria has remained home base to the show. Today, the neighborhood of Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Bert, Ernie, and all of their human friends feels essential to Queens, and has come to represent a microcosm of the beautiful diversity of the borough as a whole.

THE MODERN ERA (2010–present)

In 2010, Kaufman opened Stage K, a 40,000-square-foot stage located across the street from the original building. A studio backlot opened in 2013 and a new building housing two additional soundstages opened in 2019, bringing the Studio’s total to twelve stages. Today, Kaufman Astoria Studios is one of the preeminent production facilities in the country. The Studio has remained home for New York entertainment, including popular shows on streaming giants like Netflix ( Orange Is the New Black ) and Apple ( Dickinson ), as well as instant classic contemporary movies like Birdman and The Irishman. Alongside Museum of the Moving Image next door, and the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, founded by Tony Bennett, directly across the street, Kaufman Astoria Studios is a continued reminder that western Queens remains a motion picture capital of the world.

Museum of the Moving Image's history is inextricably tied to the history of the Astoria Studio.

Many of the Museum's Collections artifacts from the silent era have connections to the Astoria Studio way back in the Paramount days. Learn more about some of these featured artifacts from the 1920s.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of New York for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy New York without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Kaufman Astoria Studios

• Things to do

Time Out says

Not a lot of people know that Astoria is home to bustling TV and film studio. Kaufman Astoria Studios has been here since 1920, when it was built as the original film hub for Paramount Pictures. More than 100 silent films were made on its stages, as well as our   favorite shows   and movies from today, including  Sesame Street, Orange is the New Black, The Path, The Irishman   and   The   Bourne Legacy.

While you can't go into the sound stages or backlot, you can see a glimpse of it from 35th Avenue.

An email you’ll actually love

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Local Marketing Solutions
• Advertising

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

Kaufman Astoria Studios

Facility Size 500,000 SF

No. of Stages 11

Stages 147,000 SF

Office/Support Space 325,000

Land 5 Acres

World-Class Destination for Film & TV Production in New York

Located in Queens, New York, Kaufman Astoria Studios, a world-class destination for film and television production.

Opened in 1920, Kaufman Astoria Studios was the original home of Paramount Pictures. The campus remains one of the world’s most iconic production facilities and has grown to become a sophisticated home for high-end film and television production on the East Coast. Current and past hits produced at the studios include Netflix’s  Orange is the New Black , Showtime’s  Nurse Jackie  and  The Affair , HBO’s  The Undoing , Apple TV’s  Dickinson  and Jim Henson’s  Sesame Street , which has filmed at KAS since 1992. Recent feature film productions include  Deliver Us from Evil ,  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ,  Men in Black 3 ,  The Bourne Legacy  and  The Irishman .

Kaufman Astoria Studios offers over 500,000 square feet of production space, including 11 sound stages totaling over 147,000 square feet, more than 325,000 square feet of production offices and support space, and New York City’s only studio backlot.

Studio Contact

34-12 36th Street Queens, NY 11106

View Kauflman Studios' Video

• Previous Project
• Next Project

© 2024 The MBS Group. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Sesame Street Set Tour!

After we wrapped up our tour of Jim Henson’s NYC Creature Shop , we were taken over to Kaufman Astoria Studios to visit the set of Sesame Street. It was the first day of shooting the new season, which starts Nov. 18. If you happen to catch the episode where Elmo, Rosita and Zoe build an adorable train out of cardboard boxes, that’s the one we got to see!

It was absolutely surreal to step through the TV screen onto a “street” I’ve known by heart since childhood.

Of course, a lot’s changed since I was a kid. Big Bird’s nest is no longer hidden by a plain board fence. Now he has a fantastical tree filled with treasures!

Among those treasures is Big Bird’s drawing of Mr. Hooper (by Caroll Spinney).

Big Bird’s nest is around the side of the iconic Sesame Street stoop. Even the wall is decorated!

In back is Abby Cadabby’s gorgeous garden. The set dressing is stunning!

On the far side of the garden is the new community center.

Looking back toward the garden…

Looking from the garden toward Hooper’s Store…

The store has a fancy new neon sign—looks like gentrification has hit Sesame Street too!

There’s a nice al fresco dining area, perfect for sipping kombucha while reviewing your script pages…

A loaf of bread, a stick of butter and a container of milk!

I think this wall of colorful fake groceries might have been my favorite part of the set. Some of the product names were hilarious!

We were allowed to stay on-set pretty much as long as we wanted, so we spent a lot of time sitting in Hooper’s Store watching through the window as they shot the sequence with Elmo, Zoe, Rosita and Oscar.

In movies about making movies, it always seems that when cameras are rolling, everyone on set freezes and focuses on the action. I’ve only been on a couple of sets in real life, but I’m always amazed at how much continuous set activity there is while cameras are rolling—to the point where sometimes you don’t even know if they are. Nobody booms “And… ACTION!” over a megaphone. The union guys are sitting just a few feet away chatting and looking at their phones. The puppet wranglers are behind the camera prepping and grooming the puppets for the next shot. Friends of friends are trying to keep their toddlers quiet as they wait for a chance to meet Elmo between takes. And Patrick and I are gingerly picking our way through a tangle of lighting cables, snapping photos and trying to stay out of frame. Christian Bale woulda been FURIOUS!

I almost forgot—the coolest part of the visit was one I wasn’t allowed to take a photo of. On our way out, they took us through the other sound stage, used for insert shots and some storage. It’s where Mr. Snuffleupagus lives (in the rafters!), and they have a huge closet/crate where Big Bird lives when he’s not in his nest. It just happened to be open, and we got to see Big Bird! They can’t let you take a photo when no puppeteer is inside him, but still! Big Bird!!!

Next up…. We go next door for an exhaustive photo tour of The Museum of the Moving Image’s Jim Henson Exhibition !

← Previous post

Jim Henson Creature Shop Tour!

Next post →

The Fabulous Sounds of Christmas at Disney 2017!

11 responses, jenny staecker.

I used to watch sesame street when I was younger since 1970’s and 1980’s my favorite sesame street muppets are glover monster, Bert and Ernie, Kermit the Frog

That’s awesome! Grover is my favorite too!

This story is the next best thing to being able to walk around the street. Thank you so much for sharing this. The candid shots of the 123 brownstone are special enough. But then when I see Hooper’s store I don’t even know what to say. As a kid I thought I would live and work on that street one day.

I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

How can you get on this tour?? I cannot find any information online. Would love to take my toddler.

Hi Izzy! My husband works for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and was able to arrange the tour through his coworkers. Unfortunately there are no public tours of the set.

Ellen Jones

I would love to take my grandson on the Sesame Street tour. How do you find out about tours

Hi Ellen! As stated in my post, no public tours are available. We were able to arrange a tour because my husband was an employee of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop at the time.

This is awesome!

And P.S this “A loaf of bread, a stick of butter and a container of milk!” is still a continuous saying with my 2 brothers 20+ years later!

That’s so funny—we’re always saying it too!

I totally got this reference too. It was an animated sequence from back in the 70s.

What do you think? Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Who Is Lurkyloo?

Disney trip reporter, cake expert, host of the Disney Wedding Podcast and author of Carrie Hayward's Fairytale Weddings Guide

• New York City Tourism
• New York City Hotels
• New York City Bed and Breakfast
• New York City Vacation Rentals
• Flights to New York City
• New York City Restaurants
• Things to Do in New York City
• New York City Travel Forum
• New York City Photos
• New York City Map
• All New York City Hotels
• New York City Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in New York City
• New York City
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Can you tour Sesame Street? - New York City Forum

• United States    
• New York (NY)    
• New York City    

Can you tour Sesame Street?

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• New York forums
• New York City forum

I looked on KAS site and couldn't find anything, so I thought I'd ask if there are tours at the studio and specifically Sesame Street? Does anyone know?

Do you mean Sesame Place Park in Pennsylvania?

http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame2/park-info.aspx?id=general-information

Oh, duh, you meant the Kaufman Astoria Studios!

Good question. Sorry I don't know, but you can write them an email:

http://www.kaufmanastoria.com/contact.php

I also typed "sesame workshop tours" into Google and I think they do not.

Yeah I meant The Kaufman Astoria Studios. I am going to email, just thouight I'd check here first. I'll let you know what I hear.

No, QB; she's asking about tours of Kaufman Astoria Studios.

Christine, there are no tours of the studios.

The subject line should have read, "Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" ;o)

QB - so true!

And no (I really wish they did as I would love it) unfrotunately they do not run tours.

Yes it should have said that! I wasn't thinking right! I tried to email but it got sent back. Everything I read seems like only private invites.

They should have tours. Bummer! Thanks for the help.

The business offices of Sesame Workshop, the corporation, are near Lincoln Center at 1900 Broadway.

The television show "Sesame Street" is filmed at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens.

I was invited by Richard Termini then their photographer but it was at Unitel Studios or something like that on the west side in Manhattan. This was way back during the taping of Jim Henson's last season with them. He died the following May. I was fortunate enough to hang around all day and they didn't throw me out. Jim even turned afterwards to say hi to me and later as I sat quietly in non-obtrusive spot he would occasionally glance over to me and smile. I guess he know how much I was enjoying watching them tape segment after segment. Then later of course I thanked them and said goodbye as I left to never forget that day.

• Hotel recommendations 8:35 pm
• Hotel recommendations 8:06 pm
• Can I make this event in time?… 7:17 pm
• Car Service 6:11 pm
• Logistics Manhattan Cruise Terminal to Airport Marathon Day 5:11 pm
• Hard Rock Hotel 5:06 pm
• Recharge metrocard 5:05 pm
• Central Park Restrooms 4:39 pm
• Italian Restaurants - Theater District 4:23 pm
• Best place to stay Hamptons area? 3:41 pm
• Train from Manhatten to tennis 3:12 pm
• Confused by Hotel Prices! 2:20 pm
• Hotel in Greenwich Village 2:05 pm
• Tips on MOMA? 1:14 pm
• Train from DC to NYC 4 replies
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012 25 replies
• train from New York to Washington dc??? 22 replies
• Places to visit outside of NYC- (no more than 3 hrs. away) 12 replies
• transfer between LaGuardia and JFK 11 replies
• Unique Birthday Ideas 6 replies
• From Penn Station to JFK 7 replies
• does 'central Perk' exist?? 13 replies
• 2 bedroom suites 4 replies
• best location to stay 24 replies

New York City Hotels and Places to Stay

• How do I get from the airport (JFK, LGA, or EWR) to Manhattan?
• What To Do During Layovers?
• Hotels: Kitchenettes and kitchens in 100+ Manhattan Hotels
• Hotels: Two queen beds plus a kitchen/kitchenette
• Hotels: Guests under 21 years old (but at least 18)
• Hotels: Which ones charge an additional Resort or Facilities Fee
• Hotels: When is the best time to go for cheaper rates?
• How Do I Ride the Subway (UPDATED)?
• Tips, Hint and Suggestions for First Timers
• SCAMS to avoid in NYC
• What Will the Weather Be Like During My Trip?
• How Safe is New York?
• Where to Eat in NYC
• Where to eat in NYC - Part 2
• Celiac in the City? (gluten free)
• Is There Cheaper Lodging Outside Manhattan?
• Public restrooms/toilets. Where do you go when you GOTTA GO?
• Gay Pride Events - June 2023
• Thanksgiving 2021 in NYC: What to Do & Where to Eat
• Christmas in NYC - 2022
• Christmas Day 2021 in NYC: What to Do & Where to Eat
• What Should I Do on New Year's Eve?
• What is there to see and do near WTC/SOL/Brooklyn Bridge/SI ferry?
• What should I know about visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum?
• What Is There to See and Do in Brooklyn?
• How Do I Get to the Brooklyn Bridge?
• What Is There to See and Do in Queens?
• Exploring neighborhoods - where should I go and what should I see?
• Which is the best? ESB or TOTR or OWO?
• Which are the significant churches in Manhattan?
• Hidden Gems in the city - not so touristy
• How do I get from NYC to the Meadowlands and back?
• I'm Getting Married in NYC...what do I need to do?
• Should I Buy Knock-Off Purses?
• What to Do with Kids and How to Do It?
• What should we do at night -- especially with kids or under 21's?
• Places to eat (and drink) with a view
• Where is the Old FAQ?
• Trip Reports: Families with Young Kids - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Groups of Friends - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Families with Teenagers - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Couples - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Solo Travelers - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Families of Adults - Add yours!
• Trip Reports - VERY short visits to the city.

History of Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York

Photo: Brian Kachejian

Many native New Yorkers are familiar with the Kaufman Astoria Studios. It is located on 36th Street and 34th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. The legendary studio has provided pre-production, post-production and principal filming for hundreds of different television and movie productions for a little more than a century.

The movie studio was built in 1920 by the motion picture company Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. It was originally known as the Astoria Studio. The building was established so that films could be shot in a location that was close to the theater district in Broadway. Between 1920 and 1933, many short films and feature length movies were created at the studio.

More than a hundred silent films were recorded at the studio in the 1920’s. The Astoria Studio was later known as the Paramount Studio. It was the original home of Paramount Studios and the majority of their films for more than a decade were filmed on their back lots and/or sound stages.

British producer Basil Dean made The Return of Sherlock Holmes at the Astoria Studio in 1929, which was the first sound film for the titular character. Actors Tallulah Bankhead and Claudette Colbert recorded their first speaking roles at the studio. The Marx Brothers’ first two movies, The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers were also filmed there in 1929 and 1930, respectively. The studio’s back lot and sound stages were used in the musical film The Dance of Life in 1929.

Movie production at the Kaufman Astoria was the responsibility of independent producers for a decade after Paramount relocated their studios to California in 1932. Films that were approved and released by many Hollywood companies including Paramount were allowed to be filmed there. All of the films made by legends Gloria Swanson and tango dancer Carlos Gardel were shot at the studio in Queens.

The United States Army Signal Corps’ Army Pictorial Service used the studio to film Army training and other related films from 1942 to 1971. The campus was given to the federal government after being listed as surplus property by the Army in 1970. The studio was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 after being named a national historic district. The property was renamed the Kaufman Astoria Studios after being acquired by real estate developer George S. Kaufman in 1982, shortly after the studios’ title was transferred to the City of New York.

There are seven different sound stages on the Kaufman Astoria property. Carlito’s Way, Goodfellas, The Money Pit, The Bourne Legacy, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Wiz and Hair are some of the major motion pictures that were filmed at the studio. Law & Order, The Cosby Show, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, Orange is the New Black, Nurse Jackie, Spin City, Sesame Street, Judge Judy and The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd are just a few of the many television programs that have recorded episodes there.

The studio has continued to expand in recent years. A 34,800 square foot backlot was completed in December 2013. It is the only backlot in the city of New York at this time. A redevelopment project that would take up five city blocks around the studio was announced in 2020. The project will add another quarter million square feet for multimedia productions, as well as 200,000 square feet for restaurants and retail space and 2,700 square feet for residential buildings. The expansion is expected to begin sometime in the year 2023.

There is also a recording studio, KAS Music and Sound, on the studio property. Some of their services include archives, content transfer, voiceovers, automated dialogue replacement and mastering and mixing music and spoken word compositions. Alicia Keys, Carly Simon, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Keith Richards, Placido Domingo, ‘N Sync and R.E.M. are some of the many artists who have created works at KAS Music and Sound.

Visitors to the studio will notice the signed pictures of George Burns, Frank Sinatra, Ginger Rogers, Milton Berle, Bill Cosby, Diana Ross, Claudette Colbert, Ethel Merman, Jerry Orbach, Gloria Swanson, Lillian Gish, The Marx Brothers, Claudette Colbert and many other actors and musicians who filmed or recorded film or audio projects at the studio over the years. There are currently more than 150,000 feet of production spread across eleven production stages and over 325,000 feet of office space at the studio complex.

The Museum of the Moving Images  is on the Kaufman Astoria Studios campus. It’s a unique facility that provides plenty of exhibits and information about motion picture techniques, technology and history. Gamers and cinema buffs can find out about digital artworks, classic and current television and film creations and much more.

Famous singer Tony Bennett founded the Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, which is also located on the Astoria Studios property, in 2001. The school is part of the New York City Department of Education. Majors are available in film, drama, dance, fine art and instrumental and vocal music. Auditions are required for student admission. Students have performed in theatrical productions of Hairspray, The Secret Garden, Footloose, The King and I, The Phantom of the Opera, RENT, Anything Goes, The Music Man, Carousel and others as part of the Musical Theatre class. Students are allowed to participate as part of productions’ stage crew for the Stage Craft elective. The high school averages over 800 students per year, has a reasonable student to teacher ratio of less than 20 to 1 and has had more than a 90 percent graduation rate with over 90 percent of graduates going on to college in recent years.

Television productions by Apple+TV, Amazon, HBO Max, Netflix and other studios and more film and audio projects are being recorded at the Kaufman Astoria Studios every day. There aren’t too many people in this nation that haven’t watched or listened to a performance that was produced at the studios at least once in their life. The studios will undoubtedly continue to develop more and more unique works of art for audiences to enjoy for many more generations to come.

Related Posts

All About The New York Renaissance Faire

Zombies, Sons, Saviors and Fun at Walker Stalker NJ 2017

Enjoying An Old School NYC Egg Cream In 1963 And 2023

History of the New York Yippie Museum & Movement

In A Pandemic, Altice Optimum Continues To Raise Consumer’s Bills

Stony Brook Film Festival To Open July 20

About the author.

Aaron D. Backes

Aaron D. Backes is a well known journalist specializing in New York History

New York’s Legendary Kaufman Astoria Studios Has Been Sold

By Rebecca Rubin

Rebecca Rubin

Senior Film and Media Reporter

• AMC Theatres Building Distribution Team With New VP Hire After ‘Eras Tour,’ ‘Renaissance’ Box Office Success 5 days ago
• Zendaya’s Tennis Drama ‘Challengers’ Aims to Lead Sluggish Box Office With $15 Million Debut 5 days ago
• Nick Jonas Film ‘The Good Half’ Sells to Utopia, Sets Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE) 5 days ago

Kaufman Astoria Studios , the New York-based film and production hub, has been purchased by venture capital firms Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management.

Built in 1920, Kaufman Astoria Studios was the original home of Paramount Pictures and served as the backdrop to more than 100 silent films. More recently, “Sesame Street,” Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” “The Irishman” and “Ocean’s 8” were filmed on sound stages at the Queens campus. The venue has more than 500,000 square feet of production space, including 11 sound stages, and New York City’s only studio backlot.

Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital have been expanding its footprint in the New York production market, newly acquiring Silvercup Studios in Long Island City and the Bronx. The venture’s independent studio assets on the west coast include The Culver Studios (where Amazon Studios shoots) in Los Angeles; Television City Studios (CBS’s broadcasting facility) in West Hollywood; the MBS Media Campus (home to James Cameron’s Lightstorm Studios); and Sony Pictures Animation Studios. Outside of the U.S., Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital have purchased Ardmore Studios in Dublin Ireland; Troy Studios in Ireland; The Wharf Studios London; and Eastbrook Studios, which is currently under construction and will soon be London’s largest studio complex.

“We are beyond thrilled to add Kaufman Astoria to our studio portfolio and excited to further its legacy as a quintessential destination for major motion pictures and television shows.” said Michael Hackman, founder and CEO of Hackman Capital Partners. “The studio has had a remarkable history over the last 90 years and has been an incredibly active and participating stakeholder in rejuvenating the entire Astoria neighborhood. We are excited to work with Hal Rosenbluth and the entire KAS team, as the studio continues to grow and excel as one of the best production facilities in the industry.”

Popular on Variety

Hal Rosenbluth, president and CEO of Kaufman Astoria Studios, says the company is “excited to start a new chapter in our 100+ year history.”

“Working with Michael, Craig and the MBS crew to grow the studio is the perfect fit we needed,” Rosenbluth said. “Since inception, the commitment and vision of George Kaufman has been paramount to revitalizing the greater Astoria community, ensuring that the film and production industry serves as a pillar and economic driver for arts, culture and local small businesses. Kaufman Astoria Studios looks forward to building on our great history and expanding on the landmark studios’ success. We are thrilled that Kaufman Astoria will continue to serve as an iconic studio within the growing New York film and television market.”

Craig Solomon, CEO of Square Mile Capital, adds, “The acquisition of the legendary Kaufman Astoria Studios by our investment partnership is another huge step forward as we continue to build a portfolio of iconic studio properties. As demand for facilities and production services surges, we will continue to seek more opportunities to serve the growing content marketplace.”

Kaufman Astoria was represented by Jefferies Group, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP for this transaction.

More From Our Brands

Ariana madix wants out of raquel leviss ‘revenge porn’ lawsuit, denies sharing video, a west hollywood penthouse just sold for $24 million, one of l.a.’s biggest condo deals in years, after ceo’s ouster, paramount isn’t fielding any questions, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, jim parsons reprises big bang’s sheldon ahead of young sheldon series finale — watch video, verify it's you, please log in.

#TheLocatorContest: Click here to print The Locator!

Check out the What’s Filming Now live-feed social media app by On Location Tours!

This app shows you where movies and TV shows are being filmed, in real-time!

A behind-the-scenes peek at NYC studio filming

Here at On Location Tours, we’re all about exterior film shoots that take place right here on the streets of New York City.  It’s always thrilling to pass by a production shoot.  You never know which famous actors or directors you might see.  We live for the “lights, camera, and action!”  That being said, we couldn’t pass up the chance to get a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of studio filming.  This past Sunday, Kaufman Astoria Studios opened their backlot to the public.  We were treated to stunt performances and were able to look into actor’s trailers.  Check out some of the photos Georgette Blau, On Location Tours owner, took at the “New York on Location” event. OLT intern, Anjuli, attended the event too and saw actress Lucy Liu give a street fighting demonstration!  

Charli XCX Plots 2024 International ‘BRAT' Tour Dates

Charli XCX announced the international dates for her 2024 Brat tour on Monday (March 25), which will be a mix of live concerts and what she's dubbed "partygirl" events. The run will kick off with a set at Primavera Sound Barcelona on June 1, followed by shows in London, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico City before winding down on June 22 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Just hours after announcing the dates, the singer noted on Instagram that all the shows were already sold out .

At press time Charli had not yet announced the release date for BRAT , her sixth full-length album, though she did recently reveal that it is out this summer, contains 15 songs and is 41:23 long. The follow-up to her 2022 album Crash has been advanced by the uptempo first single, "Von Dutch."

Speaking to Billboard at this year's 2024 Women in Music event, Charli said that BRAT is a club record meant to evoke the illegal London rave scene of the early 2000s where she started performing as a 14 and 15-year-old, produced from a tight collection of sounds to create "this unique minimalism that is very loud and bold."

She also said that the album is "very direct" eschewing "metaphor and flowery lyricism" for language that is closer to the way she talks to her friends in text messages. "This record is all the things I would talk about with my friends, said exactly how I would say them. It's in ways very aggressive and confrontational, but also very conversational and personal," she said. "And not in that boring way where artists are like, ‘This is my most personal record.' To me, it feels like listening to a conversation with a friend.

See the Brat tour announcement and dates below.

BRAT tour dates :

June 1 - Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound Barcelona

June 7 - London, England @ Here at Outernet

June 11 - Queens, NY @ Knockdown Center

June 12 - Chicago, IL @ Radius

June 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall

June 19 - Mexico City, Mexico @ LooLoo Studio

June 22 - São Paulo, Brazil @ Zig Club

More from Billboard

• Golden Globes to Air on CBS for Next 5 Years