DuMont Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DuMont Building |
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| General information | |
| Location | 515 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, New York City |
| Coordinates | 40°45′36″N 73°58′26″W / 40.759897°N 73.973935°W |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Owner | Newmark & Co. |
| Management | Newmark & Co. |
| Height | |
| Top floor | 162 m (531 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 42 |
| Floor area | 250,000 sq ft (23,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | J.E.R. Carpenter |
| Developer | John H. Carpenter |
The DuMont Building (also known as 515 Madison Avenue) is a tall, 42-story building in Manhattan, New York City. It stands 532 feet (162 meters) high at 53rd Street and Madison Avenue. This historic building is famous for its role in the early days of television.
Contents
The DuMont Building: A TV History Landmark
Building Design and Early Days
The DuMont Building was finished in 1931. It was built in a cool style called Art Deco and also has some neo-gothic touches. John H. Carpenter developed the building. His brother, J.E.R. Carpenter, was the architect who designed it. J.E.R. Carpenter also designed many other buildings in New York City.
Home of Early Television
One of the most special things about the DuMont Building is its broadcasting antenna. This antenna was used for some of the very first television broadcasts!
The First TV Station
In 1938, a man named Allen B. DuMont started an experimental TV station called W2XWV from this building. It was one of the first TV stations ever. In 1944, it became a commercial station named WABD, using DuMont's initials. This station later changed its name to WNEW-TV in 1958 and is now known as WNYW. It was one of the few TV channels that kept broadcasting even during World War II.
Moving On
After the war, the TV network and WABD needed bigger studios. They moved to different locations around New York City. These included the Wanamaker's store, the Adelphi Theatre, and the Ambassador Theatre. In 1954, they moved to a large building that became known as The DuMont Tele-Centre. Today, this building is the Fox Television Center.
A Place for Protests and Radio Waves
The Spanish Consulate Protest
In 1947, the DuMont Building was the site of a large protest. About 700 people gathered there. They were protesting against the government of Francisco Franco in Spain. The Spanish consulate, which is like an embassy, was located in the building at that time. The protesters wanted the United States to stop working with the Spanish government.
Radio Takes Over
In 1951, the WABD television antenna was moved to the top of the Empire State Building. This helped all New York TV stations broadcast from one main spot. Later, in 1958, a radio station called WKCR-FM started broadcasting from the DuMont Building's roof. This station belongs to Columbia University. It stayed there until 1977. Then, it moved its antenna to the World Trade Center. This move was needed because other tall buildings were blocking the signal. Even today, the original antenna still stands on top of the DuMont Building.
The Building Today
In 1962, the DuMont Building was sold to a company called Newmark & Co. This company still owns and manages the building today. It remains an important part of New York City's history, especially for its role in the early days of television.
See also
In Spanish: DuMont Building para niños
