Golden Age of TV in Hollywood
From I Love Lucy to Netflix: Step behind the screen and see where TV was born!
Discover the legendary studios and wild history of Hollywood’s Sunset & Vine corridor.
Highlights
📺 The Birthplace of West Coast TV
See 1313 Vine Street, the oldest surviving structure in Hollywood built specifically for television production.
😂 Classic Comedy Grounds
Stand on the iconic sites where I Love Lucy, You Bet Your Life, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air were made.
🎭 Iconic Landmarks
Pass historic cultural hubs like the Hollywood Palladium, Columbia Square, Sunset Gower Studios, and the original NBC Radio City site.
🏛️ Political & Cultural Milestones
Walk by the venue where Richard Nixon gave his famous 1952 “Checkers” speech and learn where the very first Emmy Awards took place.
🎬 Hollywood Unfiltered
Experience the hidden gems, quirky facts, and raw street-level Hollywood history that standard tourist buses completely miss.
The Story
Ever wondered where television actually came from? Long before streaming services, Hollywood’s Sunset and Vine area was the original epicenter of the TV universe. In the late 1940s and 1950s, as network radio gave way to the rise of home television, giant networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC) scrambled to transform radio studios, old movie lots, and supper clubs into live television facilities.
Join us for an immersive 90-minute guided walking tour through the heart of Hollywood’s broadcast origins that brings seven decades of screen history off the archive shelves and onto the sidewalk. We’ll walk the exact route where ground-breaking live broadcasts were beamed across the nation, where legendary comedy icons perfected their craft, and where Hollywood’s street-level grit meets media history.
Whether you’re a classic TV buff, a casual fan of pop culture, or a local who wants to see the neighborhood through a totally different lens, this tour brings decades of screen history to life right on the pavement.
FAQs
This tour covers just over 1.5 miles at a leisurely pace.
Yes, this tour is accessible for both wheelchairs and strollers.
We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time. Within 24 hours of your tour, we would have incurred hard costs and therefore cannot allow rescheduling or cancellation without costs.
Plan to show up 15 minutes early. The tour starts promptly, and you may not be able to catch up if you arrive late.
Our tours run rain or shine. If there’s extreme weather and we have to cancel, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Street parking is metered and usually available. Please read the signs when parking and make sure you are clear for at least 2 hours.
Tips aren’t expected but are always appreciated by our guides. If you think your guide did an outstanding job, a tip is a great way to show that.