Capitol Records Building - A Stack of Records

A stop on Hollywood Boulevard Walk, a free self-guided tour.

Finish with the building that looks like a stack of records on a turntable. Capitol Records completed this 13-story tower in 1956, designed by Louis Naidorf of Welton Becket and Associates and often called the world's first circular office building. Its curved sunshades suggest discs and the spire a turntable spindle, though the resemblance is said to have been a happy accident.

Capitol was founded in 1942, and its biggest early star, Nat King Cole, sold so many records that the tower earned the nickname The House That Nat Built. Frank Sinatra recorded in the studios at its base, where eight echo chambers engineered by guitar pioneer Les Paul sit more than 20 feet underground.

Watch the light at the top of the spire: it blinks the word Hollywood in Morse code. On the south wall, a huge tile mural celebrates jazz greats. The studios are not open to the public, so enjoy the view from across Vine Street. This is the end of the walk; the Hollywood/Vine Metro station is just back at the corner.

Getting here: Walk back to Vine Street and head north about a block; the round tower is on the right, and the best view is from the west sidewalk.

Did you know?: The tower was designed to fit under the 150-foot height limit Los Angeles had at the time; its antenna spire alone is about 150 feet tall.

Photo op: From the west side of Vine Street, step back toward Yucca Street to fit the whole tower, spire and all; at dusk you can catch the blinking light.

More on Wikipedia: Capitol Records Building · Capitol Records · Nat King Cole · Les Paul

Capitol Records Building - A Stack of Records

Stops on this tour