Illustration from Tower opening booklet, 1956.
Preserve and Protect the Capitol Tower
A front page story in Overture, newspaper of the Professional Musicians, Local 47, June 2008 (Vol. 88, No. 2), explains why the underground echo chambers of the Capitol Tower at Hollywood and vine are threatened. Read excerpts. Find out what you can do to protect the superpowers of this Hollywood landmark.
Interview: The Capitol Days
Don and Paula Hassler discuss their memories of working at Capitol Records in the 1950s.
Johnny Grant and the Hollywood Jaycees
An interview with Don Hassler about Johnny Grant and the Hollywood Jaycees. Don Hassler is a past president of the Hollywood Jaycees (1958 - 1959).
50th Anniversary
The Tower Turned fifty in 2006. Find correspondence, remembrance, and images from the Grand Opening, including the 1956 press release, information sheet, tour guide script, and tour booklet.
Old Hollywood
Interview with Lucille Kennard about the old days in Hollywood, beginning in the 1950s.
Feedback
Correspondence from people who have visited the site. To post your comments, contact Surrealist.org, click here.
Illustrations
Interview Part I: Company History
Illustrations: The Tower, the interviewees Don and Paula Hassler, the late Bill Muster, and interviewer and Surrealist.org author, Nori Muster.
Interview Part Two: Don Hassler History
Illustrations: Concord reel-to-reel tape recorder, Hollywood Jaycees news item (1959), Hollywood Jaycees Race program and detail photo of Johnny Grant (1956), Capitol Records memo (1959), Capitol News (c. 1952), Capitol Records Sales report (1953), Capitol Records letter from Manila and letterhead detail (1957), and Hollywood Jaycees letter and letterhead detail (1959).
Interview Part Three: Bill Muster History
In this section, Don and Paula Hassler recall Bill Muster's role at Capitol producing the Weekly Wrap-up and how he was fired because of a dust-up over whether Capitol artists should participate in the next Playboy Allstars record. Also, memories of Keely Smith and Louis Prima, and Lord Buckley. Illustrations include: Daily Variety front page, Capitol Sales Wrap-Up front page and masthead detail, plus one page from the Wrap-Up ("Promotion with Impact"), a "Special Hits" reply post card, and Playboy Magazine letterhead detail. Also Nori Muster's birth announcements from The Cash Box, Los Angeles Herald & Express, and Variety.
Interview: Capitol Records People
Don Hassler discusses the people shown in the "Capitol Gang" photo (Bill Muster, Perry Mayer, Dick Rising, Fred Rice, Bud Frazer, Steve Auld, and Jack Smothers). Also (not pictured): Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSilva, Perry Como, and Studs Turkel.
Bill Muster Fired Over Playboy
Illustrations: Readable scans of actual correspondence from Playboy magazine, Bill Muster, and executives at Capitol; also two articles in Variety.
Capitol News, May 1948, Vol. 6, No. 5
Illustrations: Capitol News, published monthly by Capitol Publicans, Inc., Sunset and Vine, Hollywood 28, Calif., edited by Dave Dexter, Jr.
Piltdown Men
A page on this obscure instrumental group that recorded with Capitol Records approximately 1959 - 1960.
Album Covers
Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, and one of the Stan Kenton Presents series, Boots Mussulli (sent by Rob Green).
Cap Photo
Capitol Records publicity photo, circa 1956, purchased from eBay.
Tower Opening Materials
See original press releases*, tour talk*, Tower information sheet*, booklet*.
Cap Paraphernalia
Illustrations: A 1959 Capitol record player for sale (sent in by Matthew Lutthans). Capitol Records magnifying glass, serving tray, and other collectible items (sent by Rob Green).
