Capitol Records, Record label in Hollywood, US
Capitol Records is a record label in Hollywood that occupies a circular tower with thirteen floors at the intersection of Hollywood and Vine. The round architecture resembles stacked vinyl discs and forms a recognizable feature in the urban skyline.
The company was founded in 1942 by Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva and established itself as the first major record label on the West Coast. The tower was built in 1956 and became an architectural symbol for the postwar music industry in Los Angeles.
The music industry gathers regularly in and around the building, which serves as an address for professional meetings and industry events. The surrounding area reflects California's musical past, as fans and onlookers often stand in front of the tower to take photographs.
The tower itself is not a public museum and cannot usually be visited from the inside, but the exterior can be viewed from the street at any time. The area around Hollywood and Vine offers public sidewalks from which the building can be photographed.
A light on the roof blinks the word Hollywood in Morse code every night since 1956. The signal is visible from many parts of the city and connects the building to the film industry tradition in the neighborhood.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
