November 1, 2007 - Two New York studios have recently met the criteria to qualify as production facilities under the “Made in NY” tax credit program. Both facilities have rich and colorful production histories in New York City.

All Mobile Video has three locations at W. 26th Street, W. 57th Street, and 53rd Street. In the early twentieth century, the facilities at W. 26th Street were once the home to the Famous Players Film Company, a silent film studio that counted Mary Pickford as one of its actors. A four alarm fire and public outcry forced the studio to pack up and move to California. In the 1950s, the space was used by RKO Pictures and later CBS, where they produced “Playhouse 90.” The television version of “Marty” along with “The Patty Duke Show” and “The Judy Garland Show” were also filmed there.

In more recent years, the facilities have hosted everything from soap operas like “Guiding Light” to talk shows like “The Maury Povich Show.” Currently, the studio is the home to Martha Stewart’s daytime talk show, “Martha,” and “The Tyra Banks Show.”

JC Studios, located on East 14th Street in Brooklyn, has experienced its fair share of movie history as well. Vitagraph Studios, as it was originally known, was built in 1907, and produced silent films and early talkies. The building still boasts a now defunct pool underneath one of its stages, where Esther Williams once shot her aquatic-themed movies.

“Peter Pan” starring Mary Martin was filmed at the studios after NBC expanded the stages in 1950s, as were productions of “Hallmark Hall of Fame” and “Kraft Music.” “Saturday Night Live” shot briefly there in 1976, and “The Cosby Show” filmed its first few episodes on its stages. JC Studios currently hosts the CBS daytime drama “As the World Turns.”

Qualified film production facilities are stage facilities in the State of New York in which television shows and films are or are intended to be regularly produced, and which contain at least one sound stage of at least 7,000 SF. Filming at these facilities make productions eligible to participate in the “Made in NY” and Empire State incentive programs. Productions would qualify for up to a 15% tax credit for the work done at the facility.

For a list of other qualified production facilities, visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/resources/qualified_facilities.shtml