Recording studios
and jail time
Just to the left of the hair salon is 8040 Archibald Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga, CA,
address of “Studio Z”, Zappa’s first recording studio. Previously named
“Pal Records Inc.” before FZ bought it for $1000, it had been used by Paul Buff
to record the monster surf hits “Wipeout” by the Surfaris and “Pipeline”
by the Chantays. The original building was demolished when Archibald Avenue
was widened. Zappa moved on to Echo Park, L. A.
The total frontage of modern #8040, now a beauty parlour.
Compare to photos in Mystery Disk booklet and The Real FZ Book.
Together with a girlfriend FZ was tricked by an undercover agent
into making a “sex act” audio tape in Studio Z. He got arrested and was
imprisoned for 10 days in “Tank C” (behind the sign) of the
San Bernardino County Jail. Now the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center,
in the desert north of San Berdoo.
Modern entrance to Glen Helen.
Art Laboe’s Original Sound studio in Hollywood, still recording.
Before becoming a professional rock musician FZ scored the music for
the western movie Run Home Slow and had it recorded here. Early Zappa
material issued on Original Sound (“Memories of El Monte”).
Address: 7120 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA.
Former TTG Studios at 1441 N. McCadden Place near Sunset and Highland in Hollywood.
Freak Out! was recorded behind this door November 1965-January 1966.
Same scene.
Back (musicians) entrance to former TTG Studio. Still making records.
“Ike and Tina Turner’s Bolic Sound”, as it’s listed in the 1976 phone book.
FZ used this facility to record the album Overnite Sensation…
…now an optometrist. Address: 1310 North La Brea, Inglewood, CA.
Paramount Studios. FZ records The Grand Wazoo here.
Address: 6245 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, CA.
Back to main menu