PIANOS

The year was 1928. Hollywood just made its first “talkie”,  “The Jazz Singer” in 1927.  Now in 1928 music was about to become a permanent part of the movies.  1928 saw the introduction of Micky Mouse in “Steam Boat Willy”, the 1st air-conditioned office building in the USA, Scotch Tape, Amos and Andy debuts on the radio, Mae West made her New York City Broadway debut, Madame Tussaud’s wax museum opens in London, GE opens the first TV station,  1st ALL TALKING picture shown in New York City, George Eastman shows the first color motion picture, Babe Ruth hits home run number 42, Alexader Flemming discovers penicillin, the 1st recording session was held in Nashville,  Jacon Schick patents the first electric razor, the first issue of Time magazine was published, George Gershwin’s American in Paris debuts,  Hoover Defeated Smith for president and The Hollywood Piano Company opened for business.

The Hollywood Piano Company was not a grand scheme or plan, it was born from circumstance when a Russian immigrant who was in the construction business had a client who could not pay for the work, and wound up paying for the work in pianos. 

At first he did not know what to do with all of these pianos.  Then one day he had an idea, when one of his neighbors asked him if he would rent her one of his pianos for their children to take lessons on. 

And so, a Hollywood institution was born. Property was purchased off of Hollywood Blvd on Highland, and the historic, iconic Hollywood Piano neon sign was put up and lit for the first time. (This original enormous sign was removed piece by piece from the last location in Hollywood and has been restored and installed inside our current location for posterity.  If you want to see a slice of Hollywood history, drop by to see our sign.)
Over the years the landmark Highland location was a magnet for the biggest stars of the day.  Where do you think Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell went right after they put their hands in cement back in 1952?  They walked around the corner to the Hollywood Piano Company and Jane proceeded to play the piano while Marilyn sang.  A riot almost broke out.

Frank Sinatra was regular customer of the store often buying pianos as gifts for his friends.  It was not rare to find stars such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, all hanging out in the store at the same time.  Otto Preminger even used the store as the backdrop for a movie. 

It was only natural for the movies to come knocking on the door of the new company for pianos for these new “talkies”. Within no time the Hollywood Piano Company was not only supplying families with new pianos, but also became the key supplier of pianos to the burgeoning motion picture industry.

The history of the motion picture industry and the history of the Hollywood Piano Company are closely tied together.  Many customers of the early years included all of the major Hollywood Studios and such motion picture icons as Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy,  Norma Talmadge, Cecil B. De Mille, Walt Disney, and Louis B. Mayer.  The young company was supplying pianos faster then it could acquire them, the motion picture industry was buying and renting pianos for behind the scenes and in front of the cameras.  Many of the most famous pianos in screen history were provided by the Hollywood Piano Company. At the same time hundreds of families were renting pianos for the princely sum of $2.50 per month.

With the advent of television Hollywood Piano was supplying some of the biggest names in the business.  The piano in Lucy and Ricky’s Connecticut home was provided by the Hollywood Piano Company as was the famous piano used at the beginning of every episode of  “All In The Family” when Archie and Edith sang “Those Were the Days”.  In more recent years you’ve seen pianos from the Hollywood Piano on Frasier, Will and Grace, Desperate Housewives, 2 ½ Men and Dirty Sexy Money to name only a few. 

In 2001 the Hollywood and Highland complex opened with the Kodak Theater, the new home of the Academy awards.  One small problem though, when they built the complex they did not construct the garage with limos in mind.  Where to park the limos? 

The Hollywood Piano Company’s building stood on property that was now very attractive for a parking lot, the property was sold and the building was raised (saving only the original sign and all of the pianos).

The company moved further south on Highland for a short while until the sons of the founder decided to retire.  The Treibitz family who were excited to be part of a Hollywood legend then purchased the business.  A decision was made to follow the rest of Hollywood in its migration out to Burbank and the company was moved.  The current 7,000 square foot facility has been redesigned with a retro Hollywood feel with 2 showrooms, a main showroom and a showroom featuring hand built pianos.  Come visit us today and see our unmatched selection of pianos.  If we don’t have what you’re looking for, then it probably does not exist.

Television Shows
"Dirty Sexy Money"	"Samantha Who "	"Journeyman"	"Back to you"	"Carpoolers"
"Heroes"	"Mad TV - Piano Guy "	"Everybody hates Chris"	"Desperate Housewives"	"Desperate Housewives"
"Two and a Half Men"	"Two and a Half Men"	"Will & Grace"	"Will & Grace"	"Will & Grace"
"That '70s Show"	"Everybody Loves Raymond "	"Fraiser" 1993-	"Fraiser" 1993-	"Gilmore Girls "
"American Dreams" 2002-	"Mad TV - Stuart piano lesson"	"All in the Family"	"All in the Family"	"The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour"
" The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour"

"For over 80 years our company has been providing the pianos of your life as the key supplier of pianos to the motion picture industry."

Movies
"Hancock "	"Spider Man 3 "	"Dreamgirls"	"Ray"	"Ray"
"Ray"	"Ray"	"Austin Power "	"Cruel Intension "	"The Majestic "
"The Bird Cages "	"Skin Deep "	"Funny Lady"	"Dean Martin Show "	"I am the Monarch of the Sea "
"It Happened to Jane"	"Love me or Leave me"	"A Star is Born "	"Young at Heart"	"An American in Paris"
"Tea for Two "	"Easter Parada"	"Meet me in St. Louis"	"Casablanca"	"3 Stooges - Ants in The Pantry"
"Bombshell"	Marilyn Monroe Story	Ronald Regan	Donald O'Connor	Judy Garland
Frank Sinatra	3 Stooges	Frank Sinatra	Walt Disney	Irving Berlin
Nat King Cole	Marilyn Monroe	Frank Sinatra	Chico Marx	Peggy Lee
Doris Day	Louise Amstrong

Piano Dealer for the Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena areas.