lws@hou2d.UUCP (lwsamocha) (12/03/85)
* Regarding the opening credits for Hill Street Blues and various other aerial shots: Back in May of 1982, a film crew spent 2 days filming from the top of the AT&T bldg at the corner of Canal and Madison streets. At the time, this building was outside of tall commercial development in Chicago and AT&T found it ideal for a terminal site for microwave dishes. It was also surrounded by derelict, abandoned, and condemned buildings, plus the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad north and the Burlington/Amtrack station south. The building has a 100+ foot microwave tower with servicing catwalks and stairs that were deemed ideal for secure mounting of cameras and safe for the film crews. I was a radio engineer for AT&T then, and I had the opportunity to get on the roof and observe the filming. I recall MTM people hauling equipment to the tower via the freight elevators. I overheard much discussion of the view from 25 stories, camera angles to be used, what to shoot next, etc, etc. They used radio communications to cue 'prowl cars' for turns, aerial chases, and the like. I suppose AT&T was renumerated for the use of their facilities. It was an interesting two days. LWS hou2d!lws *