Academy Celebrates New Home for Emmys

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences might be second to the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences in what President Bush would call “the glamour thing.” But ATAS took a huge step forward in “the real estate thing” this weekend when it moved to new quarters in North Hollywood.

ATAS showed off its new two-story digs Saturday at a black-tie gala for 600 of TV’s elite. The party was part architecture tour, part TV history celebration and part coming-of-age party.

“This is our bar mitzvah,” said event chairman Sonny Fox.

There was much cooing over the television academy’s spacious patio, the fountain that bubbles around a 27-foot Emmy Award statue and the pastel stone walls. “Let’s call the color a sandy peach,” said Debbie Reynolds. “So it doesn’t sound like pink.”

But what seemed to impress guests the most was ATAS’ screening room. Decorated in burgundy and gray, it has amphitheater seating for unobstructed viewing plus state-of-the-art equipment for projecting both film and video.

“This is the only one of its kind,” said ATAS president Leo Chaloukian. “We didn’t want to end up with a screening room like somebody else’s. We wanted something special.”

Although the new building is spacious, it doesn’t have room to seat 600 guests. This was done in a 14,000 square-foot tent set in the courtyard. It was here that guests dined on Rococo’s chicken stuffed with veal and spinach, then saw the live show celebrating TV’s past. “Outside is where the Academy’s going,” said Fox. “Inside the tent is how we got here.”

Emceed by Robert Stack, the show recreated vintage TV performances. Alan Young was back talking to Mr. Ed, Bill Macy was verbally sparing with Maude (Beatrice Arthur), Peter Graves heard from the “Mission: Impossible” tape recorder one last time and Louis Nye showed the comedic innovation that made “The Steve Allen Show” ahead of its time.

The evening was capped by a strong performance by the Maguire Sisters and Milton Berle, who gave everything--including his pants--in the finale with Jack Jones.

Among those admiring Uncle Miltie’s shorts were Casey Kasem, Dinah Shore, Sally Kirkland, Mariette Hartley, Marilu Henner, producer Chick Fries, CAA’s Bill Haber, Paramount’s Mel Harris and ATAS executive director James Loper. It was a satisfying night for the entire television academy, especially for those living in the San Fernando Valley.

“This is amazing,” said Tony Danza. “I’m a Valley man, and this is the first time I’ve gone to one of these black-tie events and the place I’m going to is near me.”