Travel Guide

LAX Airport Parking and the Capital Records Building

The Los Angeles cityscape is currently home to a number of prominent architectural achievements. One such structure is the Capital Records Tower in Hollywood. Standing more than 13-stories high, the Capital Records Tower was the world's first ever circular office building. Designed to give the appearance of a stack of vinyl 45s on a turntable, the Capital Records Building is one of the city's most culturally significant landmarks. Prominent recording artists from across the country and around the world have recorded hit tracks inside this building, including jazz legends like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Nat King Cole. No other building in the city boasts as much musical history as the Capital Records Tower, so why not stop by during your upcoming LAX airport parking vacation? From the unique architectural features to its fantastic history, the Capital Records Tower has earned its place on practically every Los Angeles travel itinerary.

Get Creative: Interesting facts about the Capital Record Tower

The Capital Record Tower is unique for a number of reasons, not the least of which is its architectural design. Here are a few of the neat perks attributed to the major record labels original headquarters:

• Customers of Johnny Parks LAX Airport Parking are encouraged to decode the blinking light located atop the Capital Record Tower. This light spells out the word "Hollywood" in Morse code. In 1992 the code was changed to read "Capital 50" in honor of the label's fiftieth anniversary.
• The Capital Record Building was one of the first buildings to be certified as earthquake resistant. The technology behind the building was considered to be cutting edge back when the tower was opened in 1956.
• A number of disaster flicks have paid homage to the Capital Records Tower. These have included the blockbuster film "Earthquake" (1974) and the recent release "The Day After Tomorrow" in which the building is destroyed by a tornado.
• The Capital Records Tower was built as the consolidated West coast operations of Capital Records. It houses the operations of both Capital Records and Capital Studios, as well as a recording facility that includes a state-of-the-art echo chamber engineered by guitarist Les Paul.

Making beautiful music: Artists involved in the making of Capital Record history

Hundreds of solo and group musical acts have anxiously waited inside the Capital Records Tower clutching demo recordings and big dreams. Some of these hopefuls have gone on to make it big in the music industry, releasing multi-platinum records and gold albums. Older Johnny Parks LAX Airport Parking customers may recognize names like Grand Funk Railroad, Badfinger and Pink Floyd, all of which were made famous by Capital Records. Big names like The Beatles and The Beach Boys were also a major part of the label during the 1960s. During the seventies Capital Records launched two alternative labels and acquired a number of new and promising artists. These included Queen, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger and David Bowie. The eighties saw banks like Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and Megadeath take center stage. Since then, the label has also gone on to launch a number of exciting rap albums including creations by Ice Cube, MC Hammer, and Chingy. Younger customers of Johnny Parks LAX Airport Parking will also recognize Capital Record recording artists like Jimmy Eat World, Yellowcard, OK GO and The Vines. Musical history is on display throughout the Capital Records Tower, so don't be afraid to stop and take a look during your upcoming LAX airport parking vacation. Outside the building you'll find the "Walk of Fame" stars for Garth Brooks and John Lennon, while a large mural is located on the building's southern base celebrating a number of legendary jazz artists.

If you're a music lover you're not going to want to miss visiting the Capital Record Tower during your upcoming Johnny Parks LAX Airport Parking vacation. To learn more about the building and the Capital Record Company in general log onto www.hollywoodandvine.com.