The studio where Oprah Winfrey built an empire has a dark history
In short: Before it became a powerhouse for multimedia production, the site of Harpo Studios served a much grimmer purpose. The 88,000-square-foot facility was once a makeshift morgue for victims of a maritime disaster, a haunting origin for one of the most influential media brands in American history.
In the late 1980s, the 88,000-square-foot facility in Chicago's West Loop was renovated to house Harpo Studios. This became the production home for The Oprah Winfrey Show starting in January 15, 1990. While it eventually became a hub for Emmy Award-winning production teams and high-profile projects like The Rosie Show and the film Beloved, the land itself held a somber legacy.
Prior to its renovation, the site housed the 2nd Regiment Armory. Following the SS Eastland steamer's capsizing, the site served as a temporary morgue for those deceased. This historical layer adds a layer of irony to the studio's eventual role as a center for public discourse and personal transformation.
The studio's physical presence in Chicago ended in 2014 when it was sold to developer Sterling Bay. It was demolished in 2016, making way for the global headquarters of McDonald's. Despite the demolition, the legacy of Harpo Productions persists through its various subsidiaries, including Harpo Print and its minority interest in the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which launched in 2011.
The evolution of the company reflects a shift from traditional broadcasting to diverse media. While Harpo Films—the company's largest division—shut down in 2013 due to a drying out of demand for long-form broadcast projects, the brand continues to produce high-profile content for platforms like Apple TV+. This transition illustrates the move from a centralized physical studio to a decentralized multimedia empire.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Harpo Productions
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