Did you know The Cosby Show (1984-1992) was filmed in New York because Bill Cosby disliked working in Hollywood?
On the show, the Huxtable family lived in a brownstone at 10 Stigwood Avenue in Brooklyn Heights—however, exterior shots of their home were taken at 10 Leroy Street in Greenwich Village. Some may also call this St. Luke's Place—allegedly "the confusion in the street name comes from back when it wasn’t uncommon to rename a portion of a block to boost its supposed prestige. Trinity Church, which owned all the land here, renamed this block before selling it all off starting in 1851." The exterior "is often used for filming, because the other side of the street has no buildings to obstruct light." You'll also spot it in the movie Autumn in New York, as well as some Law & Order episodes.
Other Cosby facts:
- The show was filmed at NBC's Studio One facility in Brooklyn, later moving to the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens.
- Some of their neighbors, the Muppets, even stopped by for an episode.
- The shows were taped in front of a studio audience of around 300 people.
- David Dinkins, the mayor of New York at the time, showed up at the final taping.
- The Leroy Street brownstone is not a single-family home in real life, it actually contains four one-bedroom apartments.
- The Huxtables loved rugs!
- The majority of the artwork hanging on the walls of the Huxtable home was created by artist Synthia Saint James.
- Their stairs often served as a stage for family performances. Here they are performing Ray Charles' "Night Time Is The Right Time," and then James Brown's "I Got the Feelin'."
- And no, there is no Stigwood Avenue in New York.
Previously: A look at Lucy & Ricky's apartment and The Seven Year Itch.
