A Thousand Clowns, adapted from Herb Gardner’s successful 1962 Broadway play, starred Jason Robards as Murray Burns, an offbeat comedy writer battling societal norms to retain custody of his nephew. While much of the film’s charm comes from iconic New York City locations like Lincoln Center (during its construction), Central Park, and South Street Seaport, one often-overlooked piece of its production history took place just off Long Island -- specifically at the Michael Myerberg Studio in Garden City. This repurposed hangar, originally part of the Roosevelt Field airfield, served as the primary shooting stage for the film’s indoor sequences.
The choice to film on Long Island reportedly was not accidental. Fred Coe, the film’s producer-turned-director, began shooting at Michael Myerberg Studios in May 1964, with principal photography spanning 11 weeks. That studio space offered a sizable and adaptable environment that could not be matched in Manhattan, making it ideal for constructing Murray’s cluttered apartment and other interior settings. Today, the Myerberg hangar -- later converted into a nightclub -- stands as a fascinating relic, reminding us that beneath this quintessentially New York story lies a creative foundation built in part on Long Island’s hidden cinematic infrastructure.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on July 10, 2025.