Hollywood Shuts Down After Terror Attacks

ByABC News
September 12, 2001, 3:50 PM

Sept. 12 -- The nation's entertainment capital shut down remained closed after the horrific terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Two major awards shows and a Madonna concert were canceled, and most of Hollywood's big studios closed their doors in response to the assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The second annual Latin Grammy Awards, ironically, had been moved last month to Los Angeles from Miami amid fears that anti-Castro demonstrations protesting the presence of Cuban artists might get out of hand.

Organizers of the star-studded music gala said on Tuesday that the $4 million production, which was to have been broadcast in the United States and 120 other countries, was canceled.

"Who wants to be in a public place with thousands of people under these circumstances?" said one Latin music executive.

Guitarist Carlos Santana was among those scheduled to perform at the event.

Organizers of the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which had been set for Sunday, postponed the ceremony indefinitely "out of respect for the victims, their families, and our fellow citizens," said Jim Chabin, president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

"We will set no new date until we find out the extent of this tragedy and the national mourning that's going to take place," Chabin told The Associated Press.

Television and Film Production Halted

Hollywood's big studios, from AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. to Sony Corp's Sony Pictures to Vivendi Universal's Universal Studios, closed their doors Tuesday and instructed staff to go home as the country remained in a state of shock.

The major U.S. television networks canceled regular programming to allow for blanket coverage of the events. NBC said production has been halted for the week for its late-night programs hosted by Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, location shoots for ABC's new series Thieves, CBS' Judging Amy, and Fox's The X-Files, were all shut down Tuesday.