The Factory

Lore & Background

Originally located at 231 East 47th Street, the first studio became known as the 'Silver Factory' because its walls were painted silver and covered in aluminum foil. The Factory became known for its distinctive blend of art production, experimental film, and music. It served as a gathering place for a wide circle of artists, musicians, writers, and underground personalities—collectively known as Warhol superstars. In the late 1960s, the Factory relocated to 33 Union Square and evolved into a more streamlined operation focused on film production, while also serving as the headquarters of Interview magazine. During the 1970s, Warhol expanded production of his paintings, increasingly specializing in commissioned portraits of celebrities and wealthy patrons. By the time the Factory moved to 860 Broadway, it had transformed from an underground countercultural hangout into a sophisticated salon. In the 1980s, the Factory relocated once more, this time to 158 Madison Avenue, to accommodate Warhol’s growing business ventures in television and publishing.

In Their Own Story

The air tasted of rust and hot oil. Conker hung by one arm from a swaying chain, his other paw still clutching a half-eaten donut, and stared up at the ceiling of the Factory where a conveyor belt groaned to life somewhere above. A gear the size of his entire body clunked overhead, showering him in a fine mist of hydraulic fluid.

"Right then," he muttered, spitting a crumb of icing onto a steel plate. "Nobody told me the holiday included a shift at the foundry."

Somewhere deeper in the complex, a steam valve hissed and a distant klaxon wailed. Conker swung himself onto the next catwalk, boots ringing off the grating, and headed toward whatever the next room had cooking for him.

Reader's Guide

The Factory was not a game or a location in a game; it was a real-world art studio.

Did You Know?

• The first Factory was known as the 'Silver Factory' because its walls were painted silver and covered in aluminum foil.
• The Factory was the center of Warhol's artistic, social, and filmmaking activities from 1964 to 1987.
• The Factory relocated multiple times: to 33 Union Square, then to 860 Broadway, and finally to 158 Madison Avenue.