Radio City Music Hall
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
117 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Radio City Entertainment (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: RKO
Architects: Donald Deskey, Edward Durell Stone
Functions: Concerts, Special Events, Stage Shows
Styles: Art Deco
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
212.247.4777
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News About This Theater
- Sep 22, 2014 — 50 Years of Pop
- May 5, 2014 — Key designer of Radio City Music Hall remembered
- Dec 18, 2013 — Merry Christmas from Cinema Treasures
- Oct 7, 2010 — Radio City Music Hall To Host a Special Screening of "The Two Towers"
- Sep 3, 2010 — 1970 Map of Midtown Manhattan, with theaters highlighted
- Jul 26, 2010 — An answer is needed
- Jun 4, 2009 — Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring" with live music at Radio City Music Hall
- Jul 28, 2008 — RCMH stages organ event
- Dec 31, 2007 — Happy Birthday Radio City!
- Jun 25, 2007 — Largest active theater
- Oct 20, 2004 — Loew's Paradise Theater
One of the greatest Art Deco style structures ever built, Radio City Music Hall is one of the most well known landmarks of New York City. Opened on December 27, 1932, with a variety show, it screened its first film Barbara Stanwyck in “The Bitter Tea of General Yen” on January 11, 1933. The proscenium is 100 feet wide, the stage 66 feet deep. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer organ, which has twin 4 manual consoles and 58 ranks. The organ was opened by organists Dick Leibert and Dr. C.A.J. Parmentier.
Showing a mixture of movies and stage shows in the program for 45 years, the format was ended on April 25, 1979 with Kathleen Quinlan in “The Promise”. Thereafter the programming changed to concerts, stage shows and special events.
Reborn after a $70 million renovation in 1999, Radio City has been restored to all of its original opulence.
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Recent comments (view all 3,342 comments)
My wife worked on the christmas show for 12 prior to 2020. She told me you would not believe how pampered those animals are. They are well taken care of and not in any way abused or anything .
That added fake arch and the speakers in the auditorium have totally ruined the place. They are inexcusable. And didn’t they ruin the fluidity of the curtain? So much for its art-deco splendor.
In response to Vindanpar’s post, I agree with you. The false proscenium and removal of the choral staircase curtains diminish the beauty of the auditorium. This for the sake of lighting effects is just poor, if not a complete lack of showmanship. The contour curtain IS part of the show. The opening program of December 1932 had a complete number to show off the curtain and its effects. The Hall’s centennial is approaching; perhaps a reason for the powers that be (or will be) to restore the auditorium. That said, I’m still glad the Hall is here. Paradise remains not paved.
Don’t count on the arch being restored. That is NEVER going to happen. If fact, it may lose even more stage area if the new sound system gets approved.
I’ve never seen the Sunday full page NY Times' ad for Scrooge the ‘70 Christmas movie or even the opening day ad. Is it on a page I’ve missed?
You’ll find it on November 15, 1970.
Thank you but I meant on a page on this site. I went through them all but did not see it. I could be that I overlooked it.
It’s there now.
Many vintage photos on the MCNY Collections website.
https://collections.mcny.org/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=24UP1GZLS07DM&FR_=1&W=1366&H=587
I’ve just uploaded two pictures I took while touring the place in 2005. Stage seen from balcony with curtains open, and back of the upper balcony. I’ve taken many more of various corridors and rooms of the building and will post some progressively.