Radio City Music Hall
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
116 people
favorited this theater
Showing 276 - 300 of 3,325 comments
I thought his funniest story was the one about him and the late Bill Cullen.
One of the best moments of the Mel Brooks appearance for me was when he talked about how he and Anne Bancroft loved going to see movies at Radio City Music Hall. He said they went so many times. He couldn’t believe he was now standing on the great stage.
I only found out about it earlier this week from markp’s comment above, on August 29th. It was a coincidence that it was scheduled so soon after Gene Wilder died.
Mel talked about meeting Gene backstage at a Broadway play Anne Bancroft was starring in, and that Gene was also in. They hit it off right away. Mel was grateful to Gene for stepping into the role of Jim in Blazing Saddles at the very last minute after Gig Young came to the set drunk on the first day of shooting. He said Gene was a comedy genius.
Bill, what was the occasion for the Blazing Saddles screening, and what did Mel have to say about Gene Wilder?
It was probably Last of the Red Hot Lovers, about which Roger Greenspun of The New York Times said: “In the dismal history of Neil Simon screenplays and adaptations for the screen, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers may represent the lowest ebb…
But I’m glad you have good memories of it, or at least of your visit to this magnificent house.
The greatest venue on earth to see a movie. I remember going there in September 1972 to see a movie and stage show. I remember the organ being played and the orchestra rising out of the pit and gliding onto the stage, The film was The Last of the Red Hot Mamas and the hall for a weekday afternoon was busy!
It’s been a long time between movies for me at Radio City, not since The Blues Brothers in 1998(?). That made last night’s showing of Blazing Saddles extra special. Mel Brooks came onstage after the movie and told hilarious stories for an hour. He has more energy at age 90 than I ever had.
Orchestra and all three mezzanines were sold out. Ticket prices started at $70. If they had such a big success with a movie showing, maybe they’ll do it again soon. A lot sooner than 18 years from now, I hope.
Ann-Margret was on Johnny Carson last night from December 13, 1978 promoting her special called “Rockette: A Holiday Tribute to Radio City Music Hall”
They were both wondering if the Music Hall would survive… Ann thought there was a lot of life left, Johnny was more pessimistic… (As we now know, RCMH ended its movie/stage show format about four months later, and after years of nail-biting drama, it’s still in show business nearly 40 years later.)
Here is a short clip I found from the special; I wish I could see the rest. :(
clip
I will be attending this Thursdays screening of “Blazing Saddles.” It will be a bit somber after todays news of Gene Wilders passing. It will probably be my only time at the hall this year, as my wife will not be working the Christmas Spectacular this year, her first time not doing it in 9 years. She is working on Cirque Paramour. Gonna miss seeing the Christmas show this year.
I try to attend every Dec.27th RCMH’s birthday. They say Roxy’s ghost appears with a beautiful blonde ghost. So far after ten years trying I haven’t seen it.
“Of Human Bondage” starring Bette Davis and Leslie Howard opened here in June 1934.
Here’s an excerpt from the New York Times review:
“At the first showing yesterday of this picture the audience was so wrought up over the conduct of this vixen that when Carey finally expressed his contempt for Mildred’s behavior applause was heard from all sides. There was a further outburst of applause when the film came to an end.”
Ah, if we could turn back time: an adult-themed picture playing to an enthusiastic crowd at the Music Hall…
NewYorker, I think you are right about not having the big names in the show. Last year when Derek Hough took a day off, their was a clear audible moan from the audience. Also, the thought was that there would be more tourists in the summer.
On the projection side, we replaced the 11 digital projectors on the choral stairs and in the booth with 22 newer, brighter ones. They also replaced some of the LED walls and legs with newer ones and also added more.
I wonder if slow sales can be partially attributed to the title — in seems “New York Summer Spectacular” is more catchy than “New York Spectacular” which sounds a bit generic…
I noticed the ticket sales… very unfortunate and likely a direct result of not having star names; an unfortunate dynamic performing arts is going through right now, including Broadway. I saw the show twice, once from 1Mezz A401 and again in Orch ZZ413. The emptiness of the Hall in both cases was alarming. However, being in the orchestra provided a dramatically different experience overall… one of much more energy from the stage, which is to be expected.
rcdt, I think your critical opinion, being so close to the show, would be very interesting. That said, of course one must appreciate your need for professional discretion.
I won’t comment on the quality of the show itself since I have seen every show so far and it wouldn’t be fair. I do have to say though that ticket sales are EXTREMELY bad. Attendance has been awful.
NewYorker64, my wife was one of the many dressers on last years show, which was awesome. (sad to say shes not working it this year, shes the head dresser on Cirque Paramour at the Lyric.) Ive heard nothing but good things about it. She will probably be back for the equally great Christmas show in the fall.
Very happy to report that the New York Spectacular is in fact that. It is a rather extraordinary experience, full of the spectacle that one expects from the Music Hall. The story is pretty brain-numbing, with an outright unlikeable character (the daughter), but who ever went to RCMH for the plot line? The rest is a joy ride. It’s big, it’s loud (the soundtrack is pretty juiced up, or shall I say “very produced”), it’s colorful, the dancing is awesome and innovative. Stages rise and fall, lighting and projections on the arches are beautiful and sometimes staggering and it’s all very good and very right. The most old-school might think it a bit garish, and some of the traditional elements (i.e., the organ, the band car traveling vertically across the stage) aren’t part of the experience, but I think it’s very relevant and appropriate for our time and still provides and experience that is singular to the Music Hall. Is it better than a dark stage? Of course! But it’s actually really something to see… albeit with a modern spirit and open mind. There’s obviously a big crew of talent working behind the scenes to make this happen and they are to be applauded. I don’t know enough about what qualifies as “projection” to comment on that element specifically, so I’ll leave that to one of the experts in this community. And oh, those 36 leggy ones… they’re looking very good and appear to be having a ball. Support the Music Hall, its faithful employees, the talent on the stage and, if you saw last year’s show, see what innovative direction can do.
Anyone else see it? I’m not opposed to alternative perspectives.
Not only are they not using the organs, but there will be a digital soundtrack to supplement the orchestra. Oy!!!
Spring question: Would you rather have roses on your piano or tulips on your organ?
Will the organ be used for the summer spectacular?
Dick Leibert was indeed an interesting person and a very fine organist. There is a biography and a three part discography that were published in Theatre Organ a few years ago.
Loews Paramount (Columbus Circle), Loews New York Twin, and Loews 34th St. Showplace were the only city runs.
The “A Chorus Line” ad shows the original New York engagements, but I cannot make out which theaters it was playing at…
Ads posted for “A Chorus Line” in the Photos Section may have created a false impression that the movie actually played an engagement at the Music Hall. But this so-called “world premiere” on the night of December 9th, 1985 was actually for just one screening only as part of a fund-raising charity affair. It was on the same night as the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, so the area was already packed with sightseers by the time celebrities and VIPs started arriving at the Music Hall.
my colleague working on the organ restoration back in the 90’s told me many interesting stories of Dick Leibert in past years however,I promised I’d never publish them.from what I gather,he was a really interesting was a very interesting guy.