Radio City Music Hall
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
116 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,026 - 1,050 of 3,325 comments
does anyone have recent shots from inside the theatre?
I agree with Vito, great shot Bryan, taken between 49th&50th Ithink?
looks familiar to me
Beautiful shot Bryan. I will be prining that on glossy paper.
Denpiano,
It’s good to see you posting again. BTW, the Old Girl sounded in fine voice on December 19 from the front row of the First Mezzanine. Happy New Year to everyone as well.
I must say that Ray Bohr is the reason I learned to play the organ
Dick Liebert was great also, the Wurlitzer is not an easy instrument to master because of its lag time you’re on 51st street and most of the organ is on 50th street, the great and orchestral which made me cry when playing it, what a beautiful organ and a challenge to register it which I feel Ashley Miller was the master of anyway i’m getting sentimental just writing about it,can’t wait to get back
happy New Year to all of you
Denpiano, glad to see your still here. I enjoyed reading your posts about the organ and Ray Bohr. I knew him as boy growing up until his passing when I was 11.
I never expected such affirmation of my choice of Auntie Mame.
I happen to know for a fact that the Bishop family has spent well over 100G’s of personal money to repair this organ over the years, i’ve seen the bills Ron is married to an ex-Rockette &they met at the hall because of the old Girl(Wurlitzer)not Emmie,they have a very sentimental feeling for the organ and it rubbed off on me
Irebuilt the action on low “D” diaphone to make sure it would shake the house for years to come,I must say it was fun till this lousy stroke took me away from her
as far as the wurlitzer goes,i’ve got no right to speak of current issues since I haven’t been back 4 years since my stroke, however, when I was there, we worked many evenings until 2-3AM rebuilding and replacing ancient parts, most of those dead note issues were dead magnets as I recall, because I know how many I replaced laying on my back to have the organ ready for the next days shows Rich& Ron Bishop were always concerned about the old girl& so was I, she almost killed me,I never worked so long on any organ as this one, I could almost sense the ghosts of Dick Liebert and Ray Bohr many late evenings, my buddy KenLadner who worked on the organ before me used to make jokes about, watch out for Dick,he’ll get ya
patsy- I went to wannamakers back in the 60’s when the organ was played at store opening, lunchtime and at closing as far as I recall
it was great& everyone should go if they get a chance to ,I believe it is still played every day the store is now Macys&the organ is the wannamaker organ as it was pretty much back in the day&
Peter Richard Conte is quite a technician at the consoleplaying many great organ pieces Go Go Go hear it you won’t be dissapointed sorry for spelling errors, i’m loaded up with medications for my stroke
“Auntie Mame” sure did broaden viewers' horizons. For example, I’ll bet that was the first time thousands of kids heard the word “heterosexual” (on the list of overheard words that Patrick didn’t understand).
The Christmas scene really is one of the best in all movies. Another great Christmas scene can be found in, of all the movies you wouldn’t expect to find one in, “The Curse of the Cat People” (1944).
Patrick: Is the English Lady sick, Auntie Mame?
Mame: Oh, she’s not English, darling, she’s from Pittsburgh.
Patrick: She sounded English.
Mame: Well, when you’re from Pittsburgh you have to do something.
On many levels, Auntie Mame is certainly one of my favorite Christmas presentations at the Hall, and I never saw it there. The World Premiere engagement began December 4, 1958. A little over two weeks earlier, I made my Premiere in the World on November 17. I always considered Auntie Mame to be my birth movie, so to speak. It has a special place in my heart.
I remember thinking that its inclusion in the Christmas Show was somewhat odd. “Why did they choose a documentary?”, I remember asking myself. Granted, we are discussing one of the finest documentary films ever made; a veritable blueprint for living. But Auntie Mame touched on some very serious issues. Poverty, racism, bigotry, alcohol abuse and single parenthood are some of the major issues addressed in the film. Have you ever noticed those two smartly dressed women in the scene where Mame introduces Patrick to Acacius Paige? One look at them and you can see a subtext of lesbianism. This is interspersed with tales of abject horror. I am referring to the dangers brought on by wearing too many bangle bracelets on the stage, the ghastly squashing of ping pong balls and, I shudder at writing these words, Daiquiris made with Honey. The Daiquiri incident alone could bring up so many things when viewed by people with weak constitutions.
Auntie Mame is my favorite documentary; I’ve watched it over 100 times. It is a testament to the filmmaker’s finesse; their ability to touch upon so many social issues in a two hour film. The topics are raised at such a rapid fire pace that you simply go along for the ride, but the seeds of thought are planted. I implore you to watch it again; see what comes up for you, especially during the Daiquiri scene. Many a day I would sit with friends at the former McAnn’s on West 51st Street. We would discuss this great movie for hours over rounds of “Flaming Mames”.
Next post for me, the Christmas “Goose” from 1964.
From live shows I’ve seen there, such as, Gotta Get Away, I would say that amplification is a must.
Does anybody know if the Music Hall is suitable for opera production/concerts? Do the acoustics allow for unamplified singing?
Thanks Bill. Actually the Loew’s has sort of become a substitute for the Music Hall. I try to attend when ever I can and always make a point to see a film there at Christmas. It does sort of bring back the feeling of the Music Hall especially when the organ is played.
p7350: If you’re still in the NY/NJ area, and until the Music Hall starts showing movies again, if ever, you can still hear that great cavernous echo sound at the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City about one weekend a month. It’s not as big as the Music Hall, but it’s pretty close – close enough to produce the echo.
Auntie Mame was also my favorite Christmas show especially since it was the first one I saw. I remember waiting over three hours in line with my parents and sister to get in. I still have the Showplace saved among the many from various visits over the years. To this day whenever I watch
“Auntie Mame” I still remember the feeling of sitting in the audience and can still hear the special echo like sound I always associated with the Music Hall. What I wouldn’t give to be able to relive that special time.
Denpiano: Please tell us your memories of going to Wanamakers in Philly to hear that organ. I understand the dept. store is gone now, but folks can still hear the organ. Is that true?
I remember the long lines as a kid& my dad telling me it won’t be long because its such a big theatreand we’ll get in soon, when we got in,I remember my jaw dropped when I saw the vastness of the building, my dad would take me anywhere there was a large pipe organ to hear, what a guy!! Wanamakers was next on the list for my birthday
After going through the various lists up above, I have to agree with Al and Vito and vote for “Auntie Mame”, especially because it has a long and very moving Christmas sequence in which Mame gives her last dime to the Salvation Army. There’s also a very funny sequence right before that in which she almost single-handedly destroys Macy’s toy department, where she works and from where she gets fired.
Justin: Amen…long live Radio City Music Hall, a true cinema treasured landmark!
happy 77th birthday!!! Three years from now the world might end but the landmark will live on!!!
On this date,today, December 27, 1932 Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City! Congratulations and may this great theatre continue to provide audiences with fun, dazzle and wonder forever!
I would agree with Al on “Auntie Mame” and add
1956 “Teahouse of the August Moon” and 1957 “Sayonara”
I saw “Scrooge” starring Albert Finney at the RCMH. It was during Christmas week in December 1970 and it was memorable. Imagine also seeing the Christmas Show, too. I also saw “Jumbo” with Doris Day at Christmas. I think I paid under $2. I haven’t been to RCMH since they stopped showing a feature film plus a show. For that cost, I could see an actual Broadway show.
AUNTIE MAME was and gets my vote.