Radio City Music Hall
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
1260 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10020
116 people
favorited this theater
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This past Sunday, my 79-year-old mom saw her first Radio City Christmas show since the one that accompanied MGM’s “Kim” in 1950-51. She loved every minute of it. What a great holiday tradition – long may it continue!
I haven’t seen one since 1970 myself (with “A Boy Named Charlie Brown”). Maybe I should go too.
There may have been a little contemporary “lip syncing” in Breen’s performances. A few years ago we were told to clear all nitrate film out of the Music Hall’s archives. At one point I could just kind of sneak it out, but the growth of enviorenmental awareness precluded just throwing it out. Firms were charging a fee to dispose of nitrate stock.
As an alternative, we offered it to the Sherman Grinberg stock footage library, since we had used their services for effects for our stage shows. Among the rolls of film, one which puzzled me was one labled “Breen”. Thinking it was a reference to the Breen of the Motion Picture Code who had ties to Rockefeller Center we took it to Grinberg’s office. The woman who was their main archivist put the footage up on a projector and said, “That’s Bobby Breen singing.” She remembered both his film and live performances in the New York area. Apparently, someone was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to do the number of shows a day required, or wanted a back-up, but it’s quite possible that audiences of the time who thought he was singing were actually hearing a 35mm film recording of his voice mixed with the live orchestra.
Child star Bobby Breen not only appeared on the Radio City Music Hall stage, but appeared on the Roxy stage with Eddie Cantor.
For a string of posts about “Auntie Mame” at RCMH, scroll above to 8 September 2005.
Between 2 June 2005 and 20 January 2006, my Showplace programs from 1956-74 appeared on this site (weekly on Thursdays around 10:00), with strings of valuable commentary from CinemaTreasures members at that time.
Nearly three years later, I’m looking forward to rejoining the discussion and sharing still earlier Showplace programs.
The above post by Warren G. Harris brought back so many memories. Auntie Mame was the first christmas show I saw at the Music Hall which started a wonderful family tradition. I remember waiting on line with my parents and sister for almost 3 hours. To this day I can still remember the feeling of seeing the film on the huge screen. And remember my sister asking my mom to use the ladies room during the scene when Rosalind Russell is climbing the stairs with Peggy Cass saying live! live! live!. I also vividly remember the stage show featuring the Rockettes and a spaceship to the moon and the underwater ballet. That night walking home, we passed the Roxy which was showing “Lil Abner”. Unfortunately I think my parents felt it wasn’t appropriate for an 8 year old so I never saw the inside of the Roxy which I joke about to my mom to this day. There were many Christmas shows to follow. I always remember the feeling of anticipation of walking from the seventh avenue subway and hoping that the line wasn’t too long so that we would be able to get in before noon for $.99. The Music Hall was such a special experience. I saw one of the newer Christmas shows years a few years ago but it just wasn’t the same. At least I have my memories and old Showplaces describing all the great shows and films.
I do agree with LuisV, although I am a little luckier. My wife is working on the show, and I had free tickets early in November. I took my 75 year old mother, who up till then had never been inside the music hall. ( Her and my father had been to the Roxy in the 50’s). What a great time she had, and the joy on her face said it all.
Tishman-Speyer finally unveiled the new website for Rockefeller Center. A major improvemnt over the old site. (Even if there are some items that the proofreader missed – They still have the long-gone 9 train stoping nearby.) Still, worth checking out.
Interesting comment about TKTS. Since I work in Times Sqaure and walk past the (new) TKTS booth all the time, I have never seen the Christmas Spectacular available on the discount board. The last I heard, Radio City does not belong to the TDF (Theater Development Fund), the group that operates the booth. It work be great if they did.
The Radio City Christmas Show should be seen by everyone at least once in their lifetime! Especially, those that are fans of Cinema Treasures. Though movies are rarely shown anymore, it is the only theater that produces its own stage shows and provides a glimpse of America’s theater history. Fans in Detroit and other cities get to see slimmed down versions of this show, but to see the original in its original theater is a must.
Yes, it is expensive, but the show frequently appears on the TKTS booth in Times Square where tickets are available at 50% off. Treat yourself! Your Great Aunt will smile.
My great aunt from West Orange had an annual tradition of going in to Manhattan every year to see the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. I’ve never seen it. I wish I had availed myself of the opportunity, because at today’s prices, and with no movie, I don’t think I ever will see it.
I thought the original lighting board located just in front of the orchestra lift and band car area was left in place even after the latest renovations(though no longer electrified)because of the great expense incured to remove such a heavy bulky item!! However, my second thought is maybe it was grandfathered into the historic stats and thus could not be removed?
Great poster. That was 50 years ago yesterday, when the Hall mostly played movies alongside its Xmas shows.
Good point, Warren. The fully lighted tree and the Christmas show really should go together.
The first couple weeks I thought attendance was up but now it has dropped off. Most of the optional shows have been cancelled already. I suspect the remaining ones will be also. Also, from what I have heard, they are looking to start the shows next year later into the season.
Well their selling the show on dvd, don’t know what year/version of it.
BTW, has attendance for the Christmas show increased or decreased from last year? Right now we’re in a recession that started a month after the Xmas show opened last year, and people can’t afford a lot of money to watch a christmas tradition that has been a mainstay of the hall forever. Maybe Cablevison could follow suit and broadcast the show to all the Clearviews that have DLP, like they did with the Knicks/Rangers games at the venue that it owns, the Garden.
Rob, who among us did not wait with batted breath for the new Boxoffice to come in the mail :)
Glad you liked it Bill, I like to think we were a special breed of guys in those days.
Thanks, Vito – what a great article! I loved how the projection team was referred to as a family.
Vito: Thanks for posting that article. I had seen it — there was a section in the booth filing cabinet for articles about the projection at the Hall most of the wider read trades such as Boxoffice and Motion Picture Herald and from Intrnational Projectionist. I have a few of them but not that article. Fortuately, Boxoffice is in the process of putting its past articles on line, which is really something to look forward to.
A wonderful blast from the past.
Just click on the article to enlarge and read the entire piece.
REndres if you have not already seen this you will love it.
View link
Hank: I agree with you. I think that the current contour curtain is made from a much lighter fabric than the first two. It does not seem to hang like it used to and is very billowy. Lately, I’ve seen the feet of people moving about the stage when the curtain is down, something I do not recall seeing in the past.
Thanks, Lost Memory, for the LIFE photos. I’m am going to post some of my photos in the near future.
Am I mistaken in seeing the present grand contour drape looking like the folds in a livingroom drapery? I don’t recall the pleats being so pronounced in days of yore when the fabric was in a closed position. Lost, Those Life photos are dynamite, Thanks.
Here is a March 1946 photo from Life:
http://tinyurl.com/5c5v8a
I rated it five stars since when it reopened after the renovations, it was like a new theater again.
Greetings:
July 1961 The Monday-Friday General Admission prices were $.99 opening to noon, $1.25 Noon to 6:PM $1.75 6PM to Box Office Close. The Reserved First Mezz. was $2.50 Matinee (Admission from Opening to 3PM Only) and $2.75 Every Evening (Seat Held from 7PM to the Start Of the Last Overture) The Sat GA was $1.25 Opening to 3PM and $1.75 from 3PM to Box Office Close. The Sunday and Holiday General Admission was $1.75 All Day. When the Christmas and Easter Shows came around there usually was a Morning Reserved Seat Sale. The Reserved Ticket holders ha a choise of coming to the opening show (film) at 7AM or could wait until the first stage show break and come in no later then 10 AM intime for the second showing of the film which would let out the the Matinee patrons at 1PM the promised time for their seats. again up to 3PM. On Sundays the first Morning sale of Reserved had to be seated by the start of the first show at noon, (Stage Show) and out at the first feature break so we could get the next 944 patrons in within 45 min in specific seats. No one could be allowed in after 3:45PM as they might still be there three hours later when the evening seats were guaranteed. This I recall from my management of the upper floors for two three year periods. Sorry but I don’t know what the earlier year prices were.