Radio City Music Hall

I realise it’s not until the end of the year, but are any plans being made for the 75th anniversary?

Many thanks Warren – I will download some info to keep with the postcard.

hello organized,i was wondering if you got in to see this years christmas show?
i’ve been away all year as I suffered a stroke on my birthday jan12,2006
thank GOD the organ is in the capable hands of RICHARD BISHOP.WE HAVE SEVERAL NEW ORGANISTS of which i haven’t gotten to hearyet, I was supposed to have a spot too
but my left hand and leg is affected and I can’t play.

I wish as well the Music Hall would have a festival of early cinemascope features before they shrunk to Panavision size. When I saw Seven Brides there in the late 70’s I had never seen a screen that wide in my life. The barn raising scene was stupendous.

Now I realize this is a long shot, but if any Radio City execs read this I wonder given the huge success of the Dreamgirls exclusive engagement, (no I won’t call it a roadshow), why not do it at the Hall sometime.
Find a movie on the scale of a Dreamgirls and book it exclusively for a 10-day run. I would suggest perhaps two or three shows a day and (now here’s the kicker) throw in a short stage presentation with maybe the Rockettes.
Yeah, I know, dream on vito.

Video celebrating the December 27, 1932 grand opening of RCMH.

View link

Sorry Peter, my mistake. The Silver screen is used for 3D not the other one. We have about 4 different screens here for the different material that is shown. Vito, it IS great seeing all those people out the ports. You can here the oooooooo’s and aaaaaaaa’s with the 3D too.

RCDTJ,
Thanks for that info. I hope they continue with the 70mm and never switch to digital, as a projectionist for almost 30 years, before switching over to management, I always wanted to work the hall, but spent most of my early career working on Saten Island and Long Island theatres, as well as theares in Hawaii.
As I mentioned to REdres it has to be a thrill to look out that port and make a changeover with those thousands of people down there. I still remember during the 50s seeing those huge lines wrapped around the building and wondering how much fun working there had to be.

I have seen many many Christmas Shows at Radio City beginning back in 1950 or so. I have just seen the 2006 show and I think the addition of the LED Wall is spectacular and is seamlessly incorporated into the design of the show. They use it creatively and is not obtrusive. I applaud them for constantly updating the show but still keeping a traditional overall feel. This is a new age— the age of the Cirque du Soleil spectacle — and so the Music Hall must keep up — at least in a technical sense. What the Music Hall has to watch is that children are not that impressed with this kind of show now —certainly not like I was— and I thought it was magic and still do. I am an older dad with three young children (twins at 12 years and one at 10). I’ve taken them to see the Christmas Show maybe five times in their short lives and this year I must sadly report I went alone. They said very kindly and thoughfully that they would go if I really wanted them to but that they had seen it and weren’t that interested . I didn’t press it because I wanted to get an expensive seat and could save the money. And maybe five times is abit much. I am not sure that they will want to take their children.
So the Music Hall has to be constantly updating and the trick is to keep it pure, contemporary and traditional all at the same time.
Of course, I really like it the really old way. A 42minute stage show and a great Movie.

Vito, we are still running the 3D 70MM 2 projector film. It has nothing to do with the new LED wall though. We actually use all 5 projectors during the show at one point or another. The show is pretty good even though they shortened it again this year. As far as the LED screen goes, it does function well though a lot of stage scenery has been taken out because of it. So it depends how you look at it. The screen adds to the show but personally I would like to still see all the old sets on stage that have been abolished by the new screen. Just my thoughts.

Thank you Jay for that informative link.
I can’t answer your question regarding film contract costs. I am sure things have changed since my day. I know a couple of film buyers (bookers) I often run into them at screenings and will pose the question.

To Vito:

I did some searching and found a news item regarding the new screen. Seems it an high defination video screen. Its a LED creation and the Music Hall was having problems with it and they sued in Federal Court back in May 2006 for the $4 million plus cost and the costs of installing it $1.8 million. Please see: View link
for the story I found. By the way what would the qualifications of a theatre have to be today for a theatre to get an exclusive film contract, and what might it cost the theatre more then a regular contract?

Anyone see the 2006 Christmas Show yet?