Radio City Music Hall

Let’s get back to RCMH history.

This stock market farce starring James Garner and Lee Remick (in Hudson/Day mode) was into its 2nd week at the Hall when JFK was assassinated:
NY Daily News 11/25/63

There’s a small notice in the corner of the ad advising of the theater’s closing on Monday (the day that ad was published, actually) in memory of JFK. The other newspapers I have from this time (from my late grandfather’s collection) feature similar notices from various theaters and chains (not to mention department stores and big retailers). I was about 14 months from coming into this world, so I can only assume that 11/25/63 had been declared a national day of mourning by LBJ.

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Vincent… that much heralded 1976 production was produced by Sherwin Goldman and the Houston Grand Opera, who remounted the piece for the great stage at Radio City in 1983. Here’s a review that appeared in the NY Times for the Radio City version:

Frank Rich review

Rich thought the integrity of the Tony-winning production was preserved but, spectacular as it was, he made the very same point as you regarding the appropriateness of a more intimate Broadway house for proper staging of this American classic. His review also mentions that a future engagement had been planned for the production at the Met.

Radio City Music hall, a Grand Dame of design, lighting, function and opulence, home to so many G-rated motion pictures, is perhaps the most impressive theater I have – or ever will have – experienced in my lifetime.

In 1962, with neighborhood date in tow, I was literally bowled over by its size and decor. We weren’t in Brooklyn anymore, Toto. Our feet sank into the plush carpet. We saw “That Touch of Mink” and a stage show with the Rockettes, doing their finest imitations of a Busby Berkeley-inspired routine. Two years later, I returned to see “The World of Henry Orient.” But from 1971-73, I passed RCMH daily to and from work in Rockefeller Center. More or less, I took it for granted. 20/20 hindsight. Ouch.

Big thanks to some folks who researched what played and when, and then shared that info back in 2004: Ron 3853, William, Brucec and Bill Huelbig. Your combined work showed me clearly what I’d missed over the years.

Close your eyes and mentally revisit the scene in “Radio Days” when the aunt took the young Woody Allen character to NYC and to a show at RCMH. Conjure up the look of wonder in that kid’s eyes and on his face, and you’ll know, even vicariously, the wonder and magic of this great theater.

The Howard Johnson’s on the northwest corner of 46th and Broadway closed last year and is being replaced by a new structure that will house some sort of mega-retail space. This was the last remaining HoJo’s in NYC (there used to be three in the Times Square area alone including one directly across the street) and the old building also included a former caberet/dance hall space above that operated for years as the Gaiety Burlesk (an all male porn establishment) that has a listing here on CT.

You can find a blurb and recent photo of the building in mid-demolition here. If you scroll down there is also a notice and a couple of photos about the restaurant’s last night in business as well as a link to more details and images from that evening.

Here’s a 2004 shot of the HoJo’s still in operation.

Anyway… maybe I’m not old enough, but I don’t rememeber one by Radio City. There was one adjacent to the Rivoli on 49th and B'way. And I recall one near Grand Central Terminal.

I recall a Times Square automat being on the same block as the Howard Johnson’s. I may be one or two blocks off here. Back in 1962 my parents took the family there after seeing “That Touch of Mink” at Radio City. The movie featured several scenes that took place in an Automat. The Audrey Meadows character worked there and gave free food to her friend and roommate Doris Day.

Klass: Didn’t the Howard Johnson’s in Times Square close down about a year ago? When Star Wars Episode III opened in May 2005, I had dinner there before going to the Ziegfeld and the waiter was talking about the imminent end of the restaurant. I believe that was the last one left in New York City.

You are probably correct, but I think if it did exist back in ‘66, by now it is probably either a fast food place or, worse yet, a Duane Reade Drugstore! They seem to be on every other corner in NYC.

But I don’t think it was either of these. It was directly by the Hall(I think.)Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me-this was in ‘66.

You want me to get started Vito?
By the way Ed and klass discuss H and H but wasn’t there a Howard Johnson’s right by the Hall. Does anyone know where it was exactly?My mother took my sister and me there after my first visit to the Hall.

p.s. to vincent-thanks for placing Molly Brown for me. I was only 13 at the time so my recollection is a bit fuzzy. My mom was a huge Doris Day fan and I also recall seeing several of her movies there.
p.s. to EdSolero – thanks for the update on the H&H building. Since I am within walking distance at work to both Radio City and H&H, I will make it a point to get out more at lunchtime to see for myself. I tried to explain to my 20-something sons how the Automat worked and how much fun it was to go there, but they just looked at me as if I was from another planet!

klass
Molly Brown was a summer movie. The Easter film was Henry Orient-another of those bizarre mid 60’s choices of what the Hall considered a holiday film for the entire family. The Christmas film that year was Father Goose and I know of no one alive who was ever able to sit through the entire thing.

They did attempt to have an Easter show a couple of times but it was pretty pathetic. They included the Glory of Easter because I assume they still had the sets and costumes however they seemed to have lost the original lighting designs as the lighting was flat. When it was originally done the set seemed to glow with rich color.(I know because when I worked there for Robin and Marian I used to watch it again and again and I thought the lighting was amazing. Of course it was originally designed in the 30’s when they knew how to do these things.)