I would like to introduce you to one of the greatest venues in one of the greatest cities in the world, Radio City Music Hall in New York City. This year it celebrates it’s 80th year hosting some of the biggest names ever in entertainment along with numerous award shows, movie premieres, concerts and world renowned stage shows.

Radio City Music Hall opened December 27, 1932, not long after the stock market crash of 1929. At the time the area was held by John D. Rockefeller, a $91 million dollar, 24 year lease on the Manhattan property which was known as the “speak easy belt”. His idea was to build a Metropolitan Opera House, but due to the economy of the time it failed. He, then, decided to build an entire complex of buildings that were so superior it would attract many commercial tenants. He searched for a commercial partner to help in this endeavor and he found it in a large company of the time known as Radio Corporation of America or better known today as RCA.

Along the way, Rockefeller and RCA found a man named S.L. Rothafel who was a theatrical genius of the time. Together, Rockefeller, RCA, and Rothafel came up with an idea of a theater like no other that was the first project completed in the complex. They designed it as a palace for the people. A palace of beauty, offering high quality entertainment at prices ordinary people could afford. They named it Radio City Hall.

Donald Deskey was the interior designer. He designed more than thirty spaces including eight lounges and smoking rooms. Each had a general theme which was a stunning tribute to human achievement in art, science and industry. It was considered a masterpiece of American modernist design. A reporter said, “ It has been said of the new music hall that it needs no performers”. Remaining as the largest indoor theater in the world, it’s auditorium measures 160 feet from the back to the stage and a height of 84 feet. It also boasts a shimmering gold curtain which is the largest in the world. They have an organ that was specially built for the theater called the “Mighty Wurlitzer”. It’s pipes which range in size from a few inches to 32 feet are housed in eleven separate rooms.

Radio City quickly became the favorite first run theater for moviemakers. Two weeks after the opening, it premiered it’s first film called, The Bitter Tea of General Yen. Since 1933, more than 700 movies have opened here such as the original King Kong, To Kill a Mockingbird, White Christmas, Mary Poppins, The Lion King, and many more. However, it is best known as the country’s leading hall for popular concerts, stage shows, special attractions and media events. Performers such as Ray Charles, Barry Mannilow, The Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder have graced the stage. Radio City has also hosted the MTV Video Music Awards, The Grammys, and the Tony Awards.

Rockefeller Center, as the complex is now called, is the nations favorite Christmas destination between the giant Christmas tree, all the beautiful lights, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The Spectacular is an eight week show and has been a sell out success since it’s debut in 1933. It’s a show with the spectacular combinations of old favorites such as The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, the living Nativity, and the world famous dance troupe known as the Rockettes. The Christmas Spectacular has gone on the road now and plays to enthusiastic audiences across the U.S.

I was five years old when I first experienced Radio City Music Hall. If it is that spectacular to adults imagine how a five year old would feel. It’s an amazing place to be on the Holidays as well as any time of the year. With such a rich history and still a current favorite it is very easy to see why it is known as the Showplace of the Nation.