n New York City. The building is located in Rockefeller Center, and at one point was the most popular tourist destination in New York City. The location was declared a landmark of New York City in 1978. Rockefeller Center occupies a 12 acre space in the middle of Manhattan.
The area was originally developed between 1929 and 1940. The space was leased by John D. Rockefeller on land that was owned by Columbia University, and although he was unable to satisfy his biggest plans for the location, John D. Rockefeller was able to put together something special at Radio City Music Hall. The hall was originally designed by Edward Durell Stone in the Art Deco style. Rockefeller had originally planned for the location to be home of the Metropolitan Opera, but was unable to secure funding after the stock market crash.
The first corporation to rent out the location was the Radio Corporation of America, thus the name “Radio City Music Hall.” Radio City Music Hall first opened for the world to see on December 27th, 1932. The first stage show performers were Ray Bolger and Martha Graham. The location was meant to serve as high-class entertainment, which is something the city had been lacking for quite some time.
The most popular attraction at Radio City Music Hall was the theater. Most known for their film theater, they stopped regular film showings in 1979. The theater had become increasingly less popular, mostly because they refused to move away from only showing G-rated movies.
Today, the location is mostly used for concerts and live stage shows, and although the occasional movie premiere is held there, they have moved away from the film business for the most part. The location has enough seating for nearly 6,000 occupants, and was the biggest movie theater in the world when it first opened.
Its sleek architecture and wonderful Art Deco style interior decorating have been raved about for decades, and the art that surrounds the outside of the building is some of the most popular artwork in the City.
Radio City Music Hall is also known for throwing an annual Christmas celebration that is produced by MSG Entertainment. The show has been running since 1933, and regularly features the women’s dance team, The Rockettes. The Rockettes are joined on stage by a number of other acts each year, and their performance has become a New York tradition.
Even though it is no longer the most popular tourist location in New York City, it is still very popular among tourists and sightseers. It may not host the movie premieres and hugely popular events that it once did, but Radio City Music Hall continues to draw onlookers based on its rich heritage and their ability to book some of the most impressive live performances the city has to offer.
Radio City Music Hall is a New York sightseeing location that has drawn millions of admirers of the years. Even today, as the location wanes in sightseeing popularity, it is estimated to bring in over a million visitors each year. Radio City Music Hall has always been the foundation that makes Rockefeller Center as great as it is.
