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{{Short description|Entertainment venue in New York City}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox venue
| name                     = Radio City Music Hall
| image                    = Radio City Music Hall (51395756913).jpg
| image_size               = 300
| image_caption            = Radio City Music Hall in 2021
| nickname                 = ''"The Showplace of the Nation"''
| location                 = 1260 [[Avenue of the Americas]] ([[Sixth Avenue (Manhattan)|Sixth Avenue]])<br />[[Manhattan]], New York
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| coordinates              = {{Coord|40|45|35|N|73|58|45|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| type                     = Concert hall, entertainment venue
| broke_ground             =
| built                    =
| opened                   = {{start date and age|1932|12|27}}
| expanded                 =
| closed                   =
| demolished               =
| owner                    = [[Tishman Speyer Properties]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tishmanspeyer.com/properties/Property.aspx?id=24|website=Tishman Speyer Properties|title=Rockefeller Center|access-date=November 21, 2009|archive-date=November 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116142829/http://www.tishmanspeyer.com/properties/Property.aspx?id=24|url-status=live}}</ref>
| operator                 = [[Madison Square Garden Entertainment]]
| former_names             =
| seating_type             = [[Rake (theatre)|Raked]]
| seating_capacity         = 5,960
| embedded                 =
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed                    = yes
| name                     = Radio City Music Hall
| nocat                    = yes
| nrhp_type                = nrhp
| architect                = [[Edward Durell Stone]]<br />[[Donald Deskey]]
| architecture             = [[Art Deco]]
| added                    = May 8, 1978
| designated_nrhp_type2 = December 23, 1987
| area                     = {{convert|2|acre|1}}
| refnum                   = 78001880<ref name="nris1">{{NRISref|2013a|dateform=|accessdate=September 4, 2024|refnum=78001880|name=Radio City Music Hall}}</ref>
| nrhp_type2               = indcp
| partof                   = Rockefeller Center
| partof_refnum            = 87002591<ref name="nris2">{{NRISref|2013a|dateform=|accessdate=September 4, 2024|refnum=87002591|name=Rockefeller Center}}</ref>
| designated_other2_name   = New York City Landmark
| designated_other2_date   = March 28, 1978 (interior){{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978}}<br />April 23, 1985 (exterior){{sfn|Adams|1985}}
| designated_other2_abbr   = NYCL
| designated_other2_color  = #FFE978
| designated_other2_number = 0995 (interior)<br>1446 (exterior)
| designated_other2_link   = New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
| designated_other2_num_position = bottom
}}
}}
'''Radio City Music Hall''' (also known as '''Radio City''') is an entertainment venue and [[Theater (structure)|theater]] at 1260 [[Sixth Avenue (Manhattan)|Avenue of the Americas]], within [[Rockefeller Center]], in the [[Midtown Manhattan]] neighborhood of [[New York City]]. Nicknamed "'''The Showplace of the Nation'''", it is the headquarters for [[the Rockettes]]. Radio City Music Hall was designed by [[Edward Durell Stone]] and [[Donald Deskey]] in the [[Art Deco]] style.

Radio City Music Hall was built on a plot of land that was originally intended for an opera house for the [[Metropolitan Opera]], plans for which were canceled in 1929. It opened on December 27, 1932, as part of the [[construction of Rockefeller Center]]. The 5,960-seat Music Hall was the larger of two venues built for Rockefeller Center's "Radio City" section, the other being the RKO Roxy Theatre (later the [[Center Theatre (New York City)|Center Theatre]]); the "Radio City" name came to apply only to Radio City Music Hall. It was largely successful until the 1970s, when declining patronage nearly drove the theater to bankruptcy. Radio City was designated a [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission|New York City Landmark]] in May 1978, and it was restored and allowed to remain open. The theater was extensively renovated in 1999.

Radio City's four-tiered auditorium was the world's largest when it opened. The theater also contains a variety of art. Although Radio City was initially intended to host stage shows, within a year of its opening it was converted into a [[movie palace]], hosting performances in a film-and-stage-spectacle format through the 1970s, and was the site of several movie premieres. By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, it primarily hosted concerts, including by leading pop and rock musicians, and live stage shows such as the ''[[Radio City Christmas Spectacular]]''. Radio City has also hosted televised events including the [[Grammy Awards]], [[Tony Awards]], the [[Daytime Emmy Awards]], [[MTV Video Music Awards]], and [[NFL draft]], as well as university graduation ceremonies.

==History==
{{Rockefeller Center map|highlight=9}}

===Development===

==== Planning ====
The [[construction of Rockefeller Center]] occurred between 1932 and 1940.{{efn|[[30 Rockefeller Plaza]] was the first building to start construction, in March 1932.<ref>{{cite news|page=43|title=First Steel Column Erected in 70-Story Rockefeller Unit|date=March 8, 1932|work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/03/08/issue.html|issn=0362-4331 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |url-status=live|archive-date=March 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316163403/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/03/08/issue.html}}</ref> The last building was completed in 1940.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1940/10/16/102265018.pdf |title=Airline Building Is Dedicated Here; Governors of 17 States Take Part by Pressing Keys |date=October 16, 1940|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 21, 2017|archive-date=March 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316163359/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1940/10/16/102265018.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref>}} on land that [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]] leased from [[Columbia University]].{{sfn|Glancy|1992|p=431}} The Rockefeller Center site was originally supposed to be occupied by a new [[opera house]] for the [[Metropolitan Opera]].{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=3}} By 1928, [[Benjamin Wistar Morris (architect)|Benjamin Wistar Morris]] and designer [[Joseph Urban]] were hired to come up with blueprints for the house.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=21}} The new building was too expensive for the opera to fund by itself, and it needed an [[Financial endowment|endowment]];{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=13}} the project ultimately gained the support of [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]]{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=13}}{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|pp=31–32}} The planned opera house was canceled in December 1929 due to various issues,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/12/06/94215747.pdf|title=Rockefeller Site For Opera Dropped |date=December 6, 1929|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 10, 2017|archive-date=March 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316163358/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/12/06/94215747.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=11}}{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|pp=16, 48–50}} but Rockefeller made a deal with [[RCA Corporation|RCA]] to develop Rockefeller Center as a [[mass media]] complex with four theaters.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=137–138}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/06/14/96156413.pdf|title=Rockefeller Plans Huge Culture Centre|date=June 14, 1930|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220537/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/06/14/96156413.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> This was later downsized to two theaters.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=45}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=177}}

[[Samuel Roxy Rothafel]], a successful theater operator who was renowned for his domination of the city's movie theater industry,{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=203}} joined the center's advisory board in 1930.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=91}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=213}}{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|p=64}} He offered to build two theaters: a large vaudeville "International Music Hall" on the northernmost block, with more than 6,200 seats, and the smaller 3,500-seat "RKO Roxy" movie theater on the southernmost block.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=213}}{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|p=65}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=355}} The idea for these theaters was inspired by Roxy's failed expansion of the 5,920-seat [[Roxy Theatre (New York City)|Roxy Theatre]] on 50th Street, one and a half blocks away.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=46}}{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=92}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252018%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201932%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201932%2520-%25206106.pdf|title=Roxy Presents New Mood|last=Gilligan|first=Edmund|date=November 29, 1932|work=The New York Sun|access-date=November 11, 2017|page=20|via=[[Fultonhistory.com]]}}</ref> The Music Hall was to have a single admission price of $2 per person.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=355}} Roxy also envisioned an elevated promenade between the two theaters,<ref>{{cite news|last=Brock|first=H.I.|title=Problems Confronting the Designers of Radio City|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=April 5, 1931|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/04/05/102224374.pdf|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220542/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/04/05/102224374.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> but this was never published in any of the official blueprints.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=213}}

==== Design process ====
In September 1931, a group of NBC managers and architects toured Europe to find performers and look at theater designs.{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|p=65}}{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=93}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=214}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=5}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Radio City Leaders Plan Foreign Tour|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |date=September 11, 1931 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/09/11/118233762.pdf|access-date=November 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220539/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/09/11/118233762.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|archive-date=April 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the group did not find any significant architectural details that they could use in the Radio City theaters.{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|p=66}}  In any case, Roxy's friend [[Peter Clark (theatrical expert)|Peter Clark]] turned out to have much more innovative designs for the proposed theaters than the Europeans did.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=215}}

Roxy had a list of design requests for the Music Hall.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=94}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=217–218}} First, he did not want the theater to have either a large balcony over the [[Box (theatre)|box seating]] or rows of box seating facing each other, as implemented in opera houses.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=217}} One alternative called for "a rather deep balcony" and a shallower second balcony, but would have obstructed views from the rear orchestra.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=357}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|pp=356–357}} Consequently, the final plan used three tiers of balconies, cantilevered off the back wall.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=217}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=357}} Second, Roxy specified that the stage contain a central section with three parts so the [[Set construction|sets]] could be changed easily.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=5}} Roxy wanted red seats because he believed it would make the theater successful,{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=217}} and he wished for the auditorium to be oval in shape because contemporary wisdom held that oval auditoriums had better acoustic qualities.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=94}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}} Finally, he wanted to build at least 6,201 seats in the Music Hall so it would be larger than the Roxy Theatre. There were only 5,960 audience seats, but Roxy counted exactly 6,201 seats by including elevator stools, [[orchestra pit]] seats, and dressing-room chairs.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=217–218}} Roxy also wanted the theater to have an "intimate" design as well. According to architect Henry Hofmeister, a single level of steeply raked [[stadium seating]] would likely have been used in a larger auditorium, quoting a theatrical proverb: "A house divided against the performer cannot stand."{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=356}}

Despite Roxy's specific requests for design features, the Music Hall's general design was determined by the Associated Architects, the architectural consortium that was designing the rest of Rockefeller Center.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=5}} The Music Hall was to be at the northwest corner of the Rockefeller Center complex, at the base of the 1270 Sixth Avenue office building; the theater's rear wall would have to support the offices above.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|pp=355–356}} Radio City Music Hall was designed by architect [[Edward Durell Stone]]{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=7}} and interior designer [[Donald Deskey]]{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=10}} in the [[Art Deco]] style.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=1}} Stone used [[Indiana Limestone]] for the facade, as with all the other buildings in Rockefeller Center, but he also included some distinguishing features. Three {{convert|90|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} signs with the theater's name were placed on the facade, while intricately ornamented [[fire escape]]s were installed on the walls facing 50th and 51st Streets. Inside, Stone designed {{convert|165|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} Grand Foyer with a large staircase, balconies, and mirrors and commissioned [[Ezra Winter]] for the grand foyer's {{convert|2400|ft2|m2|adj=on}} mural, "Quest for the Fountain of Eternal Youth".{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=218}} Deskey, meanwhile, was selected as part of a competition for interior designers for the Music Hall.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=220}} He had reportedly called Winter's painting "God-awful" and regarded the interior and exterior as not much better.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=218}} To make the Music Hall presentable in his opinion, Deskey designed upholstery and furniture that was custom to the theater. Deskey's plan was regarded the best of 35 submissions, and he ultimately used the [[rococo]] style in his interior design.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=220–221}}

==== Naming and construction ====
The International Music Hall evolved into a theater called Radio City Music Hall.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-EDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA252|page=252|title=World's Largest Theater in Rockefeller Center Will Seat Six Thousand|magazine=Popular Mechanics|date=August 1932|access-date=August 6, 2012|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818185109/https://books.google.com/books?id=7-EDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA252|url-status=live}}</ref> The names "Radio City" and "Radio City Music Hall" derive from one of the complex's first tenants, the [[RCA Corporation|Radio Corporation of America (RCA)]], which planned a [[mass media]] complex called Radio City on the west side of Rockefeller Center.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/06/14/96156413.pdf|title=Rockefeller Plans Huge Culture Centre; 4 Theatres in $350,000,000 5Th Av. Project; A Huge Theatrical Venture Which Will Exploit Television, Music Radio, Talking Pictures and Plays Will Be Erected, It Was Disclosed Last Night, On the Site Assembled by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Between Fifth And|date=June 14, 1930|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220537/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/06/14/96156413.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Over time, the appellation of "Radio City" devolved from describing the entire complex to just the complex's western section.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Fitch |first1=James Marston |url=https://archive.org/stream/grandcentralterm00fitc |title=Grand Central Terminal and Rockefeller Center: A Historic-Critical Estimate of Their Significance |last2=Waite |first2=Diana S. |date=1974 |publisher=The Division |location=Albany, NY |page=12}}</ref> Radio City Music Hall was the only part of the complex that retained the name by 1937, and the name "Radio City" became shorthand for the theater.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Moscrip |date=1937 |title=Mystery on Sixth Ave. |work=[[Screen & Radio Weekly]] |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201937%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201937%2520-%25206215.pdf |access-date=November 10, 2017 |via=[[Fultonhistory.com]] |url-status=live |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220542/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201937/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201937%20-%206215.pdf}}</ref>

[[File:Radio City Music Hall (36369298022).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Interior view of auditorium, looking from the stage toward the seating areas]]

Construction on Radio City Music Hall started in December 1931,{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=40}} and the theater [[topped out]] in August 1932.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/08/11/100787345.pdf|title=Facade 'Topped Out' In Rockefeller Unit; Last Stone Laid on Exterior of Music Hall – Work on Other Buildings Speeded.|date=August 11, 1932|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 14, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220548/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/08/11/100787345.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Its construction set many records at the time, including the use of {{convert|15,000|mi}} of copper wire and {{convert|200|mi}} of brass pipe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/08/18/118224102.html?pageNumber=23|title=Radio City Buys 15,000 Miles of Copper Wire; Early Start Looms in Construction Work|date=August 18, 1931|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=April 14, 2020|page=23|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220541/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/08/18/118224102.html?pageNumber=23|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 1932, [[Russell Markert]]'s précision dance troupe [[The Rockettes|the Roxyettes]] (later to be known as the Rockettes) left the Roxy Theatre and announced that they would be moving to Radio City. By then, Roxy was busy adding music acts in preparation for the theater's opening at the end of the year.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=96}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=235–236}}

=== Opening ===
Radio City Music Hall opened to the public on December 27, 1932, with a lavish stage show featuring numbers including [[Ray Bolger]], [[Ronnie Mansfield]], [[Doc Rockwell]], [[Martha Graham]], [[Ralph Dumke|The Mirthquakers]], [[The Tuskegee Choir]] and [[Patricia Bowman]].{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=94}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=239–243}}<ref>{{cite news|title=RALPH DUMKE, 64, PERFORMER, DEAD: Former Radio Star Was on Stage, In Films and on TV |work=The New York Times|date=January 6, 1964|page=47}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/27/arts/patricia-bowman-a-ballerina-who-linked-two-eras-of-dance.html|title=Patricia Bowman, A Ballerina Who Linked Two Eras of Dance|author=Jack Anderson|date=April 27, 1999|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419213108/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/27/arts/patricia-bowman-a-ballerina-who-linked-two-eras-of-dance.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The opening was meant to be a return to high-class variety entertainment.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252018%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201931%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201931%2520-%25200398.pdf|title=Mount Vernon Shares Glory at Opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York|date=December 28, 1932|work=Daily Argus|location=[[Mount Vernon, New York]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|page=16|via=[[Fultonhistory.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Music Hall Marks New Era In Design; Many Traditions in Building of Theatres Cast Aside for Modern Devices|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=December 28, 1932 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/12/28/105940014.pdf|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220542/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/12/28/105940014.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Radio City's opening program flopped because the program was very long, spanning from 8&nbsp;p.m. to 2&nbsp;a.m. the next day, and a multitude of acts were crammed onto the world's largest stage, ensuring that individual acts were lost in the cavernous hall. As the premiere went on, audience members, including John Rockefeller Jr, waited in the lobby or simply left early.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=94}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=241–242}} Some news reporters, tasked with writing reviews of the premiere, guessed the ending of the program because they left beforehand.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=242}}

Reviews ranged from furious to commiserate.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=244}} The film historian [[Terry Ramsaye]] wrote that "if the seating capacity of the Radio City Music Hall is precisely 6,200, then just exactly 6,199 persons must have been aware at the initial performance that they were eye witnesses to [...] the unveiling of the world's best 'bust'".<ref>{{cite news|last=Ramsaye |first=Terry|title=Static in Radio City|work=Motion Picture Herald|via=Internet Archive|date=January 14, 1933 |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpictureher110unse#page/n179/mode/2up/search/seating+capacity+of+the+radio+city+music+hall|access-date=November 28, 2017|page=11}}</ref> Set designer [[Robert Edmond Jones]] resigned in disappointment, and Graham was fired.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=244}} Despite the negative reviews of the performances, the theater's design was very well received.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=18}} One reviewer stated: "It has been said of the new Music Hall that it needs no performers; that its beauty and comforts alone are sufficient to gratify the greediest of playgoers."<ref>{{Cite journal |title=World's Biggest Playhouse Opens|journal=Literary Digest|volume=115|date=January 14, 1933|page=16}}</ref>

=== Conversion to movie house ===
Radio City's initial policy of live shows was so poorly received that, just two weeks after its opening, its managers announced that the theater would switch to showing feature films, accompanied by a spectacular stage show that Roxy had perfected.<ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Kelcey |date=January 9, 1933 |title=Amusements: New Prices For Radio Music Hall |volume=46 |pages=18–19 |work=Women's Wear Daily |issue=5 |id={{ProQuest|1654365272}}}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times 1933">{{Cite news |date=January 6, 1933 |title=Radio Music Hall to Be Movie House; 6,200-Seat Theatre to Co on Popular Price Basis With Films and Stage Shows |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/01/06/archives/radio-music-hall-to-be-movie-house-6200seat-theatre-to-co-on.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401171934/https://www.nytimes.com/1933/01/06/archives/radio-music-hall-to-be-movie-house-6200seat-theatre-to-co-on.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="New York Herald Tribune 1933">{{cite news |date=January 6, 1933 |title=Wednesday Set For Policy Shift In Radio City: Music Hall to Drop Lavish Show, Offer Film and Variety at Red Need Prices RKO Roxy Change Later Rumors Persist, Are Denied Anew, House Will Close |page=16 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1114797421}}}}</ref> The announcement came amid false rumors that the theater would close.<ref name="The New York Times 1933" /><ref name="New York Herald Tribune 1933" /> On January 11, 1933, after incurring a net operating loss of $180,000, Radio City became a movie and live-show house.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=19}}{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=95}} The first film shown on the giant screen was Frank Capra's ''[[The Bitter Tea of General Yen]]''.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=19}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E01EEDC1E3BEF3ABC4A52DFB7668388629EDE|title=Radio City Music Hall Shows a Melodrama of China as Its First Pictorial Attraction|last=Hall|first=Mordaunt|date=January 12, 1933|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |access-date=December 14, 2017|archive-date=December 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215000805/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E01EEDC1E3BEF3ABC4A52DFB7668388629EDE|url-status=live}}</ref> One critic said the same year that the Music Hall "is alone in carrying on the tradition of bigger things which underlay the whole project at the beginning".<ref>{{cite news |last=Furnas |first=J C. |date=July 16, 1933 |title=Radio City Music Hall Holds To Tradition of Bigger Things |page=D3 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1114562757}}}}</ref> William G. Van Schmus was hired as the theater's managing director that March, though he had never managed a theater before.<ref name="The New York Times 1942">{{Cite news |date=January 15, 1942 |title=Wm. G. Van Schmus, Theatre Head, Dies |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/01/15/archives/wm-g-van-schmus-theatre-head-dies-director-of-radio-city-music-hall.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182904/https://www.nytimes.com/1942/01/15/archives/wm-g-van-schmus-theatre-head-dies-director-of-radio-city-music-hall.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The top admission in the theater's first year was 40 cents during the day and 88 cents at night.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glover |first=William |date=December 23, 1962 |title=Radio City Music Hall Still Tops in Opulence |page=13D |work=The Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution |id={{ProQuest|1635682023}}}}</ref>

Radio City became the premiere showcase for films from the [[RKO|RKO-Radio]] studio, with ''[[Topaze (1933 American film)|Topaze]]'' being the first RKO film to play there in 1933.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpictureher114unse#page/n288/mode/1up|title=More Than 8,000,000 Attended Radio City Houses in First Year|work=[[Motion Picture Herald]]|date=January 20, 1934|page=27|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> Some of the films that premiered at Radio City Music Hall included ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' (1933), [[Breakfast at Tiffany's (film)|''Breakfast at Tiffany's'']] (1961), [[To Kill a Mockingbird (film)|''To Kill a Mockingbird'']] (1962), [[Mary Poppins (film)|''Mary Poppins'']] (1964), [[The Jungle Book (1967 film)|''The Jungle Book'']] (1967), and ''[[The Lion King]]'' (1994).<ref name="Wang 2018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/nyregion/new-york-today-radio-city-music-hall-history.html|title=New York Today: The Many Lives of Radio City Music Hall|last=Wang|first=Vivian|date=January 5, 2018|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109042503/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/nyregion/new-york-today-radio-city-music-hall-history.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''New York Daily News'' said that, in total, the theater hosted the premieres of over 650 movies.<ref name="O'Haire 1982">{{cite news|title=Radio City Hits Half-Century|last=O'Haire|first=Patricia|date=March 26, 1982|work=New York Daily News|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26588481/ 104], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26588492/ 106], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26588506/ 112]|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> At the theater's peak, four complete performances were presented every day.<ref name="cinematreasures">{{cite web |date=September 23, 2014 |title=Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/55 |access-date=November 7, 2019 |website=Cinema Treasures |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019005119/http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/55 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 1930s to 1950s ====
[[File:Radio City Music Hall 1a.jpg|thumb|Seen from 51st Street]]
In addition to its movie screenings, Radio City hosted a holy hour for Catholics, Protestants, and Jews starting in 1933.<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 2, 1933 |title=Three Faiths Hold Holy Hour Today; Rabbi Lyons, Dr. Cadman and Ex-Gov. Smith to Address Meeting in Radio City |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/04/02/archives/three-faiths-hold-holy-hour-today-rabbi-lyons-dr-cadman-and-exgov.html|access-date=April 1, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182930/https://www.nytimes.com/1933/04/02/archives/three-faiths-hold-holy-hour-today-rabbi-lyons-dr-cadman-and-exgov.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The theater started experimenting with operatic performances in May 1934.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 8, 1934|title=Opera for Radio City; ' Madama Butterfly' to Open at Music Hall Thursday|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1934/05/08/archives/opera-for-radio-city-madama-butterfly-to-open-at-music-hall.html|access-date=April 1, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182905/https://www.nytimes.com/1934/05/08/archives/opera-for-radio-city-madama-butterfly-to-open-at-music-hall.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Washington Post 1935">{{cite news |date=March 31, 1935 |title=World's Largest Playhouse Announces Artistic Ventures: Radio City Music Hall, In New York, Sets Up Formidable Array of Concert Artists With Which Picture Theater Will Have to Compete. |page=SS2 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|150614493}}}}</ref> The performances were so popular that Van Schmus decided to produce more opera shows to be performed four times a day.<ref name="The Washington Post 1935" /> Van Schmus subsequently hired [[Serge Sudeikin]], Albert Johnson, and [[Boris Aronson]] as the theater's art directors, under senior producer Leon Leonidoff.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 27, 1935 |title=Music Hall Engages Three Art Directors; Soudeikine, Johnson and Aronson Will Assist in Production of Stage Presentations |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1935/03/27/archives/music-hall-engages-three-art-directors-soudeikine-johnson-and.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919061714/https://www.nytimes.com/1935/03/27/archives/music-hall-engages-three-art-directors-soudeikine-johnson-and.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Early films screened at Radio City included ''[[Becky Sharp (film)|Becky Sharp]]'' (1935), the first [[feature film]] to use three-strip [[Technicolor]] production;<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sennwald|first=Andre |date=June 14, 1935 |title=The Screen; The Radio City Music Hall Presents 'Becky Sharp,' The First Full-Length Three-Color Photoplay |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1935/06/14/archives/the-screen-the-radio-city-music-hall-presents-becky-sharp-the-first.html|access-date=April 1, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629134407/https://www.nytimes.com/1935/06/14/archives/the-screen-the-radio-city-music-hall-presents-becky-sharp-the-first.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a [[Show Boat (1936 film)|1936 film version]] of the musical ''[[Show Boat]]'';<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nugent |first=Frank S. |date=May 15, 1936 |title=The Screen; A Bravo for Universal's Splendid Film Edition of 'Show Boat,' At the Radio City Music Hall |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1936/05/15/archives/the-screen-a-bravo-for-universals-splendid-film-edition-of-show.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130220106/https://www.nytimes.com/1936/05/15/archives/the-screen-a-bravo-for-universals-splendid-film-edition-of-show.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' (1937), [[Walt Disney]]'s first full-length feature film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nugent |first=Frank S. |date=January 14, 1938 |title=The Screen in Review; The Music Hall Presents Walt Disney's Delightful Fantasy, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'-Other New Films at Capitol and Criterion |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/01/14/archives/the-screen-in-review-the-music-hall-presents-walt-disneys.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315142826/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/01/14/archives/the-screen-in-review-the-music-hall-presents-walt-disneys.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The theater's non-cinematic events included a stage show about the history of lighting,<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 3, 1936 |title=Progress of Light Show; Radio City Music Hall to Exhibit Development From Candle Era |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1936/02/03/archives/progress-of-light-show-radio-city-music-hall-to-exhibit-development.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182908/https://www.nytimes.com/1936/02/03/archives/progress-of-light-show-radio-city-music-hall-to-exhibit-development.html |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as a fundraiser for the Red Cross.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 11, 1937 |title=Debutantes to Sell Flowers for Relief; Young Matrons to Assist in Aid for Red Cross at Radio City Music Hall Tonight |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/02/11/archives/debutantes-to-sell-flowers-for-relief-young-matrons-to-assist-in.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182907/https://www.nytimes.com/1937/02/11/archives/debutantes-to-sell-flowers-for-relief-young-matrons-to-assist-in.html |url-status=live}}</ref> By January 1937, more than 25 million people had visited the theater over the previous four years, paying total admission of $17.5 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Kelcey |date=January 4, 1937 |title=Amusements: Radio City Music Hall's Great Success |volume=54 |page=18 |work=Women's Wear Daily |issue=1 |id={{ProQuest|1699899072}}}}</ref>

Radio City was used for [[Easter]] worship services starting in 1940.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/04/10/archives/thousands-attend-services-at-dawn-largest-of-citys-crowds-is.html |title=Thousands Attend Services At Dawn; Largest of City's Crowds Is Gathering of 8,000 In Radio City Music Hall |date=April 10, 1944|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216045833/https://www.nytimes.com/1944/04/10/archives/thousands-attend-services-at-dawn-largest-of-citys-crowds-is.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The next year, the theater hosted "the most elaborate benefit performance ever held in New York", a World War II fundraiser.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 22, 1941 |title=Midnight-Dawn Show Is Staged To Aid Britain: More Than $25,000 Raised at Elaborate Benefit in Radio City Music Hall |page=4 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1335110117}}}}</ref> After Van Schmus died in January 1942,<ref name="The New York Times 1942" /> G. S. Eysell took over as the managing director.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 20, 1942 |title=Eysell Chosen As Radio City Music Hall Head: Former Assistant Succeeds to Posts of Van Schmus, Who Died Last Wednesday |page=12 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1263518435}}}}</ref> During this time, Radio City hosted films such as ''[[The Philadelphia Story (film)|The Philadelphia Story]]'' (1940),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Churchill |first=Douglas W. |title=Screen News Here and in Hollywood |work=The New York Times |date=December 26, 1940 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/26/archives/screen-news-here-and-in-hollywood-lloyd-nolans-first-picture-in-18.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182857/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/26/archives/screen-news-here-and-in-hollywood-lloyd-nolans-first-picture-in-18.html |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Sunny (1941 film)|Sunny]]'' (1941),<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 12, 1941 |title=Screen News Here and in Hollywood; ' Whistling in the Dark' Selected by Metro for Remake, With S. Sylvan Simon Directing |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1941/06/12/archives/screen-news-here-and-in-hollywood-whistling-in-the-dark-selected-by.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220542/https://www.nytimes.com/1941/06/12/archives/screen-news-here-and-in-hollywood-whistling-in-the-dark-selected-by.html |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Valley of Decision]]'' (1945),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |date=May 4, 1945 |title=The Screen in Review; 'The Valley of Decision,' With Greer Carson and Gregory Peck, Makes Its Appearance at the Radio City Music Hall |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1945/05/04/archives/the-screen-in-review-the-valley-of-decision-with-greer-carson-and.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713145223/https://www.nytimes.com/1945/05/04/archives/the-screen-in-review-the-valley-of-decision-with-greer-carson-and.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[The Late George Apley (film)|The Late George Apley]]'' (1947).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |date=March 21, 1947 |title=The Screen in Review; 'The Late George Apley' Based on Novel by Marquand, New Bill at Radio City Music Hall – Ronald Colman Is Starred' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1947/03/21/archives/the-screen-in-review-the-late-george-apley-based-on-novel-by.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182904/https://www.nytimes.com/1947/03/21/archives/the-screen-in-review-the-late-george-apley-based-on-novel-by.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Lines for the theater's Christmas show frequently stretched around the block. Performances by the Rockettes and a 60-member orchestra accompanied many live shows.{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=128}} [[Ernö Rapée]], who had headed Radio City's [[orchestra]] since its opening, continued to lead the theater's orchestra until he died in 1945.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 27, 1945 |title=Erno Rapee Dies; Noted Musician; Head of Orchestra at Radio City Music Hall—Composer of Song Hits in Films Presented Mahler Work Conducted in Europe |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1945/06/27/archives/erno-rapee-dies-noted-musician-head-of-orchestra-at-radio-city.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182907/https://www.nytimes.com/1945/06/27/archives/erno-rapee-dies-noted-musician-head-of-orchestra-at-radio-city.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City continued to operate every day, although it sometimes closed briefly for part of the day. For example, it partially closed after U.S. president [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] died in 1945 and again during a fuel shortage the next year.<ref name="Lucchese 1965">{{Cite news |last=Lucchese |first=Sam F. |date=February 21, 1965 |title=Radio City Music Hall Closing for Face-Lifting: Decorators Will Hustle To Finish Job in 5 Days |page=9D |work=The Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution |id={{ProQuest|1636139395}}}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times 1965">{{Cite news |date=March 2, 1965 |title=Gold-Fingered Men Working at Music Hall |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/02/archives/goldfingered-men-working-at-music-hall.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220542/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/02/archives/goldfingered-men-working-at-music-hall.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Alexander Smallens]] became the theater's musical director in 1947,<ref>{{cite news |date=September 10, 1947 |title=Smallens to Make Debut In Radio City Music Hall |page=22 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1322171637}}}}</ref> and Raymond Paige assumed that position three years later.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 15, 1950 |title=Named Musical Director Of Radio City Music Hall |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/07/15/archives/named-musical-director-of-radio-city-music-hall.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401182924/https://www.nytimes.com/1950/07/15/archives/named-musical-director-of-radio-city-music-hall.html |url-status=live}}</ref>  The theater's sound system was upgraded in mid-1953, enabling the venue to show [[3D film]]s without intermission.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 4, 1953 |title=3-D Without Intermission At Radio City Music Hall |volume=63 |issue=10 |page=28 |id={{ProQuest|1529195749}} |magazine=Boxoffice}}</ref> Radio City disbanded its in-house male chorus in 1958, instead hiring choral acts from around the world.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1958 |title=Music Hall Drops Its Male Chorus |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/05/29/archives/music-hall-drops-its-male-chorus.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401184239/https://www.nytimes.com/1958/05/29/archives/music-hall-drops-its-male-chorus.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The theater also hosted benefit parties for Big Brothers Inc. from 1953<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/11/19/archives/movie-show-dec-17-for-big-brothers-women-active-in-organization.html |title=Movie Show Dec. 17 For Big Brothers; Women Active in Organization Take Over Block of Seats at Music Hall for Benefit|date=November 19, 1953|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032037/https://www.nytimes.com/1953/11/19/archives/movie-show-dec-17-for-big-brothers-women-active-in-organization.html|url-status=live}}</ref> to at least 1959.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/11/01/archives/big-brothers-inc-plans-a-benefit-at-music-hall-proceeds-of-film-dec.html|title=Big Brothers, Inc., Plans a Benefit At Music Hall; Proceeds of Film Dec. 10 and 11 Will Assist Work for Needy Boys|date=November 1, 1959|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216034315/https://www.nytimes.com/1959/11/01/archives/big-brothers-inc-plans-a-benefit-at-music-hall-proceeds-of-film-dec.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Through the next decade, Radio City was successful regardless of the status of the city's economic, business, and entertainment sectors as a whole. It remained open even as other theaters such as the Paramount and the Roxy closed.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=429}}<ref name="The New York Times 1964">{{Cite news |date=December 10, 1964 |title=Theater Still Finds Key to Success in Its Program Formula |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/10/archives/theater-still-finds-key-to-success-in-its-program-formula.html |access-date=December 15, 2018 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216042438/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/10/archives/theater-still-finds-key-to-success-in-its-program-formula.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Atlanta Constitution 1975">{{cite news |date=February 2, 1975 |title=Radio City Music Hall Treasure of Memories |page=16F |work=The Atlanta Constitution |id={{ProQuest|1557739308}}}}</ref> A committee led by Radio City's director, Russell V. Dowling, selected the theater's live acts and other performances.<ref name="Boxoffice 1963">{{cite magazine |date=January 7, 1963 |title=Radio City Music Hall Has 30th Birthday |magazine=Boxoffice |volume=82 |issue=11 |page=11 |id={{ProQuest|1670970339}}}}</ref>

==== 1960s and 1970s ====
[[File:Radio City Music Hall 3752216239 f93f8b8395.jpg|thumb|View of Radio City's proscenium]]
Upon its 30th anniversary in 1962, Radio City had nearly 200 million total patrons to date, more than the entire U.S. population at the time.<ref name="Boxoffice 1963" /><ref name="Glover 1962">{{Cite news |last=Glover |first=William |date=December 23, 1962 |title=Radio City Music Hall Still Tops in Opulence |page=13D |work=The Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution |id={{ProQuest|163568202}}}}</ref> The theater had shown 532 feature films to date; the most frequent actor was [[Cary Grant]], who had appeared in 25 such films.<ref name="Glover 1962" /> Even so, officials had intended to close down Radio City Music Hall in 1962, one of several such unheeded announcements.<ref name="Press and Sun-Bulletin 1978">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26245176/radio_city_music_hall_will_close/|title=Radio City Music Hall Will Close|date=January 5, 1978|work=Press and Sun-Bulletin|access-date=December 15, 2018|location=Binghamton, NY|page=17|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031700/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26245176/radio_city_music_hall_will_close/|url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City closed temporarily in 1963 due to fears of a power failure, and the first full-day closure in its history took place on November 26, 1963, following the [[assassination of John F. Kennedy]].<ref name="Lucchese 1965" /><ref name="The New York Times 1965" /> By 1964, Radio City had an estimated 5.7 million annual visitors, who paid ticket prices of between 99 cents and $2.75 (equivalent to between ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=0.99|start_year=1964|r=0|fmt=c}} and ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=2.75|start_year=1964|r=0|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation-year|index=US-GDP}}).<ref name="The New York Times 1964" /> The theater had evolved to show fewer adult-oriented films, instead choosing to show films for general audiences.<ref name="O'Haire 1982" /><ref name="The New York Times 1964" /> However, Radio City's operating costs were almost twice as high as those of smaller performance venues. In addition, with the loosening of regulations on explicit content, Radio City's audience was mostly relegated to families.<ref name="O'Haire 1982" />

Radio City was closed entirely for five days in March 1965 for its first full cleaning, which included changing the curtains and painting the ceiling.<ref name="Lucchese 1965" />{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=429}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/02/05/archives/music-hall-plans-a-5day-shutdown-ceiling-paint-job-and-change-of.html|title=Music Hall Plans A 5-Day Shutdown; Ceiling Paint Job and Change of Curtain Set March 1–5|date=February 5, 1965|work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216040831/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/02/05/archives/music-hall-plans-a-5day-shutdown-ceiling-paint-job-and-change-of.html|url-status=live}}</ref> While the seating areas and floors had been cleaned regularly, the walls and ceilings had never been thoroughly cleaned and had accumulated a layer of dirt measuring almost {{convert|1/4|in}} thick.<ref name="The New York Times 1965" /> Two or three hundred workers cleaned the theater around the clock,<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 6, 1965 |title=Music Hall to Reopen After 5 Days' Repairs |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/06/archives/music-hall-to-reopen-after-5-days-repairs.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220544/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/06/archives/music-hall-to-reopen-after-5-days-repairs.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 6, 1965 |title=New Radio City Music Hall To Open Saturday |page=15 |work=New York Amsterdam News |id={{ProQuest|226669039}}}}</ref> and it reopened on March 8, 1965, with the film ''[[Dear Heart]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |date=March 8, 1965 |title=Screen: 'Dear Heart' Is at Music Hall:Geraldine Page Plays Old-Maid Postmaster |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/08/archives/screen-dear-heart-is-at-music-hallgeraldine-page-plays-oldmaid.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402002318/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/08/archives/screen-dear-heart-is-at-music-hallgeraldine-page-plays-oldmaid.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Repairs were also performed on the theater's organs during the nighttime.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/12/16/archives/radio-city-organ-gets-repairs-in-off-hours.html|title=Radio City Organ Gets Repairs in Off Hours|date=December 16, 1965|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216045859/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/12/16/archives/radio-city-organ-gets-repairs-in-off-hours.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 1965, Will Irwin and Rayburn Wright replaced Raymond Paige as the theater's musical directors following the latter's death.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 15, 1965 |title=Music Hall Chooses Two to Replace Paige |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/09/15/archives/music-hall-chooses-two-to-replace-paige.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402003820/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/09/15/archives/music-hall-chooses-two-to-replace-paige.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Russell V. Downing retired as Radio City's president in 1966 and was replaced by James F. Gould.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Canby |first=Vincent |date=January 21, 1966 |title=Russell Downing, Music Hall President, To Retire; Leaving Film Theater After 32 Years—His Successor Will Be James F. Gould |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/01/21/archives/russell-downing-music-hall-president-to-retire-leaving-film-theater.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402050528/https://www.nytimes.com/1966/01/21/archives/russell-downing-music-hall-president-to-retire-leaving-film-theater.html |url-status=live}}</ref> As president of Radio City, Gould expanded its programming to include events such as rock concerts and wrestling matches before he retired in 1973.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 8, 1973 |title=James Gould Retiring Jan.31 As President of Music Hall |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/08/archives/james-gould-retiring-jan-31-as-president-of-music-hall.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220543/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/08/archives/james-gould-retiring-jan-31-as-president-of-music-hall.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City had its 200 millionth visitor in January 1967, a little less than two years after its renovation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 6, 1967 |title=Mr. 200-Million Walks Music Hall's Red Carpet |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/01/06/archives/mr-200million-walks-music-halls-red-carpet.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402003819/https://www.nytimes.com/1967/01/06/archives/mr-200million-walks-music-halls-red-carpet.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=January 16, 1967 |title=Radio City Music Hall Has Its 200 Millionth Patron |volume=90 |issue=13 |page=10 |id={{ProQuest|1705101675}} |magazine=Boxoffice}}</ref>

Tourism to New York City started to decline by 1969, which affected the theater's attendance.<ref name="The Atlanta Constitution 1975" /><ref name="Shales 1975">{{cite news |last=Shales |first=Tom |date=March 2, 1975 |title=Radio City Music Hall: Alive and Still (Shakily) Kicking: Radio City Music Hall: Alive and Still (Shakily) Kicking |page=109 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|146437533}}}}</ref> Even in the early 1970s, Radio City had five million visitors a year, more than the [[Empire State Building]] and [[Statue of Liberty]] combined.<ref name="Pinkerton 1971">{{cite news |last=Pinkerton | first=W. Stewart Jr. |date=May 4, 1971 |title=Memory Lane: Radio City Music Hall Still Knocks 'Em Dead With a 1933 Formula Vast Theater, Lavish Sets, Rockettes and Bland Flicks Lure New Yorkers, Others But the Critics Wonder Why Memory Lane: Radio City Music Hall Still Knocks 'Em Dead |page=1 |work=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|133598886}}}}</ref> However, the proliferation of subtitled foreign movies had reduced attendance at Radio City.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=429}} Changes in film distribution made it difficult to secure exclusive bookings of many films, forcing Radio City's managers to show reruns.<ref name="Gelmis 1970" /><ref name="Jaynes 1978">{{Cite news |last=Jaynes |first=Gregory |date=January 6, 1978 |title='No Hope' Seen For Music Hall To Stay Open |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/06/archives/new-jersey-pages-no-hope-seen-for-music-hall-to-stay-open-no-hope.html |access-date=July 8, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708170029/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/06/archives/new-jersey-pages-no-hope-seen-for-music-hall-to-stay-open-no-hope.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City preferred to show only family-friendly movies, which further limited their film choices.<ref name="Shales 1975" /><ref name="Pinkerton 1971" /><ref name="Gelmis 1970">{{cite news|last=Gelmis|first=Joseph |title=Exhibitionists and the Games They Play|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uICAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56|access-date=January 18, 2013|magazine=New York Magazine|date=August 31, 1970|page=56}}</ref> As a result, popular films such as ''[[Chinatown (1974 film)|Chinatown]]'', ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'', and ''[[The Godfather Part II]]'' failed Radio City's screening criteria.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=429}} By 1972, Radio City had fired the performers' unions as well as six of the 36 Rockettes. The theater's management donated a painting by [[Stuart Davis (painter)|Stuart Davis]] to the [[Museum of Modern Art]] to reduce Radio City Music Hall's tax burden.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|pp=429–430}} That October, Radio City was closed temporarily after officials could not reach an employment agreement with the theater's musicians.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 12, 1972 |title=Radio City Music Hall Shuts; Labor Woes Cited |page=26 |work=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|133725999}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 12, 1972 |title=Dispute Shuts Music Hall |page=11 |work=Newsday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98917737/dispute-shuts-music-hall/ |access-date=April 2, 2022 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402181437/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98917737/dispute-shuts-music-hall/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Though the theater reopened a few days later,<ref>{{cite news |date=October 13, 1972 |title=Radio City Will Reopen; Talks Set on Labor Pact |page=18 |work=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|133612232}}}}</ref> this was the first time it had ever been closed due to staffing issues.<ref name="Shales 1975" />

Another labor dispute in 1973 forced Radio City to cut back its policy of mixed films and stage shows.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gent |first=George |date=September 5, 1973 |title=Music Hall Seeks Cutback of Shows |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/05/archives/music-hall-seeks-cutback-of-shows-talks-with-musicians-center-on.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204151718/http://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/05/archives/music-hall-seeks-cutback-of-shows-talks-with-musicians-center-on.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wall Street Journal 1973">{{cite news |date=September 14, 1973 |title=Radio City Music Hall Extends Pacts 5 Days |page=29 |work=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|133757177}}}}</ref> A total shutdown was only avoided when the musicians' union agreed to a three-year contract in which musicians would be paid for 38 weeks per year, rather than 52.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1973 |title=Music Hall Orchestra Accepts Cut in Annual Work Guarantee |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/18/archives/music-hall-orchestra-accepts-cut-in-annual-work-guarantee.html |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402181436/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/18/archives/music-hall-orchestra-accepts-cut-in-annual-work-guarantee.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This allowed Radio City's managers to schedule other forms of live entertainment for the theater during the remaining 14 weeks.<ref name="Shales 1975" /><ref name="Wall Street Journal 1973" />{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=581}} These live shows were split into two periods of seven weeks.<ref name="The Atlanta Constitution 1975" /> Radio City's managers attempted to draw patrons by using the stage for rock concerts, pop festivals, and telecasts of boxing matches.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=581}} Nonetheless, Radio City continued to lose $600,000 a year by early 1975. It cost $55,000 a week just to rent the theater, plus another $20,000 for employee salaries.<ref name="Shales 1975" /> There were just 3.5 million visitors annually, despite high attendance during Christmas, Easter, and the summer. Yet again, rumors spread that the venue would close, but Radio City's managers denied these claims.<ref name="The Atlanta Constitution 1975" /><ref name="Shales 1975" /> Architectural critic [[Ada Louise Huxtable]] wrote that Radio City was still more popular than other visitor attractions, such as the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], the [[American Museum of Natural History]], and the [[Bronx Zoo]].<ref name="Huxtable 1978">{{Cite news |last=Huxtable |first=Ada Louise |date=March 19, 1978 |title=Architecture View |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/19/archives/architecture-view-is-it-curtains-for-the-music-hall-architecture.html |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708173935/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/19/archives/architecture-view-is-it-curtains-for-the-music-hall-architecture.html |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=582}}

=== Bankruptcy and threat of closure ===
[[File:Radio City Music Hall 3713739901 4b1a1131a1.jpg|thumb|alt=Radio City Music Hall's grand foyer|Radio City's grand foyer]]
In 1977, annual attendance reached an all-time low of 1.5&nbsp;million,{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=430}} a 70 percent decrease from the 5 million visitors reported in 1968.<ref name="Shepard 1979">{{cite web |last=Shepard |first=Richard F. |date=April 19, 1979 |title=Music Hall to Be Restored |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/19/archives/music-hall-to-be-restored-new-show-format-set-restoration-to-start.html |access-date=December 12, 2017 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213201003/http://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/19/archives/music-hall-to-be-restored-new-show-format-set-restoration-to-start.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="New York Daily News 1978">{{cite news |date=March 15, 1978 |title=Threatens Demolition of the Music Hall; Rockettes Kick Up a Storm in City Hall Routine |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26245091/threatens_demolition_of_the_music_hall/ 5], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26245119/pete_hamill_rockettes_kick_up_a_storm/ 26] |work=New York Daily News |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The theater needed about 4 million annual visitors to break even.{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=131}} By January 1978, Radio City was in debt,<ref name="Oelsner 1978">{{cite news|last=Oelsner |first=Lesley|title=Efforts to Save-Music Hall Started |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=January 7, 1978 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/07/archives/efforts-to-save-music-hall-started-public-and-private-efforts-to.html |access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132624/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/07/archives/efforts-to-save-music-hall-started-public-and-private-efforts-to.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ferretti 1978">{{cite news|last=Ferretti |first=Fred |title=Agreement Reached On Radio City Tower |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=April 7, 1978 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/07/archives/agreement-reached-on-radio-city-tower-rentals-from-the-20story.html |access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201133529/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/07/archives/agreement-reached-on-radio-city-tower-rentals-from-the-20story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and officials stated that it could not remain open after April.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=581}}<ref name="Oelsner 1978" /><ref name="Grover 1978">{{cite news |last=Grover |first=Stephen |date=January 6, 1978 |title=Radio City Music Hall to End Career Of 45 Years April 12: Wurlitzer, Lavish Productions To Become Memories Due To Movie Theater's Losses |page=24 |work=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|134278234}}}}</ref> Rockefeller Center president Alton Marshall announced that, due to a projected loss of $3.5&nbsp;million for the upcoming year, Radio City Music Hall would close on April 12.<ref name="Press and Sun-Bulletin 1978" /><ref name="Grover 1978" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/05/archives/radio-city-music-hall-to-close-after-easter-show-koch-is-told-music.html |title=Radio City Music Hall to Close After. Easter Show, Koch Is Told|author1=M. A Farber|date=January 5, 1978|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|page=A1|access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903121759/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/05/archives/radio-city-music-hall-to-close-after-easter-show-koch-is-told-music.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This came after the theater had lost $2.3 million in 1977.<ref name="Grover 1978" /> Many of Radio City's regular patrons moved to the suburbs, and there was a lingering fear of crime in New York City.<ref name="Jaynes 1978" /><ref name="Grover 1978" /> A lack of family-friendly movies was also a factor in the planned closure.<ref name="Jaynes 1978" />{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=131}}<ref name="Grover 1978" /> One proposal included converting the theater into tennis courts, a shopping mall, an aquarium, a hotel, a theme park, or the [[American Stock Exchange]].{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=581}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=430}}<ref>{{cite news|author1=Schumach, Murry|title=Nostalgia Draws Music Hall Crowds Despite Cold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/08/archives/nostalgia-draws-music-hall-crowds-despite-cold-save-the-hall.html |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=January 8, 1978|page=29|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903081001/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/08/archives/nostalgia-draws-music-hall-crowds-despite-cold-save-the-hall.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the potential tax benefits of preserving the theater, Rockefeller Center's managers were uninterested in saving Radio City, as they were focused on the site's real-estate development potential.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=581}} Huxtable claimed that the managers' approach was "singularly lacking in any creative or cultural sensitivities".{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=581}}<ref name="Huxtable 1978" />

Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company dance captain Rosemary Novellino formed the [[Showpeople's Committee to Save Radio City Music Hall]].<ref name="Cook, Joy 1978">{{cite news|author=Grantz, Roberta B. |author2=Cook, Joy|title=Music Hall: Krupsak Blames Regime for Woes |work=New York Post|date=March 14, 1978|page=8|quote=Lt. Gov. Mary Ann Krupsak, leading the fight to save Radio City Music Hall, said today she was "convinced there has been a policy by Rockefeller Center to let Radio City Music Hall go downhill." She said a study showed that the management over the past 10 years had stacked the deck against the theater, placing a "disproportionate tax burden, management costs and other expenses" on the 6500-seat theater to show it no longer was economically viable as a movie house.}}</ref> Lieutenant governor [[Mary Anne Krupsak]], who had once been a Rockette, was also involved in the preservation efforts.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=582}}<ref name="Cook, Joy 1978" /> The alliance made hundreds of calls to Rockefeller Center's manager; ''The New York Times'' described that the callers "jammed the switchboards" there.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/07/archives/new-jersey-pages-public-and-private-efforts-to-save-radio-city.html |title=Public and Private Efforts to Save Radio City Music Hall Are Started|last=Oelsner|first=Leslie|date=January 7, 1978|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216042515/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/07/archives/new-jersey-pages-public-and-private-efforts-to-save-radio-city.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Rockettes also protested outside [[New York City Hall]].<ref name="New York Daily News 1978" /> The [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] (LPC) held public hearings on whether to designate the theater's interior as a city landmark in March 1978. Of more than 100 speakers, most argued in favor of landmark status, but Rockefeller Center president Alton G. Marshall said that "landmark designation may well be the last nail in the Music Hall's coffin."{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=581}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 15, 1978 |title=Radio City Debated by Landmarks Unit |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/15/archives/radio-city-debated-by-landmarks-unit-rockefeller-center-head.html |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708170801/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/15/archives/radio-city-debated-by-landmarks-unit-rockefeller-center-head.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In total, more than 100,000 people supported designating Radio City as a landmark.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=582}}<ref name="McDowell 1978">{{Cite news |last=McDowell |first=Edwin |date=March 29, 1978 |title=Interior of Music Hall Designated As Landmark Despite Objections |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/29/archives/interior-of-music-hall-designated-as-landmark-despite-objections.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717181549/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/29/archives/interior-of-music-hall-designated-as-landmark-despite-objections.html |archive-date=July 17, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The LPC designated the interior as a city landmark on March 28.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=582}}<ref name="McDowell 1978" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26245013/its_a_landmark_decision_for_radio_city/|title=It's a Landmark Decision for Radio City Music Hall|date=March 29, 1978|work=New York Daily News|access-date=December 15, 2018|page=668|via=newspapers.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031304/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26245013/its_a_landmark_decision_for_radio_city/ |archive-date=December 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rockefeller Center Inc. filed a lawsuit to try to reverse the landmark designation, claiming that landmark status would be unattractive to potential investors, but the lawsuit was unsuccessful.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=430}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Huxtable |first=Ada Louise |title=Architecture View|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=April 22, 1979 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/22/archives/architecture-view-update-on-the-music-hall.html|access-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-date=December 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213210529/http://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/22/archives/architecture-view-update-on-the-music-hall.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rockefeller Center Inc. indicated that it would demolish the theater had it succeeded in overturning the landmark designation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hollie |first=Pamela G. |date=May 5, 1978 |title=Center Seeks Permit to Demolish Radio City If Rescue Plans Fail |page=B4 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|123727492}}}}</ref> In April, just a few days before the planned closing date, the [[Empire State Development Corporation|Urban Development Corporation]] (UDC) voted to create a nonprofit subsidiary to lease Radio City.<ref>{{cite news |title=Agreement With U.D.C. Keeps Music Hall Open Indefinitely|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=April 13, 1978 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/13/archives/agreement-with-udc-keeps-music-hall-open-indefinitely.html|access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201133037/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/13/archives/agreement-with-udc-keeps-music-hall-open-indefinitely.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 11, 1978 |title=Radio City Music Hall Reprieved by Accord, Has New Management |page=45 |work=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|134245334}}}}</ref>  Plans for a 20-story mixed-use tower above Radio City were announced the same month, with rents from the proposed tower providing the necessary funds to keep the theater open.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=582}}<ref name="Ferretti 1978" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Morehouse |first=Ward III |date=April 12, 1978 |title=An Upbeat at Radio City Music Hall: Plan for Saving Landmark Includes Temporary Financing, Office Tower |page=5 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |id={{ProQuest|512040308}}}}</ref> An alternative involving transferring the theater's [[air rights]] to another building in the complex was also privately discussed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fried|first=Joseph P.|title=3 Plans Weighed By State to Keep Music Hall Open|work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331|date=December 26, 1978 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/26/archives/3-plans-weighed-by-state-to-keep-music-hall-open-real-estate-option.html|access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132109/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/26/archives/3-plans-weighed-by-state-to-keep-music-hall-open-real-estate-option.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The UDC and Rockefeller Center Inc. agreed on April 12 to keep Radio City open, just hours before it had been set to close.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=582}} On May 12, 1978, Radio City Music Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 13, 1978 |title=Radio City in National Register |page=26 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/13/archives/radio-city-in-national-register.html |access-date=January 23, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117011007/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/13/archives/radio-city-in-national-register.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Radio City lost $2.3 million in the first ten months of 1978, despite the fact that a [[Frank Sinatra]] concert there had grossed more than $1.7 million. From April 13 to September 13, 1978, when the UDC operated the theater, losses totaled $1.2 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 29, 1978 |title=The City: Radio City Deficit Put at $2.3 Million Kneller Resigns As College President Tram Runs Again 6,000 City Workers Reported Underpaid 3 Policemen Indicted Police Blotter |page=B3 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|123584948}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 29, 1978 |title=Pictures: 'Politicians' Phoney Aid' Cited; Radio City Music Hall Deficit Ongoing; Even Sinatra A Loss |volume=293 |issue=4 |page=5 |id={{ProQuest|1401341921}} |magazine=Variety}}</ref> The plans for an office building above the theater were recommended in a draft study that was published in February 1979.<ref name="The New York Times 1979">{{Cite news |date=February 11, 1979 |title=Radio City Tower Urged |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/11/archives/radio-city-tower-urged-radio-city-tower-proposed.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131621/http://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/11/archives/radio-city-tower-urged-radio-city-tower-proposed.html |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Davis Brody Bond|Davis Brody Associates]] had designed a 31-story office and hotel building that was to be cantilevered over the theater, with an entrance carved out of Radio City's Sixth Avenue lobby.<ref name="The New York Times 1979" />{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|pp=582–583}} The office building was ultimately not built.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|pp=582–583}} [[Robert Jani|Robert F. Jani]] instead assumed control of Radio City's programming, with plans to restore the venue to its original condition.<ref name="Shepard 1979" />{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=583}} The film-plus-stage-spectacle format ended at the theater on April 25, 1979, with the screening of ''[[The Promise (1979 film)|The Promise]]''.<ref name="cinematreasures" /> The theater was closed immediately afterward for renovation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Radio City Chandeliers Become Party Lights |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |date=April 27, 1979|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/27/archives/radio-city-chandeliers-become-party-lights.html|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=December 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213201001/http://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/27/archives/radio-city-chandeliers-become-party-lights.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It reopened with a ceremony on May 31, 1979.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=583}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=June 1, 1979 |title=Music Hall Arches: Theater Incarnate |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/06/01/archives/music-hall-arches-theater-incarnate-an-appraisal.html |access-date=July 8, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708173936/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/06/01/archives/music-hall-arches-theater-incarnate-an-appraisal.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Late 20th century===
[[File:Radio City Music Hall 2229954271 675a3a4551.jpg|thumb|Marquee in January 2008 during the Christmas Spectacular]]
After the theater reopened to the public, Radio City started creating its own music concerts. Previously, the theater had only hosted events created by external producers.<ref name="Morgan 1986">{{cite news |last=Morgan |first=Thomas |date=March 27, 1986 |title='Snow White' To Rock, Radio City Diversifies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/27/arts/snow-white-to-rock-radio-city-diversifies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228223406/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/27/arts/snow-white-to-rock-radio-city-diversifies.html |archive-date=December 28, 2018 |access-date=December 28, 2018 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Time slots were set aside for movie screenings, but Radio City had mostly turned to stage shows.<ref name="O'Haire 1982" /> By January 1980, Radio City was hosting shows such as the stage adaptation of ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (musical)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Marcia |date=October 14, 1979 |title=Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! Here Comes a Staged 'Snow White' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/14/archives/heigh-ho-heigh-ho-here-comes-a-staged-snow-white-snow-white.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220543/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/14/archives/heigh-ho-heigh-ho-here-comes-a-staged-snow-white-snow-white.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and the ''Rockettes Spectacular.''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26587957/|title=Music Hall Gets a Lift|last=Leogrande|first=Ernest|date=January 15, 1980 |work=New York Daily News|access-date=December 28, 2018|page=198|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220544/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26587957/music-hall-gets-a-lift/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the theatrical shows proved to be unpopular, so, in 1983, the Radio City Music Hall shifted to creating music concerts and participating in the production of films and TV shows.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/10/arts/radio-city-shifts-focus-to-pop-music-concerts.html|title=Radio City Shifts Focus To Pop Music Concerts|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=September 10, 1983|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228223341/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/10/arts/radio-city-shifts-focus-to-pop-music-concerts.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The parent company, Radio City Music Hall Productions (a subsidiary of Rockefeller Center Inc.), started creating or co-creating films and Broadway shows such as ''[[Legs (film)|Legs]]'' and ''[[Brighton Beach Memoirs]]''.<ref name="Morgan 1986" />

By the early 1980s, the LPC was considering designating the original Rockefeller Center complex as a city landmark, including the exterior of Radio City Music Hall. In 1983, the LPC held hearings to determine how much of Rockefeller Center should be protected as a landmark.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lake |first=Katharine |date=April 18, 1983 |title=Rockefeller Center Landmarking Proposed |page=106 |work=New York Daily News |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97567070/rockefeller-center-landmarking/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313235550/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97567070/rockefeller-center-landmarking/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Rockefeller family and Columbia University acknowledged that the buildings were already symbolically landmarks, but their spokesman [[John E. Zuccotti]] recommended that only the block between 49th and 50th Streets be protected.{{efn|Namely 1250 Avenue of the Americas, [[30 Rockefeller Plaza]], the [[British Empire Building]], [[La Maison Francaise (Rockefeller Center)|La Maison Francaise]], the Channel Gardens, and the Lower Plaza{{sfn|Glancy|1992|p=425}}|name=49th–50th-block}} By contrast, almost everyone else who supported Rockefeller Center's landmark status recommended that the entire complex be landmarked.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=September 21, 1983 |title=Rockefeller Center: A 'Jewel' but Is All of It a Landmark? |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/21/nyregion/rockefeller-center-a-jewel-but-is-all-of-it-a-landmark.html |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214024735/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/21/nyregion/rockefeller-center-a-jewel-but-is-all-of-it-a-landmark.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wiener |first=Caryn Eve |date=September 21, 1983 |title=6-Block Landmark Viewed as Too Costly |page=25 |work=Newsday |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97567027/6-block-landmark-viewed-as-too/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313235156/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97567027/6-block-landmark-viewed-as-too/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The LPC granted landmark status to the exteriors of all of the original complex's buildings, including the previously unprotected exterior of Radio City Music Hall, on April 23, 1985.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=270–271}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=T. J. |date=April 24, 1985 |title=Rockefeller Center a Landmark for Real |page=23 |work=Newsday |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97338249/rockefeller-center-a-landmark-for/ |access-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310211411/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97338249/rockefeller-center-a-landmark-for/ |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The final exterior landmark designation covers 12 buildings as well as the Channel Gardens, Rockefeller Plaza, and Lower Plaza. These are [[1230 Avenue of the Americas|1230]], [[1250 Avenue of the Americas|1250]], and [[1270 Avenue of the Americas]]; [[1 Rockefeller Plaza|1]], [[10 Rockefeller Plaza|10]], [[30 Rockefeller Plaza|30]], [[50 Rockefeller Plaza|50]], and [[75 Rockefeller Plaza]]; the British Empire Building; the [[International Building (Rockefeller Center)|International Building]]; and La Maison Francaise. Radio City Music Hall was also added as an exterior landmark, and the lobbies of the International Building and 30 Rockefeller Plaza were also protected.{{sfn|Glancy|1992|p=425}}}} Rockefeller Center's original buildings also became a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1987.{{sfn|Glancy|1992|p=426}}

Radio City finally recorded a net gain of $2.5 million in 1985, its first profit in three decades. This was partly attributed to the addition of music concerts, which appealed toward younger viewers.<ref name="Morgan 1986" /> Radio City also started hosting televised events including the [[Grammy Awards]], the [[Tony Awards]], the [[Daytime Emmy Awards]], the [[MTV Video Music Awards]], and the [[NFL draft]].<ref name="Wang 2018" />{{efn|The Grammys, which alternated between New York City and [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], were moved to Hollywood in 2004, as have the Daytime Emmys, off and on, since 2006.}} A new golden curtain was installed at the main stage in January 1987. The curtain was the third one to be installed since Radio City's opening in 1932; it had last been replaced in 1965. Because of Radio City's historic status, the curtain had to be the same style, texture, and color as the previous curtains.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/19/garden/quest-for-a-curtain-for-a-historic-hall.html |title=Quest for a Curtain for a Historic Hall|last=Freudenheim|first=Betty |date=March 19, 1987|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228223423/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/19/garden/quest-for-a-curtain-for-a-historic-hall.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1997, Radio City was leased to the [[Madison Square Garden Company]] (then known as [[Cablevision]]), providing funding to keep the Rockettes and the ''Christmas Spectacular'' at Radio City. In exchange, Cablevision would be able to renovate and manage the theater.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=583}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/04/nyregion/lease-of-radio-city-music-hall-keeps-rockettes-kicking.html|title=Lease of Radio City Music Hall Keeps Rockettes Kicking|last=Lueck|first=Thomas J. |date=December 4, 1997|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 21, 2009|archive-date=May 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518113140/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/04/nyregion/lease-of-radio-city-music-hall-keeps-rockettes-kicking.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City was closed on February 16, 1999,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/21/nyregion/bringing-up-basement-rockefeller-center-turning-its-underground-concourse-into.html|title=Bringing Up the Basement; Rockefeller Center Is Turning Its Underground Concourse Into a Shiny New Shopping Zone. Lost in the Bargain, Preservationists Say, Is an Art Deco Treasure|last=Collins |first=Glenn|date=February 21, 1999|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123142331/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/21/nyregion/bringing-up-basement-rockefeller-center-turning-its-underground-concourse-into.html|url-status=live}}</ref> for a comprehensive renovation.<ref name="Iovine 1999">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/06/nyregion/piece-by-piece-a-faded-icon-regains-its-art-deco-glow.html |title=Piece by Piece, A Faded Icon Regains Its Art Deco Glow|last=Iovine|first=Julie V.|date=September 6, 1999 |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216034333/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/06/nyregion/piece-by-piece-a-faded-icon-regains-its-art-deco-glow.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During the closure, many components were cleaned, modernized, or replaced, including the curtains, seats, carpets, doorknobs, and light fixtures.{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=131}}<ref name="Iovine 1999" /> Workers installed a gold-silk curtain measuring {{convert|112|ft}} wide, as well as 5,901 seats upholstered in salmon-colored fabric.<ref name="Collins 1999" /> The ceiling was also restored by John Canning.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pronechen|first=Joseph|date=January 16, 2000|title=The View From/New Haven; Historical Church Is Reborn After Fire|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/16/nyregion/the-view-fromnew-haven-historical-church-is-reborn-after-fire.html|access-date=June 1, 2023|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The renovation was originally projected to cost $25 million, but the cost increased to $70 million due to various additional tasks that surfaced during the extensive refurbishment.<ref name="Collins 1999">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/10/travel/travel-advisory-live-from-radio-city.html|title=Travel Advisory; Live From Radio City!|last=Collins|first=Glenn|date=October 10, 1999|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216040911/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/10/travel/travel-advisory-live-from-radio-city.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City received a $2.5 million tax break from the [[Empire State Development Corporation]], which was meant to accommodate the expenditure of up to $66 million in renovation costs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/30/nyregion/for-radio-city-restoration-a-2.5-million-sales-tax-break.html |title=For Radio City Restoration, A $2.5 Million Sales Tax Break|last=Pristin|first=Terry|date=January 30, 1999 |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216041201/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/30/nyregion/for-radio-city-restoration-a-2.5-million-sales-tax-break.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The theater reopened with a gala concert on October 4, 1999.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=583}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Look Divine! Radio City Restored, Reopened & Radiant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26246212/look_divine_radio_city_restored/|date=October 5, 1999|work=New York Daily News|access-date=December 15, 2018|via=newspapers.com|url-status=live|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216030948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26246212/look_divine_radio_city_restored/ |page=7}}</ref>

=== Early 21st century ===
Radio City Music Hall announced a decision to remain open on March 12 and 13, 2020, amid a [[COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)|ban on gatherings of 500]] or more in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-coronavirus-cuomo-public-density-20200312-bozewybl2zarplo2iashkmnwiy-story.html |title=Gov. Cuomo Bans Public Events with More Than 500 People to Fight Coronavirus; Mayor De Blasio Declares State of Emergency in NYC|last3=Greene|first1=Denis|last1=Slattery|first2=Shant|last2=Shahrigian|first3=Leonard|website=nydailynews.com|date=March 12, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=April 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405031400/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-coronavirus-cuomo-public-density-20200312-bozewybl2zarplo2iashkmnwiy-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This decision initially stood in contrast to many other venues and public events in New York City, which had shut down.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Durkin |first1=Erin|last2=Eisenberg|first2=Amanda|title=City in State of Emergency as Coronavirus Outlook Becomes More Dire |website=Politico PRO|date=March 12, 2020|url=https://politi.co/38HnfpP|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220546/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/03/12/city-in-state-of-emergency-as-coronavirus-outlook-becomes-more-dire-1266802|url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City decided to remain closed after March 13, with no set reopening date, since other venues had also closed indefinitely. This affected events like the [[74th Tony Awards]], originally scheduled for June 7 but was then postponed after Radio City's closure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/news/74th-annual-tony-awards-be-postponed/|title=The 74th Annual Tony Awards to Be Postponed |publisher=[[Tony Award]]s|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325184600/https://www.tonyawards.com/news/74th-annual-tony-awards-be-postponed/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/2020-tony-awards-put-on-hold-as-coronavirus-pandemic-causes-broadway-shutdown|title=2020 Tony Awards Put on Hold as Coronavirus Pandemic Causes Broadway Shutdown|work=[[Playbill]] |first=Ryan|last=McPhee|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325185805/https://www.playbill.com/article/2020-tony-awards-put-on-hold-as-coronavirus-pandemic-causes-broadway-shutdown|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2021, New York governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] announced that Radio City would be able to open with limited capacity that April.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brennan|first=Dick|date=March 3, 2021|title=Road To Reopening: New York City Arts And Entertainment Venues Allowed To Reopen At 33% Capacity Beginning April 2 |url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/03/03/coronavirus-covid-19-new-york-city-arts-and-entertainment-venues-reopening/|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=CBS New York|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321125145/https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/03/03/coronavirus-covid-19-new-york-city-arts-and-entertainment-venues-reopening/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cuomo subsequently announced Radio City would reopen that June, without capacity limits or [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|mask restrictions]], but only to patrons who had received a [[COVID-19 vaccine]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Stevens|first1=Matt|last2=Ferré-Sadurní|first2=Luis|date=May 17, 2021|title=Radio City Music Hall to Reopen to Maskless, Vaccinated Full Houses|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/arts/radio-city-music-hall-maskless-vaccinated-full-houses.html|access-date=May 25, 2021 |issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525163033/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/arts/radio-city-music-hall-maskless-vaccinated-full-houses.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Chung|first=Jen|date=May 17, 2021|title=Radio City Music Hall Will Reopen At 100% Capacity To Vaccinated-Only Audiences|url=http://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/radio-city-music-hall-will-reopen-100-capacity-vaccinated-only-audiences|access-date=May 25, 2021|website=Gothamist|archive-date=May 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525172831/https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/radio-city-music-hall-will-reopen-100-capacity-vaccinated-only-audiences|url-status=live}}</ref>

Development firm [[Tishman Speyer]] submitted proposals to the LPC to construct a {{Convert|24000|ft2|adj=on}} rooftop terrace on Radio City Music Hall, as well as a pedestrian bridge to 1270 Avenue of the Americas. These plans dated from an original proposal for the theater that was never carried out.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holaday|first=Carsen|date=March 18, 2021|title=A Public Park Atop Radio City Music Hall? Developers Get Approval for 'Spectacular' Idea|url=https://www.amny.com/real-estate/a-public-park-atop-radio-city-music-hall-developers-get-approval-for-spectacular-idea/|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=amNewYork|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318191043/https://www.amny.com/real-estate/a-public-park-atop-radio-city-music-hall-developers-get-approval-for-spectacular-idea/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Weaver|first=Shaye|date=March 17, 2021|title=See the Lush Rooftop Park and Sky Bridge Coming to Radio City Music Hall |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/see-the-lush-rooftop-park-and-sky-bridge-coming-to-radio-city-music-hall-031721|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=Time Out New York|archive-date=March 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317171242/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/see-the-lush-rooftop-park-and-sky-bridge-coming-to-radio-city-music-hall-031721|url-status=live}}</ref> The LPC approved the plans in March 2021. At the time, the terrace was scheduled to open in late 2021 and would only be usable by tenants of 1270 Avenue of the Americas and their guests.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 17, 2021|title=Radio City Musical Hall to Get Rooftop Park, Skybridge |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/radio-city-musical-hall-to-get-rooftop-park-skybridge/2948137/|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=NBC New York|archive-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319112635/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/radio-city-musical-hall-to-get-rooftop-park-skybridge/2948137/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gannon|first=Devin|date=March 15, 2021|title=Radio City Music Hall Is Getting a Rooftop Park and Skybridge|url=https://www.6sqft.com/radio-city-music-hall-is-getting-a-rooftop-park-and-skybridge/ |access-date=March 19, 2021|website=6sqft|archive-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319112834/https://www.6sqft.com/radio-city-music-hall-is-getting-a-rooftop-park-and-skybridge/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The garden opened in September 2021<ref>{{cite web | title=Radio Park, an Idyllic Rooftop Garden, Opens Above Radio City Music Hall | website=Rockefeller Center | url=https://www.rockefellercenter.com/magazine/arts-culture/radio-park-an-idyllic-rooftop-garden-opens-above-radio-city-music-hall/ | first=Emily | last=Sokolow | date=September 15, 2021 | access-date=January 26, 2022 | archive-date=January 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126010437/https://www.rockefellercenter.com/magazine/arts-culture/radio-park-an-idyllic-rooftop-garden-opens-above-radio-city-music-hall/ | url-status=live}}</ref> and is formally known as Radio Park.<ref name="Conklin 2023" /> Designed by the firm of HMWhite, Radio Park includes birch trees, a set of bleachers, and various pathways. The entirety of Radio Park is placed on a gradual slope because the connection to 50 Rockefeller Plaza is higher than Radio City Music Hall's roof.<ref name="Conklin 2023">{{cite web | last=Conklin | first=Emily | title=HMWhite designs Radio Park atop Radio City Music Hall | website=The Architect's Newspaper | date=November 6, 2023 | url=https://www.archpaper.com/2023/11/hmwhite-radio-park-atop-radio-city-music-hall/ | access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref> In October 2025, MSG Entertainment announced that it would spend $7 million upgrading Radio City's sound system.<ref>{{cite web | last=Weprin | first=Alex | title=The Sphere’s Sound System Is Coming to Radio City Music Hall | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=October 9, 2025 | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/radio-city-music-hall-sphere-sound-system-1236395984/ | access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Hayes | first=Dade | title=New York’s Radio City Music Hall To Be Equipped With Sphere’s Cutting-Edge Concert Audio System | website=Deadline | date=October 9, 2025 | url=https://deadline.com/2025/10/sphere-sound-radio-city-music-hall-1236574455/ | access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref>

==Architecture==

===Facade===
[[File:50th St 6th Av td 03 - Radio City.jpg|thumb|Marquee seen from north, with subway entrance at left]]
Radio City Music Hall is on the east side of Sixth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets.<ref>{{Cite aia5|pages=325, 326}}</ref>{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} Located in a [[niche (architecture)|niche]] partially under 1270 Avenue of the Americas, the theater is housed under the building's first setback on the seventh floor.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=53–54}} An entrance to the [[New York City Subway]]'s [[47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center]] station, served by the {{NYCS trains|Sixth}}, is on Sixth Avenue directly adjacent to the north end of the marquee, within the same structure that houses Radio City Music Hall.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}

Its exterior has a long [[Marquee (sign)|marquee sign]] that wraps around the corner of Sixth Avenue and 50th Street, as well as narrower, seven-story-high signs on the north and south ends of the marquee's Sixth Avenue side; both signs display the theater's name in neon letters.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=53–54}} The main entrance to Radio City was placed at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 50th Street, underneath the marquee.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}} Although the theater's main entrance could have been placed anywhere along the Sixth Avenue frontage, the architects chose to place the entrance near the intersection of 50th Street, rather than in the middle of the block, because it was highly visible from the [[Theater District, Manhattan|Broadway theater district]] to the west. Additionally, a corner site allowed the architects to place more doorways on the facade than a midblock site would have.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}

[[File:WLA filmlinc Radio City Music Hall 1.jpg|thumb|left|Plaques]]
The theater's exterior also has visual features signifying its purpose. Above the entrance, [[Hildreth Meiere]] created six small bronze plaques of musicians playing different instruments, as well as three larger metal and enamel plaques signifying dance, drama, and song; these plaques denote the theater's theme.<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=47–49}}{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=13}}  At one point, a tennis court was located on the theater's rooftop garden.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201937%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201937%2520-%25206215.pdf|title=Mystery on Sixth Ave.|last=Miller|first=Moscrip|date=1937|work=[[Screen & Radio Weekly]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|via=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220542/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201937/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201937%20-%206215.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Interior===
[[File:Radio City Music Hall 3713738085 a2ca18cbb4.jpg|thumb|VIP room ("The Roxy Suite")]]
The interior contains a grand foyer, a large main auditorium, and stairs and elevators that lead to several mezzanines.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=97}}{{sfn|Federal Writers' Project|1939|p=338}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|pp=12–13}} Designed by [[Edward Durell Stone]],{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=7}} the theater had [[Art Deco]] decoration, whose sharp lines represented a break with the traditional ornate [[rococo]] ornament associated with movie palaces at the time.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=10}} [[Donald Deskey]] coordinated the interior design process and designed some of the wallpaper, furniture, and other decor in Radio City.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=10}} Deskey's geometric Art Deco designs incorporate glass, aluminum, chrome, [[bakelite]], and leather;{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=128}}<ref name="Trove">{{cite web|title=The Art of Rockefeller Center / Christine Roussel. – Version Details |website=Trove |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/40174385|access-date=January 1, 2017|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424225949/https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/40174385|url-status=live}}</ref> these materials are used in the theater's wall coverings, carpet, light fixtures, and furniture.<ref name="Trove" /> All of the theater's staircases were fitted with brass railings, an aspect of the Art Deco style.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=11}}

Deskey commissioned textile designers [[Marguerita Mergentime]] and [[Ruth Reeves]] to create carpet designs and designs for the fabrics covering the walls.<ref name="Storey 1932" /><ref name="Trove" /> Reeves designed a carpet that contained musical motifs in "shades of red, brown, gold, and black",{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=11}} but her design was replaced in 1999.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=17}} Mergentime also produced geometric designs of nature and musicians for the walls and carpets, which still exist.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=51}} Deskey also created his own carpet design consisting of "singing head" depictions, which still exists.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=24}} [[Rene Chambellan]] produced six "playful" bronze plaques of vaudeville characters, which are located in the lobby just above the entrances to the theater.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=14}} [[Henry Varnum Poor (designer)|Henry Varnum Poor]] designed all of Radio City's ceramic fixtures, especially the lighting bases.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=14}}

====Lobbies and grand foyer====
[[File:Radio City Music Hall (36537697495).jpg|thumb|Grand Foyer]]

The entrance to Radio City is at its southwestern corner, where there are adjacent ticket and advance sales lobbies. Both lobbies contain terrazzo floors and marble walls. The ticket lobby, accessible from Sixth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets, is the larger of the two lobbies. There are four brass ticket booths: one each on the northern and southern walls and two booths in the center.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}} Originally, six ticket booths were placed about {{convert|22|ft}} from the main doors, dividing the lobby into corridors measuring {{convert|16|ft}} wide. This permitted adequate traffic flow within the lobby while also making it difficult for crowds to congregate.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}} Large black pillars support a low, slightly [[coffer]]ed ceiling.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}} Circular light fixtures are set into the ceiling of the ticket lobby, within each of the slight indentations.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=16}} The advance sales lobby, accessible from 50th Street just east of Sixth Avenue, contains a single ticket booth on the eastern wall.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}} This location allowed the advance-sales booth to be distinguished from the general sales booths while also not blocking traffic flow.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}}

To the ticket lobby's east and the advance sales lobby's northeast is the elliptical grand foyer, whose four-story-high ceiling and dramatic artwork contrast with the compactness of the lobby.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=11}} The space is about {{convert|40|ft}} deep and extends the width of the auditorium.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}} Two long, tubular chandeliers created by [[Edward F. Caldwell & Co.]] hang from the ceiling.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=11}}{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=18}} The northern side of the grand foyer contains Ezra Winter's mural. A grand staircase, leading up to the first-mezzanine foyer, runs along the northern wall next to Winter's mural.<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|pp=11, 15}} Another set of stairs below the grand staircase descends from the northern side of the foyer to the main lounge one level below.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} A smaller staircase to the first-mezzanine lounge runs along the southern wall, connecting to a curved extension of that level's balcony.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=15}} The southern and northern sides of the grand foyer, respectively leading to 50th and 51st Streets, contain shallow vestibules with red marble walls. The northern vestibule is used as the exit lobby, while the southern vestibule is an emergency exit.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}} The grand foyer's eastern wall contains openings from the first, second, and third mezzanine levels, and the western wall contains {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} mirrors within gold frames.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=11}} Eleven doors leading to Radio City's auditorium are also located on the grand foyer's eastern side.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} Chambellan commissioned several plaques on the auditorium doors' exteriors, which resemble the vaudeville representations in the lobby and depict the types of performances that have taken place at Radio City.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}}{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=23}}

The foyer connects to four elevators that serve the main lounge level through the third mezzanine level.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}} At ground level, a marble lobby for these elevators is to the west of the northern exit vestibule.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}} Chambellan also designed the elevator doors with reliefs of musicians in atypical representations.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}}{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=48}} The maple circular roundels inside the cabs were designed by [[Edward Trumbull]] and represent wine, women, and song.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=51}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=12}}

Each of the three mezzanine levels has a men's smoking room, a women's lounge, and men's and women's restrooms.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=15}} No two restrooms or lounges have the same design.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=15}} A 1932 ''New York Times''  article described the reasons for such varied designs: "Since the auditoriums, men's lobbies, smoking rooms and women's lounges are used for a few hours only, decorative schemes are appropriate in them that would be too dramatic for a home."<ref name="Storey 1932">{{cite news|title=Modern Decorations on a Grand Scale|first=Walter Rendell|last=Storey|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=December 25, 1932 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/12/25/100885919.pdf|access-date=December 15, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220547/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/12/25/100885919.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Auditorium====
{{Multiple image
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|image1=Radio City Music Hall 3051638324 4a385c5623.jpg|caption1=View of stage and orchestra seating from mezzanine seating
|image2=Radio City Music Hall 2156405720 04ba258234.jpg|caption2=View of mezzanine balconies from orchestra seating
}}
Architectural critic [[Douglas Haskell]] said of the auditorium: "The focus is the great proscenium arch, over {{convert|60|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} high and {{convert|100|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} feet wide, a huge semi-circular void. From that the energy disperses, like a firmament the arched structure rises outward and forward. The 'ceiling', uniting sides and top in its one great curve, proceeds by successive broad bands, like the bands of northern lights."{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}} In the theater's early years, the [[Federal Writers' Project]] noted that "nearly everything about the Music Hall is tremendous".{{sfn|Federal Writers' Project|1939|p=338}} At the time, Radio City had the world's largest orchestra; the most expansive theater screen; the heaviest [[proscenium]] arch in a theater; and the "finest precision dancers", [[the Rockettes]].{{sfn|Federal Writers' Project|1939|p=338}}

=====Seating areas=====
The auditorium has around 5,960 seats.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=217}} Around 3,500 of these seats are at the ground-level orchestra, while the remaining seats are distributed among the three mezzanines.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=355}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The orchestra and mezzanine sections all contain reddish-brown plush seating throughout, as well as storage compartments under each seat, lights at the end of each row of seats, and more legroom space than in other theaters.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} Six aisles extend the length of the orchestra level, dividing each row into sections of up to 14 seats. The aisles measure {{convert|6|ft|3|in}} wide at the rear, tapering to {{convert|5|ft|10|in}} at the center and {{convert|3|ft|4|in}} at the front.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|pp=357–358}} A crossover aisle separates the front one-third of the orchestra from the rear two-thirds. Each row of seats was originally placed {{convert|2|ft|10|in}} apart, giving more legroom than in contemporary theaters.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}}

{{Anchor|Mezzanines}} Radio City contains three mezzanines within the back wall of the auditorium,{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=4}} as well as a main lounge in the basement.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} Each of the mezzanines is shallow, and all three mezzanine levels are stacked on top of the rear orchestra.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=5}} Since the mezzanines are shallow, there is no need to have a crossover aisle, and only four aisles are provided.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}} Ramps on either side of the stage lead to the first mezzanine level, creating the impression of a stage encircling the orchestra.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=5}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=357}}

=====Other design features=====
The auditorium's ceiling contains eight telescoping bands, which Haskell described as the "northern lights".{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} Each of the bands' edges contains a {{convert|2|ft|m|adj=on}} overlap with the next band,{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}} placed at {{convert|30|ft|adj=on}} intervals.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}} In Joseph Urban's original plans, the ceiling was to be [[coffer]]ed but, after the cancellation of the Opera House, designers proposed many different designs for the proposed Music Hall's ceiling. The current design was put forth by [[Raymond Hood]], who derived his band-system idea from a book that Urban had written.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}} The arches are made of plaster and contain ridges every {{convert|6|ft}}. The original plans had been to build the arches themselves in a curved shape, but this would have concentrated the sound onto several small spots.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|pp=358–359}} The walls are covered by intricate fabric silhouette patterns of performers and horses, which were created by Reeves.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=25}} The radiating arches of the proscenium unite the large auditorium, allowing a sense of intimacy and grandeur.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The ceiling arches also contain grilles that camouflage the air-conditioning system, amplifying equipment, and organ pipes.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The sound system could be controlled by a light organ in front of the orchestra pit.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}

The Great Stage, designed by Peter Clark, measures {{convert|66.5|by|144|ft|abbr=on}};{{efn|One source gives a width of {{convert|110|ft}} and a depth of {{convert|60|ft}}.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}}} it is placed within a proscenium arch that resembles a setting sun.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=215}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ftkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27 |title=Secrets of the Magic Theater|magazine=Popular Mechanics|page=27|date=January 1941|access-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> Roxy reportedly envisioned the sunset design of the stage while traveling home from Europe on an ocean liner.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=93}} There are two stage curtains; the main one is made of steel and asbestos, which can part horizontally, while the plush curtain behind it has several horizontal sections that can be raised or lowered independently of each other.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The original curtain weighed three tons and measured {{convert|112|ft}} wide by {{convert|78|ft}} tall.<ref name="Lucchese 1965" /> The center of the stage contains turntable measuring {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=off}} across.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The floor is divided into three 70 ft sections that can be lowered and raised either separately or in sync.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} The [[orchestra pit]], which could fit 75 musicians, is placed on a "bandwagon" that can be lifted from the basement and could move vertically or longitudinally.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=19}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} The bandwagon could also be lifted to the central opening. From the stage, it could be lowered back into the basement or moved to the side.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} In 2001, the stage was designated as a [[List of Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks|Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark]].<ref name="ASME 2024">{{cite web | last=Poirier | first=Louise | title=A Stage for the Ages at Radio City | website=ASME | date=October 24, 2024 | url=https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/a-stage-for-the-ages-at-radio-city | access-date=May 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | title=Radio City Music Hall Named an Engineering Landmark | website=Newswise | date=November 9, 2001 | url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/radio-city-music-hall-named-an-engineering-landmark | access-date=May 12, 2025}}</ref>

There is a complex system of indirect [[cove lighting]] at the front of the stage, facing the audience. When Radio City first opened, it was equipped with all of the newest lighting innovations at the time, including lights that changed colors automatically and adjusted their own brightness based on different lighting levels in the theater.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}

====Main lounge====
The main lounge in the basement is about twice the size of the grand foyer above it.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}} The walls are composed of black "permatex", which was a new material at the time of Radio City's construction. The ceiling has diamond-shaped light fixtures and is supported by six diamond-shaped [[Pier (architecture)|piers]], as well as three full-height piers of a similar shape that exist only for aesthetic purposes.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The lounge is decorated with several artworks (see {{section link||Art}}).{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|pp=13–14}} Deskey also designed the chrome furniture and the carpeting of the lounge.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=14}} The lounge also contained a passageway to the "Forum", along Sixth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, where it linked with Rockefeller Center's other buildings.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}}

The landing for Radio City's elevator bank is located on the northern side of the main lounge. A marble wall with three large columns comprises the western side of the lounge. A hallway extends off the eastern side of the lounge and leads to a men's smoking room and a women's lounge, which both connect to restrooms of their respective genders.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=14}} The smoking room has a masculine theme with terrazzo floors, brown walls, and copper ceilings. The accompanying men's restroom has black-and-white tiles and simple geometric fixtures, which are duplicated in the men's restrooms on each mezzanine level.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|pp=14–15}} The women's lounge is mostly designed with the same soft colors as [[Witold Gordon]]'s "History of Cosmetics Mural", located on the room's walls, although the wall area not covered by the mural is painted beige. The attached women's restroom is similar to the men's restroom on the same floor but contains vertical cylindrical lighting, stools, and circular mirrors above aqua sinks.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=15}}

====Offstage====
[[File:Radio City Music Hall stage hydraulics.jpg|thumb|Backstage hydraulic system]]
The [[Parts of a theatre#Backstage or offstage|offstage]] area of Radio City contains many rooms that allow all productions to be prepared on-site. The offstage rooms include a [[carpenter (theatre)|carpenter]]'s studio, a [[scene shop]], sewing rooms, dressing rooms for 600 people, a [[green room]] for performers' guests, and a dormitory.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Radio City Music Hall To Be Opened Dec. 27; Brilliant Program Is Planned for Premiere – Theatre to Have Dormitory for the Chorus |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=November 18, 1932 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/11/18/105886921.pdf|access-date=November 30, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220548/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/11/18/105886921.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Two elevators are placed on either side of the stage, as well as a circular staircase. The female performers' restrooms and dressing rooms are placed as close as possible to the stage, and the male performers' dressing rooms are placed on the opposite side of the stage. This was in conformance with Roxy's belief that "happy performers make successful shows".{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} Above the auditorium were two studios for Roxy, as well as a broadcast studio, rehearsal room, and two preview rooms.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=360}}

The elevator system was designed by Peter Clark and built by Otis Elevators. The [[stage lift|elevator]] system was so advanced that the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] incorporated identical hydraulics in constructing [[World War II]] aircraft carriers; according to Radio City lore, during the war, government agents guarded the basement to hide the U.S. Navy's technological advantage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boland|first=Ed Jr.|title=F.y.i. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/18/nyregion/fyi-414514.html |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=March 18, 2012|date=August 18, 2002|archive-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530054244/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/18/nyregion/fyi-414514.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Art===
[[File:Lobby statue RCMH.jpg|left|thumb|"Goose Girl", by sculptor [[Robert Laurent]]]]

The public areas of Radio City feature the work of many Depression-era artists, who were commissioned by Deskey as part of his general design scheme.<ref name="The New York Times 1932">{{cite news|title=Native Art to Lead in New Music Hall; Rockefeller Centre Unit Will Offer Striking Display of Modern Decorations|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=October 3, 1932 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/10/03/100857112.pdf|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220551/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/10/03/100857112.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|archive-date=April 3, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The large {{convert|2400|ft2|m2|adj=on}} mural in the grand foyer, "Quest for the Fountain of Eternal Youth", was painted by Ezra Winter and depicts a fable from a Native American tribe in Oregon.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=218}}<ref name="The New York Times 1932" />{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=141}}{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=20}} The murals on the wall of the grand lounge, which depict five eras of differing theater scenes, are collectively known as the "Phantasmagoria of the Theater" by [[Louis Bouche]].<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}}<ref name="The New York Times 1932" /><ref name="Poulin 2012">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hBR_J9jliugC |title=Graphic Design And Architecture, A 20th Century History|first=Richard |last=Poulin|publisher=Rockport |date=November 1, 2012|isbn=978-1-59253-779-2|page=97|access-date=December 8, 2015|archive-date=April 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429125045/https://books.google.com/books?id=hBR_J9jliugC|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=44}} Three female nudes cast in aluminum were commissioned for the theater, but Roxy thought that they were inappropriate for a family venue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newyork.com/articles/attractions/the-art-of-rockefeller-center-top-10-things-not-to-miss-70329/ |title=The Art of Rockefeller Center: Top 10 Things Not to Miss|first=Mike|last=Dunphy|date=November 17, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032410/http://www.newyork.com/articles/attractions/the-art-of-rockefeller-center-top-10-things-not-to-miss-70329/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref> Although the Rockefellers loved the sculptures, the only one that was displayed on opening night was "Goose Girl" by [[Robert Laurent]], which is located on the first mezzanine and depicts a nude aluminum girl beside a slender aluminum goose.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=26}} Since opening night the other two sculptures have been put on display at Radio City. "Eve" by [[Gwen Lux]] is displayed in the southwest corner of the grand foyer,<ref name="Poulin 2012" />{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=30}} and "Spirit of the Dance" by William Zorach is visible from the grand lounge.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=14}}<ref name="The New York Times 1932" /><ref name="Poulin 2012" />{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=40}}

Each of the public restrooms have adjoining lounges that display various works of art.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/2009/06/go-in-style-2009-finalists-for-best-public-restroom/|title=Go in Style: 2009 Finalists for Best Public Restroom|first=Gayle|last=Leonard |publisher=Thirsty in Suburbia|date=June 13, 2009|access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024150/http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/2009/06/go-in-style-2009-finalists-for-best-public-restroom/|url-status=live}}</ref> The third-floor women's restroom contains the ''Panther Mural'' by [[Henry Billings]], which is accompanied by Deskey's abstract wall coverings in the women's lounge.<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Roussel|2006|pp=28–29}} The women's lounge on the second mezzanine houses [[Yasuo Kuniyoshi]]'s oil painting of "larger-than-life botanical designs" along the entire wall,<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=33}} which had originally been commissioned by [[Georgia O'Keeffe]] before she suffered a nervous breakdown and left the mural incomplete.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=33}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openculture.com/2013/09/frida-kahlo-writes-a-personal-letter-to-georgia-okeeffe.html|title=Frida Kahlo Writes a Personal Letter to Georgia O'Keeffe After O'Keeffe's Nervous Breakdown|first=Colin|last=Marshall|publisher=Open Culture|date=September 23, 2013|access-date=November 15, 2015|archive-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023359/http://www.openculture.com/2013/09/frida-kahlo-writes-a-personal-letter-to-georgia-okeeffe.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Deskey created a wall covering for the men's lounge on the second mezzanine, containing masculine icons and nicotine motifs.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=34}} He also designed the first-mezzanine women's lounge, a room full of mirrors with a blue-and-white carpet and frosted low-intensity lights.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=35}} Witold Gordon painted a map with caricatures and stereotypical motifs in the men's lounge on the same floor,<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=36}} as well as a "History of Cosmetics Mural" in the women's lounge in the basement.<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=15}}{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=43}} [[Stuart Davis (painter)|Stuart Davis]] created ''[[Men Without Women (mural)|Men Without Women]]'', a mural of masculine stereotypical pastimes in the basement-level men's lounge;<ref name="Storey 1932" />{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=14}}{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=47}}{{efn|The mural was originally unnamed, but  the Rockefeller Center Art Committee named it ''Men Without Women'', after the [[Ernest Hemingway]] short-story collection that had been published the same year of the mural's commission.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stuart Davis at the Whitney – The Painter Behind a Prized Radio City Mural |url=https://www.rockefellercenter.com/blog/2016/08/30/stuart-davis-whitney/|date=August 30, 2016|website=Rockefeller Center |access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301135408/https://www.rockefellercenter.com/blog/2016/08/30/stuart-davis-whitney/}}</ref>}} the work was donated to the [[Museum of Modern Art]] in 1975{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=430}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/03/archives/music-hall-mural-going-to-museum.html|title=Music Hall Mural Going to Museum |last=Kramer|first=Hilton|date=April 3, 1975 |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216040053/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/03/archives/music-hall-mural-going-to-museum.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and loaned back to Radio City in 1999.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=47}} Finally, [[Edward Buk Ulreich]] created a "Wild West Mural" on the third-mezzanine men's lounge.<ref name="Storey 1932" /><ref name="The New York Times 1932" />{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=39}}

===Organs===
Radio City Music Hall has two [[Wurlitzer]] [[theatre organs]]. The organ in the main theatre is the largest instrument built by the Wurlitzer company. It consists of 58&nbsp;ranks of pipes and 4,178&nbsp;pipes, played from twin 4-manual consoles located to the left and right of the stage, which permits two organists to play the instrument simultaneously. The broadcast booth atop the theatre contains a smaller (3-manual, 14 rank) Wurlitzer organ, although it has been unplayable for some time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center |publisher=[[American Guild of Organists]] |url=http://www.nycago.org/organs/nyc/html/radiocity.html |access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228105044/http://www.nycago.org/organs/nyc/html/radiocity.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hughes|first=Allen|title=Organ Group Ends Active Gathering|work=The New York Times |date=July 18, 1970|page=13 |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1970/07/18/355102982.pdf|access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220552/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1970/07/18/355102982.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|archive-date=April 3, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Richard Leibert]] was Radio City's chief organist from its opening on December 27, 1932, until his retirement in 1971, at which time [[Raymond Bohr]] succeeded him.  Both organs have been recorded extensively by Ashley Miller, Dick Leibert, Raymond Bohr, and Eddie Layton, and Leibert presented a daily program of organ music broadcast from the theater on the [[NBC Radio Network]] in the 1930s and 1940s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Richard Leibert, Chief Organist At Music Hall 1932–71, Dies at 73|work=The New York Times|date=October 24, 1976 |page=36|issn=0362-4331 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1976/10/24/356048022.pdf|access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220552/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1976/10/24/356048022.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|archive-date=April 3, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable events<span class="anchor" id="Usage"></span>==

===Music and shows===
Under conductor [[Ernö Rapée]], from 1932 to 1942, there were weekly broadcasts of live concerts from Radio City on the [[NBC Blue Network]] radio program ''[[Radio City Music Hall of the Air]]''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Federal Music Project|encyclopedia=The Great Depression in America: A Cultural Encyclopedia|volume=1|first=William H.|last= Young|first2= Nancy K.|last2= Young|year=2007|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-0-313-08871-1|page=166}}</ref><ref name="Dunning">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EwtRbXNca0oC&dq=%22Radio+City+Music+Hall+of+the+Air+Erno%22&pg=PA179 |last=Dunning |first=John |author-link=John Dunning (detective fiction author) |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |section=Radio City Music Hall of the Air |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-19-507678-3 |page=179 |edition=Revised |access-date=2024-11-27}}</ref> On October 8, 1939, Radio City's symphony orchestra performed the world premiere of [[Eugene Zador]]'s opera ''[[Christopher Columbus (Zador)|Christopher Columbus]]'' for national radio broadcast on ''Radio City Music Hall of the Air''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Straus |first=Noel |date=1939-10-09 |title=Columbus Voyage Depicted in Opera; Eugene Zador's One-act Work Has World Premiere Here at the Center Theatre |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/10/09/archives/columbus-voyage-depicted-in-opera-eugene-zadors-oneact-work-has.html |access-date=2024-07-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Originally the work was supposed to be performed on the stage of Radio City, but ticket sales were so strong that the production moved to the larger [[Center Theatre (New York City)|Center Theatre]] but with Radio City's artistic leaders and performers still attached.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/cd_christopher-columbus-studies-for-orchestr_eugene-zador-westfalisches-sinfonieorchest?q=%22Josefa+Chekova%22 |title=Eugene Zador: Christopher Columbus, liner notes |publisher=Cambria |year=1997}}</ref>

The [[Grateful Dead]] played eight shows over nine days in October 1980, culminating on Halloween; two of the shows from this run were released as the video ''[[Grateful Dead: Dead Ahead]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Palmer|first=Robert |title=Rock: The Grateful Dead|work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331|date=October 24, 1980 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/24/archives/rock-the-grateful-dead.html|access-date=January 6, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107021527/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/24/archives/rock-the-grateful-dead.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1980s, [[Liberace]] grossed $2.5 million from 14 performances with a combined audience of 82,000, setting a box-office record for Radio City Music Hall at the time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Flashy Piano Virtuoso Liberace Is Dead At 67|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 5, 1987|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/02/05/flashy-piano-virtuoso-liberace-is-dead-at-67/63533e46-df3e-40a1-a8be-0095cf94b3ab/|access-date=March 19, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220604/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/02/05/flashy-piano-virtuoso-liberace-is-dead-at-67/63533e46-df3e-40a1-a8be-0095cf94b3ab/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Adele]] performed a [[Adele Live in New York City|one-night-only concert]] at Radio City, which was recorded on November 17, 2015, and broadcast on [[NBC]] on December 14, 2015.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Jessica|last=Goodman|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/30/adele-live-new-york-city-radio-music-hall|title=Adele Will Perform One-Night-Only Show at Radio City Music Hall|access-date=November 25, 2015|date=October 30, 2015|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030145159/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/30/adele-live-new-york-city-radio-music-hall|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''[[Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes|Radio City Christmas Spectacular]]'' is an annual Christmas stage musical produced by [[MSG Entertainment]], which operates the theater. A New York Christmas tradition since 1933,<ref>{{cite news|title=Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Others in a Musical Film – Walt Disney's New 'Silly Symphony'|work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331|date=December 22, 1933|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/12/22/105834003.html|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220552/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/12/22/105834003.html|url-status=live}}</ref> it features the women's precision dance team known as [[the Rockettes]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Radio City Entertainment|title=Radio City Spectacular: A Photographic History of the Rockettes and Christmas Spectacular|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2007|isbn=978-0-06-156538-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=161bJAAACAAJ|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403220552/https://books.google.com/books?id=161bJAAACAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> The Irish dance show ''[[Riverdance]]'' made its North American debut at Radio City in March 1996, breaking box-office records.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dietz|first=D.|title=The Complete Book of 1990s Broadway Musicals|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|year=2016|isbn=978-1-4422-7214-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WPLaDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA218|access-date=December 16, 2018|page=218|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709183559/https://books.google.com/books?id=WPLaDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA218|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sQ4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10|date=February 22, 1997|access-date=December 16, 2018|page=10|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709183600/https://books.google.com/books?id=sQ4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Television===
On several occasions between 1987 and 2008, Radio City Music Hall has been used for televised game shows such as ''[[Hollywood Squares]]'', ''[[Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' and ''[[Jeopardy!]]''. For two weeks in November 1988, the theater hosted ''Wheel of Fortune'', which was taking its first road trip. ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' announcer [[Don Pardo]] announced during the two weeks.<ref name="McCarthy 2007">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/wheel-fortune-takes-3-week-spin-radio-city-article-1.257732|title='Wheel of Fortune' Takes 3-Week Spin in Radio City – NY Daily News|last=McCarthy|first=Sean L.|date=November 5, 2007|website=New York Daily News|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031406/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/wheel-fortune-takes-3-week-spin-radio-city-article-1.257732|url-status=live}}</ref> Radio City Music Hall was also the site for ''Jeopardy!''{{'s}} four-thousandth episode in May 2002, at which time the show's [[List of Jeopardy! tournaments and events#Million Dollar Masters|Million Dollar Masters]] invitational tournament also occurred.<ref>{{cite web|title='Jeopardy' Buzzes in at Radio City|website=Variety|date=April 2, 2002|url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/vpage/jeopardy-buzzes-in-at-radio-city-1117864776/|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216163733/https://variety.com/2002/scene/vpage/jeopardy-buzzes-in-at-radio-city-1117864776/|url-status=live}}</ref> The theater hosted the show again in November 2007 for the nighttime show's 25th anniversary.<ref name="McCarthy 2007" /> Radio City was used again in November 2006 for a 2-week ''[[List of Jeopardy! tournaments and events#Celebrity Jeopardy!|Celebrity Jeopardy!]]'' event.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celebrity Circuit|website=CBS News|date=October 11, 2006|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrity-circuit-11-10-06/|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216210833/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrity-circuit-11-10-06/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[David Letterman]] hosted the ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' Sixth Anniversary Special at Radio City Music Hall in 1988, and did so again for the show's Tenth Anniversary Special in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-02-05-9201110481-story.html|title=David Letterman Looks Back on a Decade of Success and Forward|last=Kogan|first=Rick |date=February 5, 1992|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031551/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-02-05-9201110481-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/29/arts/is-letterman-mad-at-nbc-he-says-no-and-he-says-yes.html|title=Is Letterman Mad At NBC? He Says No And He Says Yes|last=Carter|first=Bill|date=January 29, 1992|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216040858/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/29/arts/is-letterman-mad-at-nbc-he-says-no-and-he-says-yes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The next year, Lyons Group (parent company of ''[[Barney & Friends]]'' at the time), taped a live stage show called ''[[Barney Live in New York City]]'' at the theater.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DD7DZpwCHPwC|title=PBS: Behind the Screen|last=Jarvik|first=Laurence|date=February 1, 1998|publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-7615-1291-2|page=50|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709183600/https://books.google.com/books?id=DD7DZpwCHPwC|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 1998, Radio City Music Hall was a setting for the ''[[Sesame Street]]'' music special ''[[Elmopalooza]]'', with [[Jon Stewart]], [[David Alan Grier]] and others with the cast of ''[[Sesame Street]]'' and the [[Muppets]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dunne|first=Susan |title=''Elmopalooza!''|website=courant.com|date=April 16, 1998|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-04-16-9804160108-story.html|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216164519/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-04-16-9804160108-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Tony|title=Elmopalooza!|website=Variety|date=February 19, 1998 |url=https://variety.com/1998/tv/reviews/elmopalooza-1200452885/|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216210801/https://variety.com/1998/tv/reviews/elmopalooza-1200452885/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Elmopalooza!' Musical Tries a Little Too Hard|website=Los Angeles Times|date=February 20, 1998|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-20-ca-20963-story.html|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709183602/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-20-ca-20963-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2001, the concert ''[[Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music]]'' was simulcast live from the theater on [[The WB]] and [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]]. The concert had been delayed following the [[September 11 attacks]] the month before.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spacey Plays 'Mind Games' at Lennon Tribute|website=Variety|date=October 4, 2001 |url=https://variety.com/2001/scene/vpage/spacey-plays-mind-games-at-lennon-tribute-1117853644/|access-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216163714/https://variety.com/2001/scene/vpage/spacey-plays-mind-games-at-lennon-tribute-1117853644/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A Lennon Tribute Revived|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|date=September 29, 2001|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/29/arts/a-lennon-tribute-revived.html|access-date=December 16, 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216163735/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/29/arts/a-lennon-tribute-revived.html}}</ref>

In 2013, it was announced that ''[[America's Got Talent]]'' would hold its live shows from the Radio City Music Hall starting with its [[America's Got Talent (season 8)|eighth season]] that summer; it had held its live shows at the [[New Jersey Performing Arts Center]] for its seventh season to accommodate new judge [[Howard Stern]]. The move was also intended to take advantage of New York tax credits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ng |first=Philiana |date=April 3, 2013 |title='America's Got Talent' Moves to New York for Season 8 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/americas-got-talent-moves-radio-432695/ |access-date=July 11, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> ''AGT'' would broadcast its live rounds from Radio City Music Hall until Stern's departure in 2016, after which the show moved to the [[Dolby Theatre]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Angermiller |first1=Michele Amabile |date=July 26, 2016 |title='America's Got Talent' Judges Simon Cowell & Mel B. Talk Going Live, Show's Promising Singers |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/americas-got-talent-simon-cowell-mel-b-live-show-singers-7453397/ |access-date=July 11, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

===Sports===
[[File:NFL Draft 2010 set at Radio City Music Hall.jpg|thumb|The set for the [[2010 NFL draft]] at Radio City Music Hall]]
The first sports event at Radio City Music Hall was a boxing [[Card (sports)|card]] headlined by [[Roy Jones Jr.]] and David Telesco that took place on January 15, 2000.<ref name="Wang 2018" /><ref name="Lena Williams 2004">{{cite news|title=Pro Basketball; Coming Soon: The W.N.B.A. At Radio City |author=Lena Williams|date=May 18, 2004 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/18/sports/pro-basketball-coming-soon-the-wnba-at-radio-city.html |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331|access-date=October 27, 2017|archive-date=October 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028094727/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/18/sports/pro-basketball-coming-soon-the-wnba-at-radio-city.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 13, 2013, [[Nonito Donaire]] faced [[Guillermo Rigondeaux]] in [[Nonito Donaire vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux|a boxing card]] held at Radio City Music Hall.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rigondeaux Bores, But Bests Donaire|newspaper=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/9169005/guillermo-rigondeaux-bests-nonito-donaire-bores |author=Dan Rafael |date=April 14, 2014|access-date=October 27, 2017|archive-date=October 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093704/http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/9169005/guillermo-rigondeaux-bests-nonito-donaire-bores}}</ref>

In 2004, the [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]'s [[New York Liberty]] played six home games at Radio City while their then-regular home, [[Madison Square Garden]], prepared to host the [[2004 Republican National Convention]].<ref name="Wang 2018" /> The Liberty played their first game in front of 5,945 fans against the [[Detroit Shock]] in July 2004. Courtside seats were stage left and stage right along the baseline and the Rockettes performed at halftime.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pro Basketball; Liberty Opens Big on Its Home, Er, Stage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/sports/pro-basketball-liberty-opens-big-on-its-home-er-stage.html |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|author=Lena Williams|date=July 25, 2004|access-date=November 10, 2011 |archive-date=October 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028201444/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/sports/pro-basketball-liberty-opens-big-on-its-home-er-stage.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The court from Madison Square Garden was moved to Radio City Music Hall during this time.<ref name="Lena Williams 2004" />

Radio City Music Hall was the site of the [[NFL draft]] between [[2006 NFL draft|2006]] and [[2014 NFL draft|2014]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Salomone|first1=Dan|title=NFL Draft Headed to Chicago in 2015|url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/NFL-Draft-headed-to-Chicago-in-2015/3ac322b1-3b4c-4a16-aba7-6e08d31b1756|access-date=June 3, 2015|publisher=[[New York Giants]]|work=Giants.com|date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930065327/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/NFL-Draft-headed-to-Chicago-in-2015/3ac322b1-3b4c-4a16-aba7-6e08d31b1756|archive-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Lauterbach 2017">{{cite web|last=Lauterbach|first=David|title=New York Wants to Host the NFL Draft Again, But Other Cities Want to Get Involved|website=The Comeback|date=April 14, 2017|url=https://thecomeback.com/nfl/nyc-wants-to-host-the-nfl-draft-again-but-other-cities-want-to-get-involved.html|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=December 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218010454/https://thecomeback.com/nfl/nyc-wants-to-host-the-nfl-draft-again-but-other-cities-want-to-get-involved.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to being held at Radio City, the NFL Draft had been hosted at other locations in New York City since 1965, but after the 2014 draft, the [[National Football League]] hosted the draft in a series of other cities nationwide.<ref name="Lauterbach 2017" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Myers|first=Gary|title=New York Now Looking to Bring Back NFL Draft, But Big Apple Has Plenty of Competition|website=New York Daily News|date=April 12, 2017|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/sad-nfl-draft-isn-coming-back-new-york-anytime-article-1.3047442|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=December 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218010440/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/sad-nfl-draft-isn-coming-back-new-york-anytime-article-1.3047442|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Awards ceremonies ===
[[The Broadway League]] presented the [[Tony Awards]], the annual ceremony for [[Broadway theatre]], at Radio City Music Hall during most years from 1997 to 2019,<ref name="Healy 2017">{{cite web |last=Healy |first=Patrick |date=September 21, 2017 |title=The Tonys Need a New Home |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/the-tonys-need-a-new-home/ |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=ArtsBeat |archive-date=October 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002112639/https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/the-tonys-need-a-new-home/ |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The awards ceremonies for [[65th Tony Awards|2011]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Healy |first=Patrick |date=June 13, 2011 |title='Book of Mormon' and 'War Horse' Win Top Tonys |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/theater/theaterspecial/war-horse-is-best-play-and-mormon-has-strong-showing-in-early-tonys.html |access-date=February 24, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224025127/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/theater/theaterspecial/war-horse-is-best-play-and-mormon-has-strong-showing-in-early-tonys.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[66th Tony Awards|2012]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nir |first=Sarah Maslin |date=June 13, 2012 |title=Tonys in Hand, Celebrating Till Dawn |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/fashion/the-tonys-after-party-till-dawn-at-the-carlyle.html |access-date=February 24, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224030624/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/fashion/the-tonys-after-party-till-dawn-at-the-carlyle.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[70th Tony Awards|2016]] were hosted at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]], another MSG venue.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=June 12, 2016 |title=Tony Awards Hail 'Hamilton' and Denounce Hate |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/theater/tony-awards.html |access-date=February 24, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224030626/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/theater/tony-awards.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Gershwin Theatre]] hosted the [[53rd Tony Awards|1999]] awards.<ref name="Healy 2017" />}} as well as in [[75th Tony Awards|2022]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Paulson | first=Michael | title=Tony Awards to Announce Prizes in June at Radio City Music Hall | website=The New York Times | date=March 9, 2022 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/theater/tony-awards-radio-city.html | access-date=November 9, 2024|postscript=none}}; {{cite web | title=Preparations for 75th Annual Tony Awards underway at Radio City Music Hall | website=CBS New York | date=June 10, 2022 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/tony-awards-preparations-radio-city-music-hall/ | access-date=November 9, 2024}}</ref> Radio City is planned to host the Tony Awards in [[78th Tony Awards|2025]] as well.<ref>{{cite web | last=Culwell-Block | first=Logan | title=The Tony Awards Are Headed Back to Radio City Music Hall in 2025 | website=Playbill | date=September 23, 2024 | url=https://playbill.com/article/the-tony-awards-are-headed-back-to-radio-city-music-hall-in-2025 | access-date=November 9, 2024|postscript=none}}; {{cite web | last=Evans | first=Greg | title=Tony Awards Returning To Radio City Music Hall, Sets 2025 Date | website=Deadline | date=September 23, 2024 | url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/tony-awards-2025-airdate-radio-city-music-hall-1236096883/ | access-date=November 9, 2024}}</ref> Radio City has also hosted the Grammy Awards, the annual ceremony presented by [[the Recording Academy]] for music, [[List of Grammy Award ceremony locations|six times]]. The theater's first Grammys was in [[22nd Annual Grammy Awards|1980]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 23, 1980 |title=Grammy Awards Return To New York on Feb. 25 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/23/archives/grammy-awards-return-to-new-york-on-feb-25.html |access-date=March 20, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320013231/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/23/archives/grammy-awards-return-to-new-york-on-feb-25.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and its last Grammys was in [[40th Annual Grammy Awards|1998]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Plitt |first=Amy |date=January 24, 2018 |title=Prepare for These Midtown Streets to Be Closed During the Grammys |url=https://ny.curbed.com/2018/1/24/16925230/grammys-2018-nyc-madison-square-garden-street-closure |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=Curbed NY |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109002906/https://ny.curbed.com/2018/1/24/16925230/grammys-2018-nyc-madison-square-garden-street-closure |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[MTV Video Music Awards]] have been hosted at the theater 12 times from 1984 to 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Honeycutt |first=Shanté |date=April 17, 2018 |title=MTV VMAs to Return to Radio City Music Hall for 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/mtv-video-music-awards-radio-city-music-hall-august-20-8343814/ |access-date=March 20, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320013231/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/mtv-video-music-awards-radio-city-music-hall-august-20-8343814/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Gallery==
<div align=center><gallery perrow="4" widths="160px" heights="200px">
File:Lobby statue 2 RCMH.jpg|Statue ''Eve'' by [[Gwen Lux]] in the lobby
File:RadioCityMusicHallStageLift1.JPG|Hydraulics pit beneath the Great Stage
File:RadioCityMusicHallStageLift2.jpg|Underside of the Great Stage
File:Radio_City_Backstage_Control_Room,_Dec_2013.jpg|The backstage control room
File:Radio_City_Elevator_Hydraulics_Controls,_Dec_2013.jpg|The elevator hydraulics controls
File:Radio City Music Hall on December 26.jpg|The Grand Foyer with Christmas decorations for the Christmas Spectacular
</gallery></div>

==See also==
* [[Art Deco architecture of New York City]]
* [[List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite report|url=http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/1985RockefellerCenter.pdf|title=Rockefeller Center Designation Report|date=1985|publisher=[[Government of New York City|City of New York]]; [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]]|last=Adams|first=Janet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107113311/http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/1985RockefellerCenter.pdf|archive-date=November 7, 2017}}
* {{cite book|last=Balfour|first=Alan|title=Rockefeller Center: Architecture as Theater|url=https://archive.org/details/rockefellercente0000balf|publisher=McGraw-Hill, Inc.|year=1978|isbn=978-0-07-003480-8}}
* {{cite fednyc}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Glancy |first=Dorothy J. |date=January 1, 1992 |title=Preserving Rockefeller Center |url=http://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1320&context=facpubs |publisher=[[Santa Clara University School of Law]] |magazine=24 Urb. Law. 423 |access-date=November 22, 2017 |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307024214/http://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1320&context=facpubs |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite magazine|last=Hofmeister|first=Henry|date=April 1932 |url=https://usmodernist.org/AF/AF-1932-01-06.pdf |title=V. The International Music Hall |magazine=The Architectural Forum |volume=LVI |issue=4 |pages=355–360 |access-date=February 12, 2022 |archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212222623/https://usmodernist.org/AF/AF-1932-01-06.pdf |url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Krinsky|first=Carol H.|author-link=Carol Herselle Krinsky|title=Rockefeller Center|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1978|isbn=978-0-19-502404-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7xlDAQAAIAAJ|access-date=December 24, 2017|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527182855/https://books.google.com/books?id=7xlDAQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book |last=Marshall |first=Bruce |date=2005 |title=Building New York: The Rise and Rise of the Greatest City on Earth |publisher=Universe |isbn=0-7893-1362-6 |oclc=61915976 }}
* {{cite book|last=Okrent|first=Daniel|author-link=Daniel Okrent|title=Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center |publisher=Penguin Books|year=2003|isbn=978-0-14-200177-6|title-link=Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center |volume=56|issue=4}}
* {{cite report|url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0995.pdf|title=Radio City Music Hall|publisher=New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission|date=March 28, 1978|ref={{harvid|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978}}|access-date=November 22, 2017 |archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116034329/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0995.pdf |url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|first=Christine|last=Roussel|date=May 17, 2006|title=The Art of Rockefeller Center|isbn=978-0-3930-6082-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetoartofr00chri |location=New York|publisher=W.W. Norton & Company}}
* {{Cite New York 2000}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* Francisco, Charles. ''An Affectionate History of the World's Greatest Theatre'', with special color photography by James Stewart Morcom and Vito Torelli, New York: Dutton, 1979. {{ISBN|0-525-18792-8}}.
* {{Cite book|last=Novellino-Mearns|first=Rosemary|title=Saving Radio City Music Hall: a dancer's true story|date=March 31, 2015|isbn=978-0-9908556-3-7|publisher=TurningPointPress|location=Teaneck, NJ|oclc=914168537}}
* {{cite magazine|title=World's Biggest Stage Is a Marvel Of Mechanics|date=February 1933|magazine=Popular Science |publisher=Bonnier Corporation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pigDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16}}
* {{cite magazine|title=World's Largest Theater in Rockefeller Center Will Seat Six Thousand Persons|magazine=Popular Mechanics |date=August 1932|publisher=Hearst Magazines|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-EDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA252}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Radio City Music Hall}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://archives.nypl.org/the/21616 Radio City Music Hall collection of the papers of James Stewart Morcom and John William Keck, 1926–1994], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]
* [http://archives.nypl.org/the/21623 Radio City Music Hall collection of the designs of James Stewart Morcom and John William Keck, 1933–1979], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Venues of the<br /> [[NFL draft]]
 | years = [[2006 NFL draft|2006]]–[[2014 NFL draft|2014]]
 | before = [[Jacob K. Javits Convention Center]]
 | after = [[Auditorium Theatre]]
}}
{{s-end}}

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