Trask Avenue

Radio City Music Hall

If you ever get the chance to go to New York City during the Christmas season make an effort to see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. Having grown up within 10 miles of the City I was lucky enough to attend this extravaganza several times as a kid. Generally, a Christmas movie would be shown followed by a live show on the Great Stage. (In particular, I remember one time screening Scrooge starring Albert Finney.) The stage show inevitably included a visit from Santa and his reindeer, along with Mrs. Claus, worker elves and other assorted Christmas characters. Even as a child I knew the show was incredibly corny, but it didn’t matter. While the jokes may have been trite and obvious the production numbers were lavish and the vibe flat-out joyful. The audience gleefully got swept up in the overwhelming positive enthusiasm. Holiday spirit indeed! And, of course, there were The Rockettes. All those bare legs kicking so high in unison fulfilled adolescent fantasies I didn’t realize I had.

The Christmas Spectacular is a marvelous experience, but going to Radio City Music Hall is alone worth the ticket price. It remains a beautiful and magnificent theater, one of the great entertainment venues anywhere in the United States. Step through the doors into the lobby and it’s like you’ve been whisked into the past. Radio City was built in the 1930’s and looks every bit a product of its era. Great effort is made to keep the interior as true to the original appearance as possible, from the sweeping staircase to the amazing murals to the warm glow of the hall sconces. It’s all Art Deco and it is fantastic. The auditorium seats close to 6,000 (!) people, enough to fill a village. Imagine seeing a movie in a sold-out 6,000 seat theater! And the Great Stage, designed to resemble a setting sun, actually merits the boasting adjective “great.”

Sometimes I lament the lack of respect shown for the architectural history in this country. Thankfully, Radio City Music Hall is a glorious exception. If you’ve never seen it, try to do so. It doesn’t have to be during Christmas time; it’s magical throughout the year. A visit should be right at the top of the to-do list of any New York tourist, day-tripper or once in a lifetime visitor alike. Trust me, you won’t regret it.