Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall is a concert hall and theater building within Rockefeller Center in Manhattan that holds more than six thousand people and features an expansive stage with a sunken orchestra level. Interior spaces display polished metals, geometric wall reliefs, and a curved ceiling vault lit by concealed lights, all designed with continuous Art Deco motifs throughout.

The building opened in late 1932 as part of a larger urban project during economically difficult years and aimed to provide entertainment and employment. The original conception as a variety and film palace shifted over decades to a venue hosting concerts and seasonal productions.

The building takes its name from the Radio Corporation of America, which intended it as a showcase for early broadcast entertainment. Visitors today attend concerts, award ceremonies and seasonal dance performances on the wide stage with its large organ and sweeping staircases.

Tours offer access to the auditorium and some backstage areas on most days, with exact timing varying depending on the event schedule. Seating spans multiple levels, and upper sections require some stairs or the elevator.

The stage uses a system of multiple independent elevators that can move individually or together, allowing elaborate set changes and surprising entrances during shows. The large ceiling vault in the auditorium is deliberately asymmetric to distribute sound evenly and improve acoustics.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1932

Architects: Edward Durell Stone

Official opening: December 27, 1932

Architectural style: Art Deco architecture

Capacity: 5945

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: Rockefeller Center

Address: 1260 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10020

Opening Hours: 09:30-17:00

Website: https://msg.com/radio-city-music-hall

GPS coordinates: 40.75972,-73.97917

Latest update: December 4, 2025 14:20