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Rockefeller Center History continued...
During the 1920's, the area was full of decrepit houses and trashy night clubs. The Metropolitan Opera had withdrawn its plans to relocate to the area, due to the stock market crash of 1929. Straying from his original plan, John D. Rockefeller decided to build a commercial development for the young network-broadcasting industry. Despite the onset of the Great Depression, ground was broken for the complex in 1929. With this ground-breaking, Radio City was born.
One of the first buildings that was completed in the complex was the RCA (Radio Corporation of America) building. The tallest building in the complex, the tower stood 70 stories and 256 meters tall and was covered in Indiana limestone. Raymond Hood, who was known for his design of the American Radiator Building in New York, the former McGraw-Hill building in New York and the Tribune Tower in Chicago, designed the building. The tower's design became the basis for all future buildings at Rockefeller Center. In order to lure tenants to the complex during the Great Depression, efforts were made to ensure efficient use of the floor space. Each office was assured the luxury of natural light. Other luxuries of the offices in the complex included: air-conditioning, fast elevators and excellent underground connections to the subway. Until the end of the 1980's, the RCA building had an observation deck. The deck was closed when it was obstructed by an expansion of the famous Rainbow Room. This room, on the 65th floor, is known for its Art Deco interior. The revolving floor and its magnificent view are two of the room's most-loved characteristics. The RCA building is now known as 30 Rockefeller Center Plaza, or the GE Building.
In 1931, America celebrated its first Christmas in Rockefeller Center. Construction workers placed a Christmas tree in the muddy construction site that would eventually become Rockefeller Center. The tree represented hope and jobs, as well as Christmas, as the nation was in the grasp of the Great Depression. In 1933, the tree was adorned with 700 lights, giving birth to the modern-day ceremony that we see today. Since then, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the plaza is one of the most watched events on television every year. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree remains a symbol of Christmas and hope in the United States. In 1936, the Christmas spirit was enhanced in the plaza with the opening of the Rockefeller Center Plaza Outdoor Ice-Skating Pond and its first ice skating pageant.
By 1940, Rockefeller Center, which had become known as “Radio City,” consisted of 14 buildings, located around a sunken central plaza. The name Radio City came from the fact that several radio corporations were located there. Among the primary tenants were: RCA, RKO and NBC. The central plaza, known as the Lower Plaza, is best known for its very popular skating rink. It is connected to Fifth Avenue via a pedestrian street decorated with statues and flowers. This walkway is known as the Channel Gardens. This beautiful landmark is flanked by the British Empire Building and La Maison Francaise. From the Channel Gardens there is a nice view of the sculpture of Prometheus and the GE building.
Another important building in Rockefeller Center is the Radio City Music Hall. When it was built, it was the largest indoor theater in the world with a seating capacity of 6,000 people. Guided tours give tourists the opportunity to see the spectacular Art Deco theme that dominates the interior of the building, as well as the entire Rockefeller Center complex.
Known as the “city in the city,” Rockefeller Center is an exceptional example of civic planning. All of the buildings in the complex share the Art Deco design. All of the buildings in the plaza are connected by and underground concourse, known as the Catacombs. The complex is well integrated in the city, especially along Fifth Avenue.
Today, Rockefeller Center consists of 19 buildings and covers 11 acres, covering an area from 49th to 52nd Streets and Fifth to Seventh Avenues, in Manhattan. It remains the largest privately owned building enterprise ever undertaken in the United States. It was also the first private real estate project to include extensive garden landscaping at both the street and rooftop levels.
There are many reasons to visit Rockefeller Center. It is the location of NBC Studios, where Late Nigh with Conan O'Brien, the Today Show and NBC News are taped. The world-famous Rockettes perform in the Radio City Music Hall. During the holiday season, thousands of visitors take in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show. The Lower Plaza's ice-skating rink is the scene for movie-making and little kids learning how to skate. For whatever the reason, Rockefeller Center has become one of the most well-known landmarks in all of New York City. In 1988, Rockefeller Center was declared a historic landmark.
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