RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL - VERY RARE OPENING NIGHT PROGRAM - 12/27/1932
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:12529613 | Original/Reproduction: Original |
VERY RARE & VERY HISTORIC THEATER MEMORABILIA
(original)
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL THE Opening Night Program Night of December 27, 1932 (only)
* * * * * *
This is the "Holy Grail" for collectors interested in Radio City Music Hall programs - it is the FIRST one, the program from the very first night, an extremely rare piece of American theater history!<...br>
Please Note: This is not just one of the versions of those programs titled "Inaugural Program" (which notation appeared on programs for several weeks), or even just one of the first week (5 days) of performances (identified by inclusion of a notice that starts "Next Sunday, Jan. 1st, 1933") - but instead, this is something I haven't seen offered before, an original program from Radio City Music Hall's actual opening night!
There are always a number of early Radio City programs available to collectors, some quite cheaply, and sorting through them can be a little confusing. By far the most important such program for any collector would be that from the very first night, the opening night extravaganza on December 27, 1932. But some of those frequently offered are indeed noted as "The Inaugural Program" and dated "beginning December 27, 1932." But the "Inaugural Program" changed quite a bit on a daily basis, because what Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel was initially presenting in the first weeks that Radio City was open was a vaudeville show, probably the grandest one the world had ever seen (with a little opera and ballet thrown in), and performers changed and the acts shifted around. [Moreover, this extremely ambitious format proved tedious and unpopular with the public, and very soon "Roxy" had to revert to his proven formula of a program that featured a stage show merely as an accompaniment to a feature film, a format whichwould continue at Radio City until 1979.]TheRadio City Music Hall opened to the public on December 27, 1932 with alavish stage show featuring Ray Bolger and Martha Graham, along with a great many other acts, and the program it offered wasmeant to bring about a return to high-class variety entertainment. This is the actual program of an audience member on that very first night and it can be identified as such by the specific lineup of acts on that night!
Examining this program, it can be seen that it begins with the Symphony of the Curtains (meant to showcase the theater's spectacular contour stage curtain). Then there is Dedication, a musical composition after a poem by Martha Wilchinski.
Note: these two performances were created specifically for the opening night of the Radio City Music Hall, and they serve as just one identifier of the specific program from that very first night. (There are, of course, a number of other differences that appeared as the show went through its first week, as acts were changed and shuffled around, but these are quite significant)
Then came a patriotic performance titled Sept. 13, 1814, and the Radio City Overture, by the RCMH Symphony Orchestra. After this come The Wallendas, "Continental Aerialists, " and The Kikutas, an "Oriental Risley Act." A comedy act (Eddy and Ralph) came next, then the Radio City Music Hall Ballet. After this was Fraulein Vera Schwarz, of the Staats-Opera (Berlin), "who is making her first appearance in America at the invitation of Roxy."
ROXY: Samuel Lionel "Roxy" Rothafel (1882-1936) was a showman of the 1920s silent movie era who managed many of the great movie theaters of New York City - the Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, Capitol, and, of course, the Roxy Theatre. He opened the Radio City Music Hall in 1932, and this was his Inaugural Program for that event.
Next on the program were Kirkwhite and Addison, London Music Hall Dancers, followed by The Tuskeegee Choir. After this was Ray Bolger, "outstanding young American Dancing Comedian!" Following this was a dance act by Harald Kreutzberg. Now the next few acts are particularly interesting ones from the perspective of historical hindsight - beginning with the "Radio City Roxyettes!" Then came Doctor Rockwell, then Night Club Revels (with a number of people, including Ray Bolger and Dorothy Fields, who was making her first stage appearance).
Ray Bolger and Dorothy fields went on to have significant careers in show business, of course, while the "Roxyettes" (named after "Roxy" Rothafel and their earlier several years performing at his "Roxy" Theater) also became world famous, although their name was later changed to the one that actually would become famous - the Radio City Music Hall "Rockettes!"After the Intermission, there were Excerpts From "Carmen, " followed by Doctor Rockwell again, then Martha Graham and her Dance Group, and finally the Minstrelsy (starring most of the cast members previously seen). This is a very rare and historic piece of theater memorabilia, the very first program of the Radio City Music Hall, 86 years old, from that opening night when "Roxy" Rothafel introduced both his spectacular new theater and a new "higher" class of vaudeville to New York audiences. (While this program may not be "unique" in the strict sense, this may be an apt description in the practical sense, because I have never come across another one in anything even approaching the condition this one is in, and I suspect any that exist are already in museums and university libraries, or permanent fixtures in private collections that may never come on the collector market - note: even the one on the Library of Congress website is not the very first night's program, although it appears to be identified that way). To be sure, many theatergoers must have brought home their programs from that first night as souvenirs, but the show proved very unpopular, and that was, of course, close to a century ago.
CONDITION: This historic theater relic is an excellent condition, with no holes, missing pieces or any other major flaws. The paper is very lightly tanned with age and it has a few wrinkles (not creases) but otherwise it is almost pristine (except for pencil notations - see below).
Please note that when you look at the pictures, what at first appears to be a big "problem" with this program- a number of written notations - really isn't a problem! That's because these remarks were written only in pencil and easily erasable with a non-abrasive eraser, which would leave this document in its original, almost pristine state.The buyer can do that, of course, but there was a reason why I didn't and that was because the notations inside were made by the theatergoer who attended these performances on Radio City's opening night and who it appears may possibly have been a professional theater critic, which would add to the historical significance of this great piece of theater memorabilia! [Among the remarks penciled in alongside various acts in the program are these: "excellent routines and perfect harmony - "she was marvelous singing her new numbers" (about Dorothy Fields) - and "He was good but I’ve seen him funnier."] I had always planned on looking up the archival records of different New York newspapers and trade papers someday to possibly discover from published reviews which critic might have made these notations, but as with many things, someday never quite came around and now, years later, I'm retired and no longer have access to the required research resources. But the penciled remarks in this outstanding program certainly deserve at least a modicum of research before erasure, even if that is their ultimate fate, and that is the reason why I didn't ever touch them myself.When I bought this item many, many years ago, it had folded inside it a couple of newspaper clippings from New York papers with opening night reviews for Radio City's opening night show and these "next morning" write-ups (seen in the scans) will be included with this program. [They too identify the specific lineup of acts on the first night]
This is certainly a museum-quality document and it is doubtful you will find another, especially one in anywhere near as nice condition
PAYMENT AND SHIPPINGPayment by PayPal Shipping is FREE within the United StatesI go to the Post Office twice a week, so shipping generally occurs within 3 business days of receipt of payment. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS:
International shipping is not available for this item
Combined Shipping: if you purchase more than one item, before you make any payment, please contact me to send you a combined shipping Invoice!Return Policy: This item is guaranteed to be as described, but if through some almost unimaginable error what you receive is significantly different than described, the purchase price will be refunded in full. Any questions, please email before bidding
(original)
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL THE Opening Night Program Night of December 27, 1932 (only)
* * * * * *
This is the "Holy Grail" for collectors interested in Radio City Music Hall programs - it is the FIRST one, the program from the very first night, an extremely rare piece of American theater history!<...br>
Please Note: This is not just one of the versions of those programs titled "Inaugural Program" (which notation appeared on programs for several weeks), or even just one of the first week (5 days) of performances (identified by inclusion of a notice that starts "Next Sunday, Jan. 1st, 1933") - but instead, this is something I haven't seen offered before, an original program from Radio City Music Hall's actual opening night!
There are always a number of early Radio City programs available to collectors, some quite cheaply, and sorting through them can be a little confusing. By far the most important such program for any collector would be that from the very first night, the opening night extravaganza on December 27, 1932. But some of those frequently offered are indeed noted as "The Inaugural Program" and dated "beginning December 27, 1932." But the "Inaugural Program" changed quite a bit on a daily basis, because what Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel was initially presenting in the first weeks that Radio City was open was a vaudeville show, probably the grandest one the world had ever seen (with a little opera and ballet thrown in), and performers changed and the acts shifted around. [Moreover, this extremely ambitious format proved tedious and unpopular with the public, and very soon "Roxy" had to revert to his proven formula of a program that featured a stage show merely as an accompaniment to a feature film, a format whichwould continue at Radio City until 1979.]TheRadio City Music Hall opened to the public on December 27, 1932 with alavish stage show featuring Ray Bolger and Martha Graham, along with a great many other acts, and the program it offered wasmeant to bring about a return to high-class variety entertainment. This is the actual program of an audience member on that very first night and it can be identified as such by the specific lineup of acts on that night!
Examining this program, it can be seen that it begins with the Symphony of the Curtains (meant to showcase the theater's spectacular contour stage curtain). Then there is Dedication, a musical composition after a poem by Martha Wilchinski.
Note: these two performances were created specifically for the opening night of the Radio City Music Hall, and they serve as just one identifier of the specific program from that very first night. (There are, of course, a number of other differences that appeared as the show went through its first week, as acts were changed and shuffled around, but these are quite significant)
Then came a patriotic performance titled Sept. 13, 1814, and the Radio City Overture, by the RCMH Symphony Orchestra. After this come The Wallendas, "Continental Aerialists, " and The Kikutas, an "Oriental Risley Act." A comedy act (Eddy and Ralph) came next, then the Radio City Music Hall Ballet. After this was Fraulein Vera Schwarz, of the Staats-Opera (Berlin), "who is making her first appearance in America at the invitation of Roxy."
ROXY: Samuel Lionel "Roxy" Rothafel (1882-1936) was a showman of the 1920s silent movie era who managed many of the great movie theaters of New York City - the Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, Capitol, and, of course, the Roxy Theatre. He opened the Radio City Music Hall in 1932, and this was his Inaugural Program for that event.
Next on the program were Kirkwhite and Addison, London Music Hall Dancers, followed by The Tuskeegee Choir. After this was Ray Bolger, "outstanding young American Dancing Comedian!" Following this was a dance act by Harald Kreutzberg. Now the next few acts are particularly interesting ones from the perspective of historical hindsight - beginning with the "Radio City Roxyettes!" Then came Doctor Rockwell, then Night Club Revels (with a number of people, including Ray Bolger and Dorothy Fields, who was making her first stage appearance).
Ray Bolger and Dorothy fields went on to have significant careers in show business, of course, while the "Roxyettes" (named after "Roxy" Rothafel and their earlier several years performing at his "Roxy" Theater) also became world famous, although their name was later changed to the one that actually would become famous - the Radio City Music Hall "Rockettes!"After the Intermission, there were Excerpts From "Carmen, " followed by Doctor Rockwell again, then Martha Graham and her Dance Group, and finally the Minstrelsy (starring most of the cast members previously seen). This is a very rare and historic piece of theater memorabilia, the very first program of the Radio City Music Hall, 86 years old, from that opening night when "Roxy" Rothafel introduced both his spectacular new theater and a new "higher" class of vaudeville to New York audiences. (While this program may not be "unique" in the strict sense, this may be an apt description in the practical sense, because I have never come across another one in anything even approaching the condition this one is in, and I suspect any that exist are already in museums and university libraries, or permanent fixtures in private collections that may never come on the collector market - note: even the one on the Library of Congress website is not the very first night's program, although it appears to be identified that way). To be sure, many theatergoers must have brought home their programs from that first night as souvenirs, but the show proved very unpopular, and that was, of course, close to a century ago.
CONDITION: This historic theater relic is an excellent condition, with no holes, missing pieces or any other major flaws. The paper is very lightly tanned with age and it has a few wrinkles (not creases) but otherwise it is almost pristine (except for pencil notations - see below).
Please note that when you look at the pictures, what at first appears to be a big "problem" with this program- a number of written notations - really isn't a problem! That's because these remarks were written only in pencil and easily erasable with a non-abrasive eraser, which would leave this document in its original, almost pristine state.The buyer can do that, of course, but there was a reason why I didn't and that was because the notations inside were made by the theatergoer who attended these performances on Radio City's opening night and who it appears may possibly have been a professional theater critic, which would add to the historical significance of this great piece of theater memorabilia! [Among the remarks penciled in alongside various acts in the program are these: "excellent routines and perfect harmony - "she was marvelous singing her new numbers" (about Dorothy Fields) - and "He was good but I’ve seen him funnier."] I had always planned on looking up the archival records of different New York newspapers and trade papers someday to possibly discover from published reviews which critic might have made these notations, but as with many things, someday never quite came around and now, years later, I'm retired and no longer have access to the required research resources. But the penciled remarks in this outstanding program certainly deserve at least a modicum of research before erasure, even if that is their ultimate fate, and that is the reason why I didn't ever touch them myself.When I bought this item many, many years ago, it had folded inside it a couple of newspaper clippings from New York papers with opening night reviews for Radio City's opening night show and these "next morning" write-ups (seen in the scans) will be included with this program. [They too identify the specific lineup of acts on the first night]
This is certainly a museum-quality document and it is doubtful you will find another, especially one in anywhere near as nice condition
PAYMENT AND SHIPPINGPayment by PayPal Shipping is FREE within the United StatesI go to the Post Office twice a week, so shipping generally occurs within 3 business days of receipt of payment. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS:
International shipping is not available for this item
Combined Shipping: if you purchase more than one item, before you make any payment, please contact me to send you a combined shipping Invoice!Return Policy: This item is guaranteed to be as described, but if through some almost unimaginable error what you receive is significantly different than described, the purchase price will be refunded in full. Any questions, please email before bidding
