Rockefeller Center Plan Includes Twelve Building

Home , 30 Rockefeller Plaza, British Empire Building, Sixth Avenue

R O CK E F E L L E R C E N T E R

The B uildings of the Developm ent

R CK F R CE NTE R r b uildin r k O E ELLE , the la gest g p oject ever underta en

v is r of New Y k C . at one time by pri ate capital , situated in the hea t or ity It occupies twelve acres of ground space— more than 90 per cent of the k f 8 th S 1 5 1: S t F f S three bloc s rom 4 treet to 5 treet , be ween i th and ixth

Avenues .

s The present Rockefeller Center plan includes twelve building . These f s r r s will afford chie%y o ﬁce and retail shopping pace . Othe majo activitie v ar e s s of N in the De elopment two theaters , the new tudio the ational

Broadcas ting Company and the Rockefeller Center Observation Roof. Included in the Rockefeller Center group are the British Empire B M s F of t uilding and La ai on rancaise , two the International s ructures on F f Av 0—s RCA B n v r f i th enue ; the 7 tory uildi g , which co ers mo e than hal of the middle block between 49th and 5 oth Streets ; the Radio City Music ’ H r S Av oth all , world s largest theate , located on ixth enue between s and s r st Streets ; the 3 1 —story RKO Building at Sixth Avenue and S I S t Street ; A th C t S v S . and the enter Thea er , at ixth enue and 49 treet These are completed and tenanted . Sites are being excavated in the north block for two more International B f r to f F f Av . o of F ft uildings ront on i th enue One these , at the co ner i h ’ A h S P It li v ot d a a. enue and s treet , will be the alazzo It will be connected ea i l with a companion building by a spacious and b ut ﬁi Arcade .

Other contemplated structures include two office buildings of medium k s k r height , one in the north bloc and one in the outh bloc , a lowe club or ff s of R C t M H r o ice building ea t the adio i y usic all , and anothe structure s of ea t the Center Theater .

Nearly two acres of land in Rockefeller Center have been used to provide open space between buildings and adequate facilities for vehicular s ffi v f o v t . s and pede trian tra c in the icinity the De elopmen Thi area , % R k f P v s named oc e eller laza , includes a new pri ate treet cutting through f 8 th I S C S 3 S k P the project rom 4 to S treets , large un en laza in the middle k Pro s f s S k bloc , and a menade , ixty eet wide , which lead into the un en Plaza from Fifth Avenue and affords a convenient gateway to all the build ings in Rockefeller Center

of R k f C The western portion oc e eller enter , in which are located the % % two rs the NBC s s has R C theate and tudio , been named adio ity , in of o Cor or o of A r and its ffi honor the Radi p ati n me ica a liated interes ts .

k s s r R f C . oc e eller enter , Inc , repre ent the co porate ownership and con r trol of the enti e project .

As r s s of s s r o R s the rep e entative thi owner hip co porati n , Todd , obert on o E C r r o Br r i (31 (35 . des T dd ngineering o po ation and T dd own , Inc , we e g n r f n ated as builde s and managers or the Developme t . To the builders and managers was assigned the task of creating and managing the exten sive organization required to plan and carry throu gh all of the many f f eatures o the project .

Three ﬁrms were ofﬁcially engaged as architects for Rockefeller Center . s f r are : R r (35 H f s Co H r so (SC Mac The e i ms einha d o mei ter ; rbett , a ri n M H Fouilhoux has v urray ; and ood (SC . Under their direction been de el oped and perfected the organization of artists and technicians engaged in the of k f building Roc e eller Center .

P has r f s Clyde R . lace handled the elect ical and mechanical eature

H B k of s . and . G . alcom has ta en care all structural engineering problem Other important consultants who have contributed to the technical rf of k r so S McCandless pe ection Roc efeller Center include P ofes r tanley R . of Y r P of v s s D . E . S ale Uni er ity , con ultant on lighting ; aul abine the ff r M S r m of N ew York R k r G v C . iverban Laborato ies , ene a , Ill and li o d wa k C s A Berc m ans of A s G a. s . . ity , con ultants on acou tics ; and L ugu ta , , ns o n s co ultant land cape gardening . The illus tration on the revers e of this pag e s hows the s culp ture above

the F th Avenu e entrance to the B r t s h E m re B u ld n des ned if i i pi i i g , ig

b ar P aul ennew i n he u res as ld C l e . T c t i n bronze and o y l ﬁg , g lea ed re res ent n ne a or ndus tr es o the Un ted K n dom f , p i m j i i f i i g

A bove the i s the B r t s h coat—o -ar s carved i n l m es tone m i i f m , i .

The B ritish Em pire B uilding

The B r s E re B u n is oc e 620 F f enue oth ree . iti h mpi ildi g l at d at i th Av , at s St t Six s or es has F f enue front e of 0 fee and fron e on Wes 0th t i high , it a i th Av ag 7 t , a tag t 5 The f E c on for the s ructure was e u n in Fe ru r 1 2 . ree of 200 ee . St t t x avati t b g b a y , 93 n New B rr r ns BC L ne I c . u n was o ene to en n s on Ma I 1 . o b ildi g p d t a t y , 933 a , I a , , r r ec n r BC of e s er Yor t ere the ener con c ors . c s : e ; k Ci y , w g al t a t A hit t R i ha d H m i t MacM rra Fou ilho x or e rr son BC u oo BC u . C b tt , Ha i y ; H d

TH E B R I TI E M P I R B U I DI G is the SH E L N dedicated to commerce , indus art of E is r s r in Br s v try and the mpire , and e t icted tenancy to iti h indi id uals or A n r s s of Br s and companies , to the merica rep e entative iti h compa s B r r r f s Br s f ff nie handling itish Empi e p oducts . It lie the iti h lag and is sta ed r B G War v la gely by ritish reat eterans . The Fifth Avenue entrance to the building bears a sculptured decora P nn w in A r fi r t h r C e e e s . se tion by arl aul I , merican culpto The gu es in t ee panels above the doorways represent nine industries which are of major A f s importance in the economic structure of the British Empire . i her t f s r s of Br s man , a seaman and a coal miner ypi y indu t ie the iti h Isles ; a of f fi s woman carrying a bag salt , another emale gure standing be ide a v ks of s tobacco plant , and a man holding se eral stal ugar cane graphically s s s of s r s s of A s r ugge t the industrie India ; a hepherd rep e ent the wool u t alia , of C s a reaper the wheat anada , and a woman standing among cotton plant ’ bespeaks Africa s contribution to the varied economic activities of the B of s i s sun s m United Kingdom . elow the ﬁgure the eaman a bronze y % % bolic of f e r r r the amiliar quotation : The sun n ve sets on the B itish Empi e .

These ﬁgures are cas t in bronze and ﬁnished in gold leaf Surmount r f v r v is B s —of arm s ing them , some thi ty eet abo e the st eet le el , the riti h coat , v f s Mr nn s e ewein . car ed in lime tone rom model by . I

Across the top of the Fifth Avenue facade are four panels des igned by P C A s R . . s v s ene hambellan , merican culptor The panel , car ed in lime tone ,

r f f s—of- r of are he aldic , the moti s being drawn rom the coat a ms the historic v s of B di i ions the ritish Kingdom .

F r s s W rom south to no th the panel repre ent ales , with the traditional r ff of a s of W E g i ins and the accepted heraldic plumes the rm ales ; ngland , s s S symbolized by the lion , with the peciﬁc Tudor ro e ; cotland , with the s r a fr unicorn and the traditional thi tle ; I eland , with the h rt om the arms k and the his toric s hamroc . Together the panels s ugges t the rich historic background of the Briti sh

Kingdom .

s B E B n The north and south entrance to the ritish mpire uildi g , on oth S P v s 5 treet and the romenade , respecti ely , are decorated with panel

s A s . de igned by Lee Lawrie , merican culptor

S of t of Br s E ymbolic the power and authori y the iti h mpire , the panel over the soth Street entrance bears the arms of England— the three lions ss - r fi s of R r of E pa ant gua dant , rst worn on the hield icha d I , King ngland ,

1 - s is r r r v ss 1 89 1 1 99 . The Tudor ro e inco po ated in a deco ati e strip acro the bottom of the panel . f v Pr u e o Mr . O er the omenade entrance , on the so th sid the building , r has s e of M r r od of Law ie de ign d a panel the winged e cu y , mythical g H e r as s f o r v s commerce . is epresented traveling wi tly ve the wa e , and ’ he signiﬁes the mercantile marine upon which much of England s wealth i f v s f or e r r ss and power s ounded . The wa e orm an nam ntal borde ac o the lower part of the panel .

M od ern i n D es n E u ent and Ornam entat on ig , q ipm i

The Britis h Empire Building is modern both in des ign and in equip

is - r u u r ment . It air conditioned th o ghout , insuring automatic temperat e A s r k control and comfort at all seasons of the year . modern type p in ler s ﬁi rnishes ﬁ r W s v r r v ystem protection against e . estinghou e ele ato s p o ide s is f E s Ash ample interior tran portation . The main lobby aced with ngli h r bu ton marble . On the roof terrace of the s ixth floor a dis tinctive English garden has B H k s f o . R been constructed uilt by alph ancoc , land cape architect , r m s s of R k f C o plan prepared by the architect oc e eller enter , the garden c ntains r s s r r v r s of A n a la ge growing lawn , hedges , tree and eve al hund ed a ietie lpi e s s u s rf- r s plant , ro es , t lip and dwa g owing bulbs , planted in pecially prepared so A f s fl k il . retaining wall o selected English sand tone and agged wal ways of s r rr At F f Av the ame mate ial su ound the lawn . the i th enue end is a r f n e lecting pool banked by yew hedges and Iapa ese white pine trees . A for m al gard en s i x s tories above Fifth Avenu e is s hown i n the

llus trat n on th e e h a e Cons tructed b R al h i io e r v rs e of t is p g . y p

H ancock u nder the s u erv s on o the arch tects th s land , p i i f i , i s ca ed roo terrace conta ns a row n lawn ew hed es a p f i g i g , y g , l p ane h s e w te ne trees a s tone walkwa s and a re ect n ool . i pi , %g y % i g p

The r was co of 1 is rs ga den mpleted in the autumn 933 , and the ﬁ t unit in an extens ive landscap e gardening program which will utilize k modern materials to tran sform the open areas and the lower roofs of Roc e r feller Center into an enchanted land in the hea t of the city . Among the tenants in the B ritish Empire Building are many whose names have for years been outs tanding in the indus trial and commercial Y BC C f r A f f of E . s li e ngland The e include ardley ompany , per ume s ; l red ’ of rs of s k s Dunhill London , importe tobaccos , pipes and mo ers upplies ; BC Co H BC S rr s of B s Lowe , Donald mpany and olland he y , importer riti h f o A the r S . . woolens ; the B itish Chamber o C mmerce in the U . ; Travel and Industrial Development A ssociation of Great B ritain and Ireland ; the E Art G r s H o s of Com o r of B s mpire alle ie , Limited ; the u e y, importe s riti h A A r s s o for pipes ; rchibald Kelly , me ican repre entative and di tribut r the s rs C r r of on B k C r r Di tille o po ation , Limited , L don ; the uc ingham o po ation , r r e - k E s — r B r r o s s B s BC C . ep e enting the w ll nown ngli h wine me chant , a ry o . ; Ar C k of o s r f r of undell lar e , Limited , Lond n , de igne and manu actu er mod ern E s f r r A G k r r r of ngli h u nitu e ; lbert Leonard eorge , shirtma e and impo te E s s r E B ngli h haberda he y ; and the ncyclopedia ritannica .

r s of was 2 1 2 The co ner tone the building laid on july , 93 , by the R Ho S r of B s s ndi ight norable the Lord outhborough , chai man the riti h y s o s B s E B cate which p n ored the riti h mpire uilding .

The illus tration on the revers e of this pag e s hows a bronze panel des ned b Al red anni ot French s cu l tor above the Fi h ig y f I , p , ﬁ

Avenu e entrance o La Ma s on Fran a s e S m bol c o the r end f i c i . y i f fi s h between two reat c t es i t d e cts P ar s and N ew York ip g i i , pi i

h e an e o n n hands above t e u res o P oetr B eau t and El c . j i i g ﬁg f y, y g

La Maison Francaise

n c La M son Fr n se is s u e 6 1 0 F ft enue th tree . is e ai a cai it at d at i h Av , at 49 S t It id ti al in s ze and e er or es n the B r s E re Bu n fro c it i s i xt i d ig with iti h mpi ildi g , m whi h E c t on for the s ructure w as e u n in Fe ru r the Pro en e . separated by m ad x ava i t b g b a y , B rr rons BC 1 2 The u n was o ene t o ten n s on Oc o er 1 1 . 93 . b ildi g p d a t t b , 933 a , I BC w Yor t ere the ener con r c ors . rc ects : e n r L ne Inc . Ne a , , k Ci y , w g al t a t A hit R i ha d

of e s er or e rr son BC M acMurra ; oo BC Fou ilhoux . H m i t ; C b tt , Ha i y H d

L A M I FR AN AISE the F R k f C n A SON Q , rench building in oc e eller e ter , % has been characterized as a solid bit of France in the heart of New York % ik Br s E r B r C . ity L e the iti h mpi e uilding , it is dedicated to the comme ce , r f u M F f industry and a t o a great E ropean nation . La aison rancaise lies the French flag and is s taffed largely by French veterans of the World War . s F v s s Its tenancy is re tricted to rench indi idual and companie , or to the American representatives of French companies handling products of the

French Republic and colonial possessions .

F f Av r s n The i th enue ent ance to the building bear a sculptured pa el , symbolic of the friendship and mutual unders tanding between the cities of P r s New Y rk was s A f anniot Fr s u a i and o . It de igned by l red I , ench c lp % tor who created the sculptured facade of Le Musée Permanent des C s P s is olonie in ari . The panel , which at present the only example in ’ A of M anniot s rk is 1 1 f 8 f s . 1 C merica I wo , eet wide and eet high . a t in

- f s r r o bronze and then gold lea ed , the culptu e weighs app oximately ten t ns . P s New Y rk s v of P It depicts ari and o joining hand abo e the ﬁgures oetry , B t E eau y and legance .

' Across the top of the Fifth Avenue facade are four panels designed by P C R . C v s . s ene hambellan ar ed in lime tone , the panel portray a pageant of Fr ench history .

s s F r n fr r s r s . The ﬁr t panel depict rance isi g om a chaotic , p ehi to ic tate ’ A s r C e gigantic wo d dominates this period , culminating in harl magne s E S . s f s mpire ocial and religiou li e is ubordinate to , and protected by , armed power . Roman and Celtic influences are portrayed on either s ide of the ’ s R s C s r G o k word by the oman in ignia and the eltic bard ha p and the allic c c . s s of f e s In the econd panel , ymbolic the ormative period , cluster d pears v r f F A typify the united effort en eloped in the banne o the new rance . of r s f- s r chalice denotes the spirit chival y and el abnegation . The pi itual and emotional s tate of mind is s hown by a halo .

s s of u r The The third panel repre ent the period absol te mona chy . r S s H — — crown and scepter are all powe ful . hield with the eur de lys cover the ’ r of k B r n is ﬁeld , denoting the sp ead the ing s dominance . ehind the c ow % ’ ’ % i — ta M the sunburst Le Ro Soleil L E t C es t oi .

f r s Fr f s s r The ou th panel ymbolizes the ench Republic . The a ce epte s P s n s for r r ent unity , the hrygian cap ta d democracy , and the lau el c own % for ss re r c r of o — r é E é succe and wa d . The wat hwo d dem cracy Libe t , galit , l % Frat rni te — r i e is eng aved n the panel .

v th S r Lee O er the 49 t eet entrance to the building , Lawrie has de s fo of r o f - — r n igned a conventionalized rm the t aditi nal leur de lys of F a ce . The Promenade entrance is graced by another panel des igned by the same r r r s s sow 1n s r n s s of o artist . The latte ep e ent a g ﬁgure catte i g the eed go d citizenship .

H om e of Frenc h G overnm ent B u reaus

’ The French Government s approval and active s upport of La Maison Fr s r u 1 2 rv s Pr A r ancai e we e anno nced in 93 . Inte iew between esident lbe t Pr r r H r s v F . E Lebrun and emie doua d erriot , epre enting the go ernment , and S e P of Fr C s s s enator j an hilip , the ench ommittee under who e au pice La M so Fr s was r s u rs and ai n ancai e e ected , re ulted in a complete nde tanding k r wor ing ag eement . Among the first tenants to move into the building were French Gov ernm ent of N ew Y rk H s ffi of Co su ficials in o . ere are ituated the o ces the n l G r of Fr c ffi r A a h ene al an e and the o ces of the F ench Commercial tt c e. Other prominent tenants include the Railways of France ; the Federation of H r f n f r R s s of F R r . o the ealth e o t rance ; odie , Inc , one the leadi g ab ic o s s of Fr P A ur A r r r s for h u e ance ; ierre mo oux , Inc . , me ican ep e entative f s Mo n erfii m es A r f of G H the amou ly eux p ; the me ican o fice the . . Mumm C Co Fr f r r s hampagne mpany ; Lucien Lelong , ench per ume ; and the galle ie of Caz- r o r r r . F s n ss s s G D Delbo , ench arti t and co n i eur who ep e ent the ale ie M G uio f r arcel t o Pa is . S s s F s are pecialty hop , handling de luxe rench merchandi e , located f fl r f of . s o on the ground loor the building In the we tern end the same oo ,

v r k S k P is C fé H C t . o e loo ing the un en laza , the a enri harpen ier On display in the lobby of La Maison Francaise is a silver replica of f s estion M k C s B ellonte the amou airplane , The % ar , in which o tes and , Fr v f s r r ss A f P r s N ew York ench a iators , lew we twa d ac o the tlantic rom a i to is f of of R of in 1 93 0 . The model the gi t the government the epublic r r wa e C r n Fr c R k f C . s an e to oc e elle ente It ex cuted by artier , inte natio ally k s P f s R k f C nown jeweler , in aris , and o ﬁcially pre ented to oc e eller enter by E A é fevr F A ss o his xcellency , ndr Le e de Laboulaye , rench mba ad r to the s United State .

of — the v rs The mechanical equipment the building ele ato , air conditioning plant and sprinkler sys tem— is s imilar to that of the B ritish

E r B . s S t . M mpi e uilding The main lobby is ﬁni hed with ichel marble , or f F e s s F imp ted rom rance . The el vator cab are ﬁni hed with rench walnut r bu l . The roof terrace on the sixth floor of La Maison Francaise is land was s t r s s fl rs o . caped wi h a lawn , t ee , hedge , owe and a p ol This garden o r als built by Ralph Hancock from plans prepared by the a chitects .

of M s Fr s A r 2 1 The cornerstone La ai on ancai e was sealed on p il 9 , 933 , f P E H rr o of f by ormer remier douard e i t , guest honor at a color ul ceremony t wo s s f o so attended by hundred invited gue t drawn rom dipl matic , cial and s ss s bu ine circle .

The Prom enade and Su nken Plaza

A G T Y P I G s - f P EN L SLO N , ixty oot wide romenade extends westward fi'om Fifth Avenue between the Britis h Empire Building and La Maison Fran aise k of k f A r 2 00 g in the middle bloc Roc e eller Center . pp oximately f r S k P v eet long , it leads di ectly into the un en laza , and pro ides a convenient entranceway into all the buildings of the Development .

The Promenade and the Sunken Plaza are paved in a decorative design

C r R H s R v s . with rab Orcha d stone , idgeway stone and ud on i er blue tone

Extending down the middle of the Promenade are six s hallow reflect

s s t . ing pool , urrounded by rimmed yew hedges The pools contain basins of o s s rr of s ss p li hed Deer I land granite and mi ored bottoms tructural gla , k f r W r laid in bric o m . ater is thrown into the pools th ough ornamental f C . bronze ountainheads designed by Rene P . hambellan

A t the wes tern end of the Promenade two large Iapanese white pine s r B t two f t tree stand in b onze containers . road granite s eps , in ligh s , lead S k P of f into the un en laza , the lower level which is eighteen eet below the t surrounding ci y streets .

S k P is 1 2 f t f s . The un en laza an open area , 5 ee by 95 eet in dimen ion fl k t wo s s s v It is an ed on ide by exclu i e retail s hops .

C the s of S k P entered against we t wall the un en laza , directly oppo the r s r is Pr s F s P site g and tai way , the ometheu ountain , de igned by aul M s A n t . an hip , merica sculp or

E f s xecuted in bronze and gray granite , the ountain stands out again t B r It i s a wall of red almoral g anite . has a wide horizontal reach and t dom r f is v s f F f inan c ﬁgu e rises eighteen eet into the air . It easily i ible rom i th Av enue .

s of P o s The compo ition consists three ﬁgures , and depicts r metheu , of the of the r f the legendary contributor ﬁre , in act bringing p ecious gi t

k ﬁ ure— P s— s s 1 1 to man ind . The central g rometheu mea ure 5 by 8 feet .

f r s k — a Two other figures , in li e size , rep e ent man ind youth and a maiden . All of u s ar s r o the fig re e ca t in b onze and finis hed in g ld leaf. s s of f are of s The two ba in the ountain poli hed Deer Island granite . a is 60 f 1 ss s 6 f . The lower ba in , rect ngular in shape , eet wide and eet acro Several broad sprays of water in s heet form play toward the center of the f f of r s ountain rom either side the uppe basin , which is al o rectangular in r f t — f s hape and mo e than or y two eet wide . The fountain is illuminated at night by spotlights directed from the roofs of the British and French buildings and by recessed lights in the P f laza wall adjacent to the ountain . Two terraced Promenades above the Sunken Plaza are faced with pol i h are set f s A v s ed . granite , and in each three mirror ountain bo e them are s f rs yew hedges and pine trees interplanted with sea onal blooming lowe . Steps from the s idewalks on 49th and soth Streets and from Rocke fit ller Plaza provide additional entrance facilities to these terraced Prom enades which are a few feet below the adjacent street level .

S k P r f of ro The un en laza , in addition to its a chitectural unction p vidin s R k f r C r e v s g an open space between the building in oc e elle ente , s r e s as C rs -su f al o the main entrance to the oncou e , the extensive sub r ace area e s v e in the development d voted principally to store , exhibition space , ser ic or s k r C rs r ganization and pedestrian wal ways . The enti e oncou e is b il liantl o - S f s air y lighted and c mpletely air conditioned . unlight and re h also enter the Concourse freely from the Sunken Plaza . ’ 0 R ocke eller Plaza a n entrance to the world s lar es t o i ce bu ld 3 f , m i g ﬁ i i n i n loor area l h h a e Lee Lawr e i s lus trated on t e revers e o t s . g f , i f i p g i des ig ned the s cu lp tu re a bov e the d oorways which depicts the G enius o Mank nd The cas t lass een n ath the s cu l tu re ad ts f i . g s cr be e p mi natu ral l ht nto h Great H all hu b o o ke ller enter act v t es t e R c e C . ig i , f f i i i

The R CA B u ilding

— The 0 s or B u n r es ofﬁce u n in the or in f oor re , 7 t y RCA ildi g , la g t b ildi g w ld l a a

f the c efe er en er e e o en . covers more than half of the middle block o Ro k ll C t d v l pm t The n en r nce is 0 oc efe er P z the new nor —and-sou t s ree cut mai t a at 3 R k ll la a , th h t t n r O er en r nces are Wes th ree 0 West efe er e e . through Rock ll C t th t a at 49 t 49 St t , 5 The estern e ens on of the u n 1 6 0th ree and 1 2 0 t enue . 5 St t , 5 Six h Av w xt i b ildi g , The roun n e en s e s r fro s or es fronts on enu e . t i high , Sixth Av g d pla xt d a twa d m enue for s nce of fee and occu es of the n er en n s ce Sixth Av a di ta 535 t, pi all i t v i g pa ons ruc on or on the B u n w as between 49th and soth Streets . C t ti w k RCA ildi g

2 The u n was co e e on M a 1 1 . e e n e un in nu r 1 . b g ja a y , 93 b ildi g mpl t d y , 933 H g ma

rr n n w or ere the ener cont r c ors . rc tec s s o I c . Ne Y t Ha i C mpa y , , k Ci y , w g al a t A hi t ilh e n r BC of e s er or e rr son BC MacMu rra oo BC Fou oux . R i ha d H m i t ; C b tt , Ha i y ; H d

TH E RCA BU I LDI NG is the dominant s tructure of the Rockefeller Its r s s s s of 8 0 Center group . main tower i e with weeping line to a height 5 k s f . as r s eet In the tower , is customary in mode n yscraper de ign , the ele vators v f f of sur and ser ice acilities orm the core the building , which is

- rounded on all sides by well lighted floor space . This building is unique

v - k s f s in ha ing set bac s at each level where an elevator ha t end , thus pro r f r s set ducing a se ies of gigantic steps on the exterior o the towe . The e backs at the completion of the elevator s hafts allow the maintenance of a f t of As constant distance rom the ex erior walls the building to the core . a of f r r r v s of result , all the rentable o ﬁce a ea in the towe ecei e a maximum r fr natu al light and esh air .

t s s for r This construc ion allow , al o , approximately the same entable fl r r f of . of area on all oors the towe The towe loors , each with an area 2 s f s f r cor about quare eet , are u ﬁciently large to accommodate a la ge oration so s s s p , and are designed that mall pace unit may be laid out with a maximum of window space . The central tower of the s tructure is capped by the Rockefeller Center A t v R f. t s s s Obser ation oo the extreme top , seven y torie above the treet

v is r ff s ﬁft — v le el , an open p omenade , which o ers an unob tructed y mile iew of New Y k r or or and the su rounding territ y . The main entrance facing Rockefeller Plaza gives an impression of r f v of A B the g ace ul massi eness the RC uilding . The lintels of the three arches over the doorways are decorated with a huge sculpture by Lee

Lawrie . The central ﬁgure of this work represents the genius which interprets of f of the v to the human race the laws and cycles the cosmic orces uni erse , ’ v of s v s of and thus rules o er all man acti itie . On the right the central

on f S — of s s panel is represented Light , and the le t , ound two the e co mic r of k f . s ss s o ces The compass the geniu mar s , on the gla creen below , the of S cycles Light and ound .

A t r s f v v rs lthough he e are other co mic orces which go ern the uni e e , Mr s of . Lawrie selected tho e Light and Sound because they are an active v of v f s and ital part e eryday li e , and particularly becau e within contem orar r s s of p y times g eat di coverie have been made by means them , and ’ man s technical knowledge of the laws of these t wo forces has been vas tly a enl rged .

The glass screen below the sculpture is 55 feet across and 1 5 feet high . of 2 0 r ks of ss 1 8 2 8 It is composed 4 ectangular bloc gla , each about by v k ss of s k v inches , with an a erage thic ne about three inche . The bloc s ary fi 0 1 1 s of in weight om 7 to 5 pound each , and the total weight the screen k are s is about thirteen tons . The bloc s held together with tran parent f k r s e was t v s s . s cemen , and rein orced at the bac by e tical teel trip The cr en the C m W k executed by o ing Glass or s .

A N ew N ote i n Oﬁ ce B u ilding D ecoration

G H or of RCA B s s The reat all main lobby the uilding , ju t in ide the P ff rs s s R k f C n for laza entrance , o e the large t single expan e in oc e eller e ter f r c s and the interpretation o the deco ative theme . The ar hitect managers decided to concentrate the art work of the main lobby in large panels on of v k k fl s n the walls the ele ator ban s , eeping the walls , oor and ceili g in plain colors .

r rr s are The floor is of b ass and te azzo mosaic . The outer wall con s tructed of French Gray %ermont marble from the floor to a height of

- f o u f v % s even and one hal feet . The c l mns are aced with I ory ein Italian r of e f s ma ble . The remainder the walls and the c iling are ini hed in a deep v i ory tone . The panels on the north side of the main elevator banks are devo ted

f s osé M S r S . to the our mural executed by I aria e t , panish muralist They

’ r E of s depict man s intellectual mas tery of the material unive se . ach the e murals is approximately 2 5 feet wide and 1 7 feet high . They were painted ’

Mr S P tu . in . ert s aris s dio The murals represent the abolition of those forces which tend to s r the s v of f de t oy human peace and happiness , and pre er ation the orces f of k f to t . which con ribute to the wel are man ind The irst panel , the east ,

' represents the evolution of machinery which relieves man fi om the neces of s siry terriﬁc physical strain . The econd panel portrays the eradication f of disease through the development o medical science . The third panel r f s su res depicts the abolition of slave y . The ourth panel repre ents the pp f w sion o ar .

’ B rangwyn s P ortrayal of the S tory of Mankind

Upon the south walls of the main elevator banks are four murals by

A . E s s . t F k Bran w n R . ran g y , , ngli h arti t They are approxima ely the same s ize as the Sert murals and were painted in England .

Three of these murals are designed to show the progressive periods in man s conquest of the phys1cal world and the changing cond i tions to wh ich has f as s e accom man adapted himsel , , step by t p , this conquest has been li h ﬁ mrth s s r s ed . p In the panel , which , in a en e , sums up the other th ee , the artist implies that in his ever res tless and driving search for new world s to conquer man must learn to accept as fundamental the truths which were a h r revealed t t e dawn of the Chris tian e a.

The ﬁrst panel at the west end s hows man laboring painﬁi lly with his s f a s v o f . s h nd , courageously pro iding the phy ical necessities li e The econd panel shows man working with crude tools which enable him to lay the f of to r oundations his home , and establish an o ganized society . The third u k panel pict res man wor ing with machinery , mechanizing labor and add ’ s of s f ing to his own life the promi e lei ure . The ourth panel is the artis t s ’ of t of k Mr Br . an interpretation the ultima e destiny man ind . gwyn s in ’ scription on this mural is : Man s ultimate des tiny depends not on whether

s s k s v s s his he can learn new le son or ma e new di co erie and conque ts , but on

of s s acceptance the lesson taught him clo e upon two thousand year ago .

The interior transportation sys tem in the RCA Building is of particu %

s . s t of 1 6 00 a lar intere t In addition to the re iden population , 5 ten nts , provis ion has been made to handle a visiting population of nearly persons daily .

s— C s s r f r Mez The three lower level the oncour e , the t eet loo and the — in f is s are zanine which tra ﬁc greate t , connected by broad stairways and s v — v s s r S t —ﬁ v W s er ed by six double width re ersible Oti e calato s . even y e e t inghouse elevators of the lates t high-speed safety type maintain rapid com m unication r t th oughou the building .

Com plete Interior Trans p ortation Sys te m

s r v a s f - The speedie t ca s , those ser ing rea rom the twenty ninth to the s x t —fifth fl r of f of i y oo s , operate at a speed eet a minute , and one these eight high- rise cars which runs to the sixty—fifth floor travels f is f s s v r o r eet a minute . It the a te t ele ato in the w rld , and cove s the distance from the ground to the s ixty- fifth floor in approximately thirty—nine sec u It s f v rs o ds . is e timated that when operating on a ull schedule the ele ato in the RCA Building will travel a total of miles daily between w Y rk 8 A . M . P . M s t Ne C and . , a di tance equal to that be ween o ity and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado in Arizona . All of the elevators are equipped with the latest automatic signal and v P f v r s s s control de ices . ower ul speed go erno s and limit witche will top quickly and smoothly either the upward or downward movement of any elevator the instant its speed exceeds the limit fix which the governor is set . %isitors will notice electric light beams projected across the elevator s ar of entrance when the cab door is opened . The e lights e part an auto t v k S f -T— Ra f s r ma ic de ice nown as the a e y , and are ocu ed on photo elect ic i f W 15 as cells n the opposite rame . hen the light beam interrupted by a p senger enteri ng or leaving the elevator a shadow 1s cas t on the photo-electric r are u fr s the or cell , and the doo s a tomatically prevented om clo ing until do way is clear . The three lower floors of the RCA Building are devoted principally k s s r s rv s al . to to es , exhibition paces , se ice organization , and pedestrian w way C rs S A On the oncou e level , near the ixth venue end , is located a complete C S f s of W s RCA ommunication tation where the acilitie the e tern Union , C P N ew Y k o Com ommunications , ostal Telegraph and the or Teleph ne k f er C r Pos f S o is s pany are available . The Roc e ell ente t O fice tati n al o s ituated in the Concourse . os eMar a S ert S an s h art s t a nted our anels or the Great l i , p i i , p i f p f

H all o the RCA B u ld n as s hown i n the llus trat on on the f i i g , i i revers e o th s a e The re res ent the contr bu t ons o s c ence f i p g . y p i i f i to hu an eace and ha ness Thes e urals d ecorate the north m p ppi . m w n walls o the a n elevator banks o os te thos e o B ran . f m i , pp i f g y

Directly oppos ite the entrance into the Great Hall is the ofﬁce of the % r F s v t v s s k f C Ask M . o ter ser ice where tenan s and i itor to Roc e eller enter may receive complete information about the Development or about New Y rk H s k s for t s s r o . ere may be purcha ed tic et ravel , ight eeing , theate s and r f k f r C r fo all o the Roc e elle enter ente tainments .

s r of ffi fl ors n In the ea t po tion the building , o ce o exte d above the

t - f f Mezzanine to the six y ourth loor .

- f r r s r f Pr The sixty fourth loo is devoted to e tau ant acilities . ivate din ing and banquet rooms are available for tenants and organizations or parties o far of desiring to dine in a n vel atmosphere above the rumble the city .

The Observation R oof

THE ﬁ ve upper floors of the RCA Building are planned for observa A s v s 8 0 f v tion , rest and recreation . top the e entieth tory , 5 eet abo e the s r v 2 00 f on 2 0 t eet , is an expansi e promenade , eet l g and approximately f eet wide . From the promenade the vis itor can get an unobstructed view of r New Y k of r met opolitan or and much the sur ounding country . Trained guides are on hand to point out areas of interes t and furnish information k f C New Y rk C s r v about Roc e eller enter and o ity . Tele copes p o ide a better ’ v of t ks Co f r k s v iew the ci y s historic landmar . m o table dec chair are a ail for s a able tho e who wish to rel x in the open air . Here old residents of New York may see their city with a new pride ’ S s New Y rk s in its beauty and magnitude . ight eers to o may get a bird ’ % of the r r s s v i ts eye iew wo ld s g eate t metropoli , a iew incomparable in grandeur .

fl f r ou is for On the oor below , a com o table l nge maintained the con C ff venience of vi sitors to the Observation Roof. o ee and tea are served k s v R f Ask without charge . Tic ets to the Ob er ation oo are on sale at the % Mr Fos fﬁ r k f s . ter o ces and at many hotel and theate tic et o ﬁce throughout the city .

The Rockefeller Center Guided Tours provide a comprehensive view of the main features of the Rockefeller Center buildings and include a short vis it to the Roof These tours are conducted by guides trained to s r of s de c ibe all points intere t in the Development . They afford vis itors o r t for s v an ppo tuni y personal ob er ation and inquiry .

The NB C Studios

’ TH E NATI ONAL BR OADCAST I NG COM P ANY S s tudios in the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center cover som e square feet of space and fl s r r —ﬁ ve s s occupy ten oors . Included in thi a ea are thi ty tudio , twenty f ar r m n n f un seven o which e completed . The e ai i g eight have been le t

s as . ﬁni hed , to be completed they are needed

A S f 8 1 2 f r The uditorium tudio on the sixth loor is 7 by 3 eet , and th ee s s A s ns t r 2 0 torie high . long one ide ru a balcony which sea s mo e than 5 s s s IS - r r accom pectator . Opposite thi a semi circula stage la ge enough to m odat 1 % e a 00 p1ece orches tra .

r s s u 13 0 8 f t wo s s The next la gest broadca ting t dio 5 by 9 eet , and torie G S i 15 s . as R in height Known the adio uild tudio , t equipped with a tage ss are s s 0 8 0 f 0 0 and a gla curtain . There also two tudio 5 by , our 3 by 5

2 All s two s r . A s and two 5 by 40 feet . the e are to ies high long one ide v r s for s r f o of they ha e galle ie pectato s , separated r m the main portion the s s —s k r r tudios by gla s , and equipped with loud pea e s so that spectato s may r hear the prog am s they are watching .

As are r r s r s there no exte io window in the enti e studio ection , the

r f — is An - p oblem o air conditioning and ventilation a major one . air condi tionin s s hum idiﬁ es -hum idiﬁ es r to g plant wa he the air , it or de it acco ding u s s of its condition , and circulates it thro gh the tudio at a rate f cubic eet an hour .

The sound — prooﬁ ng of the s tudios w as one of the mos t complex jobs % f k r All s f fl o v . v its ind e e attempted the tudios ha e loating oors , walls s are s s s fr fr rk of and ceiling , which u pended and in ulated om the amewo the building itself They are like boxes su spended in the steel and con s r crete con t uction .

Several of the s tudios have sliding panels in the walls which may be o r from r s v s pe ated mechanically their control oom , ary ing the acou tical effect .

As a result of reques ts from many visitors who are eager to see just % % how a radio program is put on the air the National Broadcas ting Com pany has inaugurated a s tudio tour which reveals the behind the— scenes k E s s activity in networ broadcas ting . ach tour la t approximately an hour s i of s s - s s m as and includes an in pect on tudio , the air conditioning y tem , the u f nt r o s s o 1 e est . An ter c ntrol room , a radio mu e m and other point admis s o fee of fo t s is ﬁx r i n r y cent charged the tou . The illus tration on the revers e of this pag e s hows the Fifth A venu e

’ entrance to R ockefeller Center and N ew York s m os t u nus ual thor ou h zre— the P rom enad e wh ch extends between La Ma s on g ﬁ , i i

Fran ai s e and the B r t s E ld n It leads rom p i i h mpire B ui i g . f

Avenu e to the S u nken n s e t on Plaza and the Concou rs e s hoppi g c i .

The Forty-Ninth S treet E ntrance (S ou th%

The sculptured ﬁgures occupying the pylons on either s ide of the s the RCA B s Fr outh entrance to uilding were de igned by Leo iedlander , A s . s r s v s o merican culptor Together the e groups rep e ent Tele i i n , with the space between the pylons indicating the ether through which Television i s r s r s ss r r t an mitted . T an mi ion and Reception a e component pa ts in the e of s the Mr F e e proj ction Televi ion . On west pylon , . riedland r d picts the u r of s ss f n ﬁg e Tran mi ion receiving the impress ion o the Da ce . The image is c arried by Transmission throu gh the ether to the grou p sc ulptured on the s ea t pylon .

In r s s the u r of Re the g oup on the ea t pylon , the arti t depicts ﬁg e ception presenting to the waiting audience the image of the Dance t e ceived f s is s o z rom Tran mission . The waiting audience ymb li ed by the

— of r class ic ﬁgure of Mother Earth and her child the people the wo ld .

The Fiftieth S treet E ntrance (N orth%

The sculptu re at the 50th Street entrance of the RCA Building is A s s of the r F . also the work of M . riedlander rranged on pylon at each ide r f r s s r u s r s R . entrance , the two g o p rep e ent adio The g oup at the le t rep e ent s s s o s 1n 1n r r s ss s the Tran mi sion . It h ws a g g ﬁgu e , with T an mi ion ending r Song throu gh the ether to the g oup at the right .

S r s s The right group portrays Reception . mall ﬁgu e in the cloud

— k one s inging and one playing the lyre are shown before a loud spea er . At s of r are M E r son o of the the ba e the g oup other a th and her , the pe ple

or r s . w ld , eceiving the mu ic On the S x th Avenu e s de o R ocke eller Center the RK O B u ld n i i f f , i i g ad o n the R ad o t Mus c Hall Th s I —s tor o i ce bu ld n s C . j i i i y i i 3 y f i i g , s hown i n the llus trat on on the revers e o th s a e hous es i i f i p g , m any of the leading m otion picture produ cing and dis tri bu ting com an R o bert ar es . G r s on des ned the l tu r he a a p i i ig s cu p e on t f p de .

The R K O B uilding

The 1 - s or RKO B u n is oc e at 1 2 0 enue et een oth and 3 t y ildi g l at d 7 Sixth Av , b w 5 r e The s ruc u re is 0 fee in e and has e t of feet e s S I S C St e ts . t t 4 7 t h ight a d p h 73 a t or on of the rou n f oor of the u n for s ward from Sixth Avenue . A p ti g d l b ildi g m n n r n ons ruc on on the e trance a d G a d Foyer of the Radio City Music Hall . C t ti the RKO B u n was e un i n e e er 1 1 wa co e e i n Dece er . s ildi g b g S pt mb , 93 It mpl t d mb , 1 2 L r n ew r n r r rc e s : o n o I c . N Yo ere the ener co c o s . c 93 . j h w y , , k City , w g al t a t A hit t

e n r BC of e s er or e rr son BC M acMurra oo BC Fouilhoux . R i ha d H m i t ; C b tt , Ha i y ; H d

T RKO B U I DI G R C s of Roc kef r C r HE L N , on the adio ity ide elle ente , s v r s s r has is a modern bu iness building in e ery e pect . The tructu e become a concentration point for many of the leading motion pic tu re prod uc ing s f and distributing ﬁrm , which now occupy o ﬁces there .

Above the S ixth Avenue entrance to the RKO Building is an interes t k of a A r s m R G . ing culptural treat ent , the wor obert rrison , me ican sculptor

It con s is ts of three panels carved in the limestone fagade of the building .

E ach of the panels is more than 2 2 feet wide and 9 feet high .

is s r The sculpture allegorical in treatment and ubject . The cent al R s s of panel represents adio , and the whole group depict the in piration the pas t and present being spread throughout the world through the medium of Radio .

S A u is f C r e The ixth ven e entrance lobby aced with Italian remo ma bl . M v ffi s v r v odern Otis elevators ser e the shops and o ce abo e the st eet le el . The mural in the lobby of the RKO Building was painted by Board A s f R . s 1 6 f t man obinson , merican arti t Thi color ul decoration , ee by 1 0 f of s eet in dimension , has a predominant note blue , upplemented by f e warm grays and bu fs . The mural carri s the implication of the destruction ’ of civilization unless man s material progress is paralleled by the develop of fr ment his spiritual ontiers .

Foreshadowing the time when every modern business offi ce will be e f s for i of ms RKO quipped with acilitie the recept on radio progra , the B has t i s s uilding been provided with a cen ralized radio receiv ng sy tem . Thi k as Antena lex S s v of equipment , nown the p y tem , is a recent de elopment CA % C r A of the R ictor amden labo atories . central antenna at the top the building supplies radio frequency energy to receiving sets of any standard t of v type . Occupan s the building may plug their recei ing sets into the ffi of f o ce outlets and be assured e ficient reception . S how lace o the nat on the R ad o C t Mus c H all c tu red p f i , i i y i , pi

on the revers e o th s a e has s et new records or attendance . f i p g , f H ere are s tag ed m ag niﬁcent s p ectacles wi th the ai d of m od ern e u ent The A u d tor u i s a odel o co ort and q ipm . i i m m f mf

conven H ldreth M e ere des ned the ex ter or la u es . ience . i i ig i p q

The Indians relate that in the creation of the world a high mountain was built by the birds . On the mountain top was the dwelling of the of f s F of E Y E author li e tanding beside the ountain ternal outh . vil spirits r k s k caused an ea thqua e which opened a great cha m , ma ing the mountain f v ss W r Mr . s s as ore er inacce ible to humans . inter rep e ent the theme apply n is i g to the human race as a whole . The mountain top shown , gleaming In fi' k r r a golden light , and separated by a deep chasm om a roc y p omonto y f An . f of s in the oreground old man , who has ollowed the path the age to s of F of Y s t f r r the height , in search the ountain outh , ands in the o eg ound , F f sk f rm gazing at the mountain . loating be ore him across the y, in the o of ss of s of f a rainbow , is a proce ion the ambitions and vanitie li e .

Contemp orary A rt i n the Grand Lou ng e

A great s tairway curves down from the Foyer to the Grand Lou nge for f immediately below . This is a public club room designed com ort and k of ﬁve s relaxation . The blac walls the Lounge are decorated by vignette % u s B é s s s s A P n s r by the artist , Lo i ouch . The e mural ugge t ha ta mago ia % of the Theater and comprise elements of the early I talian stage as well as s f character amous in the contemporary theatrical world , among them W F eber and ields .

is r s s In the Lounge a la ge ca t aluminum statue , an intere ting example i of rk of W a Zorach A r . s s the wo illi m , me ican sculptor The tatue entitled % % F r Dancing igu e . Two other excellent examples of the work of contemporary sculptors % % are to be found in the Music Hall : E ve by Gwen Lux is placed in the % F G G s R r t is s oyer , and the irl and the oo e by obe t Lauren on di play in the corridor of the ﬁrs t Mezzanine . The lounges in the basement and on the three Mezzanine floors of M H s s ork of the usic all contain , in especially de igned setting , the w such r S r s W G r Y su contemporary a tists as tua t Davi , itold o don , a o Kuniyoshi , lr i h % r s f s Henry Billings and B uk U e c . a ious rug and abric within the M r n im theater were designed by Ruth Reeves and by Marguerita e ge t e . ’ All of this art program is part of Donald Deskey s design of the

P R S k R s G f s s . owder ooms , mo ing oom , rand Lounge and urni hing The stainless steel doors which open into the Auditorium from the n Foyer are decorated with low relief bronze plaques designed by Re e P . The illus tration on the revers e of this pag e s hows the Foyer of the

Radi o C t Mus c Hall 1 0 eet lon eet w de and 6 0 eet i y i , 4 f g , 45 f i f

h A bove the s ta rwa to the rs t Me zan ne i s a hu e m u ral hig . i y ﬁ z i g

b E ra nter S ta rs at each end o the Fo er lead below to the y z Wi . i f y

G rand Lou n e Ornam ental d oors at r ht o en to the Aud tor u m . g . , ig , p i i

C s s for r v hambellan , who was also re pon ible the metal deco ations abo e the of Av doors the Sixth enue entrance to the theater . The most striking feature of the theater Auditorium is the immense s f m k f i t . o pro cenium arch , s x y eet height Unli e that most theaters , this 13 r i s — Its rv f s arch not rectangula n shape , but emi circular . graceful cu e orm fo It an effective frame r the magniﬁcent s tage pictures which 1t encloses . r r s s of tr s r ep e ents a tylization a sunrise . The steel uss which uppo ts it , h 00 s i s t e v v s In i . weighing 3 ton , hea iest e er u ed theater construct on A contour curtain of shimmering gold fabric masks the proscenium

. 15 s s of 1n opening It operated by a y tem thirteen motors which , addition ra1s m 1t rv r 1t f s r to g and lowering , se es to d ape into mani old contour acco d f ing to the demands o any individual scene . The Auditorium of the Radio City Music Hall gives the effect of an r s i ts se ff has intimate theate de pite immense ating capacity . This e ect been attained chiefly by eliminating balconies and substituting for them three M of s so of ezzanines graduated width , planned that the patrons the upper mos t Mezzanine can see and hear as well as those s itting in the s eats of f r the orchestra loo .

’ The World s M os t P erfectly E q u ipp ed S tag e

of R C M s H is o of The stage the adio ity u ic all , in the opini n tech i l f o is 1 n ca . experts , the most per ectly equipped in the w rld today It 44 f 2 No of os n eet wide and 6 feet deep . practical innovation the m t adva ced

f r i r li ht1n . modern Stagecra t has been omitted , eithe n stage machine y or g g w as P C rk e u 1 The stage equipment designed by eter la , noted theater q p t en 1neer men g .

f r E The s tage elevator cons is ts o th ee separate Sections . ach elevator

0 f 1 6 f . s t v s r section is 7 eet long and eet wide The e hree ele ator , the la gest of k v v f sub their ind e er constructed , may be set at any le el rom the s f r f v v of basement to a po ition ou teen eet abo e the stage , a ertical trip f s f orty feet . They are so arranged that they can be adjusted in tep orma v s v r s v Set s f of i . r s tion abo e the tage , at a iou le els in the ur ace the elevato r f — v v t v f . a e ol ing turntable , or y se en eet in diameter The orches tra elevator will lower or raise seventy—ﬁ ve mu s icians to or f sub - s v - f W t . rom the ba ement le el , thir y two eet below the stage hen the s r v i s v f r s s s orche t a ele ator at stage le el , it o m an exten ion to the main tage r i ts of — r s and inc eases depth to a total eighty one feet . The o che tra car i ks f r a e t . g , at stage level , can be propelled bac tage six y eet

r n Light plays a p edomina t part in many of the s tage effects . The light which is u sed throughout the Radio City Mus ic Hall would be suf r f r A f r u s ﬁ cient fb the needs o a la ge city . bove the stage are ou adj table

— r r s 1 0 f F motor ope ated light b idge , each 4 eet long . our portable light towers on either s ide of the s tage have a capacity of t wenty—ﬁ ve Spot and are r s of e r k r s arc lights each . They the la ge t th i ind ever built and a e u ed for fl o s are r e f sses oding the whole stage . Other light p oj cted rom rece on each side of the stage and from coves in the ceiling of the Auditorium .

E of s M s H s quipped with a battery microphone , the u ic all tage is f r s s of ss s r o t . prepared broadca t any ype Dre ing room in the theate , built six r s s are s for so to accommodate hund ed per on , al o wired radio that the rf r r s s pe o mance may be b oadcast to all the arti t .

r i r r s r s 0 f The sc een s the la gest in the wo ld . It mea u e 7 eet by was s s for M s H s 0 f . 4 eet , and de igned e pecially the u ic all The creen is adaptable to fou r different picture S izes by means of masks or borders at s sk are r c r the sides and the top and bottom . The e ma s elect i ally ope ated by regulators at each end of the screen or by the projectionis t from his r s r is f r r of ers booth . The enti e c een per o ated to pe mit the battery ampliﬁ r di ectly behind it to transmit sound to the audience . The Fo er o the Center Theater s hown i n the llu s trat on on y f , i i the revers e o th s a e s tr kes the note o beau t and s i m f i p g , i f y li i t wh h p c y ic p revails i n this inti m ate m otion pic tu re hous e .

It i s ooded w th l ht ro ve ex ter or w nd ows s how n % i ig f m ﬁ i i , at le t A t h bove he n e a . . r t a i s t rs t M ezzan e P ro n de f ig , , ﬁ i m

s s m rs On the wall are line drawing in onochrome , dedicated to leade

v v — E s E s M B r in enture and in ention a tman , di on , arconi , yrd , Lindbe gh , Mu brid e s y g and other .

of e fl F The walls the Loung , one oor below the oyer , are ﬁnished with s f - m A v quares o tawny colored gra leather piped with red . decorati e panel 1n s n A C s A r painted red and gold on inci ed li oleum by rthur ri p , me ican s s i arti t , adorn the ma n wall .

’ e In the Ladies Lounge , which is finished in delicate colors and fitt d i fii rniture with especially des gned , is an original glass mural designed by M H C v of of A aurice eaton . ommemorati e the crossing the tlantic Ocean A r s r r E v a t . by melia arhart , the panel epre ents a new technique in deco ati e

’ The Gentlemen s Lounge is masculine in its strength of color and of f s s s s design urni hing . The wall are decorated with photomural by E S s of s dward teichen , photographer , and are an intere ting example thi f of r P r s of new and increasingly popular orm mu al decoration . hotog aph ’ W t s f H k of C the righ brothers ﬁr t light at Kitty aw , olonel Lindbergh in

s was - of owerﬁi l the day when he a mail plane pilot , and the enormous and p use s t of s airplanes in modern , are intere ting details in the composi ion thi mural .

’ All of this art program is part of Eugene Schoen s designs of the P k rni hin R S R s ﬁi s s . owder ooms , mo ing oom , and g

A n A u ditoriu m of B eau ty and Simplicity

r The Auditorium of the Center Theater is simple in form and colo . The Stage opening is sixty feet wide and reaches from the s tage floor to the ceiling with one solid curtain control— similar to that in the Mu sic Af M s H . all The walls are covered with rican ahogany wood , and this imple treatment is broken at the stage opening by decorative grills fb r the sound ss for In of and light effects and rece ed alcoves the organ . the center the ’ r v f of is r s deco ati e ceiling and orming a part it the world s la ge t chandelier ,

- twenty fi ve feet in diameter . This lighting fixture weighs six tons and is so large that a special ventilating sys tem has been designed to carry off the f intense heat o its 400 floor lights . Supplementing the indirect lights from the central fixture is a system of direct lighting which utilizes powerfii l beams projected through small e B s m s of f holes 1n the c iling . y cros ing the upward bea light rom the s r s i IS s r u chandelier with the e downwa d beam , t po sible to p od ce some two r hundred diffe ent color effects . The Center Theater has Stage and orches tra pit elevators s imilar to s s those in the Radio City Mu sic Hall . The tage equipment was de igned P C k by eter lar .

The ctu re o Manhattan on the revers e o th s a e taken pi f f i p g , ’ rom an a r lane s hows R ocke eller Center N ew York s new f i p , f , es t bus ness D evelo m ent i n the heart o the c t The v ew i p , f i y . i i s d rectl d own Fi A enu e t ar The tower i y ﬁh v ﬁ om Cen ral P k . i n R A B u l n r h e m nt C d t center locates the Dev lo e . g i i g , ig , p

History of R ockefeller Center Site

TH E S IT E of Rockefeller Center is replete with his torical association s . The twelve acres of land which now comprise the area of the Development f the s n to B s passed rom Indians to Dutch settler , the the riti h , and ﬁnally s 1 8 th was of N ew Y k to American coloni ts . Late in the century it part or ’ % C r ity s common lands , a centrally located tract st etching northward 2 th about four miles from what is now 6 S treet .

1 80 1 v H s k P f ss of B C Col In , Dr . Da id o ac , ro e or otany at olumbia t -s for lege , an eminen physician and public pirited citizen , paid twenty acres of these common lands on the west s ide of Middle Road % B r His r between loomingdale and Kingsb idge . plots we e three and a f s of t t of t hal mile north wha was hen the center the ci y , and are now th S 1 5 t S F f Av M Ro bounded by 47 treet , 5 treet , i th enue (old iddle ad%, 1 f A and a line about 00 feet east o Sixth venue .

t H s k s s for On this proper y , Dr . o ac e tabli hed a botanical garden med t for s of s r s ical s udents , which he obtained some pecies plant , sh ub B 1 806 s s rv and trees . y he had erected two hothou es and a large con e atory , -f and surrounded the garden by a s even oot wall .

The cost of maintaining the garden soon became too great a burden

for H k N ew Y k S for . Dr . osac and he appealed to the or tate Legislature aid

’ 1 8 1 0 s t h f r Hosack s In the Legi la ure authorized t e purchase o D . t the of R s proper y and placed the garden under care the egent , who , in t to of C of P s turn , commi ted it the management the ollege hy icians and S B . 1 8 1 the t G urgeons Later , in 4 , Legisla ure granted the otanic arden , then valued at to Columbia College upon condition that the ins ti tu tion s s be moved to this location within t welve years . Thi re triction was v v v C r was t wai ed , howe er , and any plan to mo e the ollege he e deﬁni ely 1 abandoned by 856 .

M r v t 1 8 1 eanwhile , st eets had been opened in the icini y and , by 5 , the garden grounds were laid out in city lots . The heavy assessments for such improvements were met partly by sale of lots on Fifth Avenue between 8 th th S R f C for 4 and 49 treets to the Dutch e ormed hurch , but chiefly through development of the leasehold sys tem which has obtained

- s on a large portion of this property for more than seventy ﬁ ve year . In 1 859 the tru s tees began renting the land on 2 1 —year renewable

s s 1 8 the o s . lea e , and by 75 all l ts had been lea ed Early in the present century Columbia made a noteworthy sale of the southernmost block for about to provide funds for the r s purchase and development of the s ite on Morningside Heights . The t u k tees retained title to the major portion of the remaining three bloc s .

The Land Is Leas ed to R ockefeller Center

S v r s k f r r s . R e e al year ago john D oc e eller , j became inte e ted in the of f r r s f for the site the orme ga dens , when plan were laid be ore him erection of M F of f t a new etropolitan Opera Hou se . riends grand opera elt tha s s f Mr k f with the ponsor hip and ﬁnancial assistance o . Roc e eller a building s center could be created here with the opera house as a nucleu .

r k f 1 r M . Roc e eller entered nto negotiations to b ing the Columbia prop ert S s of y and adjacent land under his control . ub equent to the execution

— f s v rs i a s . a long term lea e with the uni e ity , certa n technic l di ﬁcultie arose The plan as originally projected was abandoned and the Development s rede igned .

k Mr o of s . In c ntemplating the possibilities the e three great bloc s , Rockefeller and his associates found them selves facing remarkable oppor t ni For r f w as v u ties . o v the ﬁ st time , a space twel e acres a ailable in the f C r i ts t o New Y k C for v . hear or ity orderly impro ement lea ly , develop neces ment must be appropriate to this midtown region . This made it s r f f ary to plan in te ms o o ﬁces and shops .

S k of the ﬁi ture of P s N M r pea ing this section , re ident icholas u ray Butler of Columbia said :

H r if r s r M e e , anywhe e , mu t be the pe manent site on anhattan Island of the much sought- after area devoted to that retail bus iness of every s is r s of r f s ort which cha acteri tic a g eat capital , and which has made amou B S of n Rue P of P n the ond treet Lo don , the de la aix aris and the U ter den f Linden o Berlin . To building merely m ore ofﬁces and shops of the exis ting order would r f t to k contribute little to the futu e o the city . It was importan thin along s to for New Yo k of of new line , build the r tomorrow , to create a group

for buildings so related and equipped that they would set a new standard % v s s ser ice , so taggered that they would be exposed on all ides to the t of s so b eau tiﬁ ed maximum amoun unlight and air , that they would f r s originate new es thetic criteria o commercial con truction .

fOr of ss The location was ideal such a group . The tide busine had m P rk w as of swept uptown until it et Central a . It plain that the site Rockefeller Center Would be not only the geographical but the ﬁxed bus i ness center of a metropolitan area in which the interes t of more than 1 human beings would be concentrated as long as Central Park s tood guardian at the northern gate . It was a location also eas ily accessible to transportation facilities serving M ’ the majority of the people who come daily to anhattan s midtown area .

Mr k f is ss W s v . R h ith all the e considerations in iew , oc e eller and a o - ﬁ n F s of s de ed . s ciate proceeded along well lines ir t , they de igned a group t of f s s modern buildings construc ed materials beauti ul in them elve . Then v s s they initiated a decorati e program through which , with the e material as k t the s r a bac ground , the ar ist , culptor , the landscape ga dener and their fellow craftsmen could work on a scale hitherto unpracticed in commercial v t to construction . Indi idual struc ures were designed harmonize with the of v group architecture , and each the decorations was a unit in an inclusi e plan . From the comparatively low buildings on the Fifth Avenue front to 0- t fﬁ s k the soaring 7 s ory o ce and tudio building in the center bac ground , the s r R k f C s v all tructu es in oc e eller enter were de igned to achie e utility ,

t rv . balance , beauty and in errelated se ice

R ockefeller Center — The City Within a City

A k R k f C Ma 1 1 0 ctual wor on oc e eller enter began on y 7 , 93 , with of few s s s on 8 th th S s the demolition a dwelling and tore 4 and 49 treet . Ma 1 1 t he rk of s o 2 2 On y 5 , 93 , main wo demoli hing and rem ving the 9 s ks building in the three bloc was commenced . During the ensuing three months many ﬁne old buildings with a his t of s v to s of r r ory social and commercial pre tige ga e way the demand p og ess . B of 1 1 two of s s r s y the end july , 93 , hundred the e old tructu e had been s v s demoli hed and remo ed . The e buildings had a value of and s of o hou ed a population pers ns . the t w v s of R k f C t In el e building oc e eller enter , here will be a daily

i of r s s— n s v s ors populat on app oximately per on includi g tenant , i it

of t s s s o s . and patrons the heaters , re taurant and h p

R k f C r C r of P ss art s oc e eller enter is a pe manent entu y rogre in , indu ’ of s try and recreation . It is in close proximity to one the city s choice t

r s s . s c s v n s r n s e idential di tricts The mo t ex lu i e dwelli g , apa tme t hou es , k n c s hotels and clubs are within easy wal i g dis tance . The theatri al ection f joins it rom the west .

It is a location with varied appeal— the greates t concen tration of s s oﬁices M r s ss rr bu ine s in midtown anhattan , a la ge and ea ily acce ible a ay of s o of s for s s r de luxe h ps , a center great intere t a ca ual vi it , a guided tou , or a whole day of recreation and amu sement . Assuredly Rockefeller Center measures up to its appellation t y within a city . The illus tration on the revers e of this pag e s hows a view of N ew York at nig ht from the R ockefeller Center O bs ervation R oof atop the 7 0

s tor RCA B u ld n look n north toward Central Park and u er y i i g , i g pp

ttan h r a l h h r en e an a T e s t e o ts at the r t a ks F h Av u . M h . m f ig ig m ift

S tr n o l hts at u er r i g f ig pp left is the new G eorg e Was hing ton B idg e .

P RIN T ED I N T H E U NI T ED ST AT ES O F A MERI CA B Y S L CT P T G C M P A Y N E W Y K E E RIN IN O N , OR

P H T G A P H S o c n w nr' B S B Y c r r s o u s . O O R , RO , L F T W CH TA F A C H LD A AL E I , RO N , IR I ERI SU % S e w T M S ST D R E Y and n Y OR K I E U IO .