IT’S HISTORY

Why Radio City Music Hall has a Secret Apartment


Listen Later

Beneath the golden glow of Radio City Music Hall’s stage lies a secret most audiences never knew existed—an opulent apartment built for showman Samuel Lionel “Roxy” Rothafel. Designed with gold-leaf ceilings, velvet drapery, and whisper-perfect acoustics, the Roxy Suite once hosted legends like Alfred Hitchcock, Judy Garland, and Walt Disney. But when Roxy died suddenly in 1936, the apartment was sealed off and forgotten for decades.

In this episode, we uncover the hidden story of the Roxy Suite: why it was built, how it was lost, and what became of it after its rediscovery in the 1970s. From Rockefeller Center’s bold vision during the Great Depression to Radio City’s near-demolition, this forgotten apartment reveals the drama, glamour, and survival of one of America’s greatest theaters.


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

IT’S HISTORYBy Ryan Socash

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

2 ratings


More shows like IT’S HISTORY

View all
Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

11,488 Listeners

GraveYard Tales by Adam Ballinger & Matt Rudolph

GraveYard Tales

2,965 Listeners

Crime Junkie by audiochuck

Crime Junkie

368,668 Listeners

Engineering Matters by Reby Media

Engineering Matters

9 Listeners

Deep Cover by Pushkin Industries

Deep Cover

4,451 Listeners

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade by Audacy

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

12,841 Listeners