| No visit to New York would be complete without a | | | | often go to see live recordings of shows for television |
| visit to Rockefeller Center. Located in midtown | | | | as they are free but show-goers must take into |
| Manhattan at 50th Street, the complex spans 5th and | | | | account the long waiting list, and put their names down |
| 7th Avenues, is easily accessible from anywhere in | | | | well before their visit. |
| the city and contains many more sights than the | | | | In and around the centre are many famous sculptures |
| average New Yorker is aware! | | | | and artwork, the most well recognised is likely to be |
| Rockefeller Center is synonymous with the notorious | | | | the gold centrepiece statue of Prometheus by Paul |
| industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller who | | | | Manship, although the most well known piece of art |
| became America's first billionaire. Built largely after the | | | | history about Rockefeller Centre is a highly |
| stock market crash of 1929, the project was the | | | | controversial mural by Diego Rivera that was |
| largest private building project ever undertaken during | | | | destroyed. |
| modern times and was finished in the art deco style of | | | | Abby Aldrich Rockefeller convinced her husband John |
| the times. | | | | D. Rockefeller in 1932 to commission a mural by |
| Making up Rockefeller Center are Radio City Music | | | | Mexican artist Rivera. The painting entitled "Man at the |
| Hall, The GE Building and many works of art. Radio | | | | Crossroads" was begun in 1933 but never saw |
| City is of course the place to go during Christmas time | | | | completion. The controversy surrounding the mural |
| to see the Rockettes and was originally intended for | | | | came about when Rockefeller identified Russian |
| variety entertainment but films proved more popular | | | | Revolutionary Vladimir Lenin depicted participating in a |
| and Radio City became a movie theatre - the biggest | | | | May Day parade. At the time, the portrayal of the |
| of its time. Many big award shows have taken place in | | | | communist leader was considered propaganda and |
| the huge hall including the Daytime Emmy Awards and | | | | anti-capitalist and the action considered extremely |
| the Grammys. It is recommended that visitors book | | | | controversial and was written about scathingly in |
| tickets well before their trip if they intend to see a | | | | newspapers. |
| show there. | | | | Rivera offered to paint American president Abraham |
| The GE building (General Electric) houses the famous | | | | Lincoln in the mural on the opposing side but this offer |
| Rainbow Room, formerly a supper-club and now an | | | | did not assuage Rockefeller who ordered Rivera to |
| up-scale restaurant. For diners wishing to have a | | | | remove the mural, to which he refused. Rivera was |
| glimpse of the Rainbow Room but not pay the | | | | subsequently banned from the building leading to |
| upmarket prices, the Rainbow Grill is a great alternative | | | | demonstrations by his supporters. Rockefeller's |
| and is on the same floor of the building. The GE building | | | | workmen demolished the mural, despite negotiations to |
| also boasts one of the best bird's eye views of the | | | | transfer the work to the Museum of Modern Art. |
| city from its observation deck nicknamed the "Top of | | | | Rivera never worked in the United States again, but |
| the Rock". The skyscraper also serves as the | | | | determined to finish the mural, he recreated the |
| headquarters of NBC who produce Saturday Night | | | | frescoes in the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City. |
| Live and other popular shows. Visitors to New York | | | | |