Editing Radio City Music Hall (section)

====Auditorium====
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Architectural critic [[Douglas Haskell]] said of the auditorium: "The focus is the great proscenium arch, over {{convert|60|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} high and {{convert|100|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} feet wide, a huge semi-circular void. From that the energy disperses, like a firmament the arched structure rises outward and forward. The 'ceiling', uniting sides and top in its one great curve, proceeds by successive broad bands, like the bands of northern lights."{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}} In the theater's early years, the [[Federal Writers' Project]] noted that "nearly everything about the Music Hall is tremendous".{{sfn|Federal Writers' Project|1939|p=338}} At the time, Radio City had the world's largest orchestra; the most expansive theater screen; the heaviest [[proscenium]] arch in a theater; and the "finest precision dancers", [[the Rockettes]].{{sfn|Federal Writers' Project|1939|p=338}}

=====Seating areas=====
The auditorium has around 5,960 seats.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=217}} Around 3,500 of these seats are at the ground-level orchestra, while the remaining seats are distributed among the three mezzanines.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=355}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The orchestra and mezzanine sections all contain reddish-brown plush seating throughout, as well as storage compartments under each seat, lights at the end of each row of seats, and more legroom space than in other theaters.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} Six aisles extend the length of the orchestra level, dividing each row into sections of up to 14 seats. The aisles measure {{convert|6|ft|3|in}} wide at the rear, tapering to {{convert|5|ft|10|in}} at the center and {{convert|3|ft|4|in}} at the front.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|pp=357–358}} A crossover aisle separates the front one-third of the orchestra from the rear two-thirds. Each row of seats was originally placed {{convert|2|ft|10|in}} apart, giving more legroom than in contemporary theaters.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}}

{{Anchor|Mezzanines}} Radio City contains three mezzanines within the back wall of the auditorium,{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=4}} as well as a main lounge in the basement.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} Each of the mezzanines is shallow, and all three mezzanine levels are stacked on top of the rear orchestra.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=5}} Since the mezzanines are shallow, there is no need to have a crossover aisle, and only four aisles are provided.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}} Ramps on either side of the stage lead to the first mezzanine level, creating the impression of a stage encircling the orchestra.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=5}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=357}}

=====Other design features=====
The auditorium's ceiling contains eight telescoping bands, which Haskell described as the "northern lights".{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} Each of the bands' edges contains a {{convert|2|ft|m|adj=on}} overlap with the next band,{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}} placed at {{convert|30|ft|adj=on}} intervals.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=358}} In Joseph Urban's original plans, the ceiling was to be [[coffer]]ed but, after the cancellation of the Opera House, designers proposed many different designs for the proposed Music Hall's ceiling. The current design was put forth by [[Raymond Hood]], who derived his band-system idea from a book that Urban had written.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}} The arches are made of plaster and contain ridges every {{convert|6|ft}}. The original plans had been to build the arches themselves in a curved shape, but this would have concentrated the sound onto several small spots.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|pp=358–359}} The walls are covered by intricate fabric silhouette patterns of performers and horses, which were created by Reeves.{{sfn|Roussel|2006|p=25}} The radiating arches of the proscenium unite the large auditorium, allowing a sense of intimacy and grandeur.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The ceiling arches also contain grilles that camouflage the air-conditioning system, amplifying equipment, and organ pipes.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The sound system could be controlled by a light organ in front of the orchestra pit.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}

The Great Stage, designed by Peter Clark, measures {{convert|66.5|by|144|ft|abbr=on}};{{efn|One source gives a width of {{convert|110|ft}} and a depth of {{convert|60|ft}}.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}}} it is placed within a proscenium arch that resembles a setting sun.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=215}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ftkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27 |title=Secrets of the Magic Theater|magazine=Popular Mechanics|page=27|date=January 1941|access-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> Roxy reportedly envisioned the sunset design of the stage while traveling home from Europe on an ocean liner.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=93}} There are two stage curtains; the main one is made of steel and asbestos, which can part horizontally, while the plush curtain behind it has several horizontal sections that can be raised or lowered independently of each other.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The original curtain weighed three tons and measured {{convert|112|ft}} wide by {{convert|78|ft}} tall.<ref name="Lucchese 1965" /> The center of the stage contains turntable measuring {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=off}} across.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=13}} The floor is divided into three 70 ft sections that can be lowered and raised either separately or in sync.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} The [[orchestra pit]], which could fit 75 musicians, is placed on a "bandwagon" that can be lifted from the basement and could move vertically or longitudinally.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=19}}{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} The bandwagon could also be lifted to the central opening. From the stage, it could be lowered back into the basement or moved to the side.{{sfn|Hofmeister|1932|p=359}} In 2001, the stage was designated as a [[List of Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks|Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark]].<ref name="ASME 2024">{{cite web | last=Poirier | first=Louise | title=A Stage for the Ages at Radio City | website=ASME | date=October 24, 2024 | url=https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/a-stage-for-the-ages-at-radio-city | access-date=May 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | title=Radio City Music Hall Named an Engineering Landmark | website=Newswise | date=November 9, 2001 | url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/radio-city-music-hall-named-an-engineering-landmark | access-date=May 12, 2025}}</ref>

There is a complex system of indirect [[cove lighting]] at the front of the stage, facing the audience. When Radio City first opened, it was equipped with all of the newest lighting innovations at the time, including lights that changed colors automatically and adjusted their own brightness based on different lighting levels in the theater.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1978|p=9}}