Local speaker Arthur Gottlieb visited the Newtown Senior Center on December 13, to shine a spotlight on the rich history and culture of Radio City Music Hall, just in time for the holiday season.The Adventures of Philip Marlowe.For more information, call the Newtown Senior Center at 203-270-4310 or visit the center at 14 Riverside Road.

Before the educational program officially began, a buzz of excitement spread throughout the crowd as people starting discussing Radio City Music Hall's iconic attraction: The Rockettes.

Senior Center Director Marilyn Place said, "Everyone in their dreams has been a Rockette!" which made everyone erupt in laughter.

Mr Gottlieb started off his presentation by asking, "Is there anyone here who has never been to Radio City Music Hall?"

Out of the packed audience, about a fifth of those in attendance had not been there in person, but nearly everyone had seen it on television.

"There's nothing like being there," Mr Gottlieb said about the special atmosphere of Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

He showed the crowd PowerPoint slides of the building's facade, the old marquee, and the medallions on the side of the building.

Despite the millions of people that walk past Radio City Music Hall on the bustling streets, he said that there are small touches of embellishments on the building that many times go unnoticed.

When discussing the marquee, he said, "It's neat when you have things that are exactly the way that they were some 70 years ago. To me that's always a nice thing."

Mr Gottlieb described how Radio City Music Hall resides on the cross streets 50th and Sixth Avenue, the latter known as the "Avenue of the Americas."

It is part of the large complex known as Rockefeller Center, which comprises 19 commercial buildings.

He gave the architectural history of Radio City Music Hall and the buildings nearby, like 30 Rock (formerly called the RCA and the GE building), as he flipped through a variety of photographs on the projector.

Mr Gottlieb also went over some of the statues near Radio City Music Hall, including one of Prometheus, who Greek mythology says is a Titan who descends from Mount Olympus, which overlooks the ice skating rink in front of 30 Rock.

"He is credited for teaching man to make fire, hence the ball of fire in his right hand," he explained.

Not only did Mr Gottlieb speak about the historical architecture and designs, but he also spoke of the cultural impact of Radio City Music Hall.

"I always associate it with Christmastime," he said, adding that at one point there was a Spring Spectacular in addition to the Christmas Spectacular, but it only ran for two seasons.

Those looking to see the legendary Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes in person still have time to do so, as shows are continuing until January 1.

The Newtown Senior Center's next event with speaker Arthur Gottlieb will be on Wednesday, January 24, at 1:30 pm, and will be about the Golden Age of Radio and

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