The Rockettes are America’s best known dance troupe — and a staple of the holiday season — but you may not know the origin of this iconic New York City symbol. For one, they’re not even from the Big Apple!
Formerly the Missouri Rockets, the dancers and their famed choreographer Russell Markert were noticed by theater impresario Samuel Rothafel, who installed them first as his theater The Roxy, then at one of the largest theaters in the world — Radio City Music Hall.
The life of a Rockettes dancer was glamorous, but grueling; for many decades dancing not in isolated shows, but before the screenings of movies, several times a day, a different program each week.
There was a very, very specific look to the Rockettes, a look that changed — and that was forced to change by cultural shifts — over the decades.
This show is dedicated to the many thousands of women who have shuffled and kicked with the Rockettes over their many decades of entertainment, on the stage, the picket line or the Super Bowl halftime show.
This show is a re-edited and remastered version of our 2014 show with a new introduction — in honor of the upcoming 100th anniversary celebration of the dance troupe which would become the Rockettes.
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The first New York home of the Rockettes (as the Roxyettes) was the Roxy Theatre, almost as large as Radio City Music Hall and located just nearby. (MCNY)
Radio City Music Hall, which opened in 1932, was quickly transformed into the world’s largest movie house after a notorious opening night. It would be here that the Rockettes would perform a few times a day, seven days a week, for over fifty years. (NYPL)
The Rockettes, 1935, in a ‘Cavalcade of Color,’ choreographed and directed by Leon Leonidoff. The constant high-kicking routines required great athleticism, precision and balance. (MCNY)
The Rockettes in 1937, beauty in duplication. (Courtesy the Rockettes)
In 1939, the Rockettes gave salute to the Gay Nineties in these extravagant costumes. (Courtesy the Rockettes)
Faces of the Rockettes: A few of the dancers from the 1935 configuration.. These photos are by the Wurts Brothers, from the Museum of the City of New York Collection. You can see the complete group here. Unfortunately there are no names attached to the portraits but if any of these women look familiar, drop me their names in the comments section!
The Rockettes in the 1950s
In 1967, many Rockettes went on strike for a month to demand better wages to compensate for their vigorous schedule and unpaid rehearsal time. Needless to say, they got everybody’s attention.
Pam Palmer and Kim Heil, two Rockettes from the late 1970s. (Photo by Jay Heiser)
The Rockettes at a Fleet Week event in 2006. (Photo by Gabriela Hurtado)
Various newsreel footage of the Rockettes, including images of the troupe rehearsing on the roof of Radio City!
The Rockettes at the 1988 Super Bowl halftime show:
14 replies on “The Radio City Rockettes: New York City’s Dancing Queens”
great post. who knew?!
I believe the 3rd or 4th girl in from the left is Jody Robinson as viewed from audience.
From Twila Saylor Stern.
I can identify many of the head shots and also the girls in the group pics. There are 2 women – ROCKETTES – age 93 who would know more than I do. I need someone to call me. I have never done a podcast????
Patty DeCarlo Grantham
President
Rockette Alumnae Association
Rockette ’59-’71
201.871.0130
631.537.1765
summerkicks@me.com
wwwsummerkicksfitness.com
http://www.rockettealumnae.org
Can you please name the cast of the Rocketts for me as we have got a friend who starred in the Rocketts about 40 years ago and she said that sh married a Band Leader. Her first name was Eileen. I would be very great full if you could help me, as I live in England.
Peter Botham
Looking for information about a rockette Liberty Corriston Bottinelli 1936-1946
I would really love to know more about a grandmother Dorothy ( liberty) corriston Bottinelli 1936-1946 … I know she was a rockett but may family has never talked about it. Please contact me connellykristy@gmail.com
I am searching for a Helen Foley who would have been a Rockette in 1935-1936 time period. Do you have any information on her?
Many thanks, DRD
The picture you have posted as the “Roxy” is the RKO Roxy, the second Roxy where the Rockettes never performed.
The Rockettes picketing with umbrellas in the Strike photo are (left to right) myself (Marianne Flynn Krahulec), Susan Boron, Carol Albro, and Joan Peer.
Yes recognized my Cousin Carol immediately. Wish I had more photos. He brother threw them out, would love to have any you can share
I suspect the 8th one is Charlotte Grace Fauver. She was a dancer in Hollywood in the early 1940s and moved to NY after 1944 so she would have been a Rockette in the mid- late 1940s.
I suspect the 8th one is Charlotte Grace Fauver. She lived in NY then was a dancer in Hollywood in the early 1940s and moved to NY after 1944 so she would have been a Rockette in the 1930s or mid- late 1940s.
One of my favorite stories is going to Radio City in the mid 70s as a young teen to see a movie and seeing the Rockettes perform before and after the screening.
I am trying to find out information about my grandmother, Val (Valerie)Valent, who was a Rockette in the late 30’s, early 40’s. If anyone has any info, I would appreciate it!