Without a doubt, one of the coolest museums in New York City is the Museum of Television and Radio located at 25 West 52 Street in Manhattan. They have any and everything that was on TV or Radio and their collection is growing at a good clip.
I love old Twilight Zone episodes, and Star Trek from the first seasons with Leonard Nimoy and Will Shatner. I wasn't disappointed; in fact I was more than pleased when I found out that the Star Trek episode I wanted, ''This Side of Eden'' was available. This episode is the one where Spock actually falls in love, and I was able to watch it, without commercials!
The Twilight Zone episode ''Time'', starring a young Burgess Meredith, is a great story about a man who wishes he had enough time to read all the great books that he loves, and when his wish comes true, he breaks his glasses and can't read at all.
They also have ''The Honeymooners'', ''I Love Lucy'', and radio broadcasts from Abbott & Costello, and George Burns & Gracie Allen. One could easily spend days, even weeks viewing all his favorite TV shows and listening to his favorite Radio shows from the past.
When you are in New York City, here's how to discover the richness and diversity of the Museum collection:
DAILY SCREENINGS & RADIO PRESENTATIONS
From noon until closing time, the Museum presents a wide variety of programs from the collection in two screening rooms and two main theaters. Pick up a copy of the daily schedule at the front desk in the John E. Fetzer Lobby to see what's playing.
Also available in the lobby are complete schedules for exhibitions and screening series that have been organized by the Curatorial Department. Programming from current series and exhibitions is shown throughout the day, and the schedule will tell you what's ahead in the coming months.
The Ralph Guild Radio Listening Room is where the Radio listening series takes place. There are five preprogrammed series in process. The Museum also offers live and taped radio broadcasts throughout the year, where stations from across the country come to the Ralph Guild Radio Studio to broadcast their shows. Usually these events are open to the public.
The Museum of Television & Radio has a program that currently presents live radio broadcasts from New York and also from the Los Angeles branch of the museum. Many stations from around the country have hosted from the Museum and visitors are able to attend the broadcasts.
CHOOSING WHAT TO WATCH:
Choosing a Program from the Collection - to see what's available in the museum's collection for you to watch, head to the Library. You have to make a reservation to use the Library at the front desk in the Lobby when you arrive.
Use one of the Macintosh computers to search the database for the TV show you want to take a look at or radio program you want to hear. There is someone in Visitor Services who can help you if you need details on how to get what you want.
When you find a program you want, reserve it, then go to the console room, where you'll see many other visitors emersed in little personal oasis in front of TV monitors, reliving their favorite TV or Radio program. Sit down at a cubicle with a TV screen and headphones and can see your show there.
SEMINARS
Throughout the year, performers, critics, writers, directors, producers, and journalists come to the Museum to discuss topics ranging from the collaborative process behind programming, to significant events in the media industry. The seminars include television and radio clips from the Museum's collection, and time for the audience members to ask questions.
Recently the Museum discovered rare radio coverage of the 1935 ''Trial of the Century'', in which Bruno Hauptmann was accused of the kidnapping and murdering the infant son of aviator Charles Lindbergh. Also recently discovered is the landmark television drama Twelve Angry Men, which aired in 1954 and has not been seen in its entirety since.
A special broadcast the museum presented was A Toast to Dean Martin, from April 11 to June 15, 2003. The Museum showed some of Dean Martin's best television moments, including a rare look at one of his early 1960s variety specials. Includes appearances by Jerry Lewis and Frank Sinatra.
SPECIAL SEMINARS
Throughout the year the seminars in New York include actors, writers, directors, producers and many other professionals connected with Television & Radio. One past seminar, ''Covering the Courts'' included Adam Liptak, National Legal Correspondent, The New York Times and Meema Spadola, documentary Filmmaker, and others discussing the legal and ethical questions surrounding the coverage of the nation's court system by Radio & TV, and how it impacts on the public's perception of the criminal justice system. The seminars include clips from TV & Radio and time for the audience members to ask questions.
How to get Tickets: $15 ($12 for individual Museum Members)
In Person: Tickets may be purchased in the Museum lobby Tuesdays to Sundays from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. and until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
By Phone: Tickets may be purchased by calling (212) 621-6600 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays.
The seminars, including the question-and-answer period, are videotaped and become part of the Museum's permanent collection.
The schedule for the seminars is:
Notorious:
Crime and Celebrity
Wednesday, June 4, 2003
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The Museum is always actively looking for certain important programs, which are not known to exist. Perhaps you have a copy or know where to find one.
The Museum has more than 100,000 hours of television and radio programming in the permanent collection. However, there are many significant broadcasts for which no copies are known to exist.
In the spring of 1996, the Museum joined forces with Nick at Nite to launch a campaign to heighten awareness of the need to preserve television programming.
If you are an independent collector or know the whereabouts of any of the programs on the pages for ''Radio'' or ''Television,'' e-mail the information to the museum. Tell them the name of the program, if it’s radio or television, the year, condition of the program, and how you discovered it.
The museum has also created Adopt-A-Program, a unique way to contribute to the preservation of television and radio programming and to have your name (or a friend's name) associated with your favorite program forever. The museum also has the Researcher's Programs, which is designed to assist individuals who wish to undertake extensive research, the Museum offers facilities that enable Researchers to utilize the Museum's microfiched clippings file and collection of television and radio programs to their fullest potential. Call (212) 621-6780 to make reservations for any of these complimentary Members-Only events or e-mail membership@mtr.org.
The museum also offers a series of Class Programs.
The Museum’s Education Department uses the collection in partnership with schools and other educational institutions to explore important themes and issues that have shaped contemporary history, as well as to develop and refine our audience’s critical thinking and viewing skills. While the medium is television or radio, the subject may be advertising, science fiction, and the changing role of women, political campaigns, global ecology, or many other subjects.
Go to the Web site for more info & a map - https://mtr.org
