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The Paley Center for Media Review

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The Paley Center for Media

Address: 25 W. 52nd St., between 5th and 6th Aves., Midtown West, New York, NY, 10019 | Map It
Directions: E, V to 5th Ave./53rd St.; B, D, F, V to 47th-50th Sts./Rockefeller Center
Phone: 212/621-6800
www.paleycenter.org

Category: Museums/Galleries
Location: New York City

Write a review | Avg. member rating: 2.8/5

Fodor's Review:

Three galleries of photographs and artifacts document the history of broadcasting in this 1989 limestone building by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. But the main draw here is the computerized catalog of more than 100,000 television and radio programs. If you want to see a performance of "Turkey Lurkey Time" from the 1969 Tony Awards, for example, type the name of the song, show, or performer into a computer terminal. You can then proceed to a semiprivate screening area to watch your selection. People nearby might be watching classic comedies from the '50s, miniseries from the '70s, or news broadcasts from the '90s. Adding to the delight of screening TV shows from yesteryear is that the original commercials are still embedded in many of the programs; if ads are your thing you can also skip the programming altogether and watch different compilations of classic commercials.

Cost: $10
Open: Tues., Wed., and Fri.-Sun. noon-6; Thurs. noon-8
Subway: E, V to 5th Ave./53rd St.; B, D, F, V to 47th-50th Sts./Rockefeller Center

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Member Reviews and Ratings

Reviewed by bachslunch from US on 4/26/09
This isn't a traditional museum, as there's almost nothing in the way of exhibits. But if you want to see old, hard to locate TV items you can't find on DVD, chances are excellent they're here. You go to their library, search up items you want to see on a computer database, that select what you want to see. The programs are then cued up to watch at a terminal. Fine for what it is, if a little overpriced -- if you go, plan to stay a while to get your money's worth.