New York Theatre (photo courtesy of The Paley Center)

Where Being a Couch Potato is Encouraged

Imagine a place where you can literally go back in time - hear a radio station reporting Hitler’s death, listen to an old interview with Lucille Ball and watch every single episode of The Jefferson’s. (Hint: It ain’t YouTube.) Think The Paley Center for Media, formally known as The Museum of Television and Radio.

Founded in 1975 by CBS creator William S. Paley, the Paley Center for Media is 100 percent TV and Radio. Wondering what was so good about Good Times (mainly because you weren’t born when it was a hit)? They’ve got every episode. Want to watch the 1977 interviews with disgraced president Richard Nixon? Come on in.

Here’s how it works. Pick a day where you have nothing to do (bad whether is a plus). Entrance to the museum is $10. Once you arrive, you have a couple of options. One is going to the Center’s McLaughlin library and choosing out of their 120,000 selection your own television or radio shows to watch or listen to. Shall you choose that option, you will then get to travel to a big dark room – sit at an individual console – and watch up to two shows of your choosing (though the Center’s tour guide admits that if you ask nicely, and it isn’t crowded, you can watch more).

Option number two is the Ralph Guild Radio Listening Room, where, with headphones, you can listen to preprogrammed radio stations all day. A few of the current selection includes “Ol’ Blue Eyes on the Air: Sinatra on Radio” and “Black Radio: Telling it Like it Was”.

Option number three is the theatre rooms. Viewers can choose from over 20 different shows and compilations playing on the big screens. Spots currently in rotation include the pilot of Seinfeld, a compilation of Super Bowl commercials, television documentary What’s Happening! The Beatles in the USA, and episodes of All in the Family and I Love Lucy.

The best part is once you pay, you are free to come in and out of the museum all day. Watch a couple of shows, get lunch, then come back to watch more. TV. Food. And more TV. What more could anyone ask for?

The Paley Center for Media (website)
25 West 52 Street
New York, NY 10019
Tel: 212.621.6800 for recorded information on scheduled activities; 212. 621.6600 for all other information.
Get There: E or V to Fifth Avenue and 53 Street; N, R, or W to 49 Street and Seventh Avenue; 1 to 50 Street and Broadway; B, D, F, or V to 47–50 Street/Rockefeller Center. Google Map