The Rainbow Room

The Rainbow Room
bradfordschultze · Public domain · source
Name	The Rainbow Room
Location	30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York City
Opened	1934
Owner	Tishman Speyer (building), various operators
Capacity	approximately 350 (varies with configuration)
Architect	Raymond Hood (building), Everett P. Noyes (interior program contributors)
Style	Art Deco, Streamline Moderne

The Rainbow Room is an iconic event space and restaurant located atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Conceived during the Great Depression and inaugurated in 1934, it quickly became synonymous with high-society dining, live music, and panoramic views of Central Park, Empire State Building, and the Hudson River. Renowned for its rotating dance floor, lavish Art Deco interiors, and association with major cultural institutions, the venue has hosted milestones in entertainment, philanthropy, and media.

History

The Rainbow Room was established as part of the development of 30 Rockefeller Plaza by the Rockefeller family and the Rockefeller Center project, a vast complex that included collaborations with MetLife, NBC, and architects from the Associated Architects of Rockefeller Center. Opened under the auspices of the RCA and NBC broadcasting interests, it became a symbol of urbane leisure during the era of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency and the New Deal urban landscape. Over successive decades the venue intersected with the rise of television broadcasting—notably The Tonight Show and other NBC productions—and major events connected to figures such as David Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller Jr., and civic celebrations involving the City of New York. The Rainbow Room experienced closures and re-openings tied to economic shifts, changing ownership in periods when entities like Tishman Speyer and hospitality operators negotiated leases and management agreements.

Architecture and Design

Occupying the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Rainbow Room exemplifies Art Deco and Streamline Moderne aesthetics popularized by architects like Raymond Hood and designers linked to large-scale urban projects such as Chrysler Building contemporaries. The interior program drew on talent associated with Salmagundi Club–style decorators and firms who had worked on landmarks like Radio City Music Hall and Roxy Theatre. A defining feature is the circular, mechanically rotating dance floor that recalls engineered novelties seen in venues influenced by Edison Manufacturing Company-era showmanship and the technical innovation of firms akin to Westinghouse Electric Company. Furnishings and lighting fixtures reflect materials and motifs found in works by designers comparable to Donald Deskey and in the ornamental metalwork fashion of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe–era modernism. Panoramic windows and sightlines were planned to frame vistas including St. Patrick's Cathedral, Times Square, and the East River crossings such as the Brooklyn Bridge.

Cultural Significance and Events

As a social nexus, the Rainbow Room hosted annual galas, charity balls, corporate banquets, and broadcasts that intersected with institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and theatrical productions connected to Broadway producers and unions including Actors' Equity Association. It became the site for milestone events tied to political fundraising that involved members of the United States Congress, diplomatic receptions with representatives from embassies, and award-related gatherings involving the Tony Awards and the Emmy Awards community. Its role in the nightlife ecology of Manhattan positioned it alongside venues such as the St. Regis New York ballrooms and the supper clubs frequented by mediatized figures during the mid-20th century. The Rainbow Room's capacity to host civic commemorations linked it to cultural cycles involving institutions such as Lincoln Center and philanthropic organizations including the United Way.

Notable Performers and Guests

Performers and attendees ranged from big-band leaders and jazz icons to film stars, politicians, and business magnates. Bands and artists comparable in stature to Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald performed in New York venues of the same era; the Rainbow Room similarly showcased top-tier entertainers alongside visiting orchestras and cabaret acts. Guests have included titans of finance like J.P. Morgan descendants, industrialists associated with General Electric and Standard Oil legacies, entertainers tied to Hollywood studios, and political figures reminiscent of visitors to elite Manhattan venues, including governors and first ladies who participated in charitable events. The space also attracted media personalities from NBC and print journalists from publications such as The New York Times and The New Yorker.

Renovations and Preservation

The Rainbow Room has undergone multiple renovation campaigns involving preservationists, architects, and conservation bodies concerned with mid-century interiors and landmarked structures. Stakeholders have included municipal entities like the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in dialogues over altering historic fabric, and owners such as Tishman Speyer negotiated restoration work with hospitality operators to meet contemporary building codes and accessibility standards while retaining period detail. Restoration efforts referenced techniques used for other preserved interiors such as Radio City Music Hall and historic hotel restorations at properties like the Waldorf Astoria New York, balancing mechanical upgrades, seismic considerations, and conservation of decorative finishes.

In Popular Culture

The Rainbow Room has appeared in and inspired representations across film, television, and literature tied to New York City's glamorous image. Productions involving studios and broadcasters like Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and NBCUniversal have staged scenes evocative of the venue's skyline backdrop; authors associated with city chronicles in works published by houses such as Random House and Penguin Books have featured settings mirroring its atmosphere. Its cultural imprint persists in photographic archives alongside collections from institutions like the Museum of the City of New York and in documentary films exploring the history of Rockefeller Center and Manhattan nightlife.

Category:Restaurants in Manhattan Category:Art Deco architecture in New York City