CHRISTMAS AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER

 
The picture above is from the after party in the Rockefeller Center restaurant adjacent to the famous Rock Center Skating Ring where most of  the 8 Christmas In Rockefeller Center shows I Executive produced, were staged. Peter Allen (above) hosted twice, the 2nd time with Betty Buckley.  Other hosts during that time included Lily Tomlin, Hal Linden, Leslie Uggums, Ben Vereen and Merlin Olsen.
 
In the 1980’s the show still aired live on tape in Prime Time Access on WNBC-TV.  It  was in cooperation with the Rockefeller Organization who ‘controlled’ many of the elements especially the lighting of the tree. They also had approval over talent although except for insisting on an Opera star each year, they left most of it to us.
 
It was always a great time with the excitement of doing Live Television...that amazing tree ...and the hundreds of New Yorkers watching from the street.  Chris Salvador (pictured with Peter Allen and me above) produced 5 of the 8 when I was there and Steve Grymes (pictured below) was the primary Director…Harry McNeill did one too.  Mark Guttman was Operation’s Manager for most of them. We had a terrific production... stage and engineering team too and I am grateful to each of them.  Fond Memories.