Paley Center for Media

I’ve been to the Paley Center a few times. Back in college I went to a Womens in Communications event twice. It was an all-​day event and even though the seats are small in the center (as well as the theater) it was still a great event to attend.
Nowadays, as my career progresses, I’m starting to make the transition as the one no longer sitting in the audience, but on the stage. Or well, on a platform to speak about what I do. I was invited by the PR group of a movie that was premiering to conduct interviews and coverage of the event. I spoke to some of the voice actors and creators.
As part of the press we conducted these interviews in the lobby. I didn’t know we would be conducting them here, but it ended up being a bit of a challenge as there was major echo and my poor little mic didn’t pick up all the audio so well.
Anyways… the Paley Center hosts some great media events for your favorite TV shows and movies. Be sure to give them a look once and awhile

I first went to this place in elementary school when it was called the Museum of Television and Radio. I remember it being much cooler as a kid. It is actually not much of a museum — it’s more like an archive. The place has computer terminals where you can watch episodes and clips from a large collection of old TV shows. However, you can find many of the same content at home on youtube or other websites. Besides that, there is a small movie theater where they show screenings and clips.
The main draw of this place is their panels. Periodically, they have interview panels with famous actors and directors from TV shows. Depending on panel, tickets can sell out fast.

The Paley Center offers excellent opportunities where you can see panels featuring the people behind your favorite TV shows. These shows are often the critically popular ones with passionate audiences. Examples of previous panels featured in the NY area include: The Affair, Being Human (US), 12 Monkeys, Doctor Who, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-​Along Blog, The Mindy Project, A Night with Jim Parsons, Orphan Black, Pretty Little Liars, Scandal, and Transparent. Occasionally these panels are the best you can possibly see — there are some shows that would only be featured through PaleyFest and not Comic-​Con, and unlike Comic-​Con you don’t have to worry about obscenely large crowds or absurd lines. There are also other events such as screenings and networking events.
There are only two disadvantages to watching the panels, both of them being logistical. The minor one is that the Paley events in LA are typically better in terms of quantity and show selection than in NYC. But let’s face it, a lot of it is because the West Coast counterpart is closer to where most shows film anyway. That’s unavoidable.
The major and addressable issue is the limited seating — the main auditorium is small, and so capacity falls far short of the demand for the entertaining show panels for popular shows with fervent fanbases. Tickets can get sold out very quickly and are sold in three waves based on your annual membership status: first Patron Circle ($ 1000 and up), then Individual ($ 75), and then the general public (no membership fees). The most popular events (including Orphan Black, The Walking Dead, and a Letterman/​Seinfeld event) can get sold out before being sold to the general public; they can also get sold out before even being sold to those with Individual memberships, leading to fans getting priced out of cool events simply due to lack of seating. (And yes, you can sign up for remote overflow seating, but naturally it’s not the same as being able to experience the events live and in person.) The Paley Center should look into expanding their auditorium area or even renting out other spaces. All of the panels I’ve gone to are packed houses, and their most popular events could easily fit three times the current capacity.
But if you are able to get into the panels I highly recommend you check them out; they’re truly memorable experiences.

Know before you go: you should know what to expect. I was disappointed. New York city, media capital of the world, a place named for the legendary William Paley, virtually next door to CBS world headquarters… this could be huge! However, I was very disappointed. To be fair, the woman at the front desk did tell me that it was really a library, not a museum. And $ 10 isn’t all that much, particularly in NYC. But what you get is access to a room with about 30 computer terminals on maybe 15 library-​style tables. Put on the supplied, well worn headset (ugh! Pro Tip: bring your own!) and use the keyboard to search for old video via an ancient user interface. And the content isn’t nearly as extensive as you might expect. Plenty of ⁹⁄₁₁ material, but couldn’t access a single old EF Hutton commercial.
Why does this place even exist? There’s nothing I saw that couldn’t live on an internet website. No reason to physically go there; I should be able to log into every piece of this content on my home computer or ipad (perhaps for a fee). I think that they have an auditorium, but it wasn’t open on the day I visited. Perhaps they have special events open to the public. It did seem that they were setting up for a private function (cocktail party/​dinner). But investigate before you go and don’t be disappointed.

This place is worth visiting. You can do your museum tour right at a computer terminal. Very helpful staff. It’s more like a library than a museum.

Unilocaler Ben Y. and I attended a Psych (the TV show) panel here, and it was so awesome. The staff was super friendly and efficiently moved the massive line into the theaters. All throughout the theater staff members were stationed to help you with any questions or concerns. There was an upstairs smaller theater and the main theater. Our upstairs smaller theater was very clean and the chairs were comfortable. Gotta love Paley!

There’s not much to see in terms of exhibits or even all that much historical information.
Why is this place awesome? Because you can see original broadcasts of TV shows, commercials and all, which is a real blast from the past. I saw an original air date broadcast of a Twilight Zone episode, of a South Park episode and a Seinfeld episode. Watching those commercials was surreal. That’s why this place is awesome. If you have any interest in our cultural history, these video-​documents are a must see.

The Rolling Stones exhibit was intriguing, that unfortunately is where the positives end.
As a media person, I found this disappointing. Very bare bones presentation and over priced and the media library is not for someone looking for something beyond common search items… In fact, you’d likely have better luck on YouTube. Basic advertisement segments are not available for easy viewing. When searching for say «gasoline,» or old political ads, they will show results in their database, but you are greeted with a message that indicates the segments are «available only in our tape archives.»
Incredibly disappointing and a waste of time and money given all that Manhattan or the Internet has to offer.
Unless you’re a tourist, don’t waste your time.

This place –was– YouTube before YouTube was available.
I used to come here as a kid, back when it was The Museum of Television and Radio, and just sit and watch television shows and media clips from every decade to my heart’s content.
What more do you need to know? IT’S A TANGIBLE YOUTUBE, PEOPLE. GO.

I used to go to Paley Center in LA with my folks a fair bit (they’re members), and they gave me membership last year for Christmas.
Sadly, they just don’t have as many Paley events (hello, Paleyfest, where are you?!) out in NYC. Which honestly, strikes me as odd, since so many shows are filmed out here. It seems like it should be pretty easy to get casts from the shows that film here, since they wouldn’t have to travel. So, though I did re-​up my membership, I’ve been a bit disappointed. My favorite event was a free event – the new Fall tv previews (I attended ABC/​CW). It was awesome getting to see shows like Arrow and Nashville so early!
I generally don’t go to Paley to check out the tv archive/​library, but it’s definitely cool. They have interesting exhibits from time to time, but I still feel like it’s the red-​headed step-​child of the LA Paley Center.

Hidden gem just a street away from MoMA. Entry is cheap ($ 10) and gets you in to see a special exhibit (I got to see rare photos from the Rolling Stones), entry and viewing of any of their original tribute programming downstairs (I watch a tribute to the Women of Comedy), plus an hour and a half of viewing from the the center’s extensive TV archive (I skipped this).
It’s quiet, and they don’t have any memorabilia, but it’s a neat space, and the specials seemed really interesting. At $ 10, you won’t be wasting your money. That said, I do wish I had known their tribute special for the day so that I could have timed my visit a little bit better).

I’ve been to the Paley Center a few times over the years … the first time was for a special invite-​only pre-​screening, with panel, of the pilot of the television show Fringe.
It’s a great venue for the film and TV industry to have screenings, panels, parties and award ceremonies at … multiple movie-​theaters, conference rooms, etc.
I even watched some of the 2010 World Cup there as they had every game on either multiple HDTV’s or on the big screen.
Conveniently located in Midtown, swing by this place and check it out.

Bought tickets for the Ben Stiller Show Reunion and their website gave no indication of screening room tickets which were handed to me when I got the door.
The screening room was like hell– blasting heat, unknown offbeat smells, and a crappy projector screen which you watch a closed circuit feed of what is happening live in the same building. The one exception is that it was upstairs one floor, not down nine.
With enough elbowing and sweet talking, was able to get to the main room which is great, with acceptable air temperature and look! you are in the same room as the people you paid to see!
So buyer beware, if you’re going to see something here, making sure you are getting the proper ticket otherwise be prepared to enter screening room hell.

I recently won tickets to an advanced screening of the DVD release of «The Dark Knight Returns» Part One, the animated feature based on Frank Miller’s legendary comic book graphic novel (
). The event was held at the Paley Center with a combination of VIP guests (voice actors, directors etc.), press and guests such as myself who won tickets through various contests.
Entering the Paley Center, you are greeted by a wide open area with a will call/​welcoming desk to the right and an open area in front. On this particular day they had a press area set up there for pictures of the VIP guests. Most of us «regular» guests were moved to a back room to wait for everyone else to get seated before us. The area we waited in was beautiful, with plush seats set up in front of two TV screens (one on each side) showing footage from the HBO film about supermodels (
). Lined along the walls were large, framed photos of the various supermodels from the documentary. It was very tasteful, almost like a museum.
Eventually we were ushered down a set of stairs (past a TON of marble walls) into the small theater. The staff was very nice about helping us find seats and the security staff was alert and polite about people recording/​taking pictures. They allowed some stills, but if they noticed someone taping «too long» they would check with the person.
The movie looked great on the small screen they had (it’s a theater, but not a traditional movie theater) and the sound was fantastic quality. Afterwards there was a Q&A with some of the folks behind the scenes of the film. The lighting was comfortable and bright, the sound from the Q&A was perfect and we were able to understand every word with ease.
I really enjoyed my time at the Paley Center and would definitely be willing to go back for a future screening!

Nice Center for Media: perfect for movie screenings and panels since the seats are so high (don’t have to worry about someone tall sitting in front of you). Saw a screening of the Dark Knight (animated) and twas awesome!

Paley Center is a pretty neat venue for film and tv events. The space is definitely smaller than its LA counterpart, but there are multiple (smallish) theaters that can still house a good number of people.
Came here for Justice League: Doom, the Community Season 3 2^nd half première (after the hiatus) and will be attending for The Dark Knight Returns. I’ve only ever sat in the main theater which looks like it can seat about 100 – 150 people. The theater consists of a small stage with a projection screen, small but cozy. I like this since the events include discussion and Q&A with the cast members afterwards, and you feel like you are a part of an intimate group.
There are satellite theaters that can seat additional people once the main room fills, but I haven’t seen these other rooms yet.

A Library of television and radio… its pretty amazing. Yeah some things are out of date like the computer screens and furniture but i could car less… their are things I haven’t seen in 10 15 years and now I can see them again.
How cool?

Has
Diverse
Exhibits
On quality
Topics for a place with too little press.

I attended the Miss Representation screening, and the event was surely a success!
The food, wine, and atmosphere complimented the movie, which was the best!
I left afterwards an empowered woman now reconsidering my whole career.
The Paley Center for Media: there are great things happening here!

Ever since I saw clips of the ‘Buffy’ reunion special at the Paley Center, I’ve wanted to go. That might have been silly– the reunion and most of the Paley’s notable programs at in L.A.- but this is New York, dammit, and I expect pretty and nice things.
I was familiar enough with the center to know that every fall, they do free public screenings of upcoming television shows. Greedy people can get tickets to them all that week if they strike while the iron is hot; I really was only excited for Kevin Williamson’s ‘The Secret Circle’ so I booked myself a ticket for The CW presentation. Ironically, they also showed ‘Ringer’ who starred a little blonde woman that used to be a Vampire Slayer.
The center itself is nice– pretty much exactly what I expected– but bear in mind they let ANYONE in. Most of the people going are exactly what you would expect for a free TV screening (i.e. slightly fat and disgusting). One man was waiting outside who didn’t have a ticket and he was being extremely annoying. Also, they had ‘light refreshments’ before we went down to the theater– you’d think it was everyone’s last meal. I refrained from eating; I really couldn’t after seeing that.
I got a great seat for the show. I’d also love to come back, and would even consider becoming a member. Worth the trip.