节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-12-27
难易度:Low
关键字:boast, claim, impressive, sell out, spectacular, performer
Welcome back, everybody.
What makes Radio City Hall so great?
Well, it's elegant but not excessive.
It's sophisticated but not glitzy.
Yes, even after 80 years, the music hall still has the power to take your breath
away.
The building is such an architectural masterpiece that one critic stated, "Radio
City Music Hall needs no performers." OK.
Let's pick up the reading at the second paragraph.
Radio City Music Hall.
Radio City opened on December 27, 1932, with an impressive stage show.
In 1933, the theater switched to a plan that lasted until 1979.
It offered a movie and a complete stage show for one price.
In 1979, Radio City became a place for a popular concerts, stage shows and
special events.
Its most popular show - the Radio City Christmas Spectacular - is part of New
York's Christmas tradition.
The show regularly sells out as more than one million people enjoy it each
season.
Everyone loves Radio City - both audiences and performers.
Radio City Music Hall can boast having many, many stars.
This famous theater has been opened for 80 years.
It opened on December 27th of 1932.
It is the largest, the most amazing theater in the world with 6,000 seats.
And you are guaranteed to have a perfect view.
Ryan, did you see that's December 27?
That's today.
It is 80 years today that this theater opened.
Exactly. And they had an impressive stage show.
Now impressive.
"Impressive" means something you admire or you respect it because it is just so
good or important or very special.
So if you are an impressive person, that means you are really good at something.
Exactly. And something that is impressive can also be very grand and very big,
so.
They had a huge and very beautiful stage show.
That's right.
So that happened in 1932.
Then in 1933, the theater switched to a plan that lasted until 1979. OK.
So it started out as like a stage show, but they switched plan.
That means they changed to a new idea.
And this one actually lasted a lot... a very, very long time.
That's right.
It lasted, well, almost 40 years in this case... or a little over 40 years.
And so they decided to change things up.
It offered a movie and a complete stage show for just one price.
Unbelievable! What an incredible set up!
You can see a full stage show and watch a full movie all for the price of one.
That's pretty cool.
Now most of you are probably not used to seeing stage shows very often,
but you can combine those with a movie to show one large story or two separate
stories.
In 1979, Radio City became a place for popular concerts, stage shows and special
events.
So we see that they changed their plan in 1933.
And then when the new plan came into effect in 1979, it became more and more
popular.
Exactly. They had concerts.
People were playing music, and they had stage shows where people could act on
stage, but they also had special events.
That's right.
They definitely have special events that people can enjoy.
Now it has... Radio City Hall is famous for one extremely popular show.
And that's the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
All right.
Now the word "spectacular" means very exciting, usually something exciting to
look at or very great.
That's right.
But here it's being used as a noun.
It is a spectacular.
That means it's a very big, very impressive event.
There's usually a lot that goes on in it.
And it's so popular that it's now considered part of New York's Christmas
tradition.
OK. So this was part of Christmas tradition; this year as well.
And it's usually always part of New York's tradition.
That's right.
Now if you've ever had the opportunity to see the show, it's impressive.
I've never had the chance to go to Radio City Music Hall and see it.
But you can watch the show on TV, and sometimes online as well.
And it's incredible.
It's so popular.
Yeah. It's fantastic, Kaylah, that you can watch it on TV or online because it
regularly sells out.
That's right.
Now to "sell out," when a show or an event sells out, that means all the tickets
to go have been bought.
So if you want... if you really want to see your favorite band,
and there's a sign that says "sold out," that means there's no more tickets, and
you won't get to go.
That's right, so.
If it's sold out, you can't go.
And there are more than one million people who want to enjoy this event every
year.
So it sells out.
They do enough shows that over one million people will get to see it in this
theater.
But it still sells out.
That's how popular the show is.
Exactly. So every season, every time this show is around, it just sells out
immediately.
There are so many people that love it.
That's right.
Now part of the show is the Radio City Rockettes.
They're very famous.
And you can see a picture of them on... in your magazine.
That's them dancing.
It's a group of very tall women who are famous for their Christmas dancing.
That's right.
You can see them on page 46.
Now everyone loves Radio City - both audiences and the performers.
That's right.
Performers like it as well.
That's really cool.
People enjoy going to see the shows, but people enjoy "performing." And that's
someone who sings or entertains from the stage.
That's right. A performer is someone who, well, acts or dances, something to
help people enjoy the show.
Well, friends, if you ever get to New York, make sure you stop by Radio City
Music Hall, and wish it a happy 80th anniversary.
Thanks for joining us.
We'll see you tomorrow.
But right now, let's visit the Chat Room.
(Music).
Excuse me, Bryan. Can I ask you a question?
Sure. Go ahead.
Well, a friend of mine sent me this invitation that says it's for a stage show.
But many types of shows are held on stages, how am I supposed to know what kind
of show it is?
Well, a stage show doesn't just mean any show held on a stage.
Plays and concerts are held on stages, but we don't usually call those stage
shows.
Generally, a stage show will combine singing, dancing, drama and some other
kinds of performances.
Oh. I thought those were called variety shows.
You're right.
A variety show is a show with many types of performances.
The difference is that a variety show can be performed for a live audience or on
TV, but stage shows are always performed live.
I see. So if people record a stage show and broadcast it on TV, is it still a
stage show?
Yes, it is because the real performance was held on the stage.
I see. Well, in that case, a stage show sounds pretty interesting.
I think I'll go see it.
Good.
And maybe while you're there, Ken, you'll hear some show tunes.
Those are songs that were written for musicals but are often performed on their
own.
Cool! And speaking of shows, I was wondering if you could explain a saying I've
heard, "The show must go on"?
Sure.
I think that saying began with some actors.
It meant that when they were performing, even when things went wrong, they had
to do their best to put on a good show.
Now people use it whenever they have to continue doing something in spite of
problems.
I see.
Thanks for the explanation, Bryan.
You're welcome.
And please enjoy the show.
(Chinese).
(Music).
(Chinese).
And I guess it's time to for us to say goodbye.
Keep up the good work, and I'll see you next time.
Radio City Music Hall is the largest, grandest indoor theater in the world.
Since it opened 80 years ago, more than 300 million people have entered its
doors and enjoyed movies, concerts and special events like the Grammy and Tony
Awards.
For its live stage shows, original mechanisms are still used today to send up
fountains of water, bring down buckets of rain and to create rolling fog and
clouds.
So again, happy 80th birthday to the Radio City Music Hall.
Friends, thanks again for studying with us.
And as always, have a greatday.