This museum is a lot of fun to visit. At any given time they have amazing screenings available, covering such topics as television shows, actor tributes, news analysis, politics and TV, old radio series, or even cartoons!

They also periodically offer seminars (one offered in March 2005 will be related to the Food Network and will feature a few chefs that have shows on that channel). Tickets are necessary for the seminars but are decently priced and worth it. Getting the tickets in advance is recommended. A couple of times I've gone in person on the day of the seminar only to find it sold out. Seating is VERY limited (maybe 100 people tops), so tickets can go quickly if it's a popular topic they are covering.

Their website has a lot of up-to-date information on screenings and seminars: http://www.mtr.org

This museum is a treasure for anyone who loves to watch old TV shows. Think of it as a library where you check out TV shows (except you watch the shows in one of the theater rooms in the museum)! The fee is just $10.

All visitors to the museum select one of three options for enjoying the museum.
A daily program lists descriptions of approximately 15 shows a person could preview in one of the screening rooms or theaters. Think of these shows as restaurant specials of the day. The specials are handpicked to please a wide audience. Based on the description and the times listed, you pick out what you would like to see.

In addition to viewing one or more of the specials, you could also select a particular TV show from the catalog of shows on file. This option allows you to see a show on an individual TV. In other words, this museum is the repository of old TV shows. What a pleasure to pick a show from years ago and relive history!

A final option is to select a 20-minute or a 40-minute tour of the facility.

I selected (from the catalog) to see an episode of the Phil Silvers show, one of my favorites from years ago. It was interesting to sit back and enjoy the show again.

Note: Plan to spend the entire afternoon at the museum (which does not open till noon). I wished I did not have prior arrangements to meet up with others at a specified time. If I had more time, I could have seen some of the shows in the theater. I would also have liked to taken a tour. This museum really was a special find!

Click here for the museum’s web site. Click on the welcome arrow to get lots of information.

The Museum of Radio and Television offers you the opportunity to view or listen to rare or old television and radio shows. We went to watch two rare one-hour-long episodes of "The Twilight Zone."

When you purchase a ticket for $6 in the lobby, you are assigned a time to go to the library upstairs. Arrive early and you might get to walk in right away. We had to wait about an hour, so we went to watch one of the screenings that was going on to pass the time. It was a showing of an old "Playhouse 90" show that Rod Serling wrote.

The screening was shown in a movie theatre on a lower level. Visit here for more details on what is being screened when you go.

At your designated time, you go upstairs to the library, hand over your ticket, and sit at one of the many computer terminals to search the database for the show you want to view. Then you make your reservation via the computer.

Next you wait for your name to be called at the desk. When you hear your name, they are ready to escort you down one level to a room that contains many televisions with headsets.

You can view your choices without disturbing anyone else and without anyone else disturbing you. You can pause, rewind, and fast forward your show, too.

You are supposedly allowed to stay in there for 2 hours, but it seems to be OK if you stay a little over that. We had arrived about 15 minutes late because we watched the entire screening and stayed about 20 minutes over.

The staff there was extremely cheerful and helpful. They made us feel comfortable and seemed genuinely happy to offer assistance when needed.

The bottom line: this is a fun place and we will go again. If you live in New York, it might be worth it for you to purchase an annual membership, which then gives you free access to all those wonderful shows.