The Paley Museum, the New York headquarters of the Paley Media Center, celebrates its 50th anniversary this week by unveiling renovations that include two newly renovated theaters, new exhibition and gathering areas, and more.
The Paley Museum, located in Midtown Manhattan, was founded in 1975 by CBS founder William S. Paley, first as the Broadcasting Museum and later as the Television & Radio Museum. (The name was changed to the Paley Center in 2007). The museum later added a second building on the West Coast in Beverly Hills (opened in 1996 and closed in 2020).
“For 50 years, The Paley has stood at the intersection of media, culture, and education, serving as a trusted resource for general audiences and educators alike. Recognized as the industry’s premier gathering place, we present our programs with unparalleled convening power. In doing so, Paley has evolved into the media industry’s preeminent nonprofit organization,” said Frank A. Benack, Jr., executive vice chairman and former CEO of Hearst and chairman of the Paley Center. 1991.
The Paley Museum continues to host events such as the annual PaleyFest NY, the annual holiday family event Paleyland, and the Paley Archive, which features unique and unusual video and audio programs.
Updates to the Paley Museum (designed by Philip Johnson) were overseen by the Paley Board’s Renovation Committee, which includes Frank A. Benack Jr., Mark Lazarus, William C. Paley, Maureen Reidy, David Shore, Somya Narayan Sampath, Jennifer Witts, Strauss Zelnick and Tom Gallagher of DLR Group.
“The Paley Museum has been proudly home to New York City for 50 years, building on its storied heritage to become a destination for media, sports, gaming and entertainment, offering blockbuster exhibits, interactive experiences and once-in-a-lifetime events,” said Reidy, president and CEO of the Paley Center for Media. “As we unveil our newly renovated theater and gallery, we would like to express our deep gratitude to our generous donors, including the William S. Paley Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and the Hearst Foundation, who made these new spaces possible.”
Changes include two newly renovated theaters, including the 200-seat Benac Theater and the George J. Gillespie III Theater on the museum’s second floor. Paley said the theater now features “new seating, plush carpeting, plush wood paneling and sophisticated finishes, complemented by state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos surround sound, advanced lighting design and the latest cutting-edge technology.”
The renamed George J. Gillespie III Theater, sponsored by the William S. Paley Foundation, honors the lawyer, philanthropist, and leader who served on the Paley Board of Directors and the Paley Foundation Board of Directors for nearly 30 years.
“We are honored to support the Paley Media Center on this milestone anniversary,” said William C. Paley of the William S. Paley Foundation. “My father would be so proud to see how Paley has grown from its original vision to the iconic destination it is today.”
Also newly opened is the Bloomberg Gallery located on the concourse level via Bloomberg Philanthropies. The gallery features a digital display wall for immersive exhibits and serves as a venue for receptions and events. The Paley Museum will also be featured on the Bloomberg Connect app starting November 5th.
“The Paley Museum has helped document and share the incredible story of the evolution of media, from radio and television to the internet and social media and beyond,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, Bloomberg founder and former New York City mayor. “We are pleased to support the Museum’s 50th anniversary by helping open the new Bloomberg Gallery and launch Bloomberg Connects. We look forward to seeing how the Museum continues to evolve as a hub for learning and leadership.”
The entrance to the Benac Theater was named the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Entrance.
“As a link not only to media but also to sports, politics and entertainment, the Paley Museum offers us the opportunity to better understand the cultural forces that flow through our lives,” said Andreas Dracopoulos, co-director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. “At SNF, our commitment to expanding access to arts and culture, journalism, and trusted information resonates strongly with us, always keeping humanity at the core.”
The upcoming second phase of renovations will include new recording and television studios, as well as content creation and podcast studios.
This year’s PaleyFest New York, running from Friday, November 7th to November 16th, will feature conversations with country singer Trisha Yearwood, two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, and the cast and creative teams of the series “Pluribus,” “Landman,” “Power Book IV: The Force,” and “A Man on the Inside.”
The Paley Museum will host a conversation with sportscaster Bob Costas on December 9th. Next year, the Paley Museum’s exhibits will include events themed around 50 seasons of “Survivor.” The venue will also host Super Bowl viewing parties, new artist and songwriter series, and more.
