Selects: Rockettes: Still Kicking After All These Years | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Hey everybody, happy Saturday. Uh, I got. a select for you. This is Chuck here of. the Stuff You Should Know podcast. Introducing Rockets Colon still kicking. after all these years. [music] This one. came out January 1st, 2019, and it's. about the Rockets and this is the time. of year to talk about the Rockets. I. learned a lot about this organization, organization, this dance troop, and. their storied history. And I think. you're going to like it. So, give it a. listen and please enjoy.

Welcome to Stuff You Should Know, a. production [music] of iHeart Radio. >> Hey, and welcome to the podcast. I'm. Josh Clark. There's Charles W. Chuck. [music] Bryant. There's Jerry. Happy New. Year. >> You are too tall to be a Rockhead, aren't you? >> Just barely. >> Uh Jerry and I can be Rockett. and you can't. No, it's true. >> Which is a shame cuz you have the gams.

>> I I do actually. I've got pretty decent. legs, >> you know. >> At least my calves are all right. >> What? No thighs? >> They're a little tree trunky for my for. my tastes. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. [laughter]. I've got a bit of like a fertility idol. thing going on like up toward the hips. and all that. Um Yeah. >> Well, it's cuz of all those squats. >> I was not expecting to talk about this. >> about your gams. >> Yeah. Oh, well, I'll talk about my legs. all day long. >> Well, let's hear it.

>> They're shapely. >> Okay. >> They're uh they're not I gain all my. weight between my waist and my chin. >> Uhhuh. >> Like I I don't If you looked at my legs. and my arms, you'd be like, "That guy. weighs 160 pounds." [laughter]. >> It's hilarious. >> And then the rest of me comes along to. to bust that myth. [laughter]. >> Step aside. >> Still have a nice little fanny. >> Sure. [laughter]. Everybody knows that. >> Sorry listeners in the UK. >> Oh, yeah. That means something different.

over there, doesn't it? It. >> does. >> It's just so dainty and nice that little. little 5-year-old kids can say fanny in. the United States. >> That's right. >> It's just the the Brits who are sickos. >> But this isn't about our gams. This is about a dance troop. A legendary. dance troop. >> Yeah. About as legendary as a dance. troop can possibly be are the Rockheads. >> I think so. >> I just said that sentence like Yoda. [laughter].

>> Can you do the voice? >> No. >> No. >> No. [laughter]. Not even going to try. >> Uh, but this totally surprised me. digging into the research on this to to. learn that the legendary Rockett of New. York City and Radio City Music Hall. >> are not from New York City. >> No, they're not. Where are they from, Chuck? >> Did you know this? >> I had no idea. No. >> Yeah. So, shout out to St. Louis. >> Yeah. Uh, they they were founded in the.

1920s, 1925 to be exact, in St. Louis, Missouri as the Rockets. The the St. Louis Rockets, which I I think they were. trying to be a basketball team, maybe. [snorts]. >> St. Louis Rockets. >> Sure. >> Yeah. There was a choreographer named uh. Russell uh Marert, which is uh I kept. wanting to say market, but that is an R. >> Yep. >> And he founded them, like you said, in. 1925. And he was he was inspired by a British. uh dance troop named the the Tiller.

Girls. >> Mhm. >> Uh which was founded in the 1894 by John. Tiller. And it was kind of a similar. idea. He saw these tiller girls and he. was like, "I want a high-kicking, glamorous. uh theatrical dance troop of my own.". >> Yeah. >> So, I'm going to rip it off. >> He did, actually. So, John Tiller is is. um widely acknowledged as the the. creator of what's called precision. dance, which is where you have a bunch. of dancers who are really uh highly.

trained, really athletic, and really. precise in their movements. um that can. move in such unison. Yeah. That that you. take a number like a number of different. dancers and they basically become one. >> thing that's that can do things that an. individual dancer can't do. That's. precision dance technique. And John. Tiller literally invented it with I. think four 10 year old girls in the. 1890s. and um he he came up with some.

further refinements to it like when you. put your hand around the waist of the. people on either side of you it kind of. lends to the unity of the whole thing. Um and and uh Russell Maker Mark saw. this and was like this is amazing. If I. can get some American girls with longer. legs to kick higher it'll knock. everybody's socks off. That's a quote by. the way. >> Yeah. And there's a there's something to. that that synchronicity of uh for me for.

movement and sound that just knocks me. out every time. Um when I go and see a a. choir, let's like a hundred people. singing together. >> and high kicking or. >> or or a symphony. Uh just the not only. the sound but the movement when you. watch a symphony. That's a big part of. it for me. >> Mhm. Uh, forget a coral symphony. Like. I'm on the floor weeping [laughter]. if you take me to a coral symphony. Uh, but there's something about that. precision of of all these people.

together that's just really like I don't. know what it is about it. I mean, it's. uh it's a collective voice or collective. movement, but it's that precision that. really just gets gets me every time. >> For sure. Well, that's what the Rocketts. are known for. It's their their trade is. precision dance. They're as good as it. gets with it. Although the Taylor girls. are definitely still around. They still. have Christmas specials themselves. Um. and they're doing their thing for sure. So, it's it's not just an off-hand thing.

to say the Rockets are as good as it. comes, as good as they come in in. precision dance because the Teller girls. would probably say, "Um, I would dispute. that statement.". >> But they would say it with a British. accent, >> right? I dispute that statement. [laughter]. Uh so they were not as tall back then. The original uh height requirements were. between 52 and 56 and 1/2. And now they. went we'll take your tallest answer and.

make them our shortest answer because I. guess it's just I don't know. I'm not. sure why they did that. But now it's. between 56 and 510 12. And it is not. because they want to exclude people or. uh any or discriminate against people. who are too tall or they feel too short, but it's so they can just all look it's. an optical illusion. So they can all. look the same height because they take. that 5' 10 and 1/2 in dancer uh although.

they don't have to be that tall, but. they take whoever their tallest dancer. is, >> put her right in the middle, and then. just stagger it out from there. And in. the end, everyone looks It's weird. Everyone looks to be the same height. even though they're not. >> I don't understand how this works. It's. just I saw it so many different places. that I'm convinced that it does work. I. just don't get the the the illusion of. it, how how it works. Well, I think over. 4 in and 36 women,

>> it's just so minute of differences as. you scale down that it would take, I. guess, a an extraordinary human to be. like that woman is an inch and a half. taller than the one five people away. from her, >> right? >> You know, >> I gotcha. Yeah, I guess that's true. >> So, you're just a normal person is what. I'm saying. Yeah, [laughter]. >> you should feel good about that. >> I fall for that optical illusion every. time. >> Yeah, everybody should. Um, so they. started with the Missouri Rockets with.

just 16 women and like I said, now they. have 36. And they debuted in St. Louis, but then went to New York to perform uh. Rain or Shine on Broadway. And that is. where a man named SL Roxy, that was his. nickname, uh, Rothell. >> Mhm. which is an interesting name. That's where he saw them and said, "Hey, I got to get in on this. This is. amazing.". >> Yeah. So, uh, Russell M. Marker took the.

idea from John Tiller and Roxy Rothl. said, "Hey, I want in on this jam." So, I'm going to grab a few of these dancers. from St. Louis and bring them over to. New York City and we're going to have. them start dancing there. Okay? and I. know just the place for him. There's. this new venue that's opening up in 1932. and they're going to call it the Radio. City Music Hall and I'm going to make. sure that these dancers are able to.

perform and we're going to call them the. Roxiet. How about that? Huh? Huh? >> Yeah. Because of his nickname, >> right? And Mark said, "That's fine. Just. make sure you pay me some money for it.". >> Sure. And he he did get paid and got. paid until 1971. He that's it's hard to. believe but he worked for the Rockets or. with the Rockets uh from 1932 to or I. guess even previous in St. Louis. >> Yeah. 1925. >> Uh all the way until 1971. >> Yep. >> Really amazing.

>> Yeah, it is pretty amazing. That's a. pretty long career. Um so they they. opened Radio City Music Hall. I think. they were part of a 17 um group act. Uh, and that was like such a hot ticket. Something like a 100 thousand people. wanted in. But there it's a 6,200 seat. theater, which I think it still remains. the nation's largest um indoor venue, which is really saying something because. I guess it' just be like a theatrical. venue because obviously.

>> the largest indoor venue. >> sports venues. um have it beat by quite a bit, but. >> Oh, theatrical. Okay, I got you. It has. to. Yeah. It's either movie or. theatrical or something, but it's the. largest venue of its kind in in the. United States from what I see. >> Yeah. And for many years, they they I. mean, they had specials every now and. then, but it was sort of just a movie. theater. >> Yeah. And here's the thing, you could go. see the movies. I think especially it. started to take off in the 50s. Like.

before they would have premieres for. movies and the Rockets would like. perform at the premiere and then at some. point I don't know if it was Russell. Markard or or Roxy Rothell or somebody. said well why just do this once? How. about every time somebody comes to see a. movie at the Radio City Music Hall, we'll have the Rock the Rockettes. perform before the movie. >> Can you imagine that? How cool that. would be? >> It would be pretty cool. I mean like. imagine seeing that and then being like. okay now for the movie. That's just be.

it'd be a different experience for sure. >> Yeah. >> But it was rough on the Rockets because. not all the movies were successes. So. they would change the Rockets show for. each movie. So if a movie came along and. it was just a terrible flop, this whole. choreographed routine that they'd. learned would be out the door in two. days. And now all of a sudden they had. to learn a new one quick because there. was a new movie coming in to replace. that one. >> Oh, so they did a different routine for. each film. >> Yes.

>> Interesting. >> Yeah. And sometimes they would have to. learn it in a matter of hours like. around midnight before the next day's. performances. >> I wonder if it was tied to the film. >> Sometimes, I think, but not all the. time. I think it was. I think it was in. some cases, but I think more than. anything they would change the routine. just because the people coming to see a. different film would want to see a. different routine. >> Okay, I gotcha. That makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Uh so in the 1940s, they uh were one of. the first groups to sign up for uh the.

United Service Organization and go and. perform for the troops. Uh and in the. 1950s is when things really started to. kind of take their toll. like they were. performing sometimes up to five times a. day. Uh and so they said they built a. dormatory there. Uh which you know they. could live in. I don't think they were. required to but it really was to. accommodate the fact that they were. working almost around the clock rather. because learning these new routines like.

you said and then performing up to five. times a day. Really grueling stuff. It. was basically the prototype for Google, >> like just just making it so your. employees didn't have to leave. [snorts]. [sighs and gasps]. >> Oh, interesting. >> You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. Just go sleep in your pod. >> So, the the Rockets um their fame. started to grow pretty [clears throat]. pretty quickly. Um, and they they made. like a few steps, if you'll forgive the. pun, um, along the way that kind of.

cemented them as a as much a piece of. America as apple pie or baseball or. mom's or what have you. [laughter] So, the 50s were also big for the um, the. Rockets, too, because they joined the. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1957, I think. Yeah, that that was the big the. big move. >> Yeah, because they went from just a a. group that you either had to go to New. York or go off to war to see um to Wow,

they're in my living room now. These. girls are highkicking on my television. and I'm just loving life. [laughter]. >> Uh all right, so let's take a break. It's 1950s. Good times are ahead and then dark times. come in the 70s because it's New York. City in the 70s and everything was kind. of awful then. So, we'll be back right. after this.

[music]. >> [music]. [music]. >> Okay. Hey, before we get started, Chuck, I want to say we put on a pretty good. stage show ourselves. >> Uh, we've been known, too. >> And we've got some coming up. You know,

plug plug. >> Yeah. There's no high kicking involved. There could be if people demanded it, I. would be willing to do a little high. kicking. >> So, are we talking about some shows? >> Yeah, let's do that real quick. >> Uh, all right. So, we're we're going out. west for our annual Sojourn. >> in January where we uh go to Seattle and. we go to Portland and then we end up at. SF Sketchfest like we always do in mid. January. >> Yeah. And I've got a uh end of the world. live show on Friday at Sketchfest. And.

you have a movie crush on Saturday at. Sketchfest, right? >> Yeah, I'm doing a matinea show at 1:00. uh on Saturday, January 19th with uh. Bizzy Phillips as my guest. >> Nice. And my show is Friday the 18th at. Cafe Dord and I am my own guest. [laughter] Flying solo. And then I have. another one in Brooklyn on the 24th uh. at the Bell House, too. >> Oh, I thought you already did that one. >> No. Uh-uh. It got postponed to January. 24th. >> Oh, great. >> Yes. So, you haven't missed it. There's.

still time for you to come. >> Fantastic. [laughter]. >> Uh, so that is our little plug. How. about that? >> Yeah. And of course, our our big stuff. you should know show is at the uh Castro. on when is that? Thursday night. >> That is Thursday the uh 17th. >> Yeah. So, come see us at the Moore in. Seattle, Revolution Hall in Portland at. the Castro in San Francisco. Y. >> check out our individual little shows. uh are our cute little individual shows. [laughter]. >> And there's plenty of information on. sysklive.com.

>> That's right. So now it's the 70s. >> Mhm. >> New York is uh is is suffering, >> which is crazy when you look at pictures. of New York City in the 70s and and. early 80s even, >> just hard to believe. >> how bad things were there. >> Yeah, it was pretty rough. And actually, it's funny like you can thank Rudolph. Giuliani for I guess cleaning up the. town if you want to call it that. >> Okay. >> Have you ever heard that?

>> What do you thank Rudolph Giuliani for. cleaning up the town? >> Uh-huh. >> Uh, sure. >> Okay. >> Good for him. >> So, um, >> I saw him in the park one day. >> You did? What was he doing? Talking to a. duck. >> No, he was he was doing like a photo op, but I had friends in from uh from. another country even, I think. And I. said, "Hey guys, that's that's the mayor. of New York over there." They were like, "Oh, that's nice." And I went, "It's. kind of a big deal to just walk around. and see the mayor of New York.". >> Did they say Chuck? [laughter]. >> I think they're Australian, actually.

>> Yeah. Oh, that was my Australian. impression. >> Oh, that was good [clears throat] then. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> That's pretty That's a great story, Chuck. >> Yeah, it's fine. But uh for them they. didn't understand fully that the mayor. of New York City is is uh it's it's. quite a big deal to see him just out and. about in the city. >> I uh I have a similar story. I was. watching um one of the first few seasons. of Law and Order on my television one. day and there was the mayor of New York. City, Rudy Rudy Giuliani. >> Interesting.

>> But I knew it was a big a big deal. >> I got another story. >> Okay. [laughter]. Did you know in the Michael Bay film. Pearl Harbor. >> that they comped in uh Bruce Willis's. John Mlan character from Die Hard in one. hospital scene? >> How? >> Just digitally. >> That's an anacronism. >> I know. >> That doesn't make any sense. Do they. really do that? >> Yeah, there you can look it up. Pearl. Harbor, John Mlan. And there's like. screenshots of of John Mlan in his white.

tank top uh just briefly for a blip in. the background of one of the hospital. scenes in Pearl Harbor. [laughter]. It's so weird. >> Do you know there's a nude woman in the. window of one of the buildings that the. rescuers fly by? Really? The Disney. movie from the 60s? >> Yeah. All these weird movie Easter eggs. >> Mhm. >> Just bored editors. I guess. >> that's exactly what it is. Four juvenile. editors. >> All right. So, it's the 1970s. >> in New York. >> None of this has happened yet that we're.

talking about. >> The Rescuers did. >> The Rescuers did, but there was no Die. Hard. There was no Pearl Harbor movie, >> right? >> Except for Tora Tora, but no bad Pearl. Harbor movie. >> Okay. >> Uh, no. Rudy Giuliani. He was alive. >> Sure. >> But he was not in the mayor of New York. City in the 1970s. >> Not as far as we know. >> Who was that? That was Ed Cotch. >> He was the 80s, I think. >> Oh, was he? >> Maybe late 70s. >> All right, we'll get that straightened. out. >> Okay. >> But New York City is going down the. toilet, including, believe it or not,

radio the great Radio City Music Hall, much like our own legendary Fox Theater. in Atlanta. >> Mhm. >> Uh was facing shutdown and demolition. potentially. >> Yeah. There was a rough transition from. some of those old movie palaces after. people stopped well going to movie. palaces and moved out to the suburbs. Um, a lot of those beautiful places were. left out in the cold and some of them. didn't, well, a lot of them didn't make. it, but some of them almost didn't make.

it. Like you said, the Fox and Radio. City and apparently it was going to be. turned into a parking lot and Belushi. himself got onto the news desk at. Saturday Night Live and was railing. against the demise of Radio City Music. Hall. And the Rockets too had said, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, this is our home. this is an iconic place. Let us help. like go raise awareness and funds to to. save this place. And they did. They were. successful. They got it put on the. National Historic Register of Historic.

Places. And it has a landmark. designation. Not just the building. There's,200 buildings in New York with. the landmark designation, but only 110. interiors have the landmark designation. and Radio City Music Hall is one of. them, which means that its interior is. so amazingly beautiful that it is a. protected landmark in the United States. >> Yeah, I've never been in there. >> I haven't either. >> I've been to Carnegie Hall, but never. Radio City. Uh it's on the list for. sure. But um it's interesting because.

they they tried to their whole deal was. is they wanted exclusive. movie bookings. Like they they were they. were to be the only theater in town that. would be showing a particular movie. Mhm. >> So that that limits their uh their pool. uh immediately and then they really. prefer G-rated movies. Uh they had. really strict screening criteria. So. that just it narrowed down their their. movie pool so small. >> that they would go weeks and weeks at a. time where nothing happened there.

>> Yeah. So they would just shut down. because again remember like the. Rockheads are a dance troop that you. would see before you saw a movie. So if. they're not showing movies, they're not. showing the Rockettes. And at this time. in the 70s, the Rockets said, "Okay, we're we're our talent is being wasted. here. At least let us go take the show. on the road while you guys are sitting. around waiting for another movie to come. along." And they actually they gained. that right because they're union. dancers, we should say. We'll get into. that a little more later, but they.

managed to uh get the right to take the. show on the road and they really started. to make a name for themselves in the 70s. uh in places like Tahoe and Vegas. Sure. >> Apparently made a huge fan out of Sammy. Davis Jr. who would come see the same. show like night after night when they. when they play in Vegas or Tahoe or. whatever. He was just fascinated by the. Rockats. >> Love that. >> for sure. >> Little Sammy. >> Mhm. >> What a great guy. We should do a show on. him. >> Apparently, he also Oh, yeah. I'm down. with that. He also surprised them on. stage once by joining them on stage for.

a dance number, which apparently he knew. because he'd seen the show so many. times. >> Wow. >> Which that's a pretty Sammy thing to do. in Las Vegas. >> High kicking. Well, his his kicks. weren't so high. >> Run out on stage unbidden, uninvited. >> He was a little guy. >> He was. >> He was the the littlest rocket. I. imagine. >> he was, but he was, too. >> So, uh, they're doing their show on the. road here and there. They're making ends. meet. Radio City is struggling uh even. though it was designated as a landmark. The 80s were not super kind.

>> uh to Radio City either. Um they very. famously appeared at the halftime show. of the Super Bowl in 88. >> Um they're trying to change with the. times. Uh they're dancing it uh in the. '9s at different places and they're. always doing their Christmas deal uh. throughout all this after you know they. started doing that and what was that 57. >> 32. Oh, they did the Macy's parade in. 32. >> Oh, no. I'm sorry. I thought you meant. the Christmas spectacular. Yeah, the. Macy's parade was the the Thanksgiving.

parade was 57. >> Yeah. So, they've got their their. holiday stuff, their Easter specials, their Christmas specials, uh their dancing at inaugurations for. George W. Bush. Um, in fact, they came. under uh under fire for dancing at. Trump's inauguration. >> Well, the the dance troop almost was. split aunderder over whether they wanted. to do that or not. Yeah, it was a big. deal. >> It was a huge deal, actually. And they. they had revived the uh Easter. Extravaganza. They renamed it the New. York Spring Spectacular the year before.

And they said they took a year off and I. I don't think they ever went back to it. because of all the controversy over 2016. and the inauguration. It was just such. an unusual experience for the Rockettes. Um. like they're they're just like America. personified. And for there to be a huge. national conversation about, you know, them performing at an inauguration, it. was a big deal for the organization for. sure. Especially for the dancers who are. like career rockets. >> Yeah, exactly. Um, should we talk a.

little bit about just being a rocket? >> I think we should, man, >> because we've done it. [laughter]. >> We have. I mean, there was a brief time. Although, we've basically entered Dino. Lohan territory now. Who's that? >> Lindsay Lohan's mom. She very famously. lied about being a rocket. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. She said that her she has a. background in show business. Um she was. a rocket for a while and some journalist. went and dug around and they found out.

that she was definitely they had no. record whatsoever of her under any name, maiden or married ever being a rockat. It's always amazing to me when uh very. provable or disprovable public lies are. told by. >> people like that or like politicians who. say that you know like they've fought in. a war when they didn't like that's. happened. >> Yeah. >> Uh it's just I don't know why people say. things like that that it's like no we. kind of can go check that really easily.

>> Yeah. even but even without like you. know the checkability of it to to just. like you know lie in an interview like. that to [laughter] to puff yourself up I. guess it's just. >> like I I I don't understand the. psychology of it. Is it just because you. don't feel like you're giving the. interviewer enough of what they need or. do they did they lay some sort of trick. that led you into it or I don't. understand it either. >> Yeah. I wonder if people start to. believe these lies like if you make up a. story about yourself. >> and you just stick with it for so long.

Mhm. >> It's weird psychology. >> Yes, human psychology is indeed quite. weird. [laughter]. >> Didn't you have a web show called. Psychology is weird? >> Nuts. >> Psychology is nuts. >> Little little shortlived video thing. >> Yeah. Go [clears throat] check that out, everyone. Oh, and we'll take a break.

>> [music]. >> And we're back. >> Yes. So, we were going to tell everyone. about our experience as Rockett. because we're Dina Lohan. So, uh, here's. the thing. If you're a rocket and you've.

been doing this for 10 years, you're a. pretty long lived rocket. Although, I. think I saw um one woman who is a rocket. and if I'm talking weird all of a. sudden, it's because I am stalling. everybody [laughter]. looking for her name and I'm not finding. it. But I think it's Lindsay How. I'm. almost positive her name is Lindsay How. I believe she has been a rocket for 14. years. >> That's a long time. >> That's a very long time to be a rocket. because as you will soon learn, being a.

rocket is extremely difficult and very. demanding. And inside of show business. and out, they're widely seen as probably. some of the best professional dancers in. the business and certainly some of the. most disciplined professional dancers in. the business as well. Um, but it's. really hard to do for a really long. time. And one of the main reasons why is. because their work schedule is extremely. grueling. But but with Lindsay um how uh.

she would make the same amount of money. that a firstear rocket would make. >> Yeah. >> Uh because they're all paid the same. They work the same hours. They do the. same work. Some of them are kind of. promoted as like the faces of the. Rockett. Um the company I think Madison. Square Garden Company that owns Radio. City Music Hall and the Rockettes are. really protective of their image and um. like they they aren't free to just kind. of talk to the media or whatever. There's some that are kind of like you. and you and you you're the Rockets.

You're the face of the Rockets. But. other than that, everyone does the same. amount of work, same amount of hours, same amount of pay. And one of the. reasons they do that is because the. point of the Rockets is not to have. standouts. It's not like other dance. troops or other Broadway troops or. anything like that. There's not meant to. be stars. The Rockets are the star and. they're meant to be one single unit that. moves and works and lives together. >> Yeah. And they're they're unionized. So, uh they make they're they make most of. their money uh over the holiday season.

So, they walk out after a couple of. months uh with about 40 grand in their. pocket, which isn't bad. um you know for. a couple of months work but it is like. you said super grueling. Um, if you want. to become a Rockette, you're not. required to, but there is uh something. called the Rockat Summer Intensive Dance. Program where you can go, you can. enroll, you can spend 6 hours a day uh. learning uh learning everything um over. the course of about a week. Um all the.

choreography, um how to how to get in. that shape, stay in that shape, how to. prevent injuries, um and sort of the business of it all. And like I said, you don't have to do. that, but they do place a lot of uh. rockets if you attend that uh intensive. dance program. >> Well, some I saw out of a thousand that. have taken it, 60 have gone on to. actually become rockets. >> Yeah. >> Cuz it's very tough to become a rocket, too. >> Yeah. And I mean, I get the feeling. that's that has less to do with the.

program than just how hard it is to to. make that cut. >> Right. Right. Exactly. So, uh, not only. do you have to be fit enough to kick. those famous kicks up to,200 times a day. through all these shows, but uh, there's. one uh there's one clothing change. You. got to do all these costume changes, but. there's one in particular in between uh, The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and. New York at Christmas that you have to. be completely changed out in 78 seconds.

>> 78 seconds. And these costumes are not. like super easy to take off. The wooden. soldier ones in particular are pretty. complex. Um, so 78 seconds probably goes by. extremely fast. >> Yeah. And there's there's 36 Rockets. total uh performing on stage, but there. are 80 certified Rockettes total. overall. You have a morning cast, an. afternoon cast, and then you have for. each of those shows, you have four uh.

swings or extras per. So like if. someone's like, I just twisted my ankle, I can't do this. >> They have four women waiting in the. wings for each of those uh morning and. afternoon shows. >> Yeah. So the thing is though is is. they're working six days a week or the. Rockets are performing six days a week. If you have two casts, rather than work. all work both casts six days a week, um. they'll they'll alternate to give one.

another a day off. And they'll do that. on days sometimes where there's four. performances in a day, which means that. if you are a rocket, there are days, and. I've seen also sometimes they're. backto-back days where you're where. you're doing four performances in a. single day. Four 90minute performances. And that's when those 1,200 kicks that. you mentioned, Chuck, comes in because. some of those shows have 300 high kicks. And we're talking eye level kicks. And. if you do four of them in a day, you've. just kicked at eye level 1,200 times in.

a day. And from some of the articles. I've read, that is about as much as your. body can possibly take. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, they they all in the. interviews I saw, there was that great. New York Times article where they really. sort of dive into a day in the life of a. rocket during the holiday season. >> Mhm. >> And they all kind of are are like. there's no way to prepare your body for. this. Like. >> we are in the best shape that a dancer. can be in and it just destroys us to the. point where like one of them said that.

just taking their stockings off at the. end the night is laborious. And you. know, with their commute, depending on. where they come from, some of them are. are awake and either commuting or or. rehearsing or performing 20 hours in a. day. >> Mhm. >> Just grueling, grueling stuff. But. across the board, they also all say that. it's the the only job that they want. It. is a great sorority and sisterhood and. an honor to be one of these over the.

years 3,000 uh women who have made that. cut. right? >> You know, never like, "Well, it's really. not worth it in the end.". >> Yeah. No, the the I mean, at least the. ones who are allowed to speak to the. media certainly have a lot of positive. things to say about being a rocket and. like how familial it is and how you're. just hanging out with your best friends. and um it is a great gig for a dancer, especially as one of these articles. pointed out, if you're a dancer who. doesn't sing. >> Yeah, that's a rare thing.

>> to get that kind of a gig. I think it's. one of the few uh for jazz and tap. dancers where singing's not involved. >> But also not just like a a a good gig, a. good paying gig, too. Like 40 grand for. a couple of months of um performances. A. lot of the Rockettes um they don't live. in New York. They'll come live in New. York during the the the season when they. need to rehearse and then do the. Christmas spectacular and then they go. home. So they might live in New York. from September to um the end of. December. Uh, and then they go back home.

and wherever home is, 40 grand probably. goes a lot further than it does in New. York, unless they live in San Francisco, in which case it's probably it goes even. faster. But, um, it's a really good. paying gig. They also have benefits. because their union and their contract. workers, they um, have year round. benefits. >> Yeah, that's great. >> And 40 grand. So, they can go work as. Pilates instructors, as nutritionists, as all the other stuff that they do. during the year normally. and then they. come back and they they're a Rockat. But.

what something I thought was pretty cool. was even if you're say a 10th year. Rocket um you get invited back like once. you're a Rocket you're in as a Rockette. but you still have to audition in April. like everybody else. >> Yeah. So, you audition in April and if. you make the cut, um, you start to go. get in shape and then rehearsals, I. think, start in September. And. rehearsals are six hours, six days a. week for basically the six weeks leading. up to the performances, which run from.

mid November till I saw December 31st. I. also saw tickets available for a January. 1 show. So, I don't know if they. extended it or not. >> Yeah. And it's it's funny like 40 grand. sounds like a lot of money over a couple. of months and it is. But when you break. it down per show, it it breaks down to. about 135 bucks a show. >> Yeah. >> Which all of a sudden it doesn't seem. uh like great money. >> No, but that's what you make as a. standard cast member for a Broadway. union dancer.

>> Yeah. >> Or actor or variety performer, I think, is the union they're they're part of. So, no, it doesn't seem like much, but. that's another reason why the Rocket gig. is so good. You get overtime on those. days when you do a third and a fourth. show. You're getting overtime pay. Um, and there's multiple shows in in on. multiple days. So, you can I mean, if. another actor at a different gig working. the same days over the same period would. not make that amount of money, that 40.

grand, because they wouldn't have any. overtime. They wouldn't have that many. shows. Yeah. And I don't think anyone. like dreams of going to Broadway to. become rich and wealthy. Like part of. the allure of Broadway is you're with. the best of the best. And you can say I. danced or I sang or I acted on Broadway. >> with Brian Cranston. [laughter]. >> I saw him on Broadway. >> Yeah. I saw Michael McKon on Broadway. >> Oh yeah. >> In Accomplice. >> The audience was the accomplice. That. was the big twist.

>> Oh well, you just ruined that one. >> Was it good? It was great. It was one of. the greatest stage performances I've. ever seen. I saw Lenny. >> live on stage. >> Derek St. Hubbins. >> Yeah. This is before I knew him as. anything but Lenny. I was like eight. >> Oh, so this is a while ago. >> Mhm. >> Um. Cranston is in something new on Broadway. now, I think, too. >> It's in network, >> right? Oh, man. I want to see that. >> Sure. >> I bet that's good. I saw that it was.

described as, get this, Chuck, get ready. for this. >> Oh boy. >> Electrifying. [laughter]. >> Really? I kid you. >> A Broadway show described as. electrifying. >> His performance was electrifying. >> I don't think I've ever heard that word. used for the theater. >> I know. [laughter]. Um, so another thing though about the. Rockets, even though they do make most. of their money over those couple of. months and then they have the rest of. the year to um in a lot of cases be like. a dance instructor or something like. that or a fitness instructor. Um they.

increasingly are working more and more. uh more and more months out of the year. whether it's um as ambassadors for the. Rockets or doing like video things for. YouTube. Um they are increasingly called. on to do other other things. >> Yeah. A lot they so I what is the woman. who came along as the lead choreographer. and director and really kind of punch. punched it up even further? Uh her name. is Linda Haberman and she took over I. think in like the mid 2000s.

uh maybe 2008 and she kind of brought. like this whole new. not new it's not a whole new thing. She. just kind of she made it a little more. pro- feminist, a little more like you go. girl kind of vibe to the Rockett than. they had before. >> They were seen in, you know, rehearsing. in the rehearsal gear rather than like. full costume. And it it was just kind of. like um the the intent I get was to make. them more.

>> people, human beings. >> Yes. Because one of the great criticisms. of the Rockett is that they're nothing. but like teeth and legs, just a bunch of. women. Yeah. >> Out there kicking like forming one large. uber woman who can kick her legs. amazingly high and has like the the. whitest gleaming teeth ever you've ever. seen. Um and that that it was really. kind of a just objectification of women. like to like by definition. And uh Linda. Hammerman like really kind of took that.

and tried to unravel it quite a bit. And. she also took the show so we should talk. a little bit about the show. It's a to. depending on who you are, it's either. like just beloved traditional Americana, kitschy, um, offensively sexist, who knows? But I. think the first two are kind of the. predominant views of it. It's kitschy. and sweet or it's it's, you know, endearing Americana. Um, and Linda. Haberman kind of took that and tried to.

punch it up into the 21st century a. little more. And there's like way more. visual effects than there were before. Um there's like a 3D component I think. to this year's show or recent year's. shows. Like the whole the whole theme is. like a girl wants a video game and her. mom is kind of showing her um you know. why that's not so great because it's a. violent video game. There's um there's a. lot of kind of updating that's that the. Rockets have undergone in the last few. years and that was largely from what I.

understand Linda Haberman's doing. I. think she was the one that uh digitally. inserted John Mlan from Die Hard. >> She was. [laughter]. He swoops in in the the New York Folly. section. No, I'm glad they updated. things because this was a prime case of. like a beloved American tradition that. uh could use some refreshing and and you. can highlight them as humans and. individuals and still you can have both, you know, and you can still have that. desired effect of uniformity and. precision that they're known for, you.

know. >> Right. Exactly. >> But they don't have to be just like. faceless and nameless, you know. >> No. And I read a few like feminist. critiques of the Rockettes and they seem. to have been. >> kind of outdated. Like I really feel. like Linda Haberman. >> did a good job at like take Yeah. She. she kind of took those those critiques. and and changed them in a lot of ways. >> That's great. >> Um, one of the other criticisms is that. it wasn't until 1985 that the Rockheads.

had their first woman of color as a. member of the their cast of their troop. >> Oh yeah. The first woman of color was a. Japanese woman named Setsuko Marahashi. And in 1985, she joined. In 1988, um the. first African-American woman joined. Her. name was Jennifer Jones. And the. reasoning apparently it was Mark Marert. who was like, "No, it from all I saw it had nothing to do. with racism. It was the idea that it was.

going to disrupt the visual unity, >> right, >> of the dance line if there were um you. know differing skin colors in this dance. line. And apparently he was so um nutso. about it like you would get in trouble. if you had a suntan like that's how. that's how he wanted everything to be. homogeneous and in unison. Well, regardless, in the 21st century, in the. late 20th century, that that sentiment. didn't hold up. And I guess shortly. after he died is when they started um.

adding women of color more to the. Rockets troop. >> Yeah. And then they saw people of color. in that same dance line and they went, "Oh, it's still awesome." And. synchronized and looks great. >> Exactly. >> And from his grave, he went, "No.". >> He started rolling around in it. >> Oh goodness. >> So, you haven't seen a Rocket's. Christmas spectacular, huh? You mean live in person? >> Yeah, >> I have not. >> I have not either. Are we going to go. now? >> I think we should. I want to know if any. ruckets listen to this show.

>> Yeah, >> that would make me super super happy. >> It would for me as well. >> Uh, and the only other small tidbit I. have is they have microphones in their. heels of their shoes. >> I saw that too. They used to they used. to play recordings of their um tapping, right? >> Oh, I don't know. That that does not. surprise [music] me. >> Yeah. And then they figured out how to. do the actual like broadcast the actual. tapping. So, we're going to go one day, Chuck. We're going to go see the Christmas. spectacular. We're going to go see the. live nativity with the real camel and.

donkeys and the wooden toy soldier um. march where they fall down like a domino. in slow motion. It's pretty amazing. stuff. Uh and if you want to know more. about the Rockets, then go to Radio City. Music Hall and find them there. How. about that? >> That sounds great. Uh well, since I said. that, then it's time for listener mail. >> Uh I'm calling this I was a search and. rescue um victim volunteer.

So this guy, his dad, I'm going to. summarize the beginning of it um because. it's kind of long, but his dad lives in. uh the upper peninsula of Michigan and. is a member of the local uh S team. And. so they were like, "We need [music]. someone to play the victim here." And he. was like, "I'll do it. this guy's son. So, here's what. happened. He set off into the heavily. wooded area and did he said, "I did. everything I could to think of to try. and fool the dog and the handler. I ran. in circles, went back over my own trail. I threw off my [music] hat. I even found.

some garbage and rolled around in it to. mask my scent.". >> Wow. Uh once I had done everything I. could think of to try and fool the dog. and handler uh that would be tracking. me, I found a nice comfy spot up uh in a. bush on a hill where I could just watch. the dog and the handler try and [music]. track me. I thought I'd done a pretty. good job, but once I called the handler. and let him know I was in position, it. was all over very quickly. Uh I sat back. and everyone was shocked to watch the. dog basically retrace my trail step by.

step. uh every move I made, all those. circles, uh finding my hat even that I. had thrown off, even getting into. [music] that pile of garbage that I'd. rolled around in. I love that this dog. is just basically making a fool of poor. Ryan up there in the mountains. >> So, he said, "Needless to say, the dog. found me in short order. [music] I gave. him lots of praise uh for the great job. he had done. Thankfully, I was never in. any real danger. So, my experience uh. was a lot more enjoyable, obviously,

than when people are in uh real need of. a search and [music] rescue dog. Uh. thanks for the great episodes, guys. Keep me company on overnight shifts uh. and make it all go by quicker. So, if. you read this on the show, can I get a. shout out to my girlfriend, Taran? She. would be thrilled to hear her name get. called out on the show. >> I think that just happened. >> Yep. Uh so, that is from Ryan. Uh, I. like the the gusto that Ryan [music] put. into trying to fool this dog. >> rolling a garbage. >> And I equally love that this dog was.

like whatever. >> So, thank you, Ryan. Thank you, Taran, for listening. [music]. >> And thank you to the SAR dog. >> Sure, Scruffy. If you want to get in. touch with us, you can go to our website. [music] stuffyounow.com. You can find. all of our social links there. And you. can send an email to Chuck, Jerry, and. me at stuffpodcast@ iheartradio.com. >> [music]. >> Stuff You Should Know is a production of. iHeart Radio. For more podcasts, iHeart. Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple.

Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your. favorite [music] shows.