Podcast Summary: Stuff You Should Know
Episode Title: Selects: Rockettes: Still Kicking After All These Years
Hosts: Josh Clark & Charles W. "Chuck" Bryant
Release Date: November 22, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts
Overview
This episode delves deep into the iconic American dance troupe, the Rockettes. Josh and Chuck unravel the storied history, the unique discipline of precision dance, and the cultural evolution of the Rockettes—from their surprising origins in St. Louis to their becoming a symbol of New York City glamour and tradition at Radio City Music Hall. The discussion covers their demanding schedules, the group's struggles and triumphs, historical controversies, and how the Rockettes have kept high-kicking into the modern era.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Unexpected Origins and Founding (04:00–07:00)
- The Rockettes, often associated with New York’s Radio City Music Hall, actually got their start in St. Louis, Missouri in 1925, originally named "The Missouri Rockets."
- Founder: Russell Markert, who was inspired by the British precision troupe, The Tiller Girls (founded 1894).
- Josh Clark (05:13):
"John Tiller is widely acknowledged as the creator of what's called precision dance... Markert saw this and was like, 'If I can get some American girls with longer legs to kick higher, it'll knock everybody's socks off.'"
- Josh Clark (05:13):
- Precision dance involves dancers moving in exact unison, creating a striking collective spectacle.
2. Radio City Music Hall and Early Years (09:13–14:00)
- Move to New York: The troupe caught the attention of S.L. "Roxy" Rothafel, moving to NYC and performing as the "Roxyettes" before becoming the Rockettes.
- In 1932, they became an integral part of the opening of Radio City Music Hall.
- Stage Innovation: Early performances involved customizing routines for every new movie premiere, leading to a grueling schedule and often requiring the Rockettes to learn entirely new routines in just hours (12:56).
- Host Commentary:
- Josh Clark (12:54):
"Sometimes they would have to learn it in a matter of hours, like around midnight before the next day's performances."
- Josh Clark (12:54):
3. Height Requirements & Visual Uniformity (07:43–09:08)
- The original height requirement was 5'2"–5'6.5", now it's 5'6"–5'10.5".
- This is to create an optical illusion, so all dancers appear the same height by strategic stage placement, not to exclude based on stature.
4. The Rockettes Through the Decades
- USO Tours (1940s): Among the first to perform for U.S. troops.
- Television Fame (1950s): Became nationally recognized with regular Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade performances (joined in 1957) (14:45).
- Grueling Schedules: Up to 5 shows a day led to the creation of a dormitory for Rockettes at Radio City.
5. Struggles and Survival (1970s–1980s) [20:00–27:00]
- Radio City Hard Times (1970s): NYC's decline threatened Radio City with demolition. The Rockettes were instrumental in major efforts to save the venue, ultimately securing historic landmark status for both the building and its interior.
- Josh Clark (23:39):
"...they were successful. They got it put on the National Historic Register of Historic Places... only 110 interiors [in NYC] have the landmark designation, and Radio City Music Hall is one of them."
- Josh Clark (23:39):
- Shows on the Road: When the theater was underused, the Rockettes toured nationally, earning high-profile fans like Sammy Davis Jr.
- Josh Clark (25:22):
"Apparently made a huge fan out of Sammy Davis Jr., who would come see the same show, like night after night."
- Josh Clark (25:22):
- Modernization Attempts (1980s–90s): The troupe participated in Super Bowl halftime shows, presidential inaugurations, and expanded their holiday offerings.
6. Culture, Controversies, and Change [26:34–47:31]
- Inclusion Milestones: First Japanese Rockette (Setsuko Marahashi) joined in 1985; first African American Rockette (Jennifer Jones) in 1988. Early resistance was about uniformity in appearance, but later decades saw movement towards diversity.
- Josh Clark (46:33):
"The reasoning...was the idea that it was going to disrupt the visual unity... even getting a suntan was a problem. But in the late 20th century, that sentiment didn't hold up."
- Josh Clark (46:33):
- Political Controversy: The Rockettes' 2017 performance at Donald Trump's inauguration caused internal conflict and national debate about the apolitical vs. representative nature of the troupe (27:05).
- Feminist Critiques: Historically, critics argued the Rockettes were a symbol of objectification and enforced sameness. Under director Linda Haberman (mid-2000s onward), efforts were made to present Rockettes as individuals and modernize the show (43:15–45:00).
- Josh Clark (43:59):
"...Linda Haberman, like, really kind of took that and tried to unravel it quite a bit."
- Josh Clark (43:59):
7. Life as a Rockette [32:15–41:49]
- Hardest Gig in Dance: Rockettes are considered among the best and most disciplined dancers.
- Demanding Schedule: Kicking at eye level up to 1,200 times a day during peak season; multiple costume changes, with one in particular (changing from Parade of the Wooden Soldiers to New York at Christmas) done in just 78 seconds (35:33–36:00).
- Josh Clark (36:00):
"78 seconds. And these costumes are not, like super easy to take off..."
- Josh Clark (36:00):
- Roster Logistics: 36 perform per show, but 80 are certified Rockettes for backup and cast rotations.
- Pay: Roughly $40,000 for the holiday season, with overtime on days with more shows. Pay is flat with no seniority, as uniformity is central.
- Union Protections & Perks: Year-round health benefits, and most Rockettes pursue other work in the off-season.
- Auditions: All must re-audition each year—even veterans.
8. The Modern Show & Technology [43:15–45:38]
- Haberman modernized the Christmas Spectacular with new tech (3D, storyline updates), more individual visibility, and a pro-feminist angle.
- Unique Fact: Rockettes’ tap shoes have microphones in the heels, capturing the genuine sound live (48:02).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the allure of synchronized movement:
Jerry (06:19):"There's something to that synchronicity of movement and sound that just knocks me out every time... It's a collective voice or collective movement, but it's that precision that really just gets me every time."
- On being a Rockette:
Josh Clark (32:55):"Being a Rockette is extremely difficult and very demanding. 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."
- On the intensity of the schedule:
Jerry (38:00):"They all kind of are like, there's no way to prepare your body for this... taking their stockings off at the end of the night is laborious. And, you know, with their commute... some of them are awake and either commuting or rehearsing or performing 20 hours in a day."
- On the question of uniformity and diversity:
Josh Clark (46:33):"...he wanted everything to be homogeneous and in unison. Well, regardless, in the 21st century, in the late 20th century, that sentiment didn't hold up..."
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:07–04:00: Lighthearted banter about legs and transitioning into Rockettes’ history
- 04:00–07:09: Origins in St. Louis, inspiration from Tiller Girls, creation of precision dance
- 07:43–09:13: Height requirements and optical illusion of uniformity
- 09:13–14:45: Arrival at Radio City Music Hall, custom performances for films, grueling schedules
- 14:45–15:04: Entry into public consciousness via Macy’s Parade, TV era
- 20:00–25:22: 1970s NYC decline, campaign to save Radio City Music Hall, taking the act national
- 26:34–28:00: Performances at major events, and contemporary controversies
- 32:15–41:49: Day in the life, grueling expectations, pay, union, lifestyle
- 43:15–45:38: Modernization under Linda Haberman, feminist perspective
- 46:22–47:41: Diversity milestone moments, movement toward inclusivity
- 48:02: Tap shoe microphones, show details and traditions
Fun Facts
- Rockettes’ legs: Only their calves and thighs are discussed more than the troupe itself in the opening moments!
- Microphones: They actually have microphones in the heels of their tap shoes for live performances.
- Precision requirements: Even suntans were discouraged in early days to preserve the “line”'s uniform look.
Tone and Style
The episode maintains the classic SYSK style: friendly, humorous, and packed with fascinating trivia, with Josh and Chuck’s easy banter and signature wordplay throughout (e.g., “That’s a pretty Sammy thing to do in Las Vegas”—25:38). Even when discussing controversies or tough histories, both hosts aim to be respectful and insightful, often backing up historical facts with their own commentary and asides.
For New Listeners
If you’ve never seen the Rockettes or only caught glimpses on TV, this episode is the perfect deep dive: you’ll learn not just how the troupe became a central American tradition, but also what it really takes to be one of “the legs that made Radio City famous.” As the hosts agree, seeing the Rockettes in person (and maybe hearing from a Rockette listener!) is now high on their to-do list.
For more on this electrifying tradition, check out live shows at Radio City Music Hall or seek out the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular.