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Founded in 1975 by William S. Paley for the purpose of collecting, preserving
and presenting to the public, television and radio programs the The Paley Center for Media is a nonprofit organization.
As stated in the name, this is a museum for radio and television programming.
Located in the William S. Paley Building at West 52nd Street, it is one
of a pair. The other being in Beverly Hills, California. It was in 1991
that this Manhattan location opened and the other in 1996.
Since opening its doors in 1976, the Museum has expanded the collection
to include more than 100,000 programs chosen for their artistic, cultural,
and historical significance. The collection covers news, drama, public
affairs programs, documentaries, the performing arts, children's programming,
sports, comedy, and advertising.
Each year the Museum, using radio and television programs from the collection,
organizes major exhibitions and screenings and listening series that focus
on topics of social, historical, popular, or artistic interest. Seminars
feature in-person discussions with writers, producers, directors, actors,
and others involved with landmark programming. In addition, the Museum's
comprehensive education program welcomes special interest groups and students
from the elementary to the university level and encourages them to become
critical thinkers by interpreting and analyzing radio and television programs.
"Also at the museum are live and taped radio broadcasts throughout
the year, where stations from across the country come to the Ralph Guild
Radio Studio to broadcast their shows. These events are usually open to
the public. As well are seminars throughout the year, whereby performers,
critics, writers, directors, producers, and journalists come to the Museum
to discuss topics ranging from the collaborative process behind programming
to significant events in the media industry. The seminars include television
and radio clips from the Museum's collection, and time for the audience
members to ask questions. "
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