Media maestros turned out at the Paley Center for Media for the grand opening of its renovated theater at the Paley Museum, as well as two former NFL rivals — Eli Manning and Robert Kraft.
Giants icon Manning and Patriots owner Kraft joined NBCUniversal News’ Cesar Conde, Kristin Dolan of AMC and Andreas Dracopoulos of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation — all Paley board members — to help cut the ribbon with Paley president and CEO Maureen Reidy and chairman Frank A. Bennack Jr.
The group opened the Bennack Theater and the George J. Gillespie III Theater at the Midtown museum, and the new spaces are the first phase of an overhaul of the 50-year-old institution, which Bennack called “a national treasure.”
The renovated public spaces also include the newly named Bloomberg Gallery in the Philip Johnson-designed museum, as well as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Entrance.
The Paley Center for Media — which owns and operates the Paley Museum — was created by William S. Paley, the legendary CBS founder, in 1975. The nonprofit has been chaired since 1991 by Frank A. Bennack, Jr., the former Hearst CEO.
“For five decades, Paley has stood at the intersection of media, culture, and education, serving as a trusted resource for public audiences and educators alike,” said Bennack. “Recognized as the premier gathering place for the industry — presenting programs with unmatched convening power — Paley has evolved to its place as the preeminent media industry nonprofit… On this 50th anniversary, as we look to the future, Paley will continue to innovate and lead — shaping the conversation and inspiring generations to come.”
Maureen J. Reidy, president and CEO of the Paley Center, added in a statement for the 50th anniversary event: “With the unveiling of our newly renovated theaters and galleries, we extend our deepest gratitude to our generous donors — including the William S. Paley Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and the Hearst Foundations — for making these new spaces possible.”
The center’s current PaleyFest NY runs through Nov. 16, featuring conversations with Manning, country singer Trisha Yearwood and the casts and creative teams from the television shows “Pluribus,” “Landman,” “Power Book IV: Force” and “A Man on the Inside.”
On Nov. 22, museum will launch PaleyLand, its annual holiday exhibit steps from Rockefeller Center.
For those keeping score, Manning beat the Pats in two Super Bowls, in 2008 and 2012.
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