Magical ‘Christmas Spectacular’ remains a beloved NYC traditon

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular seems to have been around forever. OK, not exactly forever, but since 1933, when the show started spreading holiday cheer in razzmatazz fashion. And the Spectacular seems largely unchanged, thanks to the old-fashioned presence of those timeless precision dancers, the Rockettes, with their legs down to here and their arms up to there. This year’s edition is true to form, an eye-popping extravaganza of synchronized moves and ho-ho-ho enthusiasm. Watching the extraordinary “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” — which debuted 81 years ago — is like being beamed to a more innocent era. But the Spectacular has also evolved. The other original number, “The Living Nativity,” is a lot swifter than it used to be, with wise men and live animals crossing the stage at a steady clip — chop chop, gotta get to that manger!