Labor action mars show at Radio City

A showdown devoid of holiday cheer loomed Thursday at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, where management premiered its annual “Christmas Spectacular” with recorded music amid a bitter labor dispute with its orchestra.

The musicians, their instruments in hand, pulled down their picket line and returned to work Thursday morning after a one-day strike. But they wound up stranded outside Radio City as thousands of ticket-holders streamed past to attend the first show of the season.

The dispute did not affect the world-famous Rockettes dance troupe.

Radio City Entertainment, which produces the show, denied that the musicians were locked out, claiming that the decision to proceed using a taped performance by a 55-piece orchestra was prompted by the strike.

“We told the musicians in no uncertain terms that until there is an agreement, and there is no possibility of them walking out on future performances, they remain on strike,” management said. The orchestra’s contract expired in May.