The Aged of TIMES SQUARE

by Kevin Walsh

Broadway crosses 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Avenues south of Central Park, but the crossing with 7th Avenue is so gradual (I don’t know where to find this out, but it must be at an angle of less than 20 degrees) that there’s about a 4-block stretch when the avenues merge and become one wide road. This is Times Square, the Crossroads of the World, and a place where I rarely venture — in my youth because of its crime-ridden nature (I was missing out, as there were legit movie houses here playing stuff you just couldn’t find elsewhere) and since the Giuliani Era, because of its franchise-dominated touristiness.

However, I’m fascinated with Times Square for reasons completely unknown to the out-of-towners that flock there year-round. It’s a total fake-out. Despite the gleaming new towers constructed during the “New 42” era of 1995-2005, when the peeps, pornhouses and grindhouses were torn down and the fast food joints and wax museums moved in (and, to be fair, BB Kings, a concert hall I am in with some frequency) much of Times Square is decrepit, old, and creaking. Don’t believe me? Take a look at these specimens…

ONE TIMES SQUARE, constructed in 1905 as the New York Times office, is famed for being the locale of the New Year’s Eve ball drop and beginning in 1928, the site for the famed “zipper” news updates. The Times only lasted here for 8 years and moved to West 43rd Street in 1913, and to a new skyscraper on 8th Avenue in 2007.

Originally, it was an Italianate 25-story tower, the second-tallest building in Manhattan, visible for miles. The transformation to its current use as a gigantic billboard began in 1963 when Allied Chemical purchased the tower and stripped off most of the exterior, replacing it with flat marble. The top floor survived as a restaurant till the 1980s. Today, a giant Walgreens sign dominates the apex.

KNICKERBOCKER HOTEL, 6 Times Square at the SE corner of 7th Avenue and West 42nd, went up in 1906, a year after One Times Square. Unlike the Tower, it looks remarkably like it did in its heyday and one of NYC’s premier hotels.

6 Times Square, also known as the Newsweek Building or Knickerbocker Building, is a building located at 1466 Broadway at the southeast corner of 42nd Street in New York City. This historic building opened in 1906 as the Knickerbocker Hotel, “Knickerbocker” being an iconic name for New York. Built by John Jacob Astor as a showcase of luxury in a time of economic prosperity in the city, the hotel was destined to close its doors only 15 years later due to changes in fortune. The building was later home to Newsweek magazine between 1940 – 1959, and after major restoration in 1980 the building is now used for garment showrooms and offices. wikipedia

Opera star Enrico Caruso was a longtime resident, and legend has it that the martini was invented here in 1912.

When the IRT subway was first built in 1904, a door from the platform led directly into the hotel. The door remains there, marked ‘Knickerbocker’ though it has long since been blocked up.

Two views of Times Square, looking north (top) and south (bottom). I shot these in May 2010, and the pace of change has already claimed Kodak.

Auto traffic has been severely cut back in Times Square, with pedestrian plazas now making up most of Broadway’s route. A recent diversion has rerouted even more traffic away from the Crossroads since these photos were taken.

PARAMOUNT, 1501 Broadway at West 43rd, was built as the Broadway offices of Paramount Pictures in 1926, and its longtime theatre was the studio showcase for many years, with a giant Wurlitzer organ. It’s said the the movie studio’s mountain symbol is represented by the stepped roof, crowned by a gigantic clock and globe. Big band music, and later early rock & roll, were presented in the huge theatre. The Hard Rock Cafe, preceded by World Wrestling Entertainment, has dominated the ground floor for several years. The Wurlitzer is now in Wichita, Kansas.

The I. Miller Building, at 7th Avenue and 46th Street, was built from 1927-1929 and is nearly unrecognizable underneath the video billboards and garish scaffolding advertising a chain restaurant. Israel Miller’s shoe store was long patronized by theater people.

But a closer view of the I. Miller Building along 46th Street will prove to be a glimpse into the Great White Way’s past. In 1927 the I. Miller company took a public vote to determine the most popular theater actresses of the day with the idea of placing their statues on their new 7th Avenue store. The results came in and sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder was chosen to depict them in some of their most famous roles… Ethel Barrymore as Hamlet’s Ophelia, singer-dancer Marilyn Miller as Sunny, Mary Pickford as Little Lord Fauntleroy, and soprano Rosa Ponselle as Bellini’s Norma.

The Maxell ad, meanwhile, featuring the guy sitting in front of a speaker with his hair and tie blowing back from the force of the sound waves, is pretty venerable itself now — it was first used in 1980, with “Ride of the Valkyries” playing on the TV commercials.

Entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer George M. Cohan (1878-1942) once needed no introduction whatever to most New Yorkers, who remember James Cagney’s portrayal of him on film, as well as the song …

Give my regards to Broadway
Remember me to Herald Square
Tell all the gang on 42nd Street
That I will soon be there

Cohan also wrote “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (even though he was born on the Third of July, not the Fourth), “Over There” and also made his mark as an actor in “Ah, Wilderness” and played FDR in “I’d Rather Be Right”.

“Little Johnny Jones”, Cohan’s first big hit musical from 1903, was revived with Donny Osmond in the title role in 1982. It was one of Donny’s biggest flops, closing after just one performance.

A brand new TKTS kiosk, with iconic red steps, has appeared behind Father Duffy in his “square.”

Father Francis Duffy of Most Holy Trinity Church on 42nd Street near Broadway served with the Fighting 69th, a mostly-Irish regiment in World War I, was severely wounded, and received the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery on the battlefield.

His monument in Duffy Square, the triangle formed by Broadway, 7th Avenue and 47th Street and dedicated in 1937, features Father Duffy in his World War I uniform standing in front of the Celtic cross.

It was here that Tony Curtis’ Sidney Falco, the unscrupulous press flack in Sweet Smell of Success, got his final comeuppance.

7th and 46th opposite the I. Miller Building. Note the ancient building behind the billboards.

On this corner, 7th and West 47th opposite TKTS, can be found one of the chief inspirations for FNY. Of course it’s invisible now, but it wasn’t when I photographed this spot in 1998…note that small building in the middle of the block that says “Heights…”

There’s an ad for carriage repairs on it dating to about 1875-1880. Times Square, long before any showbiz moved in, was once where you bought and sold horses as well as the carriages they pulled. The ad was covered up a few months after I got the shot, and may still lurk under there now.

Photographed 5/10; page completed 2/3/12

16 comments

Tal Barzilai February 3, 2012 - 9:27 pm

I still think that Times Square could have been revitalized if the police did their job in stopping crime there. Instead, we got an overglorified mall on the backs of taxpayers. In reality, this actually hurts an area, not helps it. Still, I am glad that not all of it was Disneyfied, and there are still some businesses that are still there today like Tad’s Steaks rather than being pushed out for chains and corporations. Meanwhile, Broadway shouldn’t have been pedetrainized, and the city lost several buses due to this, not to mention it hurt taxi drivers who made numerous pick ups and drop offs there.

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John N Vasilakos March 30, 2021 - 6:32 am

I missed seeing a Broadway Show waiting on line by Duffy Square. One time I was walking by the 50th Subway Entrance. This guy wanted me to hold him going down the stairs. I looked at him. I figured what this Hobo want? Mugged me? Missed going to Restaurant Row on 46th. Along the Port Authority,wierdos,weirdos, lowlifes,the seedy side of Times Square. Missed taking the Elevator to the revolving restaurant inside the Marriott. One night in Times Square,I almost walked over a homeless guy lying on the Sidewalk. The 1980s were great times in Times Square. Thanks to Wilhem DeBlasio, the Homeless,Druggies,and Lowlifes have taken over Times Square. Been to Times Square during New Year’s Eve. Crazy!! I see these Skinheads fighting behind my back!! Planet Hollywood,Broadway Joe’s Steakhouse,Carnegie Deli,and Joe Allen,what wonderful Memories.

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AlC February 3, 2012 - 11:39 pm

So no Camel blowing smoke rings anymore ?

And they call this progress ?

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Dave C. February 4, 2012 - 8:34 pm

It’s funny. I was born and raised in Flushing, and I can’t stand Manhattan, which we used to call “the city” when I was growing up. I like the country, the suburbs (although I do admire the old school architecture that still exists in Manhattan). Yet my brother LOVES Manhattan. Strange.

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april May 29, 2012 - 1:46 am

I appreciate your saying this Dave, as I am also one of those who detest “the City.” I grew up in Queens and went to high school (as well as hung out) in Flushing. I spent a good portion of my life saving to leave those streets … and succeeded. Need I say that I miss it more than anything else? Today, I marvel at the beauty of the Bronx and Staten Island for their topography. But I still hate Manhattan – aside from, as you mention, architectural antiquities. Many in my circle would and will do anything to stay. As Kevin knows, you never know what you’ve got till it’s gone … or forgotten.

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Ken B. August 2, 2012 - 9:56 pm

I grew up in Whitestone and going to Flushing was a big treat. We could go to the RKO Keith’s for a movie where there were still Saturday shows with multiple features like cartoons and travelogues. We had Gertz if you needed fancy shopping and Masters if you didn’t. A hot chocolate at W.T. Grant would would cap off a day that could only be made better if you went home on the Q14 bus carrying a waxed cardboard box (like the ones they put rice in at the Chinese carry-outs) that held a new goldfish which would probably be dead in two weeks. But I could never understand how we could “go into the City” or “go out to the Island”, like we floated somewhere in outer space. Didn’t the adults understand that we were both part of the City and on Long Island at the same time?

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Joe from Brooklyn February 4, 2012 - 9:01 pm

So that’s where you got the picture that appears on the mugs and T-shirts. Very cool.

By the way, Shorpy recently posted a very interesting hi-def picture of the the Knickerbocker Hotel taken in 1909. http://www.shorpy.com/node?page=2

The picture also captures part an old advertisement painted on the building across from the hotel. Still trying to figure it out.

Been coming to forgotten-ny since almost its beginning. Thanks for the interesting and informative articles.

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Barry Rivadue February 5, 2012 - 12:29 pm

I thought I read recently that the Knickerbocker has been bought (again) and will be converted into apartments/condos.

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c. February 8, 2012 - 7:45 pm

Yeah big camel man blowing perfect smoke rings(actually steam)practical right over your head.If there was a lull in traffic and you listened real hard you could just hear the smoke machine wheezin’ and puffin’,puffin’ anda wheezin’
And dont forget giant Right Guard can sprayin out deodarant to kill all BO in ny.
ALL BO!

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Skyline Stories: Philly’s Dilworth Plaza, Death of Coney Island, Beijing’s Failed Historic Preservation | URBN Fabric February 10, 2012 - 7:31 am

[…] has arrived (Amusing the Zillion). At least there are some relics of the past in Times Square (Forgotten NY). Twenty years after the Crown Heights riots, the neighborhood is in the path of being […]

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Robert Craig February 23, 2012 - 9:10 pm

Thank you for sharing this on the Web. Actually, I love Times Square now than during the 70’s & the 80’s, when it was ridden with crime & prostitution. It just irritates me that after complaining of how Times Square went downhill with all this crime & prostitution, these same critics now can’t stand how it has been cleaned up! Come on now, get real!

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Joseph Ciolino February 24, 2012 - 8:16 am

The street sign on the corner of Broadway and 51st street now indicates it as, “Al Jolson Way,” as it straddles the Winter Garden Theater, where Jolson reigned as the undisputed “King” of Broadway from for more than 20 years.

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Florence Oliveri June 15, 2013 - 4:44 pm

I lived in Manhattan from 1931 to 1942 during the Great Depression. So different then. People had very little but were more honest. It was safe to walk the streets even at night. At high school age friends and I would walk from 105th Street to the Paramount and other big theaters. We saved 5cent fares but could see big movie stars for 25 cents. We were married in Manhattan then moved to RI and then later on took our kids to Radio City Music Hall for their Christmas shows and once saw Perry Como there. He was a wonderful man.While living in Jupiter, Fl., he belonged to the same Church and we met him and his Roselle at home parties. We live in GA now but living in Manhattan then is an experience I will never forget.

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COMET July 15, 2015 - 10:16 pm

Grew up in Bergen County NY and for me going into the City was not that out of the ordinary due to a mother in the Arts. Grand parents grew up in Queens–and two different branches left The Bronx in the 30’s to raise their kids in safe suburbia of–Jersey! Of course–my grandmother–who was from some what of a show biz family—went back in to have her shoes custom made at I. Miller.

OF course we kids (the grandkids of these guys!) were wild for The City–I can remember crossing the OLD Times Square with my best friends to go see Tommy; going to see the Who live at the Garden; the Halloween Show under MSG with Frank Zappa–going to tiny clubs in the Village (remember—the drinking age was 18 then as we all had faux licenses!). Going to an Art Show where my mother was exhibiting her work when the South Street Seaport was being re-done–and seeing the LARGEST RATE I HAD EVER SEEN–come off a ship on a hawser to the dock! This thing was the size of Jack Russel.
Who remembers the “Here, Kitty kitty” ad?

Some guy in Washington Square park handing me a brown paper bag with a bottle in it while I was sitting on the edge of the Fountain. I was—9.

Walking thru Central Park with friends with a can of Mace in my sheepskin coat pocket.

Going to a party up near Harlem and getting off on the wrong side of the platform; trying to follow my directions and being hopelessly lost; getting “Buzzed in” to a liquor store who called a cab for me and got some LARGE local boys to ESCORT me out of the store to the cab–and the guy paid for the cab too!

I NEVER remember being afraid of anything.

FFWD a few years to the 90’s–NYC is all clean and gentrified and safe and I took a road trip with my young kids and stepfather (Who worked at that Times Square Paramount building for about 100 years!) discovering that the Village was now all “Gap-ified” and the Square–well–I cried. Then we went to Central Park to show the kiddos Mom’s old stomping grounds and my stepfather was convinced that I should follow a Park Jeep into the depths of the Park (we were in an identical Jeep) and by the time I realized we were in a NO CARS area some pansy ass looking guy in too short shorts on roller skates–not even blades!!!–skates!!!—came up pulled out a giant orange survival knife and offered to “Flat all four of your tires” for me–my Inner New Yawka came out and using language neither my mother my stepfather and esp my KIDS did not know I possessed I cussed the guy out; got some guy pushing a STROLLER to wrangle the now gathering crowd and turned around and drove off.

My step dad was in the back of the car and at dinner that night he said–Did that guy REALLY have a KNIFE? I thought my kids and my mom would fall off their chairs.

I am very glad to see that the old venerable Times Square is still hiding in plain sight!

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MusicNotesRoom.com May 22, 2017 - 8:52 am

Lights and colors have different frequencies which typically make it much more
difficult to slow down the brain. Hussain’s tabla can support the
bass harmonically but it doesn’t deal with chord changes.
What I notice about the kids who have difficulty keeping a beat
is that they usually did not attend baby music classes, not mine or any music classes.

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Sunny November 22, 2019 - 11:22 pm

I’ve lived a block away from Times Square for over 40 years – my husband and I moved in in 1977, and we raised 4 children here. I like it better now. I’m not a fan of Disney and all the tourists, but that’s better than prostitutes and drug addicts. For sure, it never stays the same, always changes.

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