42nd Street at Its Prime? 1979

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42nd St., Northside, 1979
Langdon Clay

Anyone else wish NYC could be like this again?

― Cub, Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Much simpler days.

― Cub, Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:25 (twenty-three years ago)

It's perfect now. With the new Champs opening up, not to mention a Hello Kitty store, 42nd St.'s Golden Age is NOW!

― Yancey (ystrickler), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Are you serious?
I am.

― Cub, Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I work on 42nd between the new huge ass McDonald's (actually built into the front of my building) and the Lion King. Extrapolate from there.

― Yancey (ystrickler), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, I actually miss those days because they were back before Juliani rezoned the city so that all the strip joints ended up in LIC. Yeah, thanks, like WE wanted them...

― kate, Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:08 (twenty-three years ago)

And the wax museum!

I live a bit west of Times Square, and having to disembark at that subway stop is... well, I often just get off at 50th street instead. Enough said.

― Jen (nstop), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Wow. This is between 7th and 8th. Unbelievable how different this block is today.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:19 (twenty-three years ago)

The wax museum is next door as well. Me and Samuel L. are like _that_!

― Yancey (ystrickler), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:19 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.sca.org.au/del/pennsic30/times-square.jpg

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:21 (twenty-three years ago)

That's the opposite side of the street from the picture above.
(my office is right behind the "u" in the Madame Tussauds sign, by the way)

― Yancey (ystrickler), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Passing by the wax museum a couple of months ago I noticed someone getting their picture taken with their George W, pose: flipping el presidente the bird. Classic.

― Jen (nstop), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.tomcirillo.com/du%20jour%20images/times%20square.jpg

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:29 (twenty-three years ago)

jbr the clock in your first picture is the one the actors anxiously glance on as they hurry their way west towards theater row for their 7:00 calls; watch out around that time that you don't get housed by black-clad mutterers

that second pic is classic, naturally

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:35 (twenty-three years ago)

1982:

http://www.dirgart.com/upthealley/artists/panorama/images/panorama-ray/timessquarenight-21.JPG

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Pardon me. '81. I'm actually getting emotional looking at that picture. That's EXACTLY how I remembered early '80s Times Square.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:49 (twenty-three years ago)

I actually think the new 42nd Street is a GOOD THING. I am of the belief that any city has to have at least one section devoted to demented consumer phantasmagoria if it's to be considered truly world-class.

Fuck, I sound like Momus, don't I? I don't want the phantasmagoria to grow!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 00:07 (twenty-three years ago)

The opening life-in-NYC montage used early '80's SNL episodes -- an arrest, angry dogs, smokin' disco, bald punker, slimeball w/switchblade, people struggling w/revolving doors -- actually does make my heart pang, though.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 00:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Is NYC any better under Bloomburg than Guiliani? I was thinking about this today. I am devoting all my energy to getting back up there, but if it is going to be a city of "predictability and control" (thanks Koolhaas), then maybe I will back to Worcester ;-) Is anything going on there besides electrocrash and crack? Is there any edge left? Is NYC the best city in the country only due to lack of competition?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 03:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah, the corner of Broadway and 44th. My office for seven years.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 03:50 (twenty-three years ago)

When I look at that 1981 photo, I keep hearing the opening riff from "Heart of Glass" pulsating in my head. You know how at the beginning of the video there's this nighttime copter shot of NYC with all the skyscrapers and gleaming lights, and then it cuts away to the streets of Times Square before ending up in the disco? Like that.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Is NYC any better under Bloomburg than Guiliani?

I can't tell yet. But I'm seeing a lot more homeless people these days.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:19 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't think that's Bloomberg's fault, nor is it a sign of Guiliani's political abilities. The economy sucks, thus homelessness and crime will increase. If you like really high taxes on everything Aaron, then come on back!

― Yancey (ystrickler), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 16:07 (twenty-three years ago)

gawwwwwwwd I love New York. Now, then, forever, always.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 16:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I already expected high taxes, Yancey. Just as long as they aren't used to enforce the anti-dancing policy introduced during Guiliani's administration.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:56 (twenty-three years ago)

No you are now REQUIRED to dance and I am very tired.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:58 (twenty-three years ago)

Required to dance? At all venues? I must get myself to Lincoln Center to see an opera!

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Hush hush. Keep it down now. Voices carry!

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 20:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Bloomberg is doing a much better job at across-the-board alienation of the city populace than Giuliani was, I'd think.

― maura (maura), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 20:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Yancey, you realize you've now given the entire internet enough information to find you and stalk you 5 days out of the week, right? Granted, they'd have to pick you out from the 8 TRILLION PEOPLE STANDING IN MY WAY ALL THE TIME IN TIMES SQUARE but still.

I hate Times Square. I'm always amazed at the amount of people taking pictures of absolutely nothing all the time. The only good thing about it is the Naked Cowboy, and that angry group of guys always holding a rally about something or other. Those guys kick the ass of all people ever.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 28 November 2002 04:37 (twenty-three years ago)

(oh and by the way, I now have "Footloose" in my head thanks to you fuckers and your pro-dancing stance)

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 28 November 2002 04:41 (twenty-three years ago)

only 8 trillion people in your way, Ally? I used to work in Herald Square. Getting off of work at the same time that every tourist in the universe was going into macys was hellish at this time of year! group tours consisting of the entire population of (insert name of midwestern state to insult) would stand in front of every single subway entrance. It was easier to walk down to 4th and catch the D train there!

footloose, footloose, every body get footloose!

I never understood why tourists think of new yorkers as rude. they are in our way, and we are not on vacation!

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 28 November 2002 05:11 (twenty-three years ago)

I fuckin' hate it when someone is standing in the middle of a busy street with a camera, transfixed on whatever picture they're trying to take. AHEM EXCUSE ME.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 28 November 2002 05:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I dont mind picture takers. they can be walked around. crowds are problematic.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 28 November 2002 05:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I am coming off like such a snob.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 28 November 2002 05:21 (twenty-three years ago)

You are REQUIRED to pick up some trash.

http://www.angelfire.com/de2/detroitpix/MichAveStripMall.jpg

― Andy K (Andy K), Thursday, 28 November 2002 06:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't talk to me about crowds today, sonny boy. I left my house this morning to get a cup of coffee only to stare down the fucking parade. Go to Penn to head out to Long Island, missing my train...deciding to nip outside...FORGETTING THAT I'M FUCKING HEADING OUT RIGHT INTO MACY'S ie the parade. I see the same balloon as the one that menaced me at my house, it was poetic.

Also, I get onto train only to watch conductors proceed to shove every man, woman, and child who was at the parade onto my train. A fist fight broke out cos some bitch wouldn't take "There is no more room in this train" for an answer. Getting to Farmingdale took HOURS because this happened at EVERY SINGLE STOP.

Arrgh. Fucking holidays.

― Ally (mlescaut), Friday, 29 November 2002 04:09 (twenty-three years ago)

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