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Times Square Spectacular: Lighting Up Broadway

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Times Square is one of the best known spots in the world and it brings back memories to anyone who even hears it mentioned. To many, it is the spot where New Year's Eve is celebrated ,whether being there or on TV. To others it brings back celebrations at the end of the War.To others ,it conjurs up images of the news headlines running on the Times Building. To others, it is the strolls through it,going to Off Broadway Shows.To others, it is Jack Dempseys Restaurant or simply munching on a Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog.Back in 1969 and a few years after ,I spent a lot of time in New York and often strolled through Times Square and the surrounding area,both during the day and in the evenings;and even though it was pretty much run down and sleazy,and I suppose even somewhat dangerous;I thouroughly enjoyed every moment I spent there.As much as has been said about it at that time;I never witnessed any actual crime taking place or anyone being bothered. However;Times Square had an atmosphere about it that was like no other place.
When I saw this book,I thought it would bring many images and whatnot back to me ,but that is not the kind of a book this is.The book is not about the people ,the things that took place there,the feelings and ambience,or in any way an attempt to portray the essence and "soul" of Times Square and what made it what it was.
Rather,the book deals with the physical aspect of the streets,the buildings,the lights and signs,the political ramifications of zoning ,organizations and groups influencing the efforts to rebuild and redevelop the physical aspects of the areas.
If that aspect of Times Square is what interests you;well, maybe so will this book.
However,if you have ever spent time there;this book will do little in the way of showing what Times Square was all about and why,if you were ever there,what it meant to you.

This book contains a trove of compelling imagery covering the century since Times Square got its name. Darcy Tell nimbly traces the history of this most famous of American commercial districts, focusing on how signage there was born and grew by dizzying leaps and bounds, from large-scale graphic signboards to increasingly complex and alluring electrical extravaganzas. Particularly fascinating are her profiles of the designers and promoters behind the Square's special-effects billboards, such as O. J. Gude and Douglas Leigh. We learn how some of the more traffic-stopping displays, including the Camel cigarettes "smoke rings," were created. Finally, Tell cogently conveys not only the sordid tale of the Square's post-World War II decline but also the immense struggles involved in reclaiming the area as a civic showplace during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Illustrations include copious rare photographs as well as maps, restaurant menus, theater programs, postcards, and sheet music.

Ask anyone from Baltimore to Bangladesh, and question them what are the five iconic landmarks of New York City. You are likely to get the same answers: Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, the New York Subway...and...Times Square. But it is only the latter that conveys the "excitement" of the City such as the inebriated celebrations on New Year's Eve, the hysterical joy at the end of World War II, the smiles during the Macy Parades, the roar at a Jack Dempsey fight, the tinkle of glasses on rooftop restaurants, the come-ons by prostitutes, and the glamour of the old movie palaces. This book is a loving tribute to this glorious square...or should I say city hourglass from 43 to 48th street between 7th Ave and Broadway.

Times Square did not exist when New York City was born...but became uptown in the 1890's. Then it was the center of the horse and buggy trade. It was only after Thomas Edison invented the electric marquee that real estate and advertisement developers started transforming these few city blocks into the advertising capital of the world.

The strip of land has repeatedly invented itself over a century. As the author explains, the "square" was quite fashionable in 1910 as the site of over-the-top entertainment. There is a beautiful color illustration of the grand ballroom of the Hotel Astor. But perhaps the best illustrations are the wonderful black and white pictures of the intriguing billboards set out in lights, the Times Square of, lst's say, Damon Runyon who gave the background story of "Guys and Dolls."

The book is like a time machine...letting us enjoy this special spot of Manhattan decade after decade...and there have been so many changes. (The book has a magazine cover from the early 20th century when the new Roxy movie theater was built to look like a 16th century Spanish colonial palace....then near the end, we have a picture of aging movie star Gloria Swanson in her Hollywood best standing in the ruins of the building during the 1960's after it was demolished by the wrecking ball... like a ghost in the rubble] The influence of the Depression, the squalor, and then the revitization in the 1990's are all there. I might combine this book with "The Devil's Playground" by James Traub to get a full picture of the intriguing history of this lightning rod of the city.

Purchased this book on a whim and am very pleased I did as I was pleasantly surprised over the detail encompassed in its pages. Living in New York City and taking for granted the neon lights, it was quite interesting to learn how it all did start and continues today. Some really classic pictures along with great writing make it worth one's historical curiosity.