Speaking of a New York that is dying …
Here are some photos of a New York that is now completely dead, and Disney is dancing on its grave. Once upon a time, not too many years ago, if you walked through Times Square, you would see smut and girlie shows and strange old-school burlesque palaces – right on 42nd Street (so hard to believe now – if you’ve been to Times Square recently you will know what I mean). There was a dingy carnival atmosphere, like Coney Island in March … working girls (or: girls working their way through college) and peep shows and pimps – a block away from Broadway. Unreal.
When I moved to New York in 1995, that New York was still alive – although quickly dying. I did not take these pictures realizing what would happen to 42nd Street, I didn’t see the future – I just know I like dingy urban scenes, I love smut, I love all that Diane Arbus stuff – the underbelly. I love it. It’s part of the reason why I moved here.
At the time I took the following photos, the writing was already on the wall. Many of the burlesque houses were boarded up – but nothing had opened in their places – so Times Square looked like a ghost town. Truly eerie. This is the hubbub, the tourist mecca of America – and it’s boarded up end to end, with vestiges of that old world (strange murals, peeling signs) still visible.
So strange.
And now I am so so glad I wandered around that freezing day taking pictures, because those days are GONE now. You can’t find much of this anymore in New York anywhere. The smut industry has moved on to greener friendlier pastures.
I love these photos. So so strange … things look jerry-rigged, pasted together – things don’t make sense – the huge DKNY sign next to the model of some ancient Greek building stuck into an alcove … signifying what? It’s fabulous whatever it is.
These photos, I must reiterate, are all on 42nd Street proper – they are not creepy little side streets. This is what you saw on the main drag. What a welcome mat.
“Live models working their way thru college.”
I LOVE that.
Isn’t that unbelievable? Thank God they’re not DEAD is all I’m saying.
What a great picture â the DKNY/Greek Temple. Each quarter of the picture is a non sequitur to the next. Thatâs just great!
Also love the 2nd floor sign at the NUGGET: Special Male Section LIVE GIRLS. What is that?
Guys who likes live girls are SPECIAL â like you mean perverts or something?
George -Yes – it’s so incongrous – four separate squares, yet all in the same scene!
Special Male Section – hahahaha I hadn’t noticed that. “Are you special? I think you are. Right this way.”
Either that or there are so few of you that you get just a corner alcove on the second floor!
Would you mind much if I a saved a copy of DKNY/GT? I promise full credit if I should ever use it publicly.
Go for it – I’d be honored.
Thank you.
Not just the “live” thing, but I find the whole “working thru college” hilarious, too. Like, is that really criteria for a guy when he wants to see a stripper? “I’d rather mine to be enrolled in college, preferably Ivy League. I’ll pay extra to see a report card.”
Right. It’s WAY more sexy to know she’s taking a Psych 103 survey course on her day off!
42nd Street is now Applebee’s, McDonalds and Skechers. Can you imagine “The Nugget” in that environment???
I never got a chance to see Old New York outside of photos, but I can imagine how upsetting it is to go from places like that to all those cookie cutter chains.
And as george already pointed out — “special male section.” Like, how are they special? Do they mean special as in retarded or do they have two heads or something?
If you haven’t read it I recommend the fabulous Sleazoid Express by the late Bill Landis. It’s a round-up of the 42nd St. grindhouse movie palaces in their prime. After reading it you actually feel wistful that you never got to see titles like Black Gestapo or Cannibal Holocaust while surrounded by junkies and hookers.
Jessica R – I so wish I could go to a grindhouse movie palace amongst junkies and hookers. My childhood involved many trips to New York (I had family here) so I vividly remember that era – and the subways – just COVERED with grafitti. Amazing to think of now, we’re squeaky clean with automated voices in the subway. I miss the indecipherable accents, as annoying as they could be.
I will check out that book though – sounds right up my alley!
“Men with Tourettes – live girls behind the door to your left!”
Emily-Given the subject, some questions, or parts of questions, just answer themselves.
I think I first saw Times Square in 1986 and it didn’t surprise/shock me as much as I thought it would. Maybe because it was daytime. I saw it again in 2000 and was surprised at the change. As a tourist I would vote for the old one, but then I also don’t have to live with the downsides. Love the pics though, I wish I had taken some.
Dave – I wish I had taken more!! Definite downsides. You could feel the danger. The air crackled with it. And the place was a dump. People leaping over the turnstiles, subways covered in grafitti …
I guess a part of me, though, didn’t move here to be safe and comfy, you know?
It’s funny – in 2002 I went up to Montreal for the Montreal Film Festival and I was like, “Oh!!! So all the smut and all the hookers moved up here!” They were everywhere, mixed in with the regular populace – like it used to be in New York – peep shows next to bars … I don’t know, I liked the atmosphere. A bit on the edge, but that’s how I like it.