Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
#1Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:02pm
1. NATHAN'S HOT DOGS -42nd/7th. Huge, filthy disgusting mess where every fascinating degenerate/hooker/pimp, etc (and a few normal people!?). perched 24/7. Loved the "danger" of going in for fries.
2. NEDICKS -across the st.
3. ORANGE JULIUS.
3. 3-4 HOWARD JOHNSON'S in a 3 block radius - (mingle w/the tourists, eating fried clams/ice cream sodas at the counter. A turquoise/orange TS institution. 46th/Bway/NW corner.
4. METROPOLE CAFE - About 48TH/7TH. So sleazy in the 60's, Gene Krupa was now playing for strippers. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdavidclark/4171464139/
5. FASCINATION BALL - Somewhere about 49th/Bway? Arcade,
before technology.
6. X Movies on 42nd st - you felt dirty just walking down the st. Outright scary in those days. Nostalgia: "Midnight Cowboy".
7 . 42nd and 8th - NE corner. Drug dealing center of the world
8. Last, but not least: The MOROSCO THEATRE. THE HELEN HAYES THEATRE. THE BIJOU THEATRE. They tore these down?? I'll never forget all the actors, theater people, etc. on the day before the wrecking ball, protesting...it was too little, too late. So sad. Now, stands the hideous MARRIOT MARQUIS.
comments, if you remember.
Progress is progress, I guess.
Updated On: 12/12/10 at 04:02 PM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#2Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:21pm
I remember them all
In addition, I remember - not necessarily skanky but a loss nonetheless:
The Brass Rail Restaurants
Zum Zum Restaurants
Automats
Hawaii Kai
The Movie Palaces Of Time Square
Make Your Own Headlines (behind the Latin Quarter)
Astor Hotel
Abbey Victoria Hotel
SH*T we lost a lot
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#2Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:34pm#3Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:35pm
Oh yeah, how could I forget the HAWAII KAI? The ultimo Polynesian tourist trap. What was that very short guy's name? You know - the "doorman"? I believe he was about 3.5 feet tall, and a nasty SOB. My parents took us there once in the 60's, because we kids begged. I believe the vertical signage is still on the bldg? Next to the Wintergarden?
Well,. at least the COLONY is still around - even though I don't buy stuff there any more - it's super nostalgic for me.
I also lament the demise of BARRYMORES ..it was like a 2nd family to all who worked in the theatre district.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#4Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:41pmWhat about the big penny arcade on the corner of 52 and 7 th ave?
#5Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:45pmI'm not old enough to remember any of this, but I've heard all the stories and it breaks my pretty red heart to know that I missed out on all the sluttiness.
#6Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:51pm
THE ROXY. Sondheim got his inspiration for FOLLIES from a photo of Gloria Swanson in front of this crumbling, sumptuous palace.
Before my time, too, but this link is very fascinating for theatre buffs: http://www.atos.org/Pages/Journal/Roxy-NYC/Roxy-NYC.html
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#7Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 4:54pm
I already have this on my favorites
One bad decision I made was for my confirmation my parents gave me a choice of seeing Around The World In 80 Days or go to the Roxy. I chose the former much to my eternal regret.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#8Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 5:00pmI loved Orange Julius. In the late 1970s, they were a staple in so many malls. I guess they started to fade when people found out they were made with raw eggs.
#9Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 5:20pmI had no idea, GOTHAM! Really? What exactly were in those things?
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#10Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 5:33pm
"I had no idea, GOTHAM! Really? What exactly were in those things?"
I don't know if you ever watched them make an orange julius. They would put ice in the blender, then pour in orange juice and then pour in a liquid thickener. One of the ingredients in the thickener was raw egg.
#11Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 6:19pmOrange Julius is still around. There's one in the new outlet mall on the Garden State Parkway. It shares space with a DQ, I think.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#12Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 7:38pm
Late 1970's - there was a place on 42nd called "Tanfastic" - it was a tanning parlor that was really a whorehouse.
I also remember that in the 1980's, there were at least four Beefsteak Charlie's restaurants in the Times Square area. They were famous for the salad bar with all-you-can-eat raw shrimp.
wexy
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/05
#13Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 9:00pmWanna go out?
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#14Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/12/10 at 10:51pmThe Big Top Theater!
#15Skanky Times Square I remember (60s-70s).
Posted: 12/13/10 at 11:33am
The Gloria Swanson Roxy rubble photo that inspired Prince and Sondheim was actually in Life Magazine, but there were wonderful outtakes from that photo shoot:
I like second one--with her arms outstretched at 11 and 1 and no boa--even better than the first.
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