New York hotels go in and out of style just like clubs and bars, and once they outlive their usefulness, the get a date with the wrecking ball.
That’s the story of the Hotel Piccadilly. Its era as a hot place to book a room or meet for a drink was from the 1930s to the 1950s.
With about 700 rooms on West 45th Street, it was in the heart of the Theater District. “Smartly located in the center of everything” was its very midcentury-sounding slogan.
The Piccadilly also had the Piccadilly Circus Lounge, “gaily colorful spot in the thick of theaterdom patronized by show folk and show goers,” states a 1949 restaurant guide, Knife and Fork in New York.
It’s no surprise, of course, that when Times Square and midtown west went downhill, so did nearby hotels like the Piccadilly.
In 1982, it was torn down—and the Marriott Marquis built on its old site.
Tags: cool hotels in NYC, Hotel Piccadilly, Hotels in New York City, New York City in the 1950s, Piccadilly Circus Bar and Lounge, theater district hotels in NYC, Times Square 1980s, Times Square in the 1950s
Ephemeral New York 
January 17, 2011 at 8:24 am |
Here’s a sad confession: I don’t remember the Piccadilly, despite having worked on 45th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue from 1980-81. What a grand old building.
Wish I could turn back the clock, knowing what I know now. Wish I’d paid closer attention to the old city. It just never occurred to me that so much of it would vanish in a few short years.
January 17, 2011 at 6:28 pm |
The first time I came to New York for a college trip with the theatre department and we stayed at the Piccadilly. It was directly across from Shubert Alley. I can remember our room had wallpaper with huge yellow flowers on it and matching bedspreads. One night there was a horrible, very loud clanging noise that woke me up. I called down and the operator told me, in a strong Brooklyn accent, “That’s just the radiator, hon”. Being an innocent boy from the midwest, who had never had radiators, I said “Oh, thank you.” and went back to sleep.
January 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm |
They also tore down the original Helen Hayes theater on 46th to accommodate the Marriot Marquis.
February 5, 2011 at 6:24 am |
I stayed at The Piccadilly with my dad when I was 10. We were on an epic 4month road trip from Australia to honour my late mothers wishes.She had passed away 2 years earlier.She had always wanted to travel to America and they had made plans to take me together. It was 1975 and the hotel was kind of seedy and run down as was most of Times Square but I thought it was the most exciting place in the world. I watched the Winston cigarette guy blow smoke rings from a billboard from our window !!
February 13, 2013 at 1:01 pm |
my girlfriend and I were mesmerized by those same smoke rings (torture for her…she just stopped smoking!)…guess that’s a sign of great advertising it stuck in both our memory-slots…she was appearing with Anthony Newley in “The Roar of the Greasepaint”..as you said…great location to walk to work….run-down environs….best wishes John Michel
February 21, 2011 at 9:47 pm |
I recently found a Piccadilly Circus Bar folder with a photo of my parents on their honeymoon dated February 12, 1945. My father was originally from Boston and my mother was from Fort Wayne, IN. Although they are both deceased, it is a wonderful souvenir which I am pleased to have discovered.
February 23, 2012 at 4:25 am |
any chance you can send this photo to me? My Grandfather owned the Picadilly hotel and I am making a Documentary about it. Thank you,
Lisa
eastmanaz@gmail.com
July 13, 2012 at 1:21 am
Hi Lisa – just to let you know there are numerous items on EBAY associated with the ole infamous Piccadilly NYC.I have bought several ole postcards and am thrilled to hear that your GrandDad owned it !
I must tell you that, the Hotel Piccadilly is one of my most favorite childhood memories. My Dad was the Master Carpenter/Manager of the Booth Theatre at 222 W/ 45th St., right across from the hotel for over 40 yrs.. Since my Dad had to work every single major holiday, we had all our family holiday dinners at your hotel. We were a family of 8 – Mom, Dad, 3 sisters and Grandpa & Nana living with us. We always loved the food, the atmosphere and knew all the wonderful waiters and bartenders ! We especially loved the Scandia smorgasboard and everyone was always so kind to us. I think I drank well over 100 “Shirley Temples” from the Circus Bar. We had so many fantastic times there over so many years and were heartbroken when we found out its fate. Still to this day, I miss the Hotel Piccadilly sooooo much and will never forget our cherished times there.
When will your documentary be done ? Sure would love to see it and hear more about your GrandDad’s history of ownership.
You can reach me at katemcc2004@yahoo.com
God Bless – regards, Katie.
July 13, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Kate,
Thank you so much for your reply.That’s the right theatre I was looking for. I wish i could go back in time and spend a whole week in the old New York City.
Irene C.
July 14, 2012 at 2:24 am
We would all love to see the documentary…let us know when it is completed.
March 24, 2011 at 7:38 pm |
My Mom & Dad introduced me to the Piccadilly in1940. Every time after that I stayed there, every time I was in NYC the 3 sons were playing there at that time . A lot of good memories. I could not believe they tore that building down it was beautiful.
April 17, 2011 at 7:20 pm |
Trying to date a photo which was in a Piccadilly Circus Bar folder. The cover pictures a drawing of a topless woman set inside a painter’s palette. The writing on the bottom of the Piccadilly Circus Bar folder is “The Home of the Three Sons.” My father and uncle are pictured with their army and coast guard uniforms, respectively. They are sitting with their 2 sisters. As my grandfather died before the end of WW II, it’s possible the men were on leave to attend the funeral OR that the war was over and they had come home. Any help to approximate the time frame of this photo would be appreciated. Thanks.
January 10, 2013 at 7:35 pm |
Vicki,
The picture would have to be between 1940-1947. The Three Sons were at the hotel between these dates.
May 11, 2011 at 8:00 am |
WE STAYED AT THE PICCADILLY SEVERAL TIMES IN THE EARLY 1980’S, AND BY THEN ITS DAYS WERE NUMBERED. BUT THE NOSTALGIA ALONE WAS WORTH THE SEEDY ROOMS AND RUN DOWN LOBBY.
May 23, 2011 at 5:31 pm |
I stayed at the Hotel Piccadilly when I was only 16 years old. There were 6 of us and a chaperone from Virginia Beach, VA. We were either journalism or annual students there to attend the Columbia Scholastic Press Association workshops for 3 days. I was editor of the school paper at the time and was a moderator of one of the workshops. There was a coffee shop on the first level to the right of the lobby entrance. The manager was Puerto Rican and he was speaking Spanish making fun of our southern accents. He was really surprised when I said something to him in Spanish and from that moment on, the staff loved to see us come in. New Yorkers at that time really seemed to love Southerners….as many loved talking to us. I was told they could recognize us immediately as non-New Yorkers because we were always smiling.
I remember going to Birdland, a very famous (and now gone) night club. At sixteen, you could get in but were placed in an area where no alcohol was served. Count Basie’s band was playing that night. The one guy that was with the group was hungry…and ordered a sandwich. We were blown away by the price of that sandwich.
June 1, 2011 at 3:07 pm |
The Piccadilly Hotel was a great hotel…used to stay there for long week-ends with my 2 girl-friends when I was in my late teen years…such memories!! We always requested the top floor-loved looking down. Wish they didn’t demolish it so I could see it again!
June 6, 2011 at 7:16 pm |
My first time to stay in NYC was in Dec. of 1981. I was there to see Tennessee play in the garden state bowl. We stayed at the Piccadilly and thrilled to be staying in the middle of Times Square. The thing I’ll always remember is the iron pipe radiator could not be turned off. It was 21* outside and we had the window wide open. I was very sad when they closed it and tore it down. It was such a beautiful place.
June 23, 2011 at 1:30 am |
Is that the Piccadilly where Jon Voight stays when he first gets to NY in “Midnight Cowboy”?
February 26, 2020 at 3:37 am |
@WHAMMO! No, that was the Hotel Claridge, Broadway and West 44th Street, sadly demolished in the early 1970s.
July 9, 2011 at 9:15 pm |
My first memory was around 1943 with my parents on a l-o-n-g train ride from North Carolina packed with service men. The hotel was packed with service men, and also West Point Cadets who used the Piccadilly as a gathering spot. My fondest memory was in 1957, when again from N.C,,.I spent a week in New York at the Piccadilly with with my then beautiful girlfriend. She was mistaken many times for Elizabeth Taylor. Great memories of the Piccadilly.
November 29, 2011 at 8:13 pm |
My high school drama club stayed at the Piccadilly in May of 1970 and 1971, There were about 45 teens and 6 chaperones. The first year there was a senior class from Georgia so one chaperone parked himself on a bench out side our room which was near the elevators. The halls were like an H with the elevators in between. Each year we saw 3 Broadway shows and toured NYC. I would not let my kids take that trip now a days. I wish that I could see more actual pictures of the Piccadilly.
January 30, 2012 at 8:33 am |
Let your kids take the trip (if they want to). NYC is so much safer “now a days” than it was when you made the the trip in ’70 & ’71. It is a LOT more expensive, but it is an experience they will never forget, just like you won’t ;^)
November 29, 2011 at 10:40 pm |
My brother stayed in the Picadilly in the late 60s when he was on leave from the Army. In 1976 he and I took a vacation trip to NYC and he wanted to stay there, so we did. It was, frankly, a bit of a dump. But the name alone as well as the seedy location fueled all kinds of jokes for many years afterward. 🙂
I found a sewing needle with thread in it stuck into the comforter on my bed, yikes!
December 1, 2011 at 12:39 am |
Went to a Jr Naval Academy calle Leonard Hall in Md and stayed at the piccadilly in March of 1966 as we were there to march in the St Patricks Day parade. My fondest memory of the hotel was lighting paper airplanes and launching them from the window, watching them soar out of sight beyond the ramparts above the lower follows. I was 12 years old, what can you expect?
December 26, 2011 at 3:33 pm |
Je viens de retrouver une pochette d’allumettes de l’hôtel Piccadilly de New York – C’était à l’été 1974 – Jeune français je visitais New York pour le 1ere fois avec Hélène, mon amie québécoise, et nous avons passé plusieurs nuits dans cet hôtel immense et vieillot mais qui avait une âme – J’ai conservé une immense tendresse pour Hélène, qui aurait pu devenir mon épouse si nos vies n’avaient divergées et cet hôtel participe de cette mélancolie
January 3, 2012 at 5:16 am |
I’ll always remember the big blue flowered wallpaper of the Piccadilly Hotel fondly. From the porter who rubbed his fingers together meaningfully when I arrived to the man who ran the lobby magazine kiosk who laughed when he first saw me and asked, “Where are you from?” — I had a great time there.
I lived at the Piccadilly Hotel from September until December of 1974. I was twenty years old. What a blast! The heart of the theater district, Times Square, lights and life were all around me. I had a place to stay, but barely anything to live on. Forget taxis, I could barely afford the subway — or food. I remember walking everywhere.
My friends and I were always finding the city’s cheapest deals: theater tickets at bargain prices, banks giving away peanut butter, Columbia Pictures 50th anniversary free all night show. Word on the deals always spread quickly. It was a wonderful time.
I remember my first night there. My friend Annie and I went to a club to hear Sonny Rollins play — in person. I had never been to a club before. I’m pretty sure that there weren’t any in my home town. We paid the outrageous sum of five dollars for a private table in the bar. Priceless.
On the way back to the Piccadilly, we walked along Broadway, not realizing that we had attracted a crowd, but wondering if we could find the hotel again as we wound our way through the heart of Manhattan at 1:00 a.m. We weren’t really worried about being lost, but I was really relieved when one of those fabulous horse-drawn carriages from Central Park drew alongside us. Annie asked directions to the hotel. The driver answered, and then struck up a conversation. Even though we explained that the five dollar cover charge had been all of our money so we couldn’t afford a carriage ride, the man followed us all the way home to the Piccadilly Hotel..
He asked us where we were from and told us about driving the carriage around the park. It felt magical. Now that I’m all grown up, I realize the man was probably worried about two young girls who were obviously out of their element. At the time, I just thought he was really cool. I guess I still think that, but for a different reason.
As to why people asked me where I was from, wherever I went in New York City, I blame the red toggle coat and the excited smile. I wore both of them everywhere.
January 18, 2012 at 8:49 pm |
My first husband and I spent our honeymoon there in May of 1955.. I had never been in the big city before and looking out the window from our room I could see the entrance of a theater with beautiful lights by the entrance. Our room was small and I remember the radiator in the bathroom, that’s where I laid the rinsed out nylons to dry overnight..I wish now that I remembered more , i know it was a great big hotel , I felt like I was in a dream.
February 4, 2012 at 5:00 pm |
I remember as a young girl staying summers at the Piccadilly Hotel (mid 1950’s). We also would take the train Thanksgiving night to NYC so mom could do all her Christmas shopping and of course we would stay at the Piccadilly. I would love sitting in the lobby watching the people, or dad taking me to the Circus Lounge to have a Shirley Temple while we waited for mom to get ready for the theater.
Great memories from my childhood.
March 24, 2012 at 11:22 pm |
My first husband and I stayed there for our honeymoon in 1964..My parents stayed there on their honeymoon in 1945..wonderful memories
April 6, 2012 at 7:58 pm |
I worked for a Bank in Phoenix and was sent to NYC in the fall of 1970 to pick up a repossesed car then drive it all the way back to Arizona. A Phoenix travel agent booked me into the Piccadilly. Upon entering the room and closing the door I turned around and found it had a good 2 or 2 locks! Being a young guy from what was then a small town of Phoenix, Arizona I was somewhat alarmed, however went on to enjoy a great 3 days in NYC!
April 19, 2012 at 8:41 pm |
well my sister was the executive housekeeper there and sadly she passed away there in 1982 I worked there in the laundry room on wknds with the nicest bunch of maids houseman and especially the owner Mr K he was so good to my 2 kids,,, Carmen I miss you & Sammy & Bernice find me on facebook….
May 7, 2012 at 4:17 pm |
For all you hotel Piccadilly lovers I have a piece of nostalgia,from this great hotel, a vintage wooden hanger that advertises the hotel. Please contact me if you would like to own a piece of this magical place, It would be great if one of you owned it instead of the eBay route.
June 9, 2012 at 5:09 pm |
We are going back to New York and I looked up our old Hotel that we stayed at in 1959. Yes it was the Hotel Piccadilly. There were 5 of us and we travelled by car from Victoria B.C. We picked up my sister and 2 of her friends in Portland Ore. and away across the country we travelled. My husband and 4 women. It was theatre time when we arrived and one of the girls was Japanese and as we unloaded the car a crowd gathered around because they thought she was an actress since Flower Drum Song was playing at a theatre just across the street. I also have a wooden hanger with the name on it and many times let it bring back memories. Great Memories.
June 10, 2012 at 1:24 am |
Does anyone remember the name of the theater accross the street from the Piccadilly Hotel? I could see it from my room window.
Irene Coady
July 13, 2012 at 1:33 am |
Irene, if you were looking out on 45th St, it was the BOOTH THEATRE at SHUBERT ALLEY.
July 14, 2012 at 2:23 am |
Peggy, I just read your comment, I would love the hanger, if you still have it todate. My e-mail is: IMP129@hotmail.com. Thank U!!
August 11, 2012 at 2:50 pm |
Iam now 65. From small town in \Pa. when I was kid my dad went to NYC & Iwent along. Just looked, still have wooken coathanger taken (stolen) on that mid-1950s trip. Iam not only one I see. George
August 24, 2012 at 11:45 pm |
In 1964, when I was 10 years old, my family took the vacation road trip of a lifetime, driving our brand new ’64 Impala from Amarillo, Texas to New York City for the World’s Fair. Our home away from home in NYC was the Picadilly! The whole experience — the fair, the Empire State Building, Time Square, even the Picadilly itself — well, it was almost sensory overload for that little Texan! Magnificent trip! Magnificent memories!
September 19, 2012 at 8:36 pm |
We spent our honeymoon at Picadilly December 1953. first time visit to New York. our room was directly over the entrance. We purchased two apples from street vender and placed them on the outside window sill, to chill. to our surprise they were gone when we went to retrieve them later. I think we were on the seventh or eighth floor. There were two large stains on the walk right next to the doorman. I can imagine the surprise when the projectiles struck the pavement. We worried he may have been hit but decided to keep our part in the episode a secret. It was windier than we thought that cold day in December.
November 30, 2012 at 6:16 am |
I used to stay at the Piccadilly Hotel in the 1940’s with my parents. We lived in Peru and my father was in the oil business. Every two years we were given a lengthy vacation and passed through NYC. Before returning to Peru, a gentleman who had an office on the Lobby floor, acted as a go between to help us get “deals” on cars, luggage, etc. I’m wondering if anyone remembers his name. We spent a good week or more there buying clothes, shoes, and other necessities to last for the next two years. My Dad would get a new car and this fellow at the hotel would arrange the purchase and the shipping of the car from the City to Peru. I believe in either 1948 or 1950, I saw TV for the first time in one of the hotel rooms. Never saw it again until we moved permanently to the US in 1952.
January 1, 2013 at 3:19 am |
My grandmother took us every New Year’s to New York City from smalltown Pennsylvania. It was one of the highlights of our year as little kids. We stayed at the Picadilly Hotel and, like so many other posters here, I remember staring out the windows at the theatres across the street (“Irma La Douce” was playing at the Plymouth Theare) and thinking what a magical city New York was. I say “was,” because so much of that magic has been destroyed by the wrecking ball since then and replaced by what resembles an overpriced generic food court and shopping mall for tourists. Yes, it’s a much safer place, but so much of its magic and history has been ploughed under in the name of progress.
January 6, 2013 at 8:27 pm |
stayed there on my very first trip to the States. arrived at JFK from IRELAND wearing a wool suit with temperatures in the high nineties. what a memory./ as for the hotel it couldnt have been more convenient for everything.
January 10, 2013 at 7:15 pm |
I have an original menu from the Hotel Piccadilly, dated from 1944. It belonged to my grandfather, who visited the hotel during WWII. The cover depicts Mamie Eisenhower’s favorite singing group, The Three Sons, and is signed by all three group members. I am interested in finding out more about this piece of history if anyone can help me. I have searched the internet many times and am unable to find another piece like it!
July 4, 2013 at 8:39 pm |
During our senior class trip at Eastertime 1961 we stayed at the Piccadilly . Being from rural Northern NY the hotel was really something, and convenient for our many sojourns by foot. I saw John Kennedy’s favorite play- “The Best Man” starring Frank Lovejoy and Lee Tracy. My sister’s class stayed there too in 1951.
August 9, 2013 at 5:04 am |
My grandmother Dorothy was the reservations manager at the Picadilly in the 1970s when I was a little boy — have wonderful memories! Does anyone know if that documentary has appeared? It was a pleasure reading all of these reminiscences!
August 10, 2013 at 2:05 am |
Hopefully it will be finished this month, I’ve been told…
August 13, 2013 at 12:00 am |
I have the receipt from my grandparent’s wedding night at the Piccadilly in 1939, along with an envelope and piece of the stationary in a frame. I am gathering other items from the hotel (post cards, etc) to make a nice display with the receipt at the center. Would love to see the documentary when it is available
August 13, 2013 at 8:46 pm |
Hi Everyone, I am putting this out there one more time, because I would love for someone to own this piece of Hotel Piccadilly memorabilia, that will treasure it. If you would like to buy The Hotel Piccadilly wooden hanger, please contact me, Thanks Peggie.
August 13, 2013 at 9:06 pm |
My first trip to NYC was with my parents in March 1947 at age 14. We stayed at the Picadilly and I loved every minute of it. Being from GA I felt the Georgian Room had to be named that just for us and like others I had my quota of Shirley Temples in the Circus Bar. I got to see Sonya Heine’s Ice Capades, Radio City Music Hall, and the top of the Empire State Building. My dad bought me Benjiman Pump BB gun that made me the happiest kid on earth. It was the most exciting trip I have ever taken and I still think about the old Picadilly every time I am in NYC.
John from Georgia
September 28, 2013 at 5:52 pm |
We stayed at the Picadilly in 1978 for our 1st trip to NYC. We were all young (14,17,19, & 22) traveling with our mom. We still laugh about our “culture shock” of the big city. Some of the memorable things that happened: our rooms weren’t ready at check-in time, our rooms weren’t next to each other, but 4 floors apart, my siblings room hadn’t been cleaned, people were stuck in the elevator when we arrived, the doorman had a big hole in the armpit of his jacket yet tried to look important, the lights would go off in our room and the front desk told us to “try slamming the door”, which worked!, the bellhop kicked the door of our room to get the stuck door to open, there was a huge “potato looking” bug on the floor next to my bed, and the list goes on! The best and most amazing part of our trip was that we got to see “Chorus Line” at the Shubert Theatre!
November 9, 2013 at 4:52 am |
My dad worked as a bus driver for Trailways in the ’60s and ’70s. Trailways had some kind of contract with the Hotel Piccadilly for drivers to stay there. We lived in Albany and when I was a kid my father often took me to NYC and we would stay at the Piccadilly. When I was a little older, my friends and I would travel to NYC, flash a Trailways card and stay at the Piccadilly for free. I saw Yes, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Genesis, Todd Rundgren and lots of other bands. We would often be in somewhat alternate states of consciousness, but the staff didn’t seem to care. The funniest time was when we went to see Pink Floyd at Radio City in 1973. It happened to be St. Patrick’s Day and our high school’s band was marching in the parade. We invited a good portion of the band back to our room for a party afterwards. The small room was packed with drunken high schoolers in band uniforms with brass instruments, yet no one from the hotel bothered us.The last time I was there was the honeymoon for my first marriage in 1979. The neighborhood was pretty sketchy by then. They had tried to modernize the place a bit with an art deco style restaurant, but it was pretty run down and depressing. Still, I loved hanging out the window listening to all the energy of the city and imagining how it would have been in the 30’s. I’ve been to the Marriott Marquis and it just doesn’t have that old New York feel!
January 9, 2014 at 4:21 pm |
I Googled ‘The Picadilly Hotel’ because just yesterday I found receipts, brochures, etc. in a box of things I saved from junior high. My parents always took the train from Akron to NYC the day after Christmas and we stayed there. I remember one New Year’s Eve seeing my first drunk man sitting on the curb and busting light bulbs! The ballroom was magical at age 13-14.
I have many, many fond memories.
February 19, 2014 at 10:05 pm |
I stays at the pickadilly hotel in 1964, it was part of my senior trip from Kentucky, went to the worlds fair, we saw a lot of thing while in ny.,went on the subway, big city for a small town school senior trip, it was great.
March 29, 2014 at 11:47 pm |
Stayed there one night in 1976 on way to Berlin, Conn. Our High School band were heading there to play at the High School in Berlin. Was something to see coming from a tiny place in North Western North Carolina. Remember eating in the restraunt inside the Motel. The Server would not give us any refills on soft drinks he said 1 was the general amount they served per meal.. The room was ok but didn’t sleep much a lot of noise outside. Also was funny the pimps on the sidewalks gave us cards about women they had.. Again you just don’t see that In our tiny town. Still was a exciting time a great memory.
March 30, 2014 at 1:30 pm |
the Scandia smorgasbord ( sp ? ) may have been the ‘ restaurant inside……I believe it was ” all you can eat “….. one night, also in the mid-70s I walked into the Scandia with a friend who was very much the size of those enormous Japanese wrestlers……the owner looked as if he was going to pass-out….or wanted to charge him three times.
May 7, 2014 at 7:26 pm |
Trailways was still using the Piccadilly in 1981 when I started driving for them. The hotel was sadly worn by then, but it was an exciting first time in NYC for me. I remember whittling little soap bars into wedges to keep the room door from banging every time someone opened any other door on the hall, and since we used the lower floors the sounds of the sirens from the emergency./fire vehicles were always shrilling. Still, I remember the stays there fondly. Later we were switched to the Consulate and then to the Travel Inn (which is still there). Ah, memories.
December 21, 2014 at 5:30 pm |
[…] Hotel piccadilly: toast of the theater district […]
February 4, 2015 at 9:25 pm |
I first stayed there in the mid 70’s, was on a trip with Dawson College of Montreal…..was great, as I recall, although aged it was to me very grand…..a shame it is gone!! The staff too were most kind.
March 9, 2017 at 5:50 am |
I stayed at the PIccadilly Hotel in1975. I went there with my art class from Wagar High School In Montreal.The lobby was quite something. We waited up one night to see Bette Midler come out of one of her performances at the theatre across the street. We had a blast experiencing Manhattan. Wow,..It was so different back then,
August 17, 2020 at 12:42 pm
How cool is that!! That is truly a keep sake memory! I still remember how busy it was – all these years later LOL. Wow is right, so very different it was!
April 24, 2022 at 3:07 pm |
Also recall going to the MUDD club and CBGB…..hi Anne Sauze!!
April 24, 2022 at 3:08 pm |
Also recall going to the MUDD club and CBGB…..hi Anne Sauze!!
February 5, 2015 at 8:11 pm |
My family used to travel from North Carolina to Rhode Island every summer during the 50s and early 60s and we always spent one or two nights in New York at the Piccadilly.This was actually the only hotel where I had ever stayed until I was grown, other nights traveling being relegated to the much less glamorous motels or motor courts. This was very definitely the highlight of our year and we always anticipated certain constants, such as the large courtyard of Rockefeller Center, with its statues of Atlas and Prometheus, Central Park where we could climb rocks in the middle of the city and see artists doing portraits on demand, the rolling news sign in Times Square topped by a waterfall and eating at the Mayflower Coffee Shop where on the wall two jesters supported the Optimist’s Creed exhorting us to “keep your eyes upon the donut, and not upon the hole.” In my memory the Piccadilly will never grow seedy nor be destroyed. It was like Heaven.
February 21, 2015 at 4:49 am |
I would love to share a Photo from the Fourth Annual Communion Breakfast Interborough News Co Employees at the Hotel Piccadilly May 19, 1946 My Father was there If there is someone I could email it too.
January 15, 2016 at 8:11 pm |
July 4 weekend, 1965, myself and two other US Army soldiers who are stationed at Aberdeen Maryland for training decided to venture to NYC for an adventure. Non of us were big city boys. We took the train, exited Grand Central and had no idea of what or where to go or do. There were groups of anti war protesters on the streets, we were in uniform so we took the brunt of the verbal abuse. Somehow we ended up in front of the Hotel Piccadilly. We went into the lobby just to get away of the protesters. There were a lot of people standing at the front desk evidently waiting to check in. We were approached by an employee of the Hotel, he escorted us to the front desk in front of the line of awaiting guests. We were thanked for our service and then they asked if we wanted to stay at the hotel for the holiday weekend and gave us a room, no charge. I will never forget the welcome and the kindness showed to us by the staff of the Hotel. One of my fondest memories in life. Not sure if I thanked everyone, so thank you. So sorry to see that the hotel is gone. Always wanted to go back but never made it. Thank you Hotel Piccadilly and Thank You New York City.
January 16, 2016 at 5:31 pm |
Thank you for sharing your story, Radford! My father was a Vietnam veteran who recently passed away…it breaks my heart to hear the stories of soldiers being treated so badly by our society. Thank you for your service and God bless you!
March 19, 2016 at 4:13 pm |
Six guys stayed at the Piccadilly Hotel in 1967for two nights Total cost was 121.57. That seems like an impossible figure but true.
We had two rooms right above the front entrance .
Could look right to the Booth Theater . Straight ahead to Shubert Alley and Sardis and left to Times Square . And now it is all gone.
March 19, 2016 at 10:32 pm |
That was when my 2 friends & I would go to NY from MI – 67′! Stayed in the highest floor we could get so we could look way down. Was great hotel! Used to go to Peppermint Lounge. Flew stand by on a student card for next to nothing. Good times!!
July 14, 2016 at 6:53 pm |
Stayed there in June of 1981 for a high school senior class trip. First time to New York so everything looked so amazing, including the hotel. I remember my room was many floors up and it took a few minutes on the elevator to go up and down.
November 13, 2016 at 1:26 pm |
I went to New York for my 60th birthday in 2014. I wish the Piccadilly was there then. It sounds like it was a really cool place. I love New York and can’t wait to go back someday. I will have to see if any of these old haunts you guys are referring to are still around. Thanks.
November 13, 2016 at 5:28 pm |
I came upon this site because I have a blue glass drink stirrer from the Piccadilly Circus Bar. It has a picture of the hotel and the address painted on it. How sad that it’s gone – the pictures prove that it was beautiful. My father must’ve been there in 1950 – 1951 when he was dating my mother, a Mt. Sinai nursing student. My heart breaks when I see old buildings, with such ornate detail, torn down for modern, no-character, architecture.
November 14, 2016 at 3:47 pm |
How nice you have a souvenir of that beautiful hotel. It is sad! I have a post cardvof my stays there that I treasure. Why. Any we keep these historical beautiesvlike they do in Europe??!!
February 4, 2017 at 9:04 pm |
I stayed here as a child with my grand parents so many happy memories
November 21, 2017 at 12:35 am |
I have a souvenir photo in a “Before and After the Theatre” jacket of my great uncle taken in the early 1940’s at Hotel Piccadilly. On the back it states to get more copies to write to the photography dept! How many hotels today have a photography dept. I would like to donate it to a local museum, but don’t know who to contact.
February 21, 2018 at 10:14 pm |
Our senior class stayed at the Piccadilly in October of 1956. We are from Churubusco, IN. and the big city was amazing to us. I have an ashtray and two wrapped bars of bath soap with the Piccadilly name on them. Have been back to NY several times and it is very different but still a lot of fun. Will be there in June of this year.
March 11, 2018 at 11:25 am |
Hi,
As a little girl my patents would often drive in to Manhattan from Pennsylvania and stay at the Hotel Piccadilly. I still have fond memories the impressive long. I remember entering the old fashion elevators, which had two closings. The elevator was opened by a wonderful, friendly black woman in long white gloves. She would close the gate and start the elevator by pushing a lever attached to something that was half circular and she would announce each floor. We often entered the beautiful, elegant, ornate dining room, where you would find an elegantly served Shmorgishborg. I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like it or since. We stayed there so often I grew to know the staff. When my father died in 1976. I was able to hold it together until I saw the beautiful arrangement from the Hotel Piccadilly. I than lost it, because if the fond memories I had with my dad staying at this magnificent hotel.
March 12, 2018 at 11:41 am |
Wonderful. Such history written there.
March 26, 2018 at 10:03 pm |
Hey Lisa,
Your Grandad then had to be the infamous Abe Drier, who also owned the Drier Steel Corp, Beverly Hotel, and built the Pan Am Bldg. among a few of his accomplishments.
I was his personal Yacht Captain, and frequently drove him to the Hotel for Board Meetings, he was in his mid 80’s at the time and had a Summer Home in Islip, NY on the water. He was a great man, and I felt privileged to work for him and fish with him every single day in his retirement. He told me incredible stories of his life, which was quite amazing. A truly great and generous man. We had a lot of Fun.
November 16, 2019 at 8:26 pm |
I remember going to the Hotel Piccadilly with my mom in the late 1960’s through the 1970’s. She was a member of the Catholic Actors Guild of America, who had offices there. On Wednesday afternoons they would have an Afternoon Tea. Many older actors, a lot from Vaudeville would be there. One of the Guild Presidents was Cyril Ritchard, who played the Pirate in Peter Pan, with Mary Martin(Larry Batman’s mom) in the lead. They would also have the Christmas Party in the Ballroom. It was a very elegant place in its day. As a 5 year old I remember the very soft carpeting in the lobby.
November 17, 2019 at 1:28 pm |
Wonderful memory! I saw Roar of the Greasepaint in Sept 1965. (stayed at the Piccadilly Dined at Scandia ) Next day Sally Smith with Cyril Ritchard we’re walking behind us as we entered Sardi’s. I held the door for them and we simply told them how much we enjoyed their performance…..they were so gracious and responsive. (I think ? An old friend from Philadelphia, Bob Bolsover… musical actor… was member of the Catholic Actor’s Guild)
October 29, 2020 at 10:06 pm |
Hello
I’m curious to know what the date is of when the Piccadilly was closed down and when it was torn down. My theatre class in High School stayed there every year for a week.
I’m thinking our last trip was in January of 82.
It was a great place sorry it was demolished.
November 15, 2020 at 9:32 am |
Rick Edwards: Says
My mom and sister along with 2 cousins and Aunt Margret took a train from Raleigh to New York the summer of 1956. Have no idea how mom selected the Piccadilly but she talked about the trip weeks before going never forgetting to say we’re staying at the Hotel Piccadilly. I can only think it was well known and/or she wanted to stay there. Looking at this blog I believe I now know why. It was my 1st trip to New York and will never forget just outside our window was the cigarette billboard blowing perfect rings. Thursday afternoon everyone except my slightly younger cousin, Sandra, and I went to the daily live TV shows; at about 3:30 that afternoon my sister came running to the room telling us to come with her we are gonna be on a TV show. The 3 of us went to the CBS theatre and as we walked in that day’s show had concluded but the audience was still there as the host were interacting with the audience. I just don’t remember a lot being 9 but we were called up on stage to meet the stars. The show was The Big Payoff and on Fridays they would have kids as the final contestant and the big prize was a cocker spaniel puppy. I just don’t remember much at all from meeting Bess Meyerson that Thursday until standing around Friday as constants were shuffled on an off stage then Sandra and I was announced I don’t remember squat, Sandra would sit in a chair looked like a throne and I would answer questions, thinking back that was not fair I had all the pressure and she just smiles. As you correctly answer questions you advance to better praises and the big payoff was the puppy, which the girl gets. I don’t remember getting anything but had the responsibility to correctly answer the questions. I can remember hearing applause but could not see past the stage lights. It’s a shame not remembering much about this and just don’t know why. Things must have worked out I remember Sandra being handed a little puppy then we walked up and down the catwalk and holding Bess Meyersons hand. Then my show business day was over. We had to smuggle the puppy onto the train she was under my seat and cried the entity trip. About a week after getting home Sandra said she couldn’t keep the dog so I did end up getting the prize
February 12, 2021 at 5:45 pm |
Many many memories of the Piccadilly in the late 70’s till the end. Was a paparazzi in those days and the Piccadilly was a warm welcoming place that allowed one to use their lobby and bathrooms between pursuits. They also had a great bar service too. Sure, it had seen better days but the staff was always ship shape and the prices in the coffee shop and Cafe Ziegfeld were modest compared to other places.
I remember legendary singer Johnnie Ray lived at the hotel in 80-81. He’d often entertain us over a few drinks in the lobby with his stories of Elvis, Judy Garland and Dorothy Kilgallen.
I remember the last night it was opened. I got an ashtray from the lobby and a menu. Regretfully both are lost to the decades between. Nevertheless, the Hotel Piccadilly will always have a special place in my heart when I remember those crazy days of my youth.
October 12, 2021 at 1:18 am |
My first visit to New York in August/September 1981, what a fantastic city and of course I stayed at the Piccadilly, a long way from Liverpool in the UK. I remember after days sightseeing ending up in the bar listening to a wonderful jazz pianist who had previously played for Count Basie.Helicopter trips over the city, greyline trips to West Point and the ultimate experience, going to see Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall with the Nelson Riddle orchestra and his final song,of course, “New York New York”. Magical memories.
May 16, 2023 at 9:19 am |
I stayed with my mother at the Piccadilly Hotel in December of 1958. My fathers close friend while he taught at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was Mr. Leman Engle known in some Broadway circles as the father of the Broadway Musical. While in New York, I was 12, my Uncle Lehman , as I called him, had bought me a 50 yard line ticket to the 1st NFL championship game at Yankee Stadium. What a treat and can you believe safe enough that I went by myself to see the Baltimore Colts beat the Giants in what they say was the greatest game ever played. Mr. Engle was directing and producing Goldilocks the musical on Broadway which he won a Tony for. Great memories!!!
May 25, 2023 at 4:13 pm |
Enjoying all the wonderful comments and memories about the iconic Piccadilly Hotel.
My parents spent their honeymoon in New York and stayed at the Piccadilly in the 1940’s.
My brother and I always wanted to visit New York. We hounded our parents about going. They showed us pictures and told us stories about their honeymoon at the Piccadilly in New York. Finally in the 1950’s we went to New York City and stayed at the Piccadilly Hotel. It was exciting seeing the beautiful lobby when we checked in to this grand hotel. Our room had a great view of Time Square with all of the colorful signs.
I treasure the memories of my first visit to New York City and staying at the Piccadilly!!
July 15, 2023 at 7:04 pm |
The last of a golden age!!!! I started coming to the Piccadilly with my grandmother in the early 50’s. We’d take the train down from Binghamton on a Friday afternoon and return Sunday night – several times a year! She’d been a piano player/organist for shows and silent movies, so we took in all the shows – best of all was coming down for the opening of RBBB Circus at the Garden! I confess to having one of those wooden hangers mentioned above; it hangs proudly on my office wall. I came on and off over the years – grand memories!
November 26, 2023 at 10:04 pm |
Does anyone remember Mr Siegel, the artist, who lived at the hotel? My father, uncle and grandfather worked at the Piccadilly. I’d like to know more about Mr Siegel and his life. Thanks
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