That’s when it was still known as Longacre Square, though the name was officially changed in 1904 when The New York Times built its new headquarters there.
Looks so small-town, doesn’t it?
That’s when it was still known as Longacre Square, though the name was officially changed in 1904 when The New York Times built its new headquarters there.
Looks so small-town, doesn’t it?
Tags:42nd street NYC, Knickerbocker Hotel, Longacre Square, New York street, New York Times headquarters, Times Square, trolleys of New York City, vintage New York postcards
Posted in Midtown, Random signage | 9 Comments »
Go to the north end of the subway platform of the Times Square shuttle, and you’ll see a grimy door with an old darkened sign above it.
This was once an underground passageway leading from the subway to the Knickerbocker Hotel, a Beaux-Arts beauty built in 1906 by John Jacob Astor.
The Knickerbocker, on Broadway and 42nd Street, was a trendy place back in the aughts and the teens. Legend has it that the martini was invented there.
And opera great Enrico Caruso supposedly belted out “The Star-Spangled Banner” from his room balcony one Veterans Day.
Covered up by construction scaffolding for a few years, the sign and door are visible once again.
And as tempting as it is to imagine going inside and doing a little time traveling, don’t even try. The door remains locked, and though the building still exists, the hotel was shut in 1920.
Tags:beaux-arts buildings in New York City, Enrico Caruso in New York City, John Jacob Astor hotels, Knickerbocker Hotel, passageway to the Knickerbocker Hotel, secrets of the New York City subway, Times Square subway passageway, Times Square subway station, who invented the martini
Posted in Bars and restaurants, Cool building names, Fashion and shopping, Midtown, Music, art, theater, Random signage, Transit | 8 Comments »
New York City in 3D in the Gilded Age made Entertainment Weekly's Must Have list for the week of June 27! Thanks to everyone for their support.