1. JadeX

    JadeX Senior Member

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    What is this building in Times Square?

    Discussion in 'Research' started by JadeX, Feb 9, 2016.

    [​IMG]
    This is supposedly Times Square, circa 1960. But that's all I know, is just that it's "somewhere in Times Square" (which isn't helpful, as TS is basically a condensed city of its own).

    My question is, what is that building in the middle of the pic, with the Chevy/Canadian Club/Admiral TV signs? It clearly isn't One Times Square, because it is far too short and too rectangular (1TS is more of a wedge shape).

    One Times Square is visible in this image from the same period, so the one in the pic above is very clearly a different building entirely:
    [​IMG]

    Here's a real-life picture for comparison, if that helps:
    [​IMG]

    Does anyone know what building this is? What is it called (or what was it called circa 1960)? Where is it?

    (I've tried using Google Street View to see if I can find what building this might be, but 1960s NYC and 2010s NYC are so radically different that they may as well be on entirely different planets)
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2016
  2. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Problem is that the middle picture is not the same as the first and third. It's looking in the opposite direction.
     
  3. JadeX

    JadeX Senior Member

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    I know, that's the point, the middle picture is of One Times Square. I included it to show that the building I'm asking about is very clearly not One Times Square, thus I do not know what it is.
     
  4. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Ok, ok, understood. :) I'm reaching out to my New Yorican friends to see if I can get an answer. ;)
     
  5. Lew

    Lew Contributor Contributor

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    The north (?) face at the intersection of the two main streets is blocked by advertising signage which seems to have continued to today


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Times_Square
     
  6. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    That's all I find as well, Times Square North, but that seems to be a description of the direction one is facing within T.S., not the name of that building (location) in particular. With all the signage it has prominently displayed over the years, one would think it had a name that's easier to find. o_O
     
  7. AnonyMouse

    AnonyMouse Contributor Contributor

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    After perusing Wikipedia for a bit, I believe it's "2 Times Square," the centerpiece of Duffy Square. Mind you, I've never been to New York and can only base this off of what little Wikipedia has to say about it, coupled with a brief perusal of Google Images. Still need confirmation, but that's what everything seems ot be pointing to.

    Also, it's present-day version is covered in signage, just like 1 Times Square. They do look a lot alike now, but their past selves don't.
     
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  8. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Precisely. I found a good photo that shows the architectural progression of 1TS, and it's definitely not the location the OP is looking for.

    times-building-over-time.jpg
     
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  9. JadeX

    JadeX Senior Member

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    The year I'm looking at in particular is 1962 - before 1TS was sold to Allied Chemical, before the facade "modernisation", and before it became used as a host for advertising signage. Up until ~1963, One Times Square was just the building itself with the the original facade (see pic) and the news ticker that was added in the '30s.

    [​IMG]

    Your reply came in as I was typing this - thanks for the input! That seems the most likely case, and would explain why I couldn't even remotely recognise it in the present pics.
     
  10. JadeX

    JadeX Senior Member

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    Yep, @AnonyMouse was right, it is Two Times Square. I did an image search for "2 Times Square 1960s" and found this pic (along with many similar ones) right away.

    [​IMG]

    So, I guess that answers it. Thanks for the help, guys.
     
  11. Lewdog

    Lewdog Come ova here and give me kisses! Supporter Contributor

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    So why did you need to know the name of it in the first place? What about it in particular do you need for what you are writing?
     
  12. JadeX

    JadeX Senior Member

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    Because, long story short, my book is an alternate history that results in Earth succumbing to a totalitarian occupational rule, and I wanted to know where exactly they would place their propaganda signage.
     
  13. Commandante Lemming

    Commandante Lemming Contributor Contributor

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    Yeah - everybody already called it but I did some digging to verify and it's Two Times Square. I googled the location of the hotel in the foreground - the now-gone Sheraton Astor, so that I could isolate another point on the map.

    For what it's worth, here's the Google Street view from roughly the same spot today - standing in front of One Astor Plaza (the building where the Sheraton Astor used to stand)
     
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  14. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Golly. :bigconfused: I did the 360º in the street-view link and... that's a lot of signage all in one place. I keep thinking how crap it must have been for the people who had a sweet window office in 1TS on the day when they placed a billboard over the window. :bigmeh:
     
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  15. JadeX

    JadeX Senior Member

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    After Allied Chemical bought it in '63 it sat mostly empty. Today, a Walgreens store occupies part of the first floor, and the rest of the building is completely empty. It now exists solely to put billboards on.
     
  16. miguel88

    miguel88 New Member

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    Hi all, new member here! I know this is an old thread, but I've spent lots of time looking for its name as well, so I'll share my finds.
    It was very often seen on photos of New York in the past and in Golden age-era movies. It also appears in a cartoon form in Tom and Jerry's "Mouse In Manhattan".

    I believe it was called the Studebaker Building, located at 1600 Broadway: https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/08/nyregion/change-as-it-does-returns-to-times-square.html
    It's surprising how very few people seem to know its name and it's rarely mentioned whn it comes to NYC history, yet it's a fixture in old NYC photos. I think part of the reason is that people focus more on the signs in front of it and the one (for Chevrolet) on top of it. Surprisingly, the building itself survived until 2005.

    Here's more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Building_(Manhattan)
    and a thread about it circa 2004-2005:
    http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5402

    A nice before/after:
    [​IMG]
    Too bad that when I actually visit NYC for the first time it won't look anything like the one from old movies and T&J cartoons. At least Park Avenue still looks largely the same. :)

    Regards!
     

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