The clip above is an extra on the newly released DVD of Riot on 42nd Street, a nothing little piece of grindhouse trash from 1987 that celebrated the only part of the city that would have it. Despite mostly coming off as brain dead, the film was prescient to gawk at 42nd Street back then, because so few did. I've written before about my fascination with/repulsion by old Times Square, and my resulting frustration that it went under-documented. This clip, while far from comprehensive, is a nice series of still comparisons between what Times Square was and what it came to be. As someone who travels to work in Times Square every damn day, I can assure you that it really has become an amusement park, hold the amusement. It's still miserable, it's just learned how to be polite about it.
Samuel Delany's book Times Square Red, Times Square Blue is something you may like. He documents his experiences in Old Times Square and writes about its transition.
Posted by: Chris L. | January 26, 2010 at 05:40 PM
I worked in the box office for a play that rented a "stage" in a place called "Show World" around the corner from the cleaned up 42nd street theater strip a few years ago. Video booths downstairs, handwritten signs saying "No Live Nude Girls" in the stairwell, and giant, creepy, dusty clown puppets hanging over the stairs. The decor was hot pink, black, and mirrored. There was a pole on the stage. I disappointed several guys who came upstairs to inquire about the nature of the show. They didn't want me to say, "It's a political allegory about the most recent mayoral election." What part of "No Live Nude Girls" did they not understand?!
I took so many photos of those clowns.
Posted by: Jennette | January 26, 2010 at 08:46 PM
Ha! Go Chris L. I opened up this post just to recommend Times Square Red, Times Square Blue by Samuel Delany, as the best guide to the old 42nd street that I know of, from a gay perspective no less. His book of letters called 1984 is a must-read too.(And The Mad Man..and...)
In the weeks before Giuliani forced all the porn shops and strip clubs to close, (late 90's) myself and 3 lesbian pals made a night of it on Valentines Day and went to every single one that was still open. I still have my collection of peep show tokens.
I do miss the old Times Square. I miss getting off the bus at Port Authority and dodging the puking junkie hookers to get to the subway. Made me feel like I was actually in NYC and not Disneyland.
Posted by: Duper | January 27, 2010 at 07:43 AM
I'm really quite fascinated by this. I would love to go back in time and explore old, seedy Times Square (not in a lascivious way!) - seems to have had so much more personality than it does now.
Posted by: Limey | January 27, 2010 at 12:16 PM
It's hilarious to think the only way to watch porno flicks was in public! Any coward can watch porn on the Web, you had to have guts show your face in a movie theater.
Posted by: Heather | January 27, 2010 at 03:07 PM
Yes, Times square has become mindless Disney World, But I'd still take Chevy's over this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWcFwwU4Qro&feature=player_embedded
Posted by: Anita | January 28, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Isn't it all just over on 8th avenue now?
Posted by: Bobbie | January 28, 2010 at 10:11 PM
too bad for me, the video doesn't exist anymore. *sigh*
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Excellent video because I didn't know that Theater was a porno Theater, I realized that it was reopened so I'd like that Theater continue being a porno Theater because people there can get excellent entertainment.m10m
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