What Was It Like In Times Square In The 1930s
In the early 1930s, Times Square was at the beginning of the Great Depression which saw a noticeable transformation with many of the city’s popular theatres shut down, giving way to saloons, brothels, “burlesque halls, vaudeville stages and dime houses.”
As citizens fled the rising costs of living and over the succeeding years, the area’s image as a hazardous and sleazy district grew more and more and crime and corruption in the form of gambling and prostitution began to plague the neighbourhood and the area was at an all time low.
Towards the end of the decade, some new attractions were cropping up and one of the most famous was ‘The Hooker’s Palace’ located at 642 Broadway which became infamous for its neon hooker signs that lined the outside and the inside had several rooms with a variety of themes and activities.
Times Square was a very different place back in the 1930s compared to today as there was no central “square” or “plaza” as there is today. Instead, Broadway was lined with hotels and theaters that were slowly closing down one by one. The famous Times Tower building was also still in the works but was not completed until years later.
While there were a few building renovations, the rest of the area remained much the same as it did in the late 1920’s as the area continued to slowly decay as the Great Depression started to bite.
There were also a few of the modern attractions that today’s visitors often associate with Times Square, as the area was far less commercialized and visitors still had the option to visit several major attractions within walking distance including the New York Public Library, the famous New York Central Building clock tower and the New York Botanical Garden.
When Was The Hooker’s Palace Opened
The Hooker’s Palace was New York’s most famous cabaret at the time and a short walk from ‘The Hooker’s Palace’ on Broadway. It was one of the most popular attractions in Times Square at the time with famous celebrities such as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers making appearances and also the first cabaret to feature music instead of the usual stand up comedy.
The Hooker’s Palace was opened in 1934, and the signs outside featured several different images and messages in addition to their neon lights. Some of these included a depiction of a sailor, a woman in high heel shoes, and even a car!
Popular Attractions In Times Square In The 1930’s
Times Square was home to many popular restaurants, cafes and nightclubs during the 1930s, one of these was the New York Club at 685 Broadway which featured several popular attractions, including a ballroom where dancers regularly performed.
There was also an arcade with dozens of games and a large dining room that served delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners. While many of these popular attractions are no longer in operation, some still remain open like the famous Blue Fox Restaurant at 1008 Broadway.
This is still a popular spot to visit today cause it’s known as the ‘Cheese Steaks’ restaurant because of the delicious sandwiches that they make here.
The New York Public Library
There were also several popular museums and attractions in the Times Square area during the 1930s. The New York Public Library built in 1897 and opened in 1911, is one of the most famous libraries in the world.
This imposing building was built in the Beaux-Arts architectural style that is often used in public buildings and there were several different rooms in the building, including a reading room and a children’s room that were free to use for anyone who visited.
The New York Public Library was also open 24 hours per day which made it a popular place to visit at any time of the day or night.
Another popular attraction in Times Square at the time was the New York Central Building. This massive building was one of the architectural highlights of the city and was not completed until 1928 but was one of the most iconic buildings in New York in the 1930’s, featuring a massive clock tower and also used to display advertisements to it’s visitors.
Central Park New York
Just a short walk away from Times Square is Central Park which was one of the first of its kind in the world and established in 1853. This massive urban park is now often considered one of the most beautiful places in the country and is definitely a must-visit for visitors to New York City.
However, in 1930’s New York it became very run down and ended up being used as a ‘tent city’. The 1930’s brought the Great Depression to America and more and more people found themselves with no where to live so set up camp inside Central Park until they were forcibly removed in 1933 to make way for the parks massive upgrade with new lawns and walkways.
Woolworth Building And The World’s Largest Clock
The height of the Great Depression in the United States led people to search for ways to make money quickly and one of these options was to take advantage of the tourist industry in New York City.
The Woolworth Building was created in 1913 and was the world’s largest department store at the time and home to a huge clock that was the largest in the world in those days.
It was around 8.5 feet high and had more than 5,000 pieces and was five times as big as the one in Times Square!
The 1930’s Golden Age Of Broadway Shows
Times Square was also one of the most popular places in the world to go to see a Broadway show during the late 1930s and one of the most famous productions that had its opening night in Times Square was ‘Show Boat’.
This show was actually the first to be broadcast on radio and it was also the first to use a giant screen at the New Amsterdam Theater that showed images from the performance. Another famous show was ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, which was a dark comedy about a very serious eatery.
Other famous shows that were performed in Times Square during this time included ‘The Great Blondini’ and ‘On Your Toes’. Popular singers, dancers and comedians also performed in Times Square with the most famous movie stars being The Marx Brothers and other famous performers like Al Jolson and John Philip Sousa.
Was It Safe For Kids To Play In Bryant Park
During the 1930s, there was a park located in front of the New York Public Library called Bryant Park which was popular with children for several reasons. First, at the time it was a small park that offered a safe place for them to play and also featured several pieces of equipment that were geared towards children such as a merry-go-round and a swing.
There were also benches and tables where parents could watch their children have fun while they took a break.
Bryant Park became so popular that it was expanded during the 1940’s and there were also numerous events that were held there like free lectures given by famous people of the day such as author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson.
There were also musical performances and other types of events that took place, making the park one of the most used and popular parks in New York City
Automobiles Of 1930’s New York City
Cars were very different in 30’s New York from today’s vehicles and also much more affordable. Some of the most popular cars in the 1930s were the Cadillac, the Chevrolet, the Dodge and of course Buicks were very common in and around the city.
There are many old movies from that time showing lots of these classic cars weaving round the streets of Times Square, Manhattan and New York and seeing those images now, it takes you right back to a real golden age in history.
Conclusion
It is interesting to note that Times Square has not been the same since the 1920s. The area has been constantly changing with many new hotels, restaurants and arena’s cropping up every few years it seems.
However, the same can be said of the other areas popular in the golden era of 1920’s New York City. One thing is for sure is that nothing lasts forever so it’s important to study the history of Times Square in the 1920’s and 30’s and look back on it with fondness as well as sadness to understand where we have been and where we are heading!