The 1960s were a transformative era for the City of New York, and for Times Square in particular as the decade saw the transition from an industrial town to a major global city.
Times Square emerged as a symbol of this change, with neon advertising signs and skyscraper hotels setting the scene for a new age of tourism.
Urban planners, both at the time and since, have struggled to come up with solutions for the area but in the 1960s, everything seemed to fall into place.
Whether it was to attract more tourists or as a way to revitalize the city, the decade described a time of rapid change so here’s everything you ever wanted to know about Times Square in 1960’s New York.
The 1960s: A Time Of Change In Times Square
The 1960s were a time of cultural identity, social upheaval, and global political change. The decade saw the establishment of new societal norms, such as the Pill and free love. The rise of new technologies, such as the birth of the mass media and the establishment of the first space mission, served as the backdrop to the decade.
New political movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement, the anti-war movement, and the feminist movement, had a major impact on American culture. In the realm of business and economics, the decade saw the birth of the modern multinational corporation and major shifts in the global capitalist system.
The First Major Times Square Upgrade In Decades
The first major Times Square upgrade since the 1920s followed the end of World War II. The Downtown Expressway, a proposed road that would have run diagonally through the heart of Times Square, was cancelled in 1951 when the city chose to build the 1.75-mile-long Cross-Town Highway instead.
The Downtown Expressway, which was first proposed in the 1930s, would have run diagonally through the heart of Times Square. It was first proposed in the 1930s. The old Times Square, filled with nondescript brick buildings, was in need of an upgrade to attract tourists and generate revenue.
The Cross-Town Highway, completed in 1956, offered a new route through Manhattan, replacing the Downtown Expressway that cut diagonally through Times Square. With the highway, Times Square became a hub for interstate travel, and a waystation for tourists.
Theater District Becomes Home To CBS And ABC Studios
CBS Television City in Los Angeles was the home of many CBS shows before the network decided to make a major investment in Times Square. The most prominent CBS studio in Times Square was the CBS Broadcast Center, located in the Theater District.
The Theater District was home to most of Times Square’s marquee hotels during the 1960s, including the Sherry-Netherland, the Royalton, the Tudor, and the Chateau. The district also became home to several businesses that cater to TV and film crews, such as the facilities management company O&O.
ABC Studios was also based in Times Square. The company had been around for years, but in the 1960s the company expanded its headquarters in Times Square. The building at 7 West 46th Street looks the same today as it did in the 1960s.
New Hotels Debut In Times Square
New hotels were a major feature of Times Square in the 1960s. The Roxy Hotel, the Flamingo, the Tropicana, and the Grand Hyatt all opened in the Theater District in the 1960s. The Hyatt at Times Square, the most famous of these hotels, opened in 1966.
The Hyatt at Times Square became a landmark for its instantly iconic architecture and open design. One of the most famous attractions in Times Square was the “Burglar alarm clock,” which hung from the ceiling of the hotel.
Tourists Flocked To Times Square In The 1960’s
Times Square became a symbol of change during the 1960s and was filled with tourists who trailed the neon lights and billboards, bringing millions of dollars in revenue to the city.
In 1968, the city estimated that there were 1.9 million visitors to Times Square with more than half arriving in New York City by air sparking a debate among urban planners and the media about the area’s future.
The End Of An Era
Times Square in the 1960s was a time of transformation with new hotels, a major upgrade in transportation, and a surge in tourism made Times Square a modern place with the area, filled with neon lights, making it a major draw for tourists.
The district also housed movie theaters, billboards and restaurants as well as several major companies as the decade went on; CBS, ABC Studios, and AT&T were all based in the Theater District.