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Playbill.com: What bar did Al Pacino go to for a post-show drink? Where did Florenz Ziegfeld drown his sorrows when he thought his show was a failure? Take a tour through Broadway's history of watering holes and hamburgers, remembering 10 unofficial landmarks that no longer exist.
This is really interesting and I think that more people should take a look at this list of these places. I've visited New York City a few times and if I would have known the history behind these historic locations I would have visited. Additionally, last year I did a report on the impact of "The Lion King" and in particular the revitalization of Times Square and the surrounding area that began in the early 1990's. However, what my research did not address were places and historic locations that may have been pushed aside in order to make room for the new clean Broadway that was moving in, mainly in part to Disney and the Mayor's office at the time. One of the places that I thought was interesting was "The Coffee Pot". As a young theatrical professional, if I would have been in New York City at the time, I would have loved a place like this to go to.
Wow. This was a really, really cool list of places. The thing that was most shocking to me is that, living in New York this past summer, I actually passed by or visited where these used to be! I sat right underneath the old McHale's sign in Emmet O'Lunney's on 50th and even said to my mom, "That's funny-why would that be here?" Well, now I know. And The Coffee Pot? I walked past the bar that took its place, Mickey Spillane's, every day on my way home from work (and yes, it is extremely loud). The Times Square Visitors Center I used to visit every time I went to the city, because it housed all kinds of cool props and costumes from old Broadway shows. I tried to go back over this past summer and was very disappointed to see it was no longer there. The rest of these landmarks I only wish I could see. Colony Records sounds like the kind of place I would have loved to go to and just spend hours exploring. The closest equivalent I can think of to this place would be a combination of The Drama Bookshop and the Broadway Shop that used to live below the Marriott Marquis, both of which I love perusing. I do truly wish that some of these places were still around, because they seem absolutely wonderful, but I love that they're at least being honored in one way.
What a great collection buildings and stories. One of my favorite things to view are before and after pictures of a place i've been to or am standing in. There are great websites that allow you to swipe left or right over two photos laid on top of each other. one is taken a long time ago and the other is recent. it is set in the same position and you are able to easily see the past with the present. In these photos i was able to sometimes see that. I love thinking about all the events and conversations that must have happened at these place, how much of entertainment was born there. its crazy to think that at least 80% of the population walking into these stores will have no idea what it used to be, no matter how many clues you give them. The point is to keep the stories of these places alive and to not let them be forgotten. I would love to hear the perspective of an old individual walking into the space and giving me a tour of their past. "i sat there with.... before he was famous" " one time I saw ...... dance and sing there while I sat and ate after the war was over."These are what give these places life and meaning, not an article online telling us what these buildings used to be. A building is just a building, but the story, thats what makes these places special.
This article gives me a lot of nostalgia for Broadway of the past. Some of the landmarks seem like they were so interesting and fun to hang out in. It makes me really wonder why these places were torn down or changed into something more touristy and fake. I wish I knew about the more recently closed ones before they closed, because I would have loved to see the theatre history of those places.
4 comments:
This is really interesting and I think that more people should take a look at this list of these places. I've visited New York City a few times and if I would have known the history behind these historic locations I would have visited. Additionally, last year I did a report on the impact of "The Lion King" and in particular the revitalization of Times Square and the surrounding area that began in the early 1990's. However, what my research did not address were places and historic locations that may have been pushed aside in order to make room for the new clean Broadway that was moving in, mainly in part to Disney and the Mayor's office at the time. One of the places that I thought was interesting was "The Coffee Pot". As a young theatrical professional, if I would have been in New York City at the time, I would have loved a place like this to go to.
Wow. This was a really, really cool list of places. The thing that was most shocking to me is that, living in New York this past summer, I actually passed by or visited where these used to be! I sat right underneath the old McHale's sign in Emmet O'Lunney's on 50th and even said to my mom, "That's funny-why would that be here?" Well, now I know. And The Coffee Pot? I walked past the bar that took its place, Mickey Spillane's, every day on my way home from work (and yes, it is extremely loud). The Times Square Visitors Center I used to visit every time I went to the city, because it housed all kinds of cool props and costumes from old Broadway shows. I tried to go back over this past summer and was very disappointed to see it was no longer there. The rest of these landmarks I only wish I could see. Colony Records sounds like the kind of place I would have loved to go to and just spend hours exploring. The closest equivalent I can think of to this place would be a combination of The Drama Bookshop and the Broadway Shop that used to live below the Marriott Marquis, both of which I love perusing. I do truly wish that some of these places were still around, because they seem absolutely wonderful, but I love that they're at least being honored in one way.
What a great collection buildings and stories. One of my favorite things to view are before and after pictures of a place i've been to or am standing in. There are great websites that allow you to swipe left or right over two photos laid on top of each other. one is taken a long time ago and the other is recent. it is set in the same position and you are able to easily see the past with the present. In these photos i was able to sometimes see that. I love thinking about all the events and conversations that must have happened at these place, how much of entertainment was born there. its crazy to think that at least 80% of the population walking into these stores will have no idea what it used to be, no matter how many clues you give them. The point is to keep the stories of these places alive and to not let them be forgotten. I would love to hear the perspective of an old individual walking into the space and giving me a tour of their past. "i sat there with.... before he was famous" " one time I saw ...... dance and sing there while I sat and ate after the war was over."These are what give these places life and meaning, not an article online telling us what these buildings used to be. A building is just a building, but the story, thats what makes these places special.
This article gives me a lot of nostalgia for Broadway of the past. Some of the landmarks seem like they were so interesting and fun to hang out in. It makes me really wonder why these places were torn down or changed into something more touristy and fake. I wish I knew about the more recently closed ones before they closed, because I would have loved to see the theatre history of those places.
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