Tell me about Times Square 20 years ago. I am very intrigued. (New York: taxi, photos)

[Kefir King]

Terrific Picture, whitlock.
That captures the mood perfectly.

(I wonder where Leslie Bovee is today?)

[rlrl]

Kefir King you once mentioned the HayMarket on 8th Avenue, was that place a few doors down from Engine Company 54 and did it always have a lot of seedy characters hanging around there? Everytime i used to pass there i would always walk fast. How long was that place there for?

[rlrl]

i remember back in the 70's especially the area by 7th Avenue and Broadway between 46th and 50th street had an awful lot of pornography--in fact 49th street between 7th and 8th actually looked like 42nd street. i remember being especially intimidated by the 49th street area by the Colony records and tape mart.

i remember before i would visit the city as a teen i would ask my dad if that section was dangerous and he said it looked bad but it was really just very commercial and was safe enough, but not to hang around for long

my mom used to say the main drags in the area were OK but the "sidestreets" were dangerous

was 8th Avenue up by Restaurant Row and the Engine Company 54 area considered the "sidestreets"?

[Green Irish Eyes]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

TIMES SQUARE 20 years ago wasn't vastly different from today.
TIMES SQUARE 40 year ago WAS.

Lot's of movie houses and legitimate theaters converted to all night soft core porn theaters. The late night streets were filled with seedy prostitutes and ggood looking multi racial hustlers.

Lots of corners with whispers of "good weed" and up the ladder of choices.

Area was filled with good bars where you could get a great pastrami sandwich for $4.

1972 was a LOT more interesting than 1992.

I lived in NYC from 1976 to 1980, and ^^ this ^^ is how I remember Times Square. Being an aspiring theatre person, I spent a lot of time in the area having headshots and resumes printed, getting theatrical supplies (make-up, dancewear), taking classes, etc. The only thing I'd disagree with is the "good weed" being whispered -- it was offered openly, even during daylight hours.

My first job offer in the city was to stand outside a TS strip joint and try to entice customers to come in. In the end, I declined it, as I would have been outside on the street all night and I just wasn't ready for that. A friend and I went there for New Year's Eve 1977 and although it was OK while we were there, getting home on the subway afterwards was quite an adventure.

Speaking of -- subways in the late 1970's were also quite ..... ummmmm ..... "interesting" !

[rlrl]

i was at Times Square NY Eve 1978-79. an adventure, believe me!!

[Ebrehm]

Here's a shot of 42nd Street from near 8th Avenue in 1985, taken by a taxi driver.

42dStRainyNight copy 2 « NYC Street Photography by Matt Weber

[FOReverxpeace]

It was depressing, for sure. My professor told me how it was basically prostitution land and all of a sudden, Disney changed everything.

Funny, am I the only one who thinks Times Square today is going to go down soon? I actually think it was much better about 10 years ago, before all these recent clothing shops started to flood in? Forever 21? Seriously?

[Kefir King]

Originally Posted by rlrl

Kefir King you once mentioned the HayMarket on 8th Avenue, was that place a few doors down from Engine Company 54 and did it always have a lot of seedy characters hanging around there? Everytime i used to pass there i would always walk fast. How long was that place there for?

Not precisely an answer but interesting:

An underworld figure with ties to New York gay night spots has been released from prison after serving two years on racketeering charges.
Matty “Horse” Ianniello–the nickname comes either from his having once been charged for possession of over twenty pounds of heroin, or due to his imposing physical build; accounts vary–finished a jail term last spring, reported the Web site Bitter Queen on June 25.
Of Ianniello, 89, the story noted, “one queries whether the… reputed Genovese capo ever intends on retiring.”
The article noted that Ianniello had been said to have some stake in “dozens of gay bars and discos” in New York over three decades, “including the hustler bar Haymarket, the tranny bar Gilded Grape, and the circus-like disco GG Barnum’s Room.
“Indeed, no man had more of an instrumental role in gay nightlife in New York City than Ianniello, and although straight he probably should receive an honorary plaque recognizing his achievements from the city’s Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce,” the article quipped

.


If I had to guess when the HAYMARKET closed I would say a couple years before 1990, but I was only there a couple times because they forced drinks and the whole situtaion was anything but relaxing.
(I met Ianniello and I think, his wife.)
The front guy for the Haymarket and Gilded Grape was Jewish, Jerry somebody, but his name escapes me at the moment. He was a big fish out at Cherry Grove circa mid-'70's.

[rlrl]

what does forced drinks mean and how was the environment tense?

i ask because i once thought i was gonna get mugged walking right at that spot in 1979. tho i would avoid that spot in subsequent years, even in the 90's it was better but still i would always notice a lot of dubious people hanging around, even after that place closed. that block was a partially boarded up tenement for years so i always was curious about what went down there

[Kefir King]

"Forced drinks" means that the bartender tries to give you another overpriced beer when yours is still a quarter full.
"Tense atmosphere" means that if you are there too long without picking up a hustler after a couple have hit on you, then you are not too subtley made to feel it's time to go.

It was a male whorehouse that served drinks.