Seedy Times Square Of The Late '80s (2014, theater)

[cyrusjul]

This is a period of NYC (From the 70's to the 80's) that looks like the city or anybody else just did not care anymore for it. At that time it just look like there was no hope for the area and was best to avoid and just walk fast as possilbe while in there to get away from it (unless you like those X-rated theaters). Wow what a big change from then to now. Now Times Square is asking some top rents these days and it is like a totally different place!










More Photos….

Photos: Revisit The Seedy Times Square Of The Late '80s: Gothamist

[Kefir King]

So, now it's Disneyland for tourists.
I for one thought "old" Times Square was a far richer NY experience.

[Northwindsforever]

Many of these pics are from the early 90's. (telling by the movies showing).

Specifically 1991.

[bilmin]

Ah Memories ! I remember the Metropole Cafe. Now the porn freaks just order more cable stations and stay home. I wonder if they still sit around in rain coats.

[Zoomgirl]

I miss the old Times Square that I grew up with as a teen in the 80's. I saw a lot of horror films (Nightmare on Elm Street) a lot of Kung Fu flicks (Seven Grand Masters) and was forbidden to go there by my mother. So my friends and I (and our trusty boom box) headed right over.
I work in the area now as an adult and it is Disneyland for adults. I hate this area and though I can appreciate the tourists...I hate them too!!!

[Northwindsforever]

I think the words on the billboard in the second pic is just a bunch of obscenities and not an actual movie title. Tried to google those words and no movie came up.

[gggjfg]

Ha, this 80's stuff is still Disneyland compared to my memories of the 40's.

XXX rated movies as far as the eye could see and all the ladies standing around as though they were waiting for a bus.

Funny, as the buses came and went, the ladies were still there.

I've forgotten when they cleaned it all up but what a sad, sad day.

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

So, now it's Disneyland for tourists.
I for one thought "old" Times Square was a far richer NY experience.

it was darling, it was

[D. Scott]

Great photos!

There is still a seedy element that emerges after midnight, Especially on blocks further West. But the main area is radically different from the old days.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by whitlock

Many of these pics are from the early 90's. (telling by the movies showing).

Specifically 1991.

Exactly what I wanted to say that this was situation in the early 1990s and in particular 1991 when I moved to NYC and saw this with my own eyes.