I checked it out in Google Street view. Based on the building where it splits into a fork with the building that says Buy War Bonds, i’m guessing the photo was taken at approx 7th Ave and w 44th? Although based on the building at right, with the arched entrance, if i’m at the right place on streetview, it would appear the intersection may have moved back a few feet from where it was in 1943.
Anyways, are most of those building still there and there facades just buried under all the neon and posters?
Off by a couple of streets – that monument identifies Duffy Square, the Astor theater and its neighbor under the Schaefer sign were at what is now the site of the Marriott Marquis, Broadway between 45th and 46th (and that building was there until the 80s). So Broadway is to the viewer’s right, 7th would be off to the left and you’re on 47th. The monument itself would today be obstructed from this angle by the TKTS booth.
Almost everything actually facing BWay/7th until you get to the Paramount Bldg has since been replaced, though many lived on until the Times Square renewal of the turn of this century and a few soldier on, often hidden behind many remods – at the farthest right edge of the picture, the building with the arch is the original Horn and Hardart Automat: though since transformed beyond recognition by later uses, the structure was still there last year.
Also, the building in the corner half-hid by the Globe’s marquee lasted until 2005, last housing the last HoJo in Manhattan (ate there as late as '03!).
Africa Israel is in the midst of a $175 million renovation including adding a new sign on the top and replacing a digital clock in place since 1962 with an analog version.
I wonder if it will cease to be a glorified scaffolding? I guess it’s a prime location for signage and will continue to be, but if it were returned to a state where a tenant could actually see out the windows it would be a interesting location for something. It’d be a wild view if your offices looked out over Times Square, although i’m not sure what business would want to be there aside from the ‘cool view’ factor.
The article says that was the headquarters of the New York Times until 2007. Why did they move? Had the lease gotten too high or did they own it? If so, maybe the facilities were too out of date and it was easier to just build a new headquarters?
Which article? According to Wikipedia: “Less than ten years after moving to One Times Square, The New York Times moved its corporate headquarters to a nearby building, 229 West 43rd Street, in 1913. The Times retained a classified advertising branch office in the building until it sold the Times Tower in 1961.”
In 1961 it was covered in plain white stone and became the Allied Chemical building. The NY Times moved from W 43rd St to its 8th ave building in 2007.
Yes, many are still there. But the old Times building, the one you’ve been discussing, does now have a two-story Walgreen’s in it now. It’s only about a year or two old and probably sets a world record for selling bottled water for tourists on hot days (of course, NY tap water is safe, better tasting, and free!)
The cross monument is indeed the Father Duffy memorial, and it and TKTS are officially in Duffy Square (although Times Sq. is used for the whole immediate neighborhood). There’s still an early-20th century building across the street from the monument to the left that would have been in the picture if the monument was in the center of the photo instead of to the side.
