Old New York in Colour - Part II - Downtown 1960

jack: 6th Apr 2010 - 15:30 GMT

franny, i had lunch in the white rose bar when i reported to the army induction center in 1961 on whitehall street. we soldiers were called kennedy's boys and we were on the 6 o'clock news in our shorts getting our shots.

Franny Wentzel: 6th Apr 2010 - 23:40 GMT

The White Rose was the name of a resistance group in Germany during the war...

Franny Wentzel: 7th Apr 2010 - 17:21 GMT

Also... the flatiron-shaped building in the middle of Maiden Lane was torn down by the city in the late-60s to widen the street.

Richie Rubin: 10th Apr 2010 - 19:22 GMT

Jack,Franny;in 1959,I did same as YOU Jack..when I was Inducted into U.S.N!

Urbano Lomas: 11th Apr 2010 - 23:42 GMT

Excelent collection of pictures of New York, a graphic display of what makes it one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world. A lesson on adaptation, flexibility, use mixes, density, ingenuity, and gross profiteering.

Crocodilepeter: 14th Apr 2010 - 05:50 GMT

I have visited New York in 2006, from Adelaide Australia, one of the main things we wanted to do was an architectural tourwhilst we were there. A Big Apple Greeter ( former professor at Columbia Uni) a lovely lady in her late 70's took us everywhere and her passion showed, she took us back to another time...In my minds eye it was that place in those photos from 1941 and 1960.
I could only imagine. Thanks guys for a beautiful city and a beautiful people. Thank you for those outstanding photos...its amazing how photos can bring tears to your eyes.

Peter
Adelaide Australia

Prairie Dog: 14th Apr 2010 - 16:16 GMT

Thanks for the pictures. Check Ric Burns (eight part) documentary "New York" for an exciting look at the city since the 1600's. It's available on Netflix, probably other places as well. Also, NY Public Library has digitized photos showing construction of the Empire State Building. Google "empire state building". (Can you guess I am nuts about New York?)

Yesterdays Wine: 15th Apr 2010 - 14:07 GMT

It's remarkable how many fewer cars there seem to be. Something else to be nostalgic about.

bobo the hobo: 17th Apr 2010 - 05:56 GMT

THis is really remarkable. So remarkable it makes my penis hurt!

CladriteRadio.com: 19th Apr 2010 - 19:47 GMT

Adelaide in Australia, can you tell me a bit more about this Big Apple Greeter and what organization she worked for? That sounds like something I'd enjoy doing.

Gerard Ryan: 21st Apr 2010 - 13:38 GMT

Incredible pictures, just to see people going about their business, travelling in cars that we hire out as a novelty these days, it's just an amazing set of pictures and a beautiful capture of days gone by.

Janet8471: 21st Apr 2010 - 22:43 GMT

I just found the entire site on The White Rose anti Nazi movement absolutely fascinating. I will continue to read on and on and on about the Scholls and the others. Thank you.

Franny Wentzel: 24th May 2010 - 00:20 GMT

Hit your head on that dashboard, they hose it off and sell it to the next guy.

joey: 24th May 2010 - 00:32 GMT

last photo may have been the one i used to make my collage

Luc: 12th Sep 2010 - 21:32 GMT

I'd love geographical coordinates on these to be able to use street view and look at the present situation

Pablo J. Davis: 7th Oct 2010 - 22:14 GMT

Magnificent, both sets of photographs, what a gift... time travel... thank you!!
This is a long shot but does anyone remember Davis's Delicatessen & Dining Room at 31 W. 8th St, facing McDougall, so just a stone's throw from Washington Square. Operated from late 30's to mid 60's. My grandparents were the proprietors, and I remember it... and have actually come across several people (older than myself) who do too. But would love to hear from anyone else who recalls it. I will try to post a photo here soon. pablojdavis@gmail.com thank you very much

Pablo J. Davis: 7th Oct 2010 - 22:18 GMT

In response to Gerard Ryan: 21st Apr 2010 - 13:38 GMT "Incredible pictures, just to see people going about their business... a beautiful capture of days gone by" I agree fully. The magic in these pictures is that they are freeze frames of ordinary life. For the same reason I love to hear an old radio broadcast, for instance an old ballgame, including (and maybe especially) the side comments in between the action... the commercials... etc. See the complete broadcast day of WJSV Radio, Washington, D.C. for June 21, 1939 http://www.archive.org/details/CompleteBroadcastDay

eydie sanders: 12th Nov 2011 - 14:59 GMT

amazing! street scenes of people just living their lives are my passion. pictures like this are as close as we'll get to time travel. i just want to crawl inside the pictures and touch these people, talk to them, experience the scene. notice how everyone is slim and the women are all wearing dresses and heels.