The Stairways in Penn Station

Yes, I could go on with yet another rant about the lack of vision and the outright crime of destroying the most beautiful railway station this city has ever seen. But I won't go there.

Instead I will show the remaining scraps of what is left over from the destruction that happened 50 years ago.

Designed by McKim, Mead, and White and completed in 1910. 

The original Pennsylvania Station was a masterpiece of the Beaux-Arts style.

A single ornate stair frame still exist today.

Once a grand area of space and light

The lower tracks and stairs were lit by natural light the shown thru the glass roof as well as the glass square flooring inside the station. Seen above

The original glass floor can be seen from most of the track areas to this day.

Just look up. Of course no light shines through. It was covered by the flooring above.


Here we see track 8 in 1910 and today. The pillars are in place as well as the freight elevator behind the stairs.

Exiting tracks 12 into the cathedral of iron and glass. Circa 1958.

Illuminated by natural light.

Exiting track 12 today to a cramped area with ten foot drop ceiling lit with fluorescents.

Assemblage of Sans Serif advertising type

Lexington Avenue • Above a Radio Shack

Movie Star News

Movie Star News • 134 East 18th Street • NYC

Originally begun as a used bookstore and magazine shop in 1939 by Irving Klaw Movie Star News was originally located at 209 East 14th Street.

After discovering that teenagers that people were  tearing out photos from his movie magazines, he started selling movie star stills and lobby photo cards. Customers could order by item number from catalogs of sample photos. These sold so well that he stopped selling books and moved the store to a  the street-level storefront at 212 East 14th Street and renamed the business Movie Star News.

A thriving side business was mail-order. Klaw sold many cheesecake photos of movie stars. This branched out to fetish photography of photos that Irving and his wife Paula produced in tier storefront studio.

The business became success with photos of burlesque dancers like Blaze Starr, Tempest Storm and the great Betty Page.

A wave of media censorship in 1957 put an end to business and most of the Klaw's negatives were destroyed.

Irving Klaw died on September 3, 1966. His nephew Ira Kramer, son of Paula and Jack Kramer, currently runs the family business, Movie Star News, which is now located at 134 East 18th Street.

You can still get great photos at great prices. If you can't make it over to the stor, check out their website for lots of fun photos.

http://www.moviestarnews.com

The Classic Fruit Pushcart

Even in hard times, New York City being a port town, was always privy to fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, meat etc. Back in the day an inexpensive fresh piece of fruit was always a good healthy snack.

Despite supermarkets and groceries many fruit carts still 

operate thoughtout the city. 

The quick availability of a sidewalk purchase is always a plus for 

busy New Yorkers.

The above beauty is located at 53rd and Lex.

Russian Souvenirs shop

Located at 227 East 14th Street • NYC

Nobody knows how long the Russian Souvenirs shop has been here. The owner Alex is not saying. The store dark, cramped and it's not very friendly inside but if you're looking for a Gorbachev nesting doll or a third scale bust of Lenin, this is the place.

Childs Restaurant Building

On the boardwalk at Coney Island, the former Childs Restaurant Building, with its fantasy nautical themed terra cotta, was built in 1924. There were once over 90 Childs establishments in NYC. The building is an official NYC landmark and will someday be restored as a restaurant and catering hall once again.

Bill's 1890s Bar & Restaurant. But not for long.

Spent an enjoyable evening of libations at Bill's 1890's Bar & Restaurant. This is the real deal. Not actually from the 1890s but built as a nostalgic tribute during the 1920s. Bills occupies a small mid-19th century townhouse on east 54th Street. Three stories chock full of Gay Nineties eyeball kicks. Just pass through the hand-carved swinging doors and enter the famous Silver Dollar Bar. 

But make it quick. Bill's has survived prohibition and the depression but it will eventually succumb to the crushing wave of New York City real estate.

Bill's closes on the 24th of this month.

Bill's NYC 

57 East 54th Street 

NYC, New York 10012 

www.billsnyc.com