The Walks Guide To Times Square Attractions By Jeff Dobbins on November 19, 2011 in Landmarks , NYC Sights Times Square epitomizes New York City – big, chaotic, crowded, flashy, and awe-inspiring. Known as “the Crossroads of the World,” this canyon-like space is created by the intersection of Broadway (curving westward) and Seventh Avenue. Seen in photos, films and TV (especially every New Year’s Eve), it is one of the great gathering places of the world and Times Square attractions are some of the world’s most popular. During the 19th Century the area was called Longacre Square, and was primarily home to carriage-making, stables, and brothels. It became Times Square in 1904, when the New York Times opened their distinctive headquarters with the new subway system hub beneath. In the early 20th Century, the area was a glamorous entertainment district, and Times Square Attractions included Broadway theaters, nightclubs, movie palaces, restaurants, and hotels. But after the 1950s, the square began a downward spiral. Burlesque gave way to pornography, which was followed by drug dealing and crime.

By the 1970s, Times Square was a seedy, dangerous place (as seen in films like Midnight Cowboy and Taxi Driver, which were filmed there). In the 1990s the city (lead by former mayor Rudy Guliani) drove out the porno theaters and drug dealers and enticed businesses to move into the area. Times Square has been dramatically transformed into a tourist-friendly entertainment and shopping district. A tour of Times Square – Beginning at 42nd Street and Broadway facing north into the Square, look to your left (west). This block with the flashy marquees is the “naughty, gaudy, bawdy 42nd St” celebrated in song and films. It is a microcosm of the square. Once packed with Broadway theaters, it was the glamorous center of nightlife and Times Square attractions. During the Great Depression, theaters gave way to arcades, sideshows, flea circuses and burlesque, while the surviving theaters began showing second-run films and eventually…porn. The sidewalks were filled with drug dealers, thieves and prostitutes.

(In 1984, 2,300 crimes were reported on this block alone.) The turnaround began in the 90s, when the city took over the block, evicted most businesses, and Disney restored the New Amsterdam Theater (for an inside look at the theater and some of its most memorable productions don’t miss our Disney on Broadway Tour ). Now the block includes three Broadway theaters, an off-Broadway theater, rehearsal studios, two multi-plex movie theaters, restaurants, a hotel and, like a return to its sideshow era, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Madame Tussaud’s . Walk north on Broadway into the Square. At 43rd and Broadway you’ll see the compact Police Station to your left (the area is quite safe, canvassed by cops, many undercover, and video cameras). On the eastern corner is the Nasdaq MarketSite , epicenter of Nasdaq news and events. Through the glass you can see their broadcast studio, where over 100 live market updates are taped for networks like CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and Reuters.

Paramount Building Photo: Jeff Dobbins Across 7th Avenue you’ll see the distinctive marquee on the Art Deco Paramount Building, which is topped by a four-sided clock and globe (both were painted black during WWII to maintain blackout conditions). The marquee now belongs to the Hard Rock Cafe , but once fronted the historic Paramount Theater, a premiere movie palace that also hosted performances by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Frank Sinatra. Continue one block north to the small island at Broadway & 44th St. Turn around to look back at the towering Times Building. This is the landmark, wedge-shaped building that was formerly the headquarters of the New York Times (and gave the square its name). It’s covered in LED video screens, along with the famous Zipper that wraps around the facade. The Zipper still provides up-to-the-minute news. (This is where New Yorkers learned of election results, the end of both World Wars, the asassination of JFK, and the attacks on 9/11). On top of the building you’ll see the famous flagpole and, one of the most recognizable Times Square Attractions, the crystal ball that annually drops to ring in the New Year.

New Years Eve celebrations have taken place here since 1904. Across Broadway, you’ll see the scrolling electronic marquees on Times Square Studios, from which Good Morning America and ABC News programs are broadcast. On the north corner is the large Toys R Us store which includes a 60-foot, indoor Ferris wheel, a life-sized T-Rex dinosaur model, and a 4,000 square-foot Barbie dollhouse. Across 7th Avenue is the Minskoff Building, which houses a Broadway Theater on its third floor (current home to The Lion King ) and MTV Studios behind its second floor windows. Broadway Marquees, 44th St. Photo: Jeff Dobbins Looking west down 44th St you’ll see some of Broadway’s most historic theaters, where shows like Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Music Man, Camelot, and The Phantom of the Opera (still playing as the longest-running Broadway show in history) have premiered. Continue north to 45th & Broadway. You’ll pass the concrete behemoth Marriott Marquis, the first new hotel built in Times Square in decades.

It includes a huge atrium, a Broadway theater, and a revolving restaurant and bar on the 45th floor. There was much controversy over its construction because five historic Broadway theaters were demolished. (Actors, including Christopher Reeve and Tony Randall, fought to save them. Some even chained themselves to the old theaters to stop the wrecking ball.) The block of 45th Street to your left (west) is lined with six Broadway Theaters (the highest concentration of theaters in the city). 44th & 45th Streets are the heart of the Broadway district. At 46th Street you’ll see the flashy American Eagle Outfitters store, which is covered in LED screens featuring videos. Illuminated signs, known as “Spectaculars,” have been a part of Times Square since it was called “The Great White Way” for its dazzling lights. In fact, there are zoning regulations that require buildings in the square to cover a specific percentage of their facade with illuminated signs. Duffy Square Photo: Jeff Dobbins Cross 46th Street to enter Duffy Square, named for Father Duffy, a WWI hero whose statue is found in the middle of the island. Before you is the statue of George M.

Cohan, the performer, writer, and impresario who wrote “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and “Give My Regards to Broadway.” Cohan’s energy, optimism, and chutzpah set the tone for the emerging Broadway musical. Across Broadway is the Times Square Visitors Center . Located in a historic movie theater, the Center offers restrooms, ticket sales to Broadway shows (full price, but one stop shopping), tours and tourist information, and entertaining exhibits about Times Square, including a replica of the New Years Crystal Ball. Next door to the Center is the historic Palace Theater , once the pinnacle of the Vaudeville world. Only the theater’s marquee and entrance are visible since it has been encased by the Doubletree Suites Hotel, which was built on top. The interior of the theater was landmarked but not the exterior, so the hotel bought the air rights (the right to develop above a building) and swallowed it. The theater’s brick wall and fire escapes are still visible along 47th St. At the north end of the square is the TKTS booth, which sells discount, same-day tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway shows. Tickets are usually 50% off full price, so lines can be long.

Illuminated signs near the ticket windows display which shows are offered and their discount. Above the booth are the new red glass steps which offer a great place to relax with people from all over the world. From there the spectacular panorama of Times Square is like none other. The Times Square Alliance has a wonderful website , full of information about its history, attractions and events. If you want to see broadway and the New Amsterdam Theater with one of our expert local guides check out our Disney on Broadway tour for a whole new perspective on one of the most legendary stretches of city in the world. TImes Square Photo: Jeff Dobbins Times Square Famous Landmark in New York City Home » America » Times Square Famous Landmark in New York City Times Square Famous Landmark in New York City Posted by Tour Attractions in America | 0 comments Times Square is popularly known as “The Crossroads of the world” and “The Great White Way”.

Times Square is a brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway theatre district, one of the world’s busiest pedestrian intersections.Times Square lies at the junction of the Broadway and the Seventh Avenue and stretch from the west 42nd to west 47thstreets.Times Square is popularly known as “The Crossroads of the world” and “The Great White Way”. According to the survey of Travel & Leisure Magazine October 2011 edition, Times Square is the world’s most visited tourist attraction and every year 39 million tourists visit this iconic building. Times Square History At the end of the 19th century, New York City had expanded up to 42nd street and the area was becoming the center of the city’s social scene. In 1904, the New York Times built the Times Tower on 43rd street just off Broadway to replace its downtown premises. The square in front of the building was called Long-acre square, but was soon renamed Times Square. Theater District and Billboards At the start of the First World War, Times Square was the center of the Theater District and attracted a large number of visitors. This made the square an ideal place for billboards.

In 1917 the first large electric display billboard was installed. Eleven years later, the first running electric sign was lit for the first time, to announce Herbert Hoover’s victory in the Presidential elections. The billboards have become such a tourist attraction for the area, that the zoning now requires the buildings to be covered with billboards! Decline and Disney fixation Around 1930’s, the theatre going population declined due to the Great Recession all over the world. Several businesses shut their shops and strip tease and peep shows quickly took the Centre stage of the Times Square as the profit business. Though the visitors still used to come to the area during this time too. After the second world war in the later 1940’s,the Theatre districts starts booming again. At the end of 1960, the area started to go go downhill and by the seventies, the tourists avoided the The Times square due to the fact it has become crime-ridden and drug-infested place now. In the 1980s redevelopment proposals were submitted, with little result. This changed a decade later, when the Walt Disney Company opened a Disney store on Times Square.

This attracted more family-friendly businesses to the area, leading to a so-called ‘Disneyfication’. The area was now – like most of New York City – a lot safer than in the early nineties and Times Square once again became a magnet for tourists and a center of New York’s social scene. Modern features of Times Square Pedestrian delight Times Square has been an intersection of the traffic for most of its times but now pedestrians can take the sigh of relief as the whole area is under the redevelopment project which initiated in 2012 and will continue till 2016. Under this project the whole area will be made car free and asphalt is being removed from all over the roads to make it convenient for the pedestrians to walk through. This is dubbed as the Times Square Transformation. Entertainment Times Square is famous for its entertainment and plenty of visitors come here to attend the Broadway show. Times Square is also home to MTV’s headquarters and ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ is broadcast in front of a live audience from its office at 44th and Broadway.

Apart from the attractions of many billboards and the whole ambience of this area, there are also many restaurants and over 100 of shops that include the world famous Disney store and Toy”R”U. Paramount Building and Visitors Center Paramount building is now only an Office tower but in previous times it was the place for the Paramount theatre where the yesteryears celebrities like Fred Astaire, Bing Cosby and frank Cinatra performed live. Another former theater, the Embassy Theater, is now the home of Times Square’s own visitors center. Here you can get information about events and Broadway shows. There’s also a small museum that tells the history of Times Square. Share the post "Times Square Famous Landmark in New York City" Times Square – Crossroads of the World | Museum of the City Times Square – Crossroads of the World Exhibit by: Allyson Rupp This exhibit explores Times Square, located in Midtown Manhattan in the heart of New York City.

As the world’s most visited place (with annual visits estimated to be 39 million people a year), Times Square has an amazing sense of place and has earned the nickname “Crossroads of the World.” Times Square is also an excellent example of how places can be transformed as it has undergone many transformations during its interesting history. Times Square, New York City New York City’s Times Square is a world-renowned gathering place for New Yorkers and citizens from around the world. This famous landmark is a must-see destination for visitors that come to New York. Tourists and locals come to see Broadway shows and become audiences for numerous television shows produced there. People also come to Times Square to shop at mega-stores, see the lights and the sheer spectacle of this famous square; and of course, take pictures to prove they were there. The boundaries of Times Square are generally considered to be the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Broadway that spans the distance from West 42nd Street to West 47th Street. The Times Square District is defined by seven subway stops as identified on the map below. The district includes such famous landmarks as the Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, the Ed Sullivan Theater and numerous other theaters on and off Broadway.

However, the concept of Times Square radiates from One Times Square. History of Times Square In 1811, New York City planners established a grid pattern for streets. This pattern was applied to all of the streets in Manhattan except for Broadway. Broadway’s diagonal form helps establish Times Square’s unique sense of place. Times Square was originally named Longacre Square. It was a neighborhood with residences for low income people, small factories and various types of adult entertainment. In 1904, New York’s Mayor renamed it “Times Square” after the New York Times newspaper relocated its new headquarters building at One Times Square. The tradition of celebrating the New Year at One Times Square began with a fireworks display from the building’s rooftop. Three years after the New York Times moved into the neighborhood, Adolph Ochs, the newspaper’s publisher, established the electric ball drop to ring in the New Year. That same year, the New York Subway System opened its first line which crossed Times Square and further transformed the area. Times Square billboards began in 1917 when the first large electric display billboard was installed.

In 1928, the first running electric sign was constructed and displayed the announcement that Herbert Hoover had been elected President of the United States. Times Square billboards have become such an attraction that New York City zoning laws require buildings be covered by billboards. Broadway and Theater District The theater district is located between 41st and 53rd Street and between the Sixth and Ninth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. It wasn’t until the 1920’s and on into the 1930’s that theaters started to consolidate on Broadway. When the Great Depression crippled the economy there was a sharp decline in theater attendance. Many businesses failed and had to close. Times Square began to transform into an area dominated by businesses offering strip tease and peep shows. After the end of the World War II, Broadway and the Theater District again became popular and successful. However, at the end of the turbulent 1960’s, Broadway and Times Square itself had seen better days. By the mid-1970’s, Times Square near Broadway had become a distasteful area with much crime and drug trafficking. It was not a popular destination, and tourists generally avoided Times Square all together.

Times Square At Its Worst Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center As Times Square and Broadway declined, only a few blocks away two other legendary tourist attractions continued to be successful. The Radio City Music Hall, home of the Radio City Rockettes, was founded in 1932 and has been visited by over 300 million people. Radio City Music Hall The Rockefeller Center opened in 1933. It was a dream of John D. Rockefeller to create a city within a city. Because it was constructed during the Great Depression, over 40,000 people were employed during a time when jobs were very scarce. Rockefeller Center or “30 Rock,” as it is popularly known, is a landmark within the Times Square District and a major tourist attraction. Both of these major attractions have been anchors of the Times Square area. In order to improve the value and attractiveness of the area, New York City needed The Times Square Transformation Beginning in 1977 with changes to laws and enforcement practices, New York City tried reducing crime which was the main reason for the decline in Times Square’s popularity. However, progress in transforming Times Square back to a tourist destination slowed during the 1980’s.

In 1993, New York City made a major policy decision to reclaim Times Square through an initiative titled “war on crime;” the clean-up of Times Square. As a result, Times Square’s crime rate was substantially reduced on 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth, which was identified as the worst block for crime in the city. This effort brought Times Square back to life both economically and as a major tourist attraction. As visitors began to come back to Times Square, major corporations began locating in Times Square. The Walt Disney Company opened a Disney store in Times Square. This signaled that Times Square was a safe place for families to visit, and as a result more family-friendly businesses were attracted to the area. Because Times Square was now a lot safer than in the early nineties, it once again became a magnet for tourists and a center of New York’s social scene. Times Square Today Times Square is a constantly buzzing magnet for tourists and remains one of the most visited places in the world. It is the news capital of the United States and a major entertainment hub with CBS, NBC, ABC and other major media headquarters all located in the Times Square District.

Of course, it remains the annual place for one of the biggest New Year’s celebrations on the planet. For most of its existence, Times Square wasn’t much more than a large traffic intersection. However, it is now undergoing another transition. Times Square is being transformed into a pedestrian-friendly square with car-free plazas and people-friendly spaces that will replace much of the asphalt. The redevelopment project – dubbed Times Square Transformation – begin in 2012 and is expected to be completed in 2016. Crossroads of the world - Review of Times Square, New York City, NY - TripAdvisor “Crossroads of the world” Reviewed February 15, 2016 Times Square is in Midtown Manhattan, where Broadway and 7th Avenue meet. It's known as "the Crossroads of the World," It's also known as the "Great White Way" a tribute to its status as a major entertainment centre.There are lots of shows there. I've been there several times, night and day. The blaze of illumination at night is striking. If you have never heard of Times Square, you (and millions of others) have probably seen the famous ball drop at midnight on New Year's Eve.

During the day, you can't miss the Naked Cowboy playing his guitar. The area, like most parts of New York, is much safer now than it was previously. Be wary of the various touts who hang out there. Times Square is the sort of place you should see, if only to tell the folks back home about. We saw a Tony Award-winning show "In the Heights" on Broadway, just off Times Square. Visited January 2016 “Worth going once!” Reviewed February 15, 2016 It's one of those places that once you've seen once, it's enough. It's great for a few nice photos at night but it's a stressful place you'd want to avoid if you're in New York for long periods of time. Be careful of people in costumes trying to make you pay them. Tipping is optional! There are occasionally topless women in body paint that might scare your children. Most things are overpriced, but if you're looking for souvenirs you can find everything here. Make sure to look around first before buying as prices differ per store by a lot.

The broadway shows, occasional performances and speciality stores like M&M, Hersheys, etc make it interesting. Their Toys R Us is massive! Visited May 2015 “Get it done and never return!” Reviewed February 15, 2016 This is one of the first places I headed when I found myself in midtown - but for the 30 minutes I spent there, i got fed up of being pushed and shoved. (Couldn't bring myself to do a selfie among the crowds, despite the blatant narcissism all around me). It's pretty cool to see those iconic billboards and laugh at the terrible rip off 'Disney' costume characters but I'd have preferred never to go back there during my entire stay (sadly, I needed to pick up the subway here a couple of times). Visited July 2015 Landmarks In New York City Cultural Studies Essay Landmarks In New York City Cultural Studies Essay Published: Last Edited: 23rd March, 2015 This essay has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work written by our professional essay writers.

Times Square is an iconic landmark of the city of New York and of the World and is also a symbol of the city. It is known for the digital advertisements which are animated and spectacular. The place is located in Manhattan at the junction of the Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretches from the 42nd to the 47th Street in the West. It is has been nicknamed as "The Crossroads of the World". Times Square is a junction of the art and commerce and here a number of advertisements with are beautifully illuminated with electric and neon lights are displayed. This is a huge attraction for the visitors. The Broadway theatres and the LED signs which manifest the iconic images of New York make this place a real reflection of the city life of Manhattan. The complex has various buildings inside it which include the Radio City Music Hall and also the GE Building. The Radio City hall is one of the most attractive tourist destinations and it annually features a music stage show called the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The GE Building is the headquarters of a lot of New York's famous studios and also has a famous restaurant called the Rainbow Room Club located at the top. The Chrysler building is located at 405 Lexington Avenue, New York City, NY.

The building is 319 meters long and was the tallest building in New York for 11 months before the Empire State Building took over. The building is a fine example of the Art Deco architecture and is regarded by architects of modern day as a creative and classic piece of architecture. The profile of the building which is very distinctive has also inspired various other sky scrapers outside. The architecture of the building is known for the crown ornamentation which is made of seven terraced arches. There are two sets of lighting which form a part of the top spires and the decorations. As far as cultural depictions are concerned it has been featured in a number of movies, television series and also in various video games in the recent past. The building is mostly occupied for office purposes. The Statue of Liberty is located at the Liberty Island in the New York City. It is a monumental representation of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence and marks the establishment of friendship between the two countries, France and the United States during the American Revolution. It features a woman standing with a torch in her hand wearing a crown and a stola, trampling a broken chain. This is the mark of American Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty is made of pure copper sheathing hung on a steel framework which was originally puddle iron. The torch is coated in gold leaf and the flame hold glass panes. The statue is 151 ft. tall and stands on an irregular eleven edged star pedestal. It stands in the middle welcoming visitors, immigrants and the Americans returning to their homeland by ship. It has been for long one of the first glimpse of the United States for the immigrants. The Wall Street Financial District is located at 11, Wall Street in the New York City. It is an area of the southern end of Manhattan. It includes the New York Stock exchange and the Wall Street and also other financial institutions. The Wall Street is also called so because of the American financial industry which is centered in the New York City area and is referred to as the influential financial interests. The architecture of the Wall Steer is mainly derived from that in the Gilded Age. Also there are various influences of the art deco architecture which can be found in the neighborhood buildings. The various landmarks here are the Federal Hall, 40 Wall Street also called the trump building, New York Stock Exchange, 14 Wall Street which is commonly known as the Banker's Trust Company Building.

The Street represents financial and economic scenario and power influence. It is a symbol of the country and the economic system and has developed with trade and innovation. The Central Park is located on the north of the 59th Street, South of the 110th Street and West of 8th Avenue, east of the 5th Avenue. This is an urban park situated in the heart of Manhattan and welcomes more than 25 million visitors each year. The park is a landscape designed by architects but in most ways it looks pretty natural and you may easily get deceived to confuse it to a natural setting. The park comprises of a number of beautiful lakes and ponds, ice skating kinks, swimming pool, walking tracts and also a wild life sanctuary. There is also a natural woods area along with the Central Park Zoo and the Central Park Conservatory Garden. There is also an outdoor theater which hosts a festival in the summers called "Shakespeare in the Park". The Park offers a variety of beautiful sculptures and places to see and admire. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is situated in the New York Harbour.

Between the years 1892 and 1954 the illegal immigrants of the country were sent to this pace and were inspected both legally and medically. Later in the 1900 the Ellis Island was transformed and it was renovated into a museum. This museum is especially dedicated to the task of educating the visitors and people about the experience of those immigrants who were inspected here. The architecture was appreciated a great deal at the time it was built and therefore the architects were both awarded a gold medal for the work put in and the design of the building. This was for the first time that private architects were allowed to design federal buildings instead of only the government architects. There is a wall of honor outside the building which has a list of the immigrants who had travelled to this place back in the 19th century. The museum also has a library called the "Bob Hope Memorial Library" which is named after one of the most famous immigrants to this place. Big Orange Landmarks: No. 134 - Crossroads of the World No. 134 - Crossroads of the World 6671 Sunset Boulevard – map Declared: 12/4/74 Screw Times Square !

The real Crossroads of the World is right here in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard. Granted, Times Square can claim the Coca-Cola Sign, the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, One Times Square, and the Naked Cowboy, while our landmark today boasts primarily a bunch of boring offices. But our Crossroads of the World looks like a big boat. The project was conceived by a woman named Ella Crawford and designed by (a man named) Robert V. Derrah. Born in Salt Lake City, Derrah was apparently a brainiac, for he graduated from both MIT and Harvard before coming to the area in the mid-1920s. He served as president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1945, only to die from a heart attack in October of the following year at the age of 51. Derrah was responsible for a couple of other city landmarks, too, the Coca-Cola Company Building, No. 138, and Southern California Gas Company Building on Flower, No. 789.

In this case, what Derrah designed was an international shopping center of shops and studios, “a beautifully housed, permanent world’s fair.” One of the keys to the success to the set of buildings was its open spaces where pedestrians could wander about. The development’s general layout is that of a docked Streamline Moderne ocean liner surrounded by two-story cottages done up in a variety of architectural styles – English, French, Swedish, Spanish, Algerian, Turkish, Italian, Persian, Mexican, and, er, Netherlandish. Derrah also tossed in bits of colonial New England and early California for you xenophobes. Early on, plans called for building a theater for foreign films, something I can’t find evidence of ever materializing. The ship’s aft is crowned with a thirty-foot Art Deco tower capped with a lighted eight-foot world globe, a literal Hollywood landmark. Crawford, who was extremely careful in her selection of tenants who would bring in high-class shops keeping with the international theme, somehow had an in with Universal Studios (this was right around when Standard Capital took over the studio from Carl Laemmle) .

The day before Crossroads’ October 29, 1936, grand opening, a quartet of Universal starlets showed up for photo-ops for the mall (and for themselves). For posterity, their names were Marjorie Gage, Emily Lane, Mary Alice Rice , and Polly Rowles . I mention this only because I’m thinking these ladies’ careers could use a bit of a boost. Opening night for Crossroads of the World was akin to a big movie premiere. Included in the revelries were a master of ceremonies, “colorful foreign musicians, groups of native dancers and folk singers.” To boot, Universal went on to provide a bunch of international “film players” to act as hosts and hostesses. Just look who was scheduled to greet you with Ciao!, Hola!, or whatever (and the countries they were representing): Gertrude Niesen (Scandinavia) Opening day, the Los Angeles Times reported the shopping center had “accommodations for more than a hundred shops, cafes, bazaars and studios.

These units will feature merchandise and foods from the four corners of the earth.” Today, the designated city landmark houses businesses including design firms , a hair care shop , production houses , magazines , talent agencies , religious institutions , and at least one art gallery . The Sunday afternoon I was walking around, it was all but deserted. Lots of parking in the lot off Las Palmas. This Seeing Stars page says Diana Murphy and Sid Hudgens had offices here in Indecent Proposal and L.A. Confidential , respectively. Sources: “Hollywood's Unique “Crossroads of the World” Project Makes Bow to Public in Premiere Tonight” Los Angeles Times; Oct 29, 1936, p. 6 “Stars From All Nations to Be Present at Opening” Los Angeles Times; Oct 29, 1936, p. 6 “Architects’ Ideas Vie” Los Angeles Times; Oct 29, 1936, p. 6 Southwest Builder and Contractor Oct 18, 1946, p. 5 Longstreth, Richard. City Center to Regional Mall MIT Press 1997 Cambridge, Massachusetts Up next: Canoga Mission Gallery Posted by Floyd B.

Bariscale at 10:53 PM Our Story - Junior's Cheesecake Our Story Junior's in Historic Downtown Brooklyn at the Corner of Flatbush and DeKalb since 1950 Welcome to Junior's! Hail a taxicab anywhere in New York City and tell the driver, "Take me to the best cheesecake in New York." Odds are you will end up at the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues in Brooklyn, at Juniors. Founded by Harry Rosen in 1950, Junior's landmark restaurant is known as the home of New York's best cheesecake. For decades, Brooklynites (and other New Yorkers) have come to eat, laugh, and kibbtiz (argue) over cheesecake. In the 1950's, an entire generation came of age at Junior's. Our cheesecake was as important as the Brooklyn Dodgers...the Fox Theater...Coney Island...Brighton Beach. Today loyal customers still come --from all over and all walks of life. Famous mayors. Presidents. Hall of Fame athletes. Authors, singers, movie stars.

In fact, it's as true today as it was 60 years ago when we started, "You haven't really lived until you've had cheesecake at Junior's." Junior's Times Square at Broadway & 45th Street at the Crossroads of the World Landmark Locations Since the 1950’s, Junior’s has been famous for great food, great fun, great service, and, of course, the best cheesecake. Our original location in Brooklyn on Flatbush Avenue is still thriving. Or you can visit us in some of our more recent landmark additions—in New York’s famous Grand Central Terminal or in the heart of the theater district on Broadway in Times Square. You can even try your luck at our first restaurant outside of New York—at the Fox Tower Hotel at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. With a full menu ranging from steaks to seafood and sandwiches to salads and cheesecake, we know you’ll have a fabulous dining experience at any of our establishments and, of course, don’t forget to order dessert! A Presidential Visit The Beginning Our story begins long before Opening Day in 1950.

In 1929, Harry Rosen opens a restaurant on the corner of Flatbush Ave Ext and DeKalb, a luncheonette called the Enduro. Over the years, he expands the restaurant to several storefronts occupying the entire corner. After weathering several changes in the economy, including Prohibition and the Great Depression, Harry expands the Enduro to a full service restaurant with a night-club atmosphere including a raised bandstand with live entertainment. After World War II, the returning servicemen did not have time or interest in visiting nightclubs and fancy restaurants. Brooklynites were busy rebuilding–their lives, their families, the city and the country after the war. The Enduro closed its doors in 1949. The Tradition Begins Harry Rosen was determined to recreate a restaurant on that famous corner. It was to be a new family-style place. Saddled by debt with the failure of the Enduro, he scraped together every dime he had and built Junior’s Restaurant, named in honor of his two sons, Walter and Marvin.

When Junior’s opened on Election Day in 1950, it was a modern restaurant in every way–with new neon marquee sign similar to the one on the Paramount Theater across the street, wood countertops and naugahyde booths. Junior’s had become a landmark from the start with bright orange awnings adorning the windows and the red, white and blue bunting that draped the restaurant on that famous Tuesday in November, 1950. Who’s a Bum! In 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series. The press had called them “the Bums” since the mid-1930s when the team could not get out of the cellar. The Dodgers were the home grown symbol of how to win: when you get knocked down, you get up again-the eternal secret to success. A Sign of Change In 1957, the Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field. They moved to sunny LA. Brooklyn didn’t merely lose a baseball team. The Dodgers had been the fighters and scrappers who represented millions of people who had struggled to make good in a new country.

On that last day at Ebbets Field, an entire way of life was eradicated. In 1960, the Field was demolished. For Junior’s, it marked a definite loss of customers and a sign of a changing Brooklyn in the 1960’s. Harry’s son, Walter still has a small piece of brick from the famous ballpark mounted on a color rendering of the field. It sits in his office at Junior’s. In the restaurant, you can see stadium seats and memorabilia from that bygone era. Master Baker When Harry Rosen was rebuilding the restaurant, he hired Danish-born baker, Eigel Peterson to work full time turning out specialties for the new restaurant. Junior’s featured a full-service bakery replete with danish, rugelach, and cakes from day one. The Rosen family saw all the changes in Brooklyn in the 1960s including the flight to suburbia, the rise of gangs, high unemployment in the boro and the city. However, Harry Rosen never thought for a moment that he would join the exodus from Downtown. Junior’s in the 1960’s was a place where all colors of people in all styles of dress could gather without tensions.

Good food and good service became the great equalizer. Harry was a keen competitor and when it came to cheesecake he was determined to have the Best in Brooklyn. Baker Peterson and Harry perfected a cheesecake recipe by the 1960’s that had become a very popular dessert. They conducted laboratory-like experiments until they hit upon the magic formula. The same recipe and techniques we still use today. Times They are a Changin’ As many families left Brooklyn to move to suburbia, a new population moved into Brooklyn. First generation Americans, immigrants, moved to the neighborhoods. The economy was changing too as many jobs left the city. Bobby Kennedy campaigned for the Senate and Presidential election in Brooklyn. Here he is in 1965 when he pledged to keep the Navy Yard open. As Brooklyn continued to change throughout the 1960’s, so did Junior’s. Harry Rosen retired and his sons, Walter and Marvin took over the business. The menu changed to reflect the new tastes of the customers including southern specialties like Fried Chicken, ethnic favorites like Shrimp Parmagiana. Of course, the cheesecake remained and was as popular as ever.

Steadfast Throughout this time of the changing Brooklyn landscape, when many businesses went bust and the many buildings deteriorated with the struggling economy in the city, we remained. The Paramount closed. But we kept turning out cakes and cheesecakes the same way, 365 days per year. The famous “Burgundy Room” opened in 1961 and it was the scene for many celebrations, office parties, and graduations. In fact, for the next 20 years, only three men actually knew and made the entire secret recipe and baking process for Junior’s famous cheesecake. And the world takes notice… In 1973, we found our cheesecake celebrated in print. Rosen Rosenbaum of The Village Voice had this to say…”There will never be a better cheesecake than the cheesecake they serve at Junior’s…it’s the best cheesecake in the material world.” That same year, New York Magazine conducted a blind taste test and rated Junior’s the best cheesecake in New York. To celebrate we ordered orange-colored “We’re #1!” buttons for our entire staff.

We’re still making history with our cheesecake which we deemed “The World’s Most Fabulous.” New Yorkers and the world took notice with lines out the door and down Flatbush Ave for a slice of our heavenly cheesecake. From Out of the Ashes… In 1981, late on a hot Sunday, August 17th, a fire destroyed the roof and top floor of Junior’s. As firefighters shot water into the building, onlookers chanted: “Save the cheesecake, save the cheesecake!” For nine months and three days, Junior’s was closed. We opened a temporary kiosk in Albee Square Mall next door to sell cheesecake that we baked at a nearby candy factory. Now Open On May 27th, 1982, we reopened Junior’s on our famous corner. It was a huge block party with the entire street closed. People stood in line to get a seat in the remodeled restaurant.. Junior’s Day At the reopening of Junior’s in 1982, Harry Rosen thanked God, Brooklyn, and everyone for coming. Borough President Howard Golden and Senator Marty Markowitz attended with Harry, Walter, and Marvin.

Golden declared May 27th to be Junior’s Day in Brooklyn. Senator Marty Markowitz said he’d lost 17 pounds since the fire and was looking forward to growing back into his old suits. The construction allowed us to include a sidewalk cafe as part of the remodeled restaurant. Greetings from Brooklyn In 1989, Junior’s Cheesecake became available for mail order and the entire country learned what Brooklynites have known for decades: “You haven’t really lived until you’ve had cheesecake from Junior’s.” We guarantee perfect delivery of your Junior’s cheesecake anywhere in the 50 states! We ship our cheesecake straight from our bakery in stay-fresh packaging specially designed to safely transport our cakes. Your Junior’s Cheesecake will taste as fresh as if you were enjoying it in one of our restaurants. Bring in the Family Almost any day of the year, there’s a family at Junior’s celebrating a birthday, anniversary, graduation or homecoming. All marking the occasion with our famous cheesecake. Many of our famous billboards by the Manhattan Bridge or on the BQE remind Brooklynites to dine at Junior’s.

During this time a new generation of Rosens begin to take the helm at Junior’s with Walter’s sons, Alan and Kevin entering the business. The Dessert of Presidents During a campaign visit in 1992, President Clinton posed with our staff and tasted our cheesecake. During this decade, Junior’s hosted several dignitaries, politicians, and movie stars. Many were regulars with their own favorite tables and dishes. Cheesecake Corner Mayor Guiliani dedicated the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenue in honor of Harry Rosen. The event celebrated the publication of our cookbook, Welcome to Junior’s, in March, 1999. Our first cookbook revealed many of our secret recipes including the one for our famous cheesecake. It is also a memoir of Brooklyn and the Rosen family. Even with recipe now out to be copied, no one at Junior’s was worried. It was the quality, time, and love involved with baking our cheesecake that was the real secret. WE GROW In 2000, we opened our second restaurant across the river in Manhattan at the historic Grand Central Terminal. A Brooklyn themed tile floor and tables complete the decor as we continue to grow.

“Start Walking” In 2003, Diddy demanded a slice of strawberry cheesecake from the members of Making the Band 2. They walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to Junior’s while rapping the lyrics to The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy.” Epic moment in reality TV history and evidence that Junior’s is now being enjoyed by an entirely new generation of cheesecake lovers. Brooklyn in the Heart of Manhattan In 2006, we opened our third restaurant with Junior’s Times Square at 45th Street and Broadway. Mayor Bloomberg welcomed us to the Crossroads of the World. When we opened in 2006, our famous “Brooklyn, NY” sign on the Restaurant Kiosk confused tourists and locals alike who thought they exited the subway at the wrong stop. Best Mailorder Cake In 2006, the Wall Street Journal rated Junior’s Best Mailorder Cheesecake. That year we expanded our site to include 12 new flavors. Many are now served in our restaurants. “Everyone was happiest with the fresh cheesecake from Junior’s. Tall and slightly bronzed, it was creamier…” We won Best Overall and Best Value above the rest of the competition.

Order one today! A Wedding Brunch In 2008, Junior’s was celebrated in film as the location of the Carrie and Big’s wedding brunch in the Sex and the City movie. We thought this was wonderfully appropriate since every day happy couples celebrate their nuptials at Junior’s directly after tying the knot at Brooklyn Borough Hall down the street. Trivia Fact–This scene was actually filmed at night. Studio lights flooded the restaurant making it look like daylight. Luck Be a Cheesecake Tonight… In 2008, we took our first great adventure outside of New York City. Junior’s at the Fox Tower at Foxwoods Casino is our grandest restaurant yet–with all of the excitement of Foxwoods Casino. We still serve the same great menu including steaks, burgers, seafood, and sandwiches all combined with a lively full service bar. Visit us when in Connecticut at this lovely new addition to our family Junior’s restaurants. Believe the Hype! In 2012, we welcomed the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center to Flatbush Avenue. Just down the street from our landmark location, our new neighbor hosts a world-class basketball team, many of whom can be seen dining in our restaurant.

Barclays is also the venue for headline concerts and shows. Visit Junior’s for a meal or cheesecake before or after an event. The opening of Barclays is a sign of the changing face of Brooklyn. We’re back and better than ever. The neighborhoods are growing, which is evident by all the new construction in the area. And we’re still here, ready to serve the newcomers and our old regulars on Flatbush Avenue Ext. Strawberry Cheesecake, please! In October 2013, President Barack Obama and Mayoral Candidate Bill DeBlasio visit Junior’s in Brooklyn. The President purchased an Original Cheesecake and a Strawberry Cheesecake to eat on Air Force One. 100% Customer Satisfaction

Question: Which New York landmark is known as ‘The Crossroads of the World’?
Answer: Times Square