TIMES SQUARE, 1984

This video presents excerpts from three films:

Clips from an 11-minute video made by the Municipal Arts Society in 1985 and narrated by the actor Jason Robards that was created as a public relations piece that could be shown to government officials, civic groups, and other stakeholders in the fight to save Times Square's bright lights and historic theaters. The images and voiceover describe the unique character of historic Broadway theaters that "extend the atmosphere of the drama ... into the street, in a single, playful experience" and analyze the brilliance of the "bowl of light" created by the signage that framed the bow-tie of Broadway north of 42nd Street.

A second set of clips presents interviews with veterans of Times Square, including Tama Starr, scion of the Artkaft Strauss family, who have produced theatrical and advertising signage for a century, as she discusses the history of the neon lights of Broadway; Bert Gold, a theater producer; Lenny Schneider, a newsstand operator; and Leonard Clark, a movie house owner facing eviction by the redevelopment plans.

Credits: Tama Starr: "The 11th Hour" with Robert Lipsyte (1989), a television program produced by WNET/THIRTEEN: others: "New Times for Times Square" (1984), a video produced and edited by Peter Bunche.
Courtesy of Peter Bunche, and with thanks to Bill Schacht

Видео TIMES SQUARE, 1984 канала SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM