December 19, 1948 – Times Square 8:53 pm
On this day 63 years ago, 19.6 inches of snow blanketed the city. Here is Times Square in the midst of this snowstorm with only a few pedestrians and cars visible. Because it was a Sunday, traffic was light and the city was able to prepare and battle the storm efficiently. Mayor William O’Dwyer had a force of 18,340 men to remove the snow and keep the city running.
To the disappointment of children on Monday, New York City schools were open.
Looking north from the Times Building we see on the left The Paramount Building with the Paramount Theatre’s marquee lights casting an extreme white glow and on the next block The Hotel Astor. On the right are two iconic neon advertising signs; one for Camel cigarettes between 43rd and 44th Streets and the other for Bond Clothiers between 44th and 45th Streets.
The Bond sign contained nearly two miles of neon and had two fifty foot nude figures at each end, one male and one female. A huge recirculating waterfall between the two figures topped off this amazing advertising sign which was in place from 1948-1954.
I was 10 years old during the blizzard of ’48. I vividly remember going out with my father during the afternoon of the blizzard and walking about 6 – 7 blocks to the Prospect Movie House in the Bronx. I recall walking behind my father, probably in his footsteps, with the wind howling and a complete “white out”. We saw Disney’s Cinderella (the original one) and then had to walk home.
This is one of my earliest memories and will stay with me forever