Author Archives: B.P.

Old New York In Photos #195 – 125th St. West From 7th Ave. c. 1910

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Harlem 125th Street Looking West From Seventh Avenue

This undated, circa 1910 Detroit Publishing Co. photograph of Harlem’s main stem of 125th Street shows a flurry of activity. We are looking west from Seventh Avenue, today renamed Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. This area of Harlem looks like a small village with most buildings being four stories or less.

It’s obviously a chilly day, and every pedestrian is well dressed and wearing a hat.

Most don a modern hat.  Except for this man in a nineteenth century top hat. He stands under the old lamppost street sign locator near an unusual type of fire hydrant.

On the northwest corner (right) is a Continue reading →

Bullet Train Arrives & New York City Cares About Pollution – 1934

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New York City Says No To Coal Or Oil Burning Trains – 1934

In the 1970s practically every apartment building had an incinerator to burn its trash. New York City’s sky had a constant haze of air pollution from a variety of smog producing outlets.

So it may be surprising to realize that New York did have concerns about air pollution in the 1930s. This photograph with the news slug explains:

An Electric Locomotive Draws The Record-Breaking Coast To Coast Train
New York – A scene on the Park Avenue elevated tracks in New York, showing the Union Pacific “Bullet Train” being drawn by an electric locomotive into Grand Central Terminal at the end of the 56-hour, 57-minute record breaking journey from Los Angeles. The locomotive was attached at Harmon, New York to conform with the law which prohibits a coal or oil burning engine o go through New York. The stream line train is an oil burner. photo: International News 10-25-1934

Union Pacific’s Continue reading →

A Valuable Motorcycle At The 1926 Bicycle Show

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Show Girl Agnes O’ Loughlin On A 1926 Excelsior Super X Motorcycle

The 12th National Bicycle Show
New York: Photo shows Agnes O’Loughlin riding the ivory and gold motorcycle which was one of the principle exhibits at the 12th National Bicycle Show at the new Madison Square Garden. photo; King Features Syndicate 1-12-1926

Some things have not changed much in one hundred years. Companies still hire pretty women to demonstrate their products at conventions.

Admission to The National Bicycle Show in 1926 was fifty cents. The show was held at the third and newest building named “Madison Square Garden” which opened on November 29, 1925 at  Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Street. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #194 – Seventh Avenue & 23rd St. – 1916

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Seventh Ave Looking North From 23rd Street

This photograph was taken by the City of New York to document construction along Seventh Avenue. The date is Tuesday, August 29 ,1916. The high temperature for the day was a comfortable 71 degrees.

The extension of the subway from Times Square south of Seventh Avenue to the Battery would necessitate ripping up the street along the route. Continue reading →

They Died. The New York Times Forgot to Mention It –Again

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The New York Times Loves To Ignore Rock N’ Roll Deaths

On February 3, 2026 Lamonte McLemore one fifth of the great singing group The Fifth Dimension passed away at the age of 90.

Amazingly, The New York Times did cover McLemore’s death with a well deserved obituary a week after his passing . McLemore, while not a rock star per se, was definitely part of the sixties pop rock identity.

We use the term “amazingly” because Continue reading →

The God Of War Triumphs Over Peace

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Puck Magazine Illustration “Mars Triumphant” – 1904

There are no periodicals like Puck Magazine today.

The weekly political, satirical and humor magazine was in business from 1876-1918. A main feature of the magazine was a chromolithograph centerfold usually relating to events of the day.

Our illustration is from the February 25, 1904 issue and drawn by Udo Keppler (1872-1956). Continue reading →

Seeing A Baseball Game At The Polo Grounds c. 1909

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A Fan Takes Some Snaphots Of The New York Giants At The Polo Grounds c. 1909

The San Francisco Giants opened the 2026 baseball season playing the New York Yankees.

There was no interleague play between American and National League teams until 1997.

But had the Giants played the Yankees 117 years ago neither team would have had to travel as their home ballparks were both in upper Manhattan. The Yankees playing their games at Hilltop Park at 168th St. and Broadway, while the Giants home field was at The Polo Grounds,155th Street and 8th Avenue. Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #190 – Lillian Gish, King Vidor & Irving Thalberg

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Lillian Gish, King Vidor & Irving Thalberg On The Set of La Bohème 1925

Exclusive Layout – 25 Years Of Movie Making – M-G-M – An interior shot in 1925: The antiquated “silent” camera shoots the first scene for “La Bohème” starring Lillian Gish, while director King Vidor (c) and the late Irving Thalberg, famous young M-G-M production chief, stand by. photo: M-G-M Photos, July 8, 1948 ( uncredited in photo behind the camera is cinematographer Hendrick Sartov)

In 1925, Lillian Gish was beginning a one million dollar contract to make six films in two years for Metro Goldwyn Mayer.

But, when Gish arrived at MGM no preparations were in place for her. No stories or even ideas, no directors, nothing. Continue reading →

Brooklyn Dodger Star Roy Campanella & Sons At Spring Training 1951

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Roy Campanella Shows His Sons The Tools Of The Trade

Dodgers Have A Family Act
Miami, Fla – If the boys turn out to be chips off the old block, the Dodgers will be all set in the catching department, if, and when, catcher Roy Campanella hangs up his mask and gloves. Here is Campanella with his sons, David, 7, and Roy, Jr., 2, as he puts them through their paces at Miami Stadium. The Dodgers won their first game yesterday in the Grapefruit League by shading the Boston Braves, 10-9 in an error-spangled game. photo: Herb Scharfman International News,  March 12 1951

Roy Campanella, because of the color barrier with an Italian father and Black mother, did not enter the major leagues until 1948 when he was 26. He played 10 sterling seasons, all for the Dodgers, and would win three Most Valuable Player Awards. Baseball legend Ty Cobb was impressed enough to say “Campanella will be remembered longer than any catcher in baseball history.”

Campanella’s career came to a tragic end Continue reading →