This illustration from the December 21, 1895 Harper’s Weekly shows some of the tests put to applicants of the NYPD.
Instead of Tammany Hall patronage to get on the police force, Continue reading
It could have been a good movie.
Spencer Tracy portrays the complexities of the man that this film was based upon.
Now I’ll Tell was written by Mrs. Carolyn Rothstein, widow of New York gambler and crime boss Arnold Rothstein. Continue reading
November 11 originally known as Armistice Day commemorates the formal end of World War I.
The Armistice which ended the Great War on November 11, 1918 was greeted with elation all over the world. In New York tens of thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate. The news slug says:
New York City – A cart filled with celebrants added the noise of their drums and cymbals to their cheers as they rode through the streets. photo: Wide World Photos November 11, 1918
This photograph taken by Percy Loomis Sperr on August 31, 1934 shows a mostly desolate section of the west side of Manhattan. 38th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues has still not been absorbed by the Hudson Yards building boom.
There has been great change, but there are many vacant lots and Incredibly nearly 90 years later, Continue reading
This news photograph showing a skull that might be a prop from a Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi horror film, are the actual remains of an ancient criminal that were discovered two centuries after his demise.
The news slug explains: Continue reading
Earl Wilson (1907 – 1987) was a New York Post based nationally syndicated columnist (It Happened Last Night). Wilson also wrote several books during his nearly fifty year journalism career.
Among Wilson’s best books is an atypical guide book to New York called Earl Wilson’s New York (Simon and Schuster, 1964).
While Wilson covers some of the usual touristy things to do, such as where to stay and eat, he also writes about “Where To Find A Psychiatrist For Your Dog” Continue reading
This barren scene is Sixth Avenue (renamed Lenox Avenue in 1887 and additionally named Malcom X Boulevard in 1987) just north of Central Park.
As the northern boundary of the city kept expanding the grading and opening of streets continued further north. Continue reading
Immortal Pitching Yankee Stadium, New York- This sequence of three photos shows Don Larsen 1) cocking for the pitch 2) delivering, and 3) following through on the mound during his historic perfect no-hitter. Don pitched to only 27 Dodgers in posting his 2-0 victory for the books. His triumph put the Bombers ahead 3-2 in games. photo: 10/8/1956 International News Photos – Frank Juroski
For all the accomplishments that have happened in the history of baseball, there is one that has never been duplicated.
Don Larsen’s masterpiece of pitching in game five of the 1956 World Series. 27 men up. 27 men down. A perfect game in the World Series.
With his hands still shaking after the game Larsen told reporters, ” I was so damn nervous Continue reading
This street of upper middle class gentility is 38th Street looking east from Fifth Avenue.
Our stereoview photograph was taken by E & H.T. Anthony & Co. about 1870.
Besides the horse drawn wagon Continue reading
When I was a child, Oldsmobile was a brand that I imagined was designed and driven by old people. Figuring the name starts with “Old” it’s easy for an eight-year-old to come up with that natural conclusion.
But I would eventually learn it’s called Oldsmobile because the founder was Ransom E. Olds.
Anyhow, this news photo caption explains why the roofless, windowless, antique was in New York. Continue reading