Tag Archives: Postcards

Old New York In Postcards #31 – Lower New York Skyline From The Water

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15 River Views Of Lower Manhattan 1900-1920

The lower Manhattan Skyline from Jersey City circa 1914 showing (l-r) Municipal Building; Woolworth; Hudson Terminal; City Investment; Singer; West Street; Trinity; American Surety; Bankers Trust; U.S. Express and Manhattan Life. by H.H Tammen Co., New York

The thrill of viewing New York from the water was once a daily occurrence for hundreds of thousands of people. Until 1903 when the Williamsburg Bridge opened the only bridge crossing to lower Manhattan was the Brooklyn Bridge. The subway would open in 1904.

The majority of people arriving from New Jersey, Staten Island or Brooklyn would take a ferry boat. As building technology advanced, the view from the New York Bay, the East River and The Hudson was rapidly changing.

Over a 40 year period from 1892 -1932 with the building of skyscrapers, the lower New York skyline would become an instantly recognizable view featured in art, photographs and motion pictures.

Here are some postcard river views of the city. All cards were scanned at 600 dpi.

The Emerging Skyline

This card “New York From Hoboken” is not that sharp in detail but clearly shows two of the city’s tallest buildings circa 1900.  Slightly to the left Continue reading →

Sexual Innuendo Postcards – Same Message With Different Risque Images

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The Risque Postcard 1906-1908

While both of these double entendre postcards would be considered risque around 1900, the photographs are quite different.

This first postcard of “Practice This Piece With Me” from 1907 implies making out during piano practice time.

The second postcard goes a bit further. Notice where his hand is. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #184 – View From St. Paul Building

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Looking South From The St. Paul Building c. 1900

This stereoscope view of lower Manhattan was taken from the St. Paul Building at 220 Broadway around 1900.

The development of steel skeleton buildings enabled skyscrapers to be constructed towards the end of the 19th century.

The 25-story St. Paul Building stood at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #179 – Grand Central Depot In Color 1895

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Grand Central Depot Circa 1895

It’s 12:20 in the afternoon according to the clock at Grand Central Depot as horse drawn vehicles congregate nearby.

We are looking north from 41st Street and Park Avenue. This contemporary colored magic lantern slide is from around 1895. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #178 – Elevated At Eighth Avenue & 110th St

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View Of Eighth Avenue At 110th Street – 1906

Our Detroit Publishing Co. photograph is from 1906 and shows Eighth Avenue looking north.  It is at this juncture the Ninth Avenue elevated completes its turn from Ninth avenue to Eighth Avenue at 110th Street and proceeds uptown.

As usual there was a postcard issued that almost certainly came from this photograph. The advertising and perspective are exactly the same, but the postcard contains many alterations.

For dramatic effect Continue reading →

Old New York In Postcards #30 – Equitable Building Fire

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The Equitable Building Burns To The Ground – January 9, 1912

On January 9, 1912, the Equitable Life Assurance Building at 120 Broadway was destroyed in a fire of historic proportions.

In 2012 we covered the 100th anniversary of this historic fire and its consequences. Continue reading →

Old New York In Photos #173 – Broadway & 44th St. Vitagraph Theatre -1914

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Mr. Barnes Of New York Playing At The Vitagraph Theatre – 1914

This rare postcard view of The Vitagraph Theatre on the east side of Broadway and 44th Street shows the theatre’s marquee with people milling about a horse drawn promotional wagon.

The building opening in 1895 as the Lyric Theatre was part of the Olympia entertainment complex built by Oscar Hammerstein. Continue reading →

Old New York In Postcards #29 – New York Mounted Police 1905

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The Mystery Location Of The Mounted Police Unit

Looking at this postcard of New York’s finest on horses my first thought was: where is this?

The postcard itself holds few clues unless you are an expert in recognizing mundane landmarks from 120 years ago. The card shows some buildings and the mounted police.

But there was a way to find out by taking a closer look.

Because this postcard was put out by the Detroit Publishing Company in 1905, there might be an original photograph held by the Library of Congress where much of the company’s archive resides. A search provided a clear match. And from that photograph the location could be pinpointed.

The most important clues Continue reading →

Two Of The Dionne Quintuplets Turn 90-Years-Old Today

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Annette and Cécile Dionne Turn 90 On May 28, 2024
(see update at end of the article)

Turning 90 is still considered a feat of longevity and cause for celebration.

But for two Canadian women, Annette Dionne Allard and Cécile Dionne Langlois, turning 90 on  May 28 will still be a bittersweet day. Their siblings are dead and much of their early lives were lived under constant scrutiny.

Annette and Cécile, are each one fifth of what were the world’s most famous sisters.

When it was announced that five baby girls were born to Oliva-Édouard and his wife Elzire Dionne on May 28 1934 in rural Callendar, Ontario Canada, the world went into Dionne Quintuplet-mania.

The Dionne’s were the first known set of quintuplets to survive infancy. Continue reading →

Old New York In Postcards #28 – Feltman’s Restaurant Coney Island

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Feltman’s Giant Restaurant, The Forerunner of Nathan’s Coney Island

A brief description of Feltman’s from The New York Hotel Record July 9, 1912:

The Magnitude of Feltman’s Garden Coney Island New York

One of the largest and most unique restaurants and cafés in this country is Feltman’s at Coney Island New York was established in 1873 (ed. – actually 1871) with six employees and it now has a pay roll of more thirteen hundred names. Continue reading →