It’s a common trait among New Yorkers,both native-born and émigrés of long-standing: We’re all convinced that city’s glory days are now behind it, that the latest arrivals from such outposts asa Waukegan, Wewoka, and Walla Walla are clueless as to what they’ve missed.
It’s apparent that the city is much better off today than it was in the 1930s in at least one key category: In looking at several 1931 shots of our very own block in Chelsea, we were struck by the utter lack of foliage. Read more…
It’s the first day of issue for a set of four postal stamps honoring a quartet of great American motion picture directors, and we can’t argue with the selection of a single one of them: Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, and Billy Wilder. Read more…
In this chapter from his 1932 book, Times Square Tintypes, Broadway columnist Sidney Skolsky profiles star of Broadway and the silver screen Leslie Howard. Read more…
It’s Frank Capra’s birthday today, and we’re going to recommend that you do two things to commemorate the occasion: First, arrange to watch a Capra picture today. And second, avail yourself of Trav S. D.’s insightful, heartfelt, and passionate commentary “Why We Need Frank Capra.” It’s a must-read, plain and simple, and we agree with virtually every word in it. Read more…
There are a handful of shoeshine parlors near our place of employ, but all but one, Louis Shoe Rebuilders, are dead to us now. This delightful shop, situated on the ground floor of the Empire State Building on the 33rd Street side, has been in business since a decade before that storied favorite skyscraper was erected. Read more…
Lest anyone think silly rankings like People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive or their annual Most Beautiful list are anything new, consider this Photoplay cover from August 1925 featuring a portrait of actress Dorothy Gish. Read more…
In this chapter from his 1932 book, Times Square Tintypes, Broadway columnist Sidney Skolsky profiles actress and comedic performer Beatrice Lillie. Read more…
On this Mother’s Day, we thought we’d offer a handful of songs from the archives that pay tribute to Cladrite moms everywhere. Pop over and give a listen!
Today marks the 124nd anniversary of the birth of the great Irving Berlin. One of history’s great tunesmiths, Berlin wrote more than hundreds of songs, 19 musicals and the scores of 18 movies over the course of his lengthy career. We’re featuring a few of our favorite Berlin tunes today, so pop over and listen.
