New York 1953 To Today: Times Square Is For The Girly-Shows
Times Square and Central Park attract tourists to New York City in droves, but what were the most exciting sights back in the 1950s? Thanks to an old tourist brochure from 1953, we're exploring back in the day versus today, for NYC tourists.
Here's a quick trivia question: How does the leggy advertisement for the Latin Quarter nightclub relate to Barbara Walters? It was run by her father! We doubt that Barbara enjoys being connected back to this notorious club, especially since it embodied the seedy side of Times Square from the late 1960s through 1980s by showing soft-core pornography and being a popular fight spot.
Oh boy but back in the day, especially in 1953 when the lights of Times Square were still glamorous and not all red. Lou Walter's Latin Quarter hosted the big names alongside a little nudie chorus girl show. Think Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle and Mae West.
These days, in post-Giuliani Times Square, the closest you'll get to a good nude chorus girl at the Latin Quarter is in your hotel room; the club was torn down in the late 1980s for the Renaissance Hotel to be built in its place.
Oh but don't worry, there are still a few XXX shows tucked amongst the T-shirt and bus tour hawkers in Times Square. Or if you're really desperate for a taste of classier titillating entertainment, we recommend heading downtown to The Box, a risque cabaret if there ever was one. Just be sure to have plenty of room on your charge card for pricey drinks.
Related Stories:
· Latin Quarter [Wikipedia]
· NYC In the 1950s Map and More [Jaunted]
[Scan from March 1953 edition of "The New York Visitor"]
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