NIGHT FALLS ON TIMES SQUARE IN 1931

Take a stroll through Times Square on a typical evening in 1931 by watching this extraordinary footage that was shot for God knows what reason. It’s date is mislabeled as 1929–the films playing in the theaters that are seen include ‘Dance Fools Dance’, ‘The Front Page’, ‘Trader Horn’ , ‘My Past’ all of which were released in ’31–but who cares really? Note that there appear to be no crosswalks and that people bravely step into thick traffic, seemingly unafraid of the approaching cars and trolleys. (Perhaps cars were so lightweight that getting hit by one really wasn’t that big an issue?) There’s an all-you-can-watch ‘Newsreel Theater’ that charges 25 cents and that must have been the first 24 hours outlet in history. The multiple lighting displays give us a look at the garish and wonderful area at that time and makes one yearn for color footage of the same stuff…

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