Today, Times Square is seen as a tourist attraction with people traveling to the United States from all over the world to visit New York. Times Square did not always have the glamorous portrayal it has in movies today. In the early twentieth century, Times Square was not a pleasant place and the sounds one would hear would be a lot different from today’s sounds.
In the 1920s Times Square had a brief heyday, from thriving entertainment and being the center of flashy commercial advertising, but Prohibition caused many downfalls in the entertainment industry, forcing theaters and nightclubs to close. Times Square was full of nightclubs and theaters, so as the demand lowered because of the limitation of serving alcohol, these venues needed to adapt their business to continue to bring in customers. Most theaters started to add rooftop gardens, cabarets, and restaurants that can maintain the long hour shifts for extra income (Reichl 53). During the “1927/1928 theater season, seventy-six theaters were operating in the greater Times Square theater district, but within a decade the number had dropped to thirty-three,” with none of the theaters on 42nd street in operation by the end of the 1930s (Reichl 56).
Eventually, theaters had to resort to other forms of entertainment; certain parts of Times Square were known for the peep shows, burlesque clubs, and video stores (McNamara 20). With a new crowd of people coming to see this type of entertainment, there were different sounds heard on the streets of Times Square then heard today. Outside of the theaters one would hear the chatter about the pornographic film being shown, hustlers trying to pick people up for a few hours, and mass transit passing by.
A few decades later, the do...
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...ainment attractions and sharing in the booming tourist economy of Times Square” (Reichl 160). Kids and adults now enjoy the theatrical performances of many Disney classics along 42nd Street and can end the visit by visiting the two-storey Disney Store to purchase various Disney trademarked items.
Most people do not realize the history of 42nd Street when they are passing by because they hear the speakers playing the soundtracks to shows, people selling tickets in the box office as well as scalpers trying to find tickets, and anxious kids waiting for the show to begin. The tourist area that 42nd Street has become is flourishing all because of Disney and how the officials looked passed the dingy look and negative views of 42md Street. Instead of focusing on the looks and negativity, Disney looked at this project as a business venture with a big picture aspect.
Since the last century, the City of New York has been epicenter of the entertainment industry. Its neighborhoods and the many emblematic places such as The Empire State building or the Statute of Liberty have been part of the most ambitious films. Accordingly, New York City is one of the famous metropolises around the world. Besides the attractions and places that belong to this urban jungle, its undeniable fame is due to its appearance as an arena in production films. One of my favorites movies filmed in New York City is “Carlito’s Way”.
Hotels in New York City are very costly especially near the holiday’s. After reviewing some hotels that were near Times Square, I chose to go with a three star hotel at the rate of $184.00 a night. For a total of three nights it would cost $552.00 tax included. That cost would include a room with two double beds, television, high speed internet access, a full kitchen, and a great view of Times Square.
The 1930’s was dominated by the Great Depression. There was not much time of money for people to spend on entertainment, but there were a few pin pricks of light. People, especially kids, went to the movie theater. They could spend ...
A basic of Disney theme parks is the Main Street USA zone. This section features highly in all of the parks, usually coming right after the entrance. Key services like Guest Relations are located in this section, inside the "City Hall" (HK Disney Source, 2014). There are a number of elements to the Main Street, USA exhibit, and these will be discussed along with the history of Main Street USA in this paper. In particular, how the different elements of Main Street USA work together are covered. The concept has proven to be long-lasting, even across cultures, because of its magical portrayal of idealized American life, which draws heavily on Walt Disney's own childhood experiences.
Even though prohibition was the law of the land few people abided by it. This new trend of disobedience is reflected in 1920s theatre with bootlegging characters and actors mixing and drinking alcohol on stage. This behavior is also depicted throughout the musical Chicago. Perhaps Billy Flynn said it best just before Roxie Hart’s trial began, “This trial… the whole world… it’s all… show business.” (Chicago).
“When the Movies Moved to the Suburbs.” The New York Times. Janet Maslin, 29 Oct. 2011.
...still did a booming business and it was feasible to do all your shopping within a short walking distance. Small businesses flourished at the intersection of Joy and Grand River at this time. Delicatessens, drug stores, dimes stores, barbers, butchers and grocers all set up shop in this district that was growing denser by the day. The neighborhood was becoming so packed that it even had its own hook and ladder company the XXX at 8xxxx Grande River...192X would see the opening of the magnificent Riviera movie palace that could seat 2xxxx patrons per show. So great was the demand that the Rivera Annex was built just one block away to handle the overflow. To put this into context the first talking motion picture, The Jazz Singer was released in October 1927. These were boom times in America’s third largest city and the masses were looking to be entertained.
I saw the film “ The Wolf of Wall Street “ at the Gateway Theater on a Saturday night with my two quiet friends when it was not opening night. It was a normal, not 3-d IMAX production. The theater was less than halfway full and the theater was uncomfortably quiet when we walked in. The mood of the crowd was unsettling and almost fatigued. The film was 179 minutes long which made the film feel exasperated and tiring. At one point during the movie, I dozed off after being in the theatre for a copious amount of time. The film featured critically acclaimed actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Matthew McConaughey. In addition, the film’s director is the Golden Globe winner for best director, Martin Scorsese. The setting of the movie was New York City and begins in 1987. The transportation includes helicopters, the subway, cars, boats, and airplanes. The clothing closely resembles business attire and styles of the late 80’s which included shoulder pads, thick framed glasses, odd patterns, but additional solid color “typical” and modern business suits. The business women wear colorful and patterned suits adorned with shoulder pads and volumes; however, some women in the film have a more modern styles that do not reflect the late 80’s and air on the side of being scandalous. The make- up was light and almost unnoticeable with the very few women that were featured for more than a second. The film’s music consisted of constant energizing mix of blues, hip hop, disco, dance tunes, and indie rock including artists such as the Foo Fighters, Cypress Hill, Sir Mix a Lot, Bo Diddley, and Billy Joel. Rarely in the movie exists a quiet section that does not have background music. The camera angle and filming style is most often straig...
The 1920s were a time of change especially concerning the entertainment industry and the build up of movie companies. Entertainment is an important aspect in everybody's lives and just like people entertainment changes constantly. In the beginning of this time period people were becoming less confined and open their minds to new ideas this had an effect of new ways to entertain. The big operation of this time period was films it started out with silent films, until “talkies” pictures that synchronized sound came out. The creation of films especially “talkies” changing movie business, culture, and, created a lasting effect on visual entertainment.
In the beginning of The Roaring Twenties, about fifty million people went to the movies per week, amplifying to ninety million in 1929. These huge numbers are a result of the public’s obsession with the movies’ glamour, sophistication, and sex appeal. Watching movies motivated the viewers to ea...
Pasquarello, M. (2007). The Great Depression and Its Effects on the Movie Theatres of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Available: http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his480/reports/dep-movi.htm. Last accessed 11/03/2014.
This theme is logical, and correct. When we now think of the 1920’s we first think of jazz. Jazz was the voice of the era that shaped political, economic, and social views. It allowed for speakeasies and changes in society to occur in this era. Cabarets are the norm for the roaring 20’s because they were the home of jazz. In these club’s people could go and have a good time, but they would leave with a renewed sense of life. The musicians and clubgoers of jazz helped shape society to their views, jazz influenced and motivated
The Walt Disney Concert Hall located in Downtown Los Angeles, CA is an example of a worthy public space, this year marking its tenth year being open still reflects and engages Los Angeles like few other buildings. In the beg...
The Main Street station, is the curtains to a large production as if the Magic Kingdom was a theater. As I wander beneath the archway, I notice that above the arch is a plaque that reads: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy”. As I continue to stroll through the passage on the way to Main Street, there are posters of “upcoming attractions” that line the walls on both sides. I then step into Main Street U.S.A. and begin to hear the Victorian style orchestra playing over the speakers. I notice some Disney pals in Town Square greeting guests as if they were old friends. Then I begin to travel further down the street, and the smell of the caramel apples, chocolate chip cookies, and other sweets walk out of the open doors of the bakery and into the street. At the end of this turn of the century town, sits the one hundred eightyninefoottall, Cinderella Castle. This moment is a pivotal moment in any Disney vacation, because the castle is well known to millions. I get
Without a doubt, Times Square in New York City is a unique experience, but the image created by TV and movies does not show the gloominess that accompanies the euphoria of being in the Big Apple. The atmosphere is so exhilarating and exciting, you don’t even know what to do for a few minutes, but it is tinged with the bitter reality that sadness and melancholy also trail closely behind the positive. With most, if not all, of your senses being stimulated – sometimes all at once – Times Square creates a memory that will surely be cherished, and haunt you for the rest of your life.