Tag Archives: Times Square

Vanished New York City Art Deco – The International Casino

Thomas W. Lamb, Nicholas H. Weiss, Architects

Donald Deskey, Consulting Designer

1937 vintage postcard of the International Casino.

Vintage postcard of the International Casino and Wrigley sign, 1937. Image from knowol.com.

The International Casino, a huge streamline modern night club, dominated the east side of Times Square for a very short time (even by New York standards), in the late 1930s. Opening in the late summer of 1937, this largest of all Manhattan night spots, disappeared by the beginning of 1940. Situated on  Broadway between 44th and 45th Streets, the history of this site as an mega entertainment venue dates back to the 1890s.

 

Hammerstein’s Olympia

Hand tinted glass slide of Hammerstein's Olympia, circa 1895.

Hand-tinted glass slide of the Olympia Theater and Music Hall in New York City circa 1895. Image from wondersofthebible.org.

Breaking the north-of-42nd-Street, theatrical district boundary, impresario Oscar Hammerstein (1846-1919) constructed his Olympia complex. These became first theatres in Longacre Square.

1906 portrait of Oscar Hammerstein I.

Oscar Hammerstein I in 1906. Image from wikipedia.com.

The Hammerstein’s Olympia comprised of two main theatres.  The Olympia Music Hall with 2,800 seats on the north side of the building, and the Lyric Theatre with 1,700 seats  mirroring it on the south side.

Sandwiched between the two large theatres was the 600 seat concert hall. A glass enclosed Roof Garden, seating over 1,000, topped off the complex.  An Oriental Café, billiard pallor, and bowling alley were attractions in the building’s basement. And for only fifty cents ($17.74 in 2022) all this entertainment could be yours to enjoy.

 

The Roof Garden of Hammerstein's Olympia.

The Olympia Roof Garden, crica 1900, after it was renamed the New York Roof. Byron Company photograph. Image from mcny.org.

Opening on November 25, 1895, the Olympia offered customers a diverse range of entertainments, from concerts to vaudeville to musical theatre. Unfortunately, for Hammerstein, it proved to be a money losing venture. Within three years Hammerstein lost his Olympia. Sold at auction the by the New York Life Insurance Company, the three theatres reopened under separate ownership. Eventually, the Music Hall became the New York Theatre and by the mid-1910s would come under management of Loew’s Incorporated as a vaudeville and movie house. The Lyric was rechristened the Criterion and presented both legitimate theatre and movies until 1920 when it too switched exclusively to motion pictures.

 

And on the roof, the theatre rechristened the Jardin de Paris, played host to the first five editions of Florenz Ziegfeld’s Follies starting in 1907.

But within only a few years of Ziegfeld’s departure, the roof theatre also fell under the ownership of Loew’s. After the roof’s conversion into a movie theatre, Loew’s Roof and Loew’s New York Theatre found success by showing third run movies at bargain prices.

 

New York City and tastes in style change fast. Longacre Square became Times Square, which by 1920 had become Manhattan’s main entertainment district. And the complex once known as Hammerstein’s Olympia stood as a relic of the 19th Century. So when news of its demolition was announced in the spring of 1935, it surprised no one. Two days before demolition was to begin the New York Daily News ran the following article:

 

New York Daily News article announcing the start of demolition of the New York Theatre. June 8, 1935.

The New York Daily News, June 8, 1935, P31. Article from proquest.com.

 

While the New York Theatre and Roof were undergoing demolition the Criterion Theatre remained opened for another week or so. After the Criterion’s closing, the razing of the former Hammerstein’s Olympia began in earnest. It only took forty-four days to take the entire building down. By the summer’s end of 1935 nothing remained and the plot was ready for new construction.

The demolition of the Criterion and New York Theatres, 1935.

View looking northeast across Seventh Avenue and Broadway during the demolition of the Criterion and New York Theatres. Image from the NYPL Digital Collections.

 

The International Casino

Plans for the New York Theatre’s replacement hit the papers in late June. What was surprising, the new building would be much smaller than the existing one. The 1514 Broadway Corporation’s (the name refers to the building’s address) new entertainment center would only be two stories tall and would include shops, a new movie theatre and a large restaurant / nightclub.

 

Artist rending of the new building at 1514 Broadway.

Artist rendering of the new entertainment venue at 1514 Broadway. The image is from an article in the New York Herald-Tribune, June 23, 1935, Pg H1. Article from proquest.com.

Helping to off set the cost of taxes on such an expensive plot of land, the owners erected enormous steel work on the roof for a five story high advertising sign they would lease. Construction began shortly after the clearing of the site.

The announcement for the new night club hit the papers in late August, 1936.

Article announcing the new nightclub, New York Herald-Tribune, August 27, 1936.

Plans filed for new nightclub. New York Herald-Tribune, August 27, 1936, Pg 47. Article from proquest.com.

In 1933, due to the depression, a number of Broadway theatres were sitting vacant.  Showman Billy Rose converted two of them into night clubs, renamed The Music Hall and Casino de Paris. The following year the former Earl Carrroll Theatre found new life as  the French Casino. These three venues began the trend of enormous night spots featuring theatrical style stage shows.

The International Casino would be huge but newly built and not retrofitted into an existing space. And to design this mega nightclub Joe Moss hired famed architect Thomas W. Lamb (1870 – 1942) and his associate Nicholas H. Weiss.

Lamb made his reputation as the architect of major movie palaces. The Times Square theatres that Lamb designed were – the Strand (1914), the Rialto (1916), the Rivoli (1917) and the Capitol (1919). Each of these theatres became increasingly more elaborate. And like most theatres of the time relied on historic architectural styles for their decorative designs.

By the 1930s Lamb proved that he could keep up with new trends and design in the most up-to-date fashion. Lamb’s modern design work included the exuberant second Earl Carroll Theatre in 1931, Trans-Lux newsreel theatres, and the Pennsylvania and Capitol Greyhound Terminals in mid-town Manhattan.

 

Auditorium and left side of the proscenium arch.

Auditorium and left side of the proscenium arch. Image from The Architectural Forum, November, 1931, usmodernist.org.

The International Casino continued Lamb’s design work in the Streamline Moderne style. Unfortunately, the August announcement of a December opening was widely optimistic. December came and went and 1936 turned to 1937. The January 16, 1937 “Nite Club Notes” column of the New York Daily News informed readers that the International Casino would finally open on February 25, 1937. February came and went. Then in March, Chester King in his Brooklyn Daily Eagle column “Around the Tables” informed readers that Donald Deskey would be designing the decorative elements of the night club.

 

Donald Deskey hired to do the decorative work for the International Casino. Around the Tables with Chester King column, Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

“Around the Tables with Chester King” column from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 19, 1937, Pg 14.

 

International Casino Designs by Donald Deskey

Industrial designer Donald Deskey, circa 1939.

Donald Deskey (circa 1939), industrial designer, interior architect, [and] painter, has designed pianos, billiard tables, clocks, silverware, oil burners, radios, glass, [and] slot machines. Introduced steel tube furniture in US, designed International Casino spiral bar, and decorations of Radio City Music Hall, and Hollywood Turf Club. Photograph from the Bettmann Collection, Getty Images.

The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum’s collection contains many of Deskey’s drawings and papers for the International Casino. Whether the brown and red carpet design was used is unconfirmed. The carpet with the guitar and cocktail glass motif did cover the floor of the main restaurant.

Donald Deskey design for the auditorium carpet of the International Casino.

Design for auditorium carpet, 1937, brush and brown, red and black gouache, black crayon on off-white illustration board. Image from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Deskey’s pattern of curvilinear, diamond shape forms highlighted a design trend starting to become popular in the late 1930s.

Donald Deskey design for the second floor restaurant carpet of the International Casino.

Design for second floor restaurant carpet, 1937, brush and brown, and tan gouache, on off-white illustration board. Image from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Deskey’s design for the restaurant carpet is slightly more than just a little reminiscent of Ruth Reeves’ Radio City Music Hall grand foyer carpet Still Life with Musical Instruments. Deskey used the guitar and glass motif throughout his design for the nightclub.

 

But in the  end the “glass and guitar” motif was not chosen for the exterior signs.

The Opening

1938 night time view of the Broadway facade of the International Casino.

The International Casino at night with the enormous Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum sign on its roof, (1938). Photo from the Arthur W. Grumbine Collection, New York Historical Society.

The International Casino opening continually faced delays through the first three quarters of 1937. On June 19th the New York Daily News reported the nite spot would be opening around August 10th. But as the 10th approached it became apparent that  date  was too confident. An article in the New York Times on August 7th now said the International Casino would open on August 25th, with an elaborate Continental style show titled Bravo! and with George Olsen and his Orchestra providing music between shows. As the 25th neared the opening was pushed back to September 1st, which also did not happen. Next the 13th was given as the date for the long awaited opening. Unfortunately trouble with the stage mechanisms made the 13th impossible. Then the owners let the press know that September 17th would be the grand opening of the International Casino. And this time it happened, after so many delays the new Broadway nite spot finally opened its doors.

 

Newspaper advertisement from the New York Daily News for the opening of the International Casino, September 17, 1937.

The International Casino opens. Advertisement from the New York Daily News, September 17, 1937.

 

The Exterior

1937 daytime view of the International Casino.

Daytime view of Broadway looking north from 43rd Street toward the International Casino, 1937. Image from home movie on YouTube.

The November, 1937 issue of the Architectural Record said this about the exterior of the International Casino –

      With no daytime “elevation” to speak of, the Casino leaps into prominence at nightfall, topped by its 7-foot neon sign and encircled by three continuous lines of giant neon which marks the muntins of the building’s ribbon windows.

 

1937 nighttime view of the International Casino.

1937 nighttime view of the International Casino show the huge red neon sign and neon ribbons across the Broadway facade. A blue neon sign is above the entrance marquee. Image from home movie on YouTube.

 

Street Floor

The International Casino had two entrances, both small. Covered by a canvas awning, the lesser entrance on West 45th Street included the elevator to take guests up to the second floor.

Floor plan of the ground floor.

Floor plan for the International Casino’s ground floor. Image from Architectural Record, November, 1937, Pg 27.

 

Circa 1937 Wurts Bros. photograph of the International Casino and Crawford Clothing store at the southeast corner of Broadway and West 45th Street.

This circa 1937 Wurts Bros. photo of the southeast corner of Broadway and West 45th Street shows the Crawford Clothing store framed on both sides by the entrances to the International Casino. Photo from the Irma and Paul Milstein Collection, New York Public Library, Digital Collections.

 

Sandwiched between the Crawford Clothing store on the corner of West 45th Street and the Criterion Theatre to its right, was the International Casino’s main entrance.  Protecting the revolving and standard doors  from the elements was a long marquee with a curved end. Neon lights fitted inside cursive letters spelled out “International Casino” on the marquee’s three sides. The neon letters flashed on and off in alternation with the backlighting of the marquee.

Nighttime photograph of the Broadway entrance to the International Casino, circa, 1937.

INTERNATIONAL CASINO COCKTAIL BAR LIT UP ON A RAINY NIGHT. Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images

 

Looking at the revolving door main entrance towards Broadway.

Just inside the main entrance, looking through the revolving door out to Broadway. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

Once inside, the “spiral” bar and ground floor bar room greeted customers. The “spiral” bar’s name came from the fact that it ran the length of the stairs between the first floor and the mezzanine. This was not just a design gimmick, it satisfied the requirement of the New York State Liquor Authority which only allowed one standing bar per establishment.

Cross section design plan for the "spiral" bar of the International Casino.

Design plan showing the cross section of the “spiral” bar. Image from the Architectural Record, November, 1937, Pg 28.

The bottom of the 'spiral' bar just inside the main entrance.

The bottom of the ‘spiral’ bar. Robert M. Damora photograph from the Architectural Forum, November, 1937, Pg 385

 

Being arranged in a series of steps, drinking on the steep, slopping sections was made possible by small, draw out flaps. Making these sections of the bar usable brought its capacity up to 160.

Detail of the "spiral" bar showing the pull out flaps.

Detail of the “spiral” bar, showing the draw out flaps on the slopping section. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

The bar itself was made of white sycamore and East Indian rosewood, with railings of aluminum and bronze. The curved front of the bar gave it a very streamlined appearance, slightly resembling the front of a ship or locomotive. Like the all the furniture of the International Casino, the bar stools were of bleached ash and chrome-plated tube.

 

The front of the "spiral bar" looking up toward the mezzanine.

The ground floor showing the bar and looking up to the mezzanine. Photograph by Schnall from the Architectural Record, November, 1937, Pg 28.

Looking down the stairs and the "spiral bar" toward the main entrance on Broadway.

Looking down the “spiral bar” toward the main entrance. Photo by Schnall from the Architectural Record, November, 1937, Pg 28.

Squeezed underneath the stairs leading up to the second floor a long, leather covered bench and tables filled the right-side ground floor from front to the back. A large, moderne mural by Witold Gordon (1885 – 1968) decorated the wall behind the tables and bench.

Ground floor barroom, with Witold Gordon mural.

Ground floor barroom. Mural by Witold Gordon. Image from the Architectural Forum, November, 1937, Pg 388.

A special feature of the International Casino was the escalator (the first in a night club or restaurant) just inside the main entrance. So, in the event the staircase proved impassable due to people imbibing at the bar, the escalator would whisk one to the main (second) floor quickly.

The escalator of the International Casino.

The International Casino’s escalator. Looking up from the main floor to the mezzanine and second floor. Photo by Schnall from the Architectural Record, November, 1937, Pg 27.

Mezzanine

A modernistic fountain was the main decorative feature of the mezzanine. This fountain was basically a large chromium ball in a diagonal sheet of glass hanging from a mirrored plaque on the ceiling over a pool of water. Floodlighting gave the it a very theatrical appearance.

Tables for two arranged along the edge of the mezzanine looked down to the main entrance and up to the Cosmopolitan Salon. While in front of the pool and fountain were tables and a striped banquette. Here one could order drinks and light food while people watching patrons on the other levels. The table tops and the linoleum just inside the main entrance featured Deskey’s guitar and cocktail glass motif.

 

Looking down on the mezzanine and main floor from the second floor.

Schnall photograph of the mezzanine and main floor as seen from the Cosmopolitan Salon. Photo from the Architectural Record, November, 1937, Pg 28.

Main Floor

Floor plan of the main or second floor of the International Casino.

Main (Second) Floor plan of the International Casino. Image from the Architectural Record, November, 1937, Pg 27.

Taking up the entire second floor, the International Casino, gave customers two options for drinking, dining and entertainment, the Cosmopolitan Salon and the restaurant.

 

Cosmopolitan Salon

The top of the escalator at the cocktail room.

The top of the escalator. A Casino bellhop greets Louise “Teddy” Lynch and J. Paul Getty to the cocktail room on the opening night of the International Casino. Photo from the Bettmann Collection, Getty Images.

The Cosmopolitan Salon, was more than a bar, it offered food plus it had its own orchestra and dance floor.

Dancing in the Cosmopolitan Salon on the International Casino's second floor.

Couples dancing in the Cosmopolitan Salon of the International Casino. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

Its main area was located near the top of the stairs and escalator. But a section of the Salon with tables stretched along the length of the second floor at the front of the building. These tables provided guests with a view into Times Square, if the venetian blinds were open. Striped curtains and upholstery and some cocktail themed murals were the main decorative features of the space.

 

The mezzanine and the Cosmopolitan Salon of the International Casino.

Mezzanine looking up toward the Cosmopolitan Salon’s tables along the Broadway side of the building. Photo by Robert M. Damora from the Architectural Forum, November, 1937, Pg 388.

 

Corner of the Cosmopolitan Salon showing the cocktail themed mural.

The southwest corner of the Cosmopolitan Salon, showing the drink themed mural, by Witold Gordon, on the wall behind the guests. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

 

Showgirls from an International Casino revue sitting on the band stand of the Cosmopolitan Salon being judged in a face and feet beauty contest, 1938.

International Casino showgirls in being judged in a face and feet beauty contest, sitting on the Cosmopolitan Salon band stand, New York, New York, March 16, 1938. (Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images)

Just to the side of the entrance to the restaurant and on either side of the pantry’s door were two cashier booths to handle the checks of patrons of both the restaurant and Cosmopolitan Salon.

Cashier booth in the cocktail room.

Cashier booth at the edge of the cocktail room. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

Tucked into the northeast corner of the second floor were the coat check, elevator and restrooms.

The Restaurant

With a seating capacity of 1,200, the restaurant that took up most of the second floor’s space. As a restaurant the room was enormous, but as a fully equipped theatre it was on the small side. Stairways and platforms, mechanically lowered from the ceiling, increased the stage size during the floor show. Devoid of pattern and ornament, the restaurant relied on lighting and a wise use of color for creating the feeling of luxury.

 

The International Casino's main restaurant with a seating capacity of 1,200.

The International Casino’s restaurant, showing the dramatic semi-circular cove lighting of the ceiling. Robert M. Damora photograph, from the November, 1937 Architectural Forum, Pg 387.

The Architectural Forum of November, 1937 wrote this about the interior decorations of the International Casino’s restaurant –

     The lighting lines emphasize the width of the room which is also enhanced by the simple masses of color – terra cotta, red, gray blue and pale beige – unbroken by decorative panels. The subsidiary lounges are equally restrained in decoration, though their interrelation at the central stairway tends, inevitably, to be somewhat confused.

Looking towards the rear of the restaurant on a night of near capacity.

A busy night at the International Casino. The restaurant at near capacity with couples dancing on the stage between floor shows. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

Leaving the stage after a dance.

Dancers returning to their tables from the stage. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

Selling stuffed toys to guests dining at the International Casino.

Selling stuffed toy to guests dining at the International Casino. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

Wide angle view of the restaurant that clearly shows the projection booth.

The restaurant’s projection booth can be clearly seen in this photo just below the ceiling on the back wall. Photo by Schnall from the November, 1937 issue of the Architectural Record, Pg. 26.

Two alternating orchestras provided music for dancing before, between and after the elaborate show. Each evening a two hour plus revue was performed twice nightly at 7:45 and 11:45. While the International Casino did not have a cover charge, there was a $2.50 ($50.00 in 2023) minimum for each guest.

1937 – 1940

When the International Casino finally opened its doors in September, 1937, it was the new popular nightspot in Manhattan. But it was an expensive place to run. To potentially turn a profit, the Casino needed to be open from 11:00 AM – 4:00 AM.

 

New York Daily News advertisement for the International Casino.

International Casino advertisement, New York Daily News, February, 8, 1938, Pg, 36.

First to open, the “spiral” bar, street floor and mezzanine, served drinks and light food continuously till closing. This section had its own kitchen and pantries on the mezzanine level.

Customers having drinks at the street level section of the "spiral" bar.

Customers enjoying drinks at the street floor section of the “spiral” bar. Image from the Life Photo Collection.

Next to open in early afternoon was the Cosmopolitan Salon, serving lunch and tea to larger parties. It shared the third floor kitchen with the restaurant. Finally at 6:00 PM the restaurant opened its doors and ran continuously until closing.

The Shows

The revue that opened the International Casino, Bravo!, was a big hit, with a huge cast. While it opened with the Casino on opening night in mid-September, the stage did not become fully functional for another two weeks. Once the mechanical problems were worked out the improved show wowed the critics and public.  The Wall Street Journal said this about the improved Bravo! –

Review of Bravo! from The Wall Street Journal.

Review of Bravo!, The Wall Street Journal, October 1, 1937, Pg 13.

Scenes from Bravo!

Bravo! set the standard and style of the subsequent revues staged at the International Casino. The shows, glamour and the novelty of the this new show place / night club did bring the customers in, for a while. It averaged $65,000 a week for the first six weeks of operations. Then New Yorkers went else where and the out-of-towners did not arrive as expected. By New Year’s 1938-1939 the International Casino was in deep financial trouble.

1939 Closure

The International Casino suspends operations, New York Daily News article.

Article from the New York Daily News, January 12, 1939, Pg 41.

Theatrical producer Billy Rose made overtures to take over the International Casino. But Rose did not end up taking over Broadway’s latest white elephant. Later in January, the Casino announced it would be selling its equipment at a public auction on February 3rd. By mid-March the news hit that a Boston syndicate had taken a lease on the International Casino.

 

The New York Times article announcing the re-opening of the International Casino.

Article announcing the re-opening of the International Casino. New York Times, March 17, 1939, Pg. 28.

 

And with Alex Finn at the head of the take over, it was out with the old, in this case the moderne, and in with the new, meaning a nod back to the 1890s. Just a few blocks uptown at the Paramount Hotel, Billy Rose, was having great success with his 1890s themed restaurant / theatre, the Diamond Horseshoe. And to do the “olde tyme” make over, Finn brought in designer, Jac Lessman. Costing $100,000 ($2,105,000 in 2023), Lessman installed a new bar, restyled the second floor that included adding private booths at the side of the restaurant and new flower adorned, stepped walls on the staircases leading down to the stage. Not many photos have survived of this new International Casino, and the existing ones do not show much of a redesign inside the main restaurant.

The main restaurant on New Year's Eve, 1939-1940.

New Year’s Eve 1939-1940, the main restaurant of the International Casino. Not too much is changed from the original design that can be seen in this photo. Image from the Bettmann Collection – Getty Images.

As consistent with the history of the International Casino, the intended May 4, 1939 reopening date did not happen. It did finally reopen on May 25th. Unfortunately, between competition from the New York World’s Fair and other night spots, business remained about the same as before, good, but not enough to sustain the cost of running the enormous venue. Even though photos show a large crowd choosing to welcome 1940 at the Casino, it was too late.

Ringing in the New Year with dinner and dancing at the International Casino.

New Year’s Eve celebrators dancing at the International Casino. The new staircase walls can be seen on the right. Photo from the Bettmann Collection – Getty Images.

Less than two weeks after New Year’s, the International Casino, closed again.

New York Herald-Tribune article announcing the closing of the International Casino.

New York Herald-Tribune article announcing the closing of the International Casino, January 12, 1940, Pg. 11

The plan now was for another renovation, converting the night club into a ballroom. With a capacity of 4,000, admission would be in the  popular price range and feature the top name big bands of the day. The anticipated opening date was for sometime by the end of February or beginning of March. But the plan never came to fruition. It was over.  The International Casino was gone, and in less than two and half years since it opened. Within a few months, the owners of the building, the 1514 Broadway Corporation, would sell it to a very different type of business.

 

The International Casino's sign covered over by a Disney banner.

Summer of 1940, the International Casino’s sign covered over by a large banner for a Walt Disney film festival showing at Loew’s Criterion Theatre. Photo from the Showman’s Trade Review, August 10, 1940, Pg. 11.

Bond  Clothes

On May 4, 1940 Adda, Inc. purchased 1514 Broadway. Adda, Inc. just happened to be a subsidiary of Bond Clothes. Which meant that Bond would lease the 45th Street corner store and second floor from the Bond-controlled Adda, Inc. The new store, would not only be the largest store in the chain, it would be the largest men’s clothing store in the world.

Artist rending of the new Bond Clothes store in Times Square, from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Artist rending of the new Times Square Bond Clothes store. Image from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 20, 1940, Pg. 5.

Due to the stores location, this would not be an ordinary men’s clothing store. An $800,000 (the equivalent of nearly $17,000,000 today) renovation converted the space into the most modern and theatrical of clothings stores. The Exterior would feature a two story high sign spelling out Bond in pale blue neon with the “O” being a clock.

1941 photograph of Bond Clothes and the Loew's Criterion.

Bond Clothes and Loew’s Criterion Theatre, 1941. Photo from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

While almost nothing was left of the interior of the International Casino, there were a few reminders of the past. The escalator (the first in a night club) still remained as did the tiered ceiling of the former restaurant. Also adding to the theatricality this new store were an elevator in a cylindrical shaft that resembled a giant pillar and a “flying staircase” built along the lines of a Gothic cathedral’s flying buttresses.

The ground floor of the Times Square Bond Clothing Store.

Bond Clothes, ground floor just inside the entrance on West 45th Street. Wurts Bros. photograph from the collection of the mcny.org.

More than 300 employees were on hand to greet customers when the doors opened for business on December 4, 1940. Twenty uniformed ushers were ready to take one to the departments suited to their size. This very large store had 26,000 suits and overcoats on display at all times. Within the first hour of the store’s opening, close to 400 suits and overcoats were sold. An estimated 100,000 persons entered the store by the 10:00 PM closing on opening day.

Looking down at the first floor.

Looking down at the first floor. Wurts Bros. photo from the mcny.org collection.

The former restaurant converted into a clothing store.

The former restaurant conversion into a clothing store. Wurts Bros. photo from the collection of mcny.org.

Bond Clothes found the success that eluded the International Casino. The store remained a Times Square fixture until 1977. In 1980 the space re-opened as the Bond International Casino, a large nightclub with a capacity of 1,800. Blondie, Grace Jones and The Clash are some of the notables that performed there. Another renovation in 1988 converted the space into two legitimate theatre venues, known as the Criterion Center. In 1991 the theatres were leased to the Roundabout Theatre Company. Toys “R” Us moved in after Roundabout moved out in 1999. This time the entire interior would be gutted for the renovation turning the space into a toy store, that included an indoor Ferris wheel.

The Times Square Toys "R" Us.

The north east corner of Broadway and West 44th Street. A Toys “R” Us occupies the building that once housed the International Casino. Image from Flicker.com.

The Toys “R” Us flagship store opened in 2001. But as the years passed and Broadway became a large pedestrian mall, Manhattan rents started to skyrocket. By 2015 Toys “R” Us could no longer afford the rent and closed the store in December, 2015. Today a Gap / Old Navy rents the building. And other than its location, nothing remains of the building’s original exterior or interior to make visitors to Times Square even suspect its often troubled and glamorous history.

2017 photo of Times Square.

The Gap / Old Navy flagship store under construction in this 2017 photograph. Image from alamy.com.

But let’s not end in present day Times Square. Here is a New Year’s Eve photo of Times Square ready to usher in 1938, when cars, taxi cabs, buses and streetcars  still traversed Broadway. And when, for a very brief moment, the International Casino was the place to go to enjoy a night on the town.

New Year's Eve 1938, Times Square.

Times Square, New Year’s Eve 1938. Photo from rmyauctions.com.

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys)

Sources: Architectural Forum; Architectural Record; The Baltimore Sun; The Bergen Evening Record; The Brooklyn Daily Eagle; The Buffalo Evening News; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; The New York Daily News; The New York Herald Tribune; The New York Times; Showman’s Trade Review; usmodernist.org; The Wall Street Journal.

The Hotel Edison – Art Deco refuge in Times Square

Plaque outside the 47th Street entrance.

Bronze Plaque outside the 47th Street entrance. The image of Edison is a replica of the one used on a medallion created by Julio Kilenyi.

So much of Times Square’s history has either been torn down or is buried under a generic world of themed restaurants and stores that it is a pleasant relief that Hotel Edison remains. It’s lobby, is a place to sit and catch your breath in a wonderful Art Deco setting. In the early 1990’s the lobby was given an Art Deco face lift, while not a restoration of it’s 1931 appearance there are enough surviving original details that can make you feel that you have stepped back into the 1930’s. The six murals that line the lobby are sensitive 1990’s creations that evoke the of WPA murals of the late 1930’s.

The Hotel Edison, designed by Herbert J. Krapp, formally opened on January 17, 1931. Thomas Edison, turned on the lights in the 26 story hotel, by pressing a telegraph key in his home in Llewellyn Park, Orange, New Jersey. One of the features of the Edison, that was mentioned in all the advertisements, was that each of the 1,000 rooms featured a radio, a novelty at the time. Over the years, the Edison was used in at least two period films, the south entrance way can be seen in The Godfather and Bullets Over Broadway.  Below are some photos of the interior Art Deco details of the lobby.

 

Up until the late 1980’s the Edison was a prominent building in the Times Square skyline, now it is completely hidden by all the tall buildings that have been constructed along Broadway. Here are some photos of the exterior details of the hotel.

So the next time you visit Manhattan, and you find yourself in the Times Square area, and you want some relief from the present day, step in the Edison and back into the 1930’s.

 Chris & Anthony