Old NY Tours
Phone: 646-801-7761
  • Home
  • Available Tours
  • On this day in Old New York
  • Old New York Speaks
  • Old NY Sights
  • About Us / Contact Us

A Ceremonious day for NBC and New York

4/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Wanted! 10,000 guest homes, 1000 furnished houses for World's Fair visitors by March 15 / G.W., Courtesy Posters- WPA Posters, Library of Congress, POS - WPA - NY .W085, no. 1 (B size)
On this day, April30th, 1939, NBC kicks off regularly scheduled television service in New York City! NBC broadcasted President Franklin D. Roosevelt's opening day ceremonial address at the New York World's Fair. In 1926, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was formed by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and was the first major broadcast network in the United States. Although ownership has diversified over time you can still visit NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in NYC.

NBC's decision to being programming that day coincided with the opening of the New York World's Fair. Organized in response to raise spirits during the height of the Great Depression, New York World's Fair drew in crowds of 44 million over its two seasons. An estimated 1,000 people viewed Roosevelt's speech from only 200 television sets in the city. 
 
0 Comments

Citizen Hearst Born

4/29/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
William Randolph Heart, 1906 Library of Congress LC-USZ62-49253
On this day, April 29th, 1863 William Randolph Hearst was born. Hearst was a businessman and leading newspaper publisher. Although born in California Hearst moved to NYC and acquired The New York Journal which competed with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World creating what was referred to as Yellow Journalism.

Hearst ran for Mayor of New York City in 1905 and 1909, Governor of New York in 1906 and Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1910 although his attempts were unsuccessful. Hearst was also the inspiration for the lead character in Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. 
0 Comments

Don't Know Dunniger?

4/28/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Joseph Dunninger, unknown date
On this day, April 28th, 1892 Joseph Dunninger was born in New York City. Dunninger was one of the most famous Mentalists of his day. Mentalism is a performance art where individuals demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Those who are clairvoyant or psychic as well as mediums are considered Mentalists. Dunninger was in demand for private entertainment and by the time he was 17 he was invited to perform at the home of Theodore Roosevelt in Oyster Bay.

Dunninger traveled in notable circles and was friends with Harry Houdidni, Francis Martinka and The Shadow author, Walter B. Gibson. It has been said that Dunninger was a model for The Shadow, a popular character in the 1930's who used his psychic abilities to fight crime. The Shadow appeared on radio dramas, in pulp magazines and later on comic books. Dunninger was also a pioneer of performers who practiced magic on radio and television shows. His radio career began in 1943 and he was frequently on television during the 1950s and 1960s. 
0 Comments

Babe Ruth Day

4/27/2015

0 Comments

 
On this day, April 27th, 1947 Babe Ruth Day was celebrated at Yankee Stadium.
Although Babe Ruth was not in good health he did attend the ceremony and gave a speech.
Throughout his 22 season career in Major League Baseball the "Babe" became known for his hitting abilities in particular. Also known as, "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat", Ruth's prolific career included winning seven pendents and four World Series titles with the New York Yankees and Boston Braves.

In September of 1947 another Babe Ruth Day was held at Yankee Stadium in order to raise money for The Babe Ruth Foundation. Started by Ruth himself, the organization benefitted disadvantaged children. 

0 Comments

Frederick Law Olmstead Born!

4/26/2015

0 Comments

 
On this day, April 26th, 1822 Frederick Law Olmstead was born. 
While you might not recognize the name you would certainly recognize his work. 
Olmstead was the co-designer of many public parks, parkways, community developments and academic campuses throughout the country. 


Here in New York, Olmstead's most salient work would be helping to design Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Olmstead was chosen by Calvert Vaux as his partner despite Olmstead's inexperience. The team entered into a design competition for Central Park and were announced as the winners in July of 1858. At this time, Olmstead had not actually completed a landscape design. After their success, they didn't "park it" there. The pair would go on to design Prospect Park in 1865. 



 
0 Comments

New York State Becomes First State to Require License Plates on Cars

4/25/2015

4 Comments

 
Picture
Early non-standardized NY "initial" license plate. Courtesy www.http://leatherlicenseplates.com/Leather_License_Plates/New_York.html
On this day, April 25th, 1901, New York State became the first state in the US to require license plates on cars. 

Interestingly, Massachusetts was the first state, in 1903, to produce license plates.  From passage, until sometime after 1903, New Yorkers had to obtain or create their own license plates.  Initially the plates did not have numbers, but rather had the owner’s initials (pun intended).  In addition, New York did not recognize out of state plates, nor did New Jersey, requiring drivers to register their cars in each jurisdiction they wished to drive in.

4 Comments

Woolworth Building Debuts!

4/24/2015

0 Comments

 
On this day, April 24th, 1913 after three years of construction the Woolworth building opened.
Designed by Cass Gilbert the Woolworth Building is one of the oldest skyscrapers in the country and was modeled after European Gothic Cathedrals. 

 
0 Comments

George Washington Moves into First Presidental Residence

4/23/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
The first presidential mansion no. 1 Cherry Street by Lithographer George Hayward, Courtesy Wikimedia.org and Emmet Collection of Manuscripts Etc. Relating to American History. / The first federal administration., New York Public Library, EM9597
On this day, April 23th, 1789, George Washington moved into 1 Cherry Street, making it the first Presidential Mansion, and initial seat of the executive branch of the US Federal Government.

The house, known as the Samuel Osgood House, or alternatively as the Walter Franklin House.  was Built in 1770 by Walter Franklin.  At the time that Washington moved in, the house was owned by Samuel Osgood, who had married Franklin's widow, Maria Bowne Franklin.

Washington, his family, and his staff occupied the house until February 23, 1890.  Washington then moved to the larger Alexander Macomb House at 39-41 Broadway.  Washington stayed there until August 30, 1890, when the US Capital was moved to Philadelphia pursuant to the Residence Act, which was passed in July of 1890.

The house, was demolished in 1856.  It had stood near where the base of the Brooklyn Bridge is now.
1 Comment

1964/1965 New York World's Fair Opens

4/22/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Aeriel view of Unisphere and other exhibits at New York world's fair, World Telegram & Sun photo by Roger Higgins. Published between 1964 and 1965. Courtesy Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ds-00864
On this day, April 22nd, 1964, the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair opened.

The fair was run during two consecutive years from April 22-October 18, 1964, and April 21-October 17, 1965.  It was held in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, which had also held the 1939/1940 New York World's Fair.  

While called a World's Fair, the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), an international body based in Paris France that sanctions worlds fairs did not sanction this event.  There were a few reasons:
-Fairs were only permitted to run for one 6 month period
-No rent could be charged to exhibitors
-Only one exposition in any given country within a 10 year period.

Robert Moses, who had been hired by the organizers to head the corporation that organized the event, saw the opportunity to complete  the vast park in that location that he had started with the 1939-1940 World's Fair.  As such, he needed to ensure a profit.  It was decided to charge site rental fees to all exhibitors.  This was the last point to irritate the BIE (the two year running period being the first, and the fact that the 1962 Seattle World's Fair had already been sanctioned).

The US was not a member of the BIE, and as such, the sanction of the organization was not required, but such sanction would assure that the 40 or so member nations would participate.  Moses, not caring about BIE rules, went to Paris to seek approval, and Moses publicly stated his disdain for the BIE and its rules.  In return, the BIE formally requested its member nations to not participate in the fair.  This meant that members, Canada, Australia, most major European nations and the USSR were not participants.  Many other nations also opted to not participate, as they were already scheduled to participate in the Seattle World's Fair and the Montreal World's Fair.

In spite of all of this, smaller nations, and third world nations participated, including a highly popular exhibit from Vatican City, including Michelangelo's Pietà.

The fair also gave Walt Disney an opportunity to design and perfect his "Audio-Animatronics," which would form the basis of many of the attractions in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, with some of the attractions, including "It's a Small World," "Great Moment's with Mr. Lincoln." and the Carousel of Progress moving to Disneyland after the fair (with the last eventually making its way to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

From a financial perspective the fair teetered on bankruptcy, returning only 19.2 cents on the dollar.  

While not financially successful, it is well remembered by New York-area Baby Boomers, who visited the fair, with themes of "Peace Through Understanding," and "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe," before the turbulent years of the Vietnam Era, cultural changes, and the Civil Rights movement.
0 Comments

Tony Danza Born

4/21/2015

0 Comments

 
On this day, April 21st, in 1951, Anthony Salvatore Danza was born in Brooklyn, NY.

His family relocated to Malverne, NY when Danza was 14.  He graduated in 1968 from Malverne High School. and attended the University of Dubuque, graduating with a degree in history.  He attended college at least in part on a wrestling scholarship.

Upon graduation, Danza met and married his first wife, and was a Professional Boxer for a time.  He was discovered in a NY Boxing gym by a producer, and was cast in his first role, Tony Banta on the television series Taxi, appearing in all five seasons.  He then had additional success starring in the eight season, Who's the Boss?
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
    Plaster a Go-go ad

    On this day in Old New York

    A Daily Feature where we focus on a historical event related to NYC that occurred on this day.

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    January 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    February 2017
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    December 2013
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    April 01
    April 02
    April 03
    April 04
    April 05
    April 06
    April 07
    April 08
    April 09
    April 10
    April 11
    April 12
    April 13
    April 14
    April 15
    April 16
    April 17
    April 18
    April 19
    April 20
    April 21
    April 22
    April 23
    April 24
    April 25
    April 26
    April 27
    April 28
    April 29
    April 30
    August 05
    August 06
    August 10
    August 11
    August 12
    August 13
    August 15
    August 17
    August 18
    August 19
    August 22
    August 23
    August 24
    August 25
    August 27
    August 28
    August 29
    August 7
    August 8
    August 9
    December 01
    December 02
    December 05
    December 06
    December 08
    December 10
    December 11
    December 12
    December 13
    December 14
    December 15
    December 16
    December 17
    December 19
    December 22
    December 23
    December 24
    December 25
    December 26
    December 27
    December 29
    December 3
    December 30
    December 31
    December 4
    December 7
    Decembewr 16
    February 01
    February 07
    February 08
    February 09
    February 10
    February 11
    February 12
    February 13
    February 14
    February 15
    February 16
    February 17
    February 18
    February 19
    February 2
    February 20
    February 21
    February 22
    February 23
    February 24
    February 25
    February 26
    February 27
    February 28
    February 29
    February 3
    February 4
    February 5
    February 6
    February 7
    February 8
    February 9
    January 01
    January 03
    January 1
    January 10
    January 11
    January 14
    January 15
    January 18
    January 19
    January 2
    January 20
    January 21
    January 22
    January 23
    January 24
    January 25
    January 26
    January 27
    January 28
    January 3
    January 30
    January 4
    January 5
    January 6
    January 8
    January 9
    July 01
    July 02
    July 03
    July 07
    July 08
    July 09
    July 10
    July 11
    July 13
    July 14
    July 15
    July 17
    July 19
    July 20
    July 21
    July 25
    July 4
    July 5
    July 6
    June 01
    June 02
    June 03
    June 04
    June 05
    June 06
    June 07
    June 08
    June 09
    June 10
    June 11
    June 12
    June 13
    June 14
    June 15
    June 16
    June 17
    June 18
    June 19
    June 20
    June 22
    June 23
    June 24
    June 25
    June 26
    June 28
    June 29
    June 30
    March 01
    March 02
    March 03
    March 04
    March 05
    March 06
    March 07
    March 08
    March 09
    March 10
    March 11
    March 12
    March 13
    March 14
    March 15
    March 16
    March 17
    March 18
    March 19
    March 20
    March 21
    March 22
    March 23
    March 24
    March 25
    March 26
    March 27
    March 28
    March 29
    March 30
    March 31
    May 01
    May 02
    May 03
    May 04
    May 05
    May 06
    May 07
    May 08
    May 09
    May 10
    May 11
    May 12
    May 13
    May 14
    May 15
    May 16
    May 17
    May 18
    May 19
    May 20
    May 21
    May 22
    May 23
    May 24
    May 25
    May 26
    May 27
    May 28
    May 30
    May 31
    November 01
    November 02
    November 10
    November 11
    November 12
    November 13
    November 14
    November 15
    November 16
    November 17
    November 18
    November 20
    November 21
    November 22
    November 24
    November 25
    November 27
    November 28
    November 29
    November 30
    November 4
    November 5
    November 7
    November 8
    November 9
    October 04
    October 05
    October 06
    October 07
    October 08
    October 09
    October 1
    October 11
    October 13
    October 14
    October 15
    October 16
    October 17
    October 18
    October 20
    October 21
    October 22
    October 23
    October 24
    October 25
    October 26
    October 27
    October 28
    October 30
    October 31
    September 10
    September 12
    September 13
    September 14
    September 15
    September 2
    September 3
    September 30
    September 4
    September 5
    September 6
    September 7

    RSS Feed


    For Available Dates please click Here