Saturday, February 27, 2010

Longacre Square and the Blizzard of '88

1888, that is. Found on the web--I think this is from the New York Public Library's collection of images. And yes, this is Times Square before the neon and glitz. It became Times Square (after the New York Times Building that once sat at these crossroads) in 1904.

6 comments:

  1. Ms Linda - I am intrigued by your blogs, which I came across while searching for material on Torchy Brown, which is actually why I am writing to you. I am prparing a presentation to give at a comic scholars at the University of Florida at the end of March. My presentation is entitled "The Military Vanguard for Desegregation: Racial Integration in 1960s War Comics". The topic may at first seem somewhat removed from 'Heartbeat, but for my introduction I am briefly reviewing those non-stereotyped, respectful portrayals of African American characters in comics. I will then show how war comics reflected the leading role desegregation in the military had in precipitating desegregation at home. I would like to use the image you posted on your blog of the Torchy Brown newspaper strip, and so I am requesting your permission to do this. Although it is just a presentation, there is every chance that the material will go on to become an article in the University of Florida's online journal ImageText:

    http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/

    in which case I would like to know if you would allow the image to be used there also. I would, of course, fully acknowledge your ownership of the image and your kindness in allowing the use of the image. Are you aware of any other existing copyright holders of the comic strip itself?

    Anyway, I enjoyed looking at your paper doll postings. My wife has often reminisced to me about how she would play with paper dolls when she was a girl in the 50s, and I also see them from time to time in some of the comic books in my collection (saw some yesterday in fact in a 1961 Betty and Veronica 25c giant from 1961). There's quite a few girls' comic books from around the late 50s/early 60s that contain them I think, like Patsy Walker, etc. Anyway, as I said, my principal reason for writing was to ask your permission for use of the image. In any event, I find your interest in all these paper ephemera inspiring.

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  2. yes, you may! and I take it you've contacted Nancy Goldstein, who wrote about Jackie Ormes (see http://www.jackieormes.com/)

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  3. Thank you! I haven't contacted Nancy Goldstein yet but did see that you featured her book on your other blog. I'm going to get the book as it looks like essential reading. But for the presentation I'm working on I just need a brief mention of Torchy Brown. If it ends up becoming an article then I'll add a bit more about Jackie Ormes, from Nancy Goldstein's book if I can get it in time, and link to the website and cite the book in the references. Again, thank you. I will inform you if it becomes an article.

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  4. Linda - My presentation went well and I think your Torchy Brown comic strip scan was most if not all participants' introduction to Jackie Ormes. I am in the process of finishing the follow up article for the ImageText journal and would like to know your last name so that I can acknowledge your ownership of the image with your full name rather than just Linda. However, if divulging your last name makes you uncomfortable I fully understand and I will just use your first name. I will send you the link ton the article once it is online.

    Christopher.

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  5. Thank you so much for the image of Times Square circa 1888. I've been to Times Square and am always interested to see what a place looked like before the modern era. Quite empty compared to modern times.

    How times change!

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