June 7, 2011
Okay, work wasn’t too bad tonight, but I’m still tired because I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. This led to a new idea to do here on MAD when I’m a little sluggish and don’t feel like talking to people. I’m just going to go to certain parts of New York and take photos. I’m going to call these nights “Picture This.” I thought I’d start this new series in Times Square, I know I rag on about how Times Square has been ruined by commercialization, but it’s colorful and always loaded with people. So tonight, it’s Times Square, can you picture this? I know I can! Bring on the schlock!
It's a nice night out, so we'll just walk, it's only 12 blocks away from where I work.
Enter here?
Those arrows are pointing right at the sidewalk, so unless you've got a jackhammer, I guess you're not going to Modell's.
We're almost there, I can see the JumboTron from here.
And here we are in the heart of Times Square.
There's bleachers in front of the JumboTron and people come here and sit as if there's a concert or something going to happen. Nothing's going to happen people! Leave midtown and enjoy New York while you can! This has been a public service announcement.
I call this shot, "Cheese Squared," the announcement for the new Kardashian show on the Ecchh! Network sits above the world's largest Red Lobster.
Hoodies in the hood.
Grumbler alert!
Picture this!
Ads for Broadway shows, this reminds that I really do want to see The Addams Family before it closes.
Regulatory Delay Stoke...what does that even mean?
It's McPacked at McDonald's, because the Big Mac tastes so different in Times Square.
And just in case you've forgotten about the Kardashian show, a subtle little reminder.
A cop writes a ticket for this unlucky taxi driver.
Goddamn, this kid gives me the creeps!
Times Square window shopping.
There's no escape!
And some footage of Times Square way back when. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: Times Square Website, Wikipedia, Virtual Tourist and Times Square Cam.
You Might Also Like: Lucille and Ball.
Five Songs About Photos
Kodachrome—Paul Simon
Pictures of You—The Cure
Photograph—Ringo Starr
Pictures of Lily—The Who
Picture Book—The Kinks
New things and old both disappear.
If life is a photograph,
Fading in the mirror...
29 Comments
Reader Comments (29)
I can't believe all those people sitting on the bleachers in Times Square ? ... for f'ing what ? ... losers .... go have a beer somewhere !
@GENE: I think they sit there because its free and to take the load off,,,,only so much "six flags" crapola can a tourist take. But I agree with you, I would be sitting over at Jimmy's with a cold one. @MAD: A great song from Neil Young off a great cd, Silver and Gold,,,,good songs on the Marty jukebox today,,,,"Pictures of Lily" another favorite.
@GENE: I know, it's really weird, those bleachers are always packed! You're in New York people, go see something! Get out of midtown!
@Al: I thought you'd like that Neil Young song! And I love that video of "Pictures of Lily!"
I like this idea! Always love to look at pictures of New York City! Loved the video at the end and your surprise link was great!
Duh dunt da dunt dunt...FRESH AIR...duh dunt da dunt dunt...TIMES SQUARE! Oh, by the way, I actually went out and bought a Polaroid Swinger because of that commercial when I was a kid...it was my prise possesion when I was a kid. I was into building Estes model rockets back then, and one of my most ambitious projects was a four engine scale model of a Saturn 1B rocket...spent a month building it, and on launch day I decided to use my swinger to photograph the event. I hooked up the rocket to an electrical launcher I had custom built for the occasion, flipped the switch and pepared to snap a picture when it fired. Only two of the four engines ignited, the rocket went 3 feet into the air, then it nosed over and went straight for a bunch of kids at the bottom of the hill that had come to watch the big event. The big kids got up and promplly ran over the little kids (they of course had been forced to the back of the crowd by the big kids) in a mad panic to get away from the model Saturn 1B that had suddenly appeared to develope a vindictive mind of it's own. I got a picture of that, and I wish to God I still had it. It was as if 'The Little Rascals' had gotten together to recreate the Hindenburg disaster. Bwahahaaa!
@MAD ........ House of Brews is nearby ... they could have went there !
RE: the sidewalk shot—every one of those black splotches is a piece of gum some pig spit on the ground. Ya gotta love NYC
Awesome Marty.. I can totally relate!
I love the surprise link!
i had one!
but the best part of the link was this comment under it..
"this is one of the weirdest things i've ever masturbated to"
did you post that comment????????
ha!
That baby gives me the creepy crawlies.
Huh, I did not know we had a Red Lobster here...or bleachers! There are bleachers on the High Line that overlook 10th Avenue, so people sit there and smell the exhaust of all the cars that go by. Why?! Thanks for reminding me why I never go to TS...except for Jimmy's Corner and Rudy's...you can also find strong drinks and oddball conversation at the Port Authority bowling alley.
@Barfly: I liked that old Times Square footage too.
@Jaws: Great story!
@GENE: Ha!
@Ned Sparks: I always marvel at all the gum stains on New York's sidewalks. I need to do a photo essay of those one of these nights.
@Gidgie: That comment wasn't from me, I've masturbated to much stranger things!
@Goggla: That Red Lobster is nuts, it's always packed with tourists, why would you come to New York and go to a Red Lobster? I guess for the same reason you'd come here and sit on a bleacher in Times Square!
I'm pretty sure I saw that baby at a rave in the 90's. He creeped me out then too. Of course, it could have been the drugs. I keep watching the camera commercial over and over, and the comment Gidgie quoted now frightens me. (It is Steve McQueen and Mr. Kotter's wives frolicking in bikinis in an homage to swinging I guess.)
these photos really make me wanna come to NYC. soon.
How appropriate that there was a Budweiser ad on the jumbotron when you took your pic! TO THE KING OF BEERS!
What in the wide, wide world of sports, is under the creepy kid’s arm? Some kind of animal scrotal sac or something?
I would have liked to take a walk with Ali McGraw, and see what “developed”
Nice 40's footage!
@csp: I'm betting it was the drugs. And I have to admit, I've never been to a rave!
@Meleah: Let me know when you come here and I'll buy you a beer or three, at Jimmy's!
@Biff: TO THE KING OF BEERS! I wish I was drinking one now.
@Harry: I think it's coconut testicles under the kids arm. And I agree about the Ali stroll!
I saw those bleachers on a tv show and wondered what was going on. I mean I'm all for people watching, but seems a bit odd. The Cheese Squared photo is on the Van Wagner billboard. I have a picture of that billboard from my 1996 visit before I was officially a Van Wagner. (but the Kardashians were not obviously not on it, I think some hot guy was)
I spotted the Van Wagner sign too - pretty sure I have a picture of it as well somewhere. I hate shows about people who are famous for nothing - which means I don't watch 99% of reality TV. The bleachers were not there the last time I was in Time's Square - just the random tables and chairs.
so people go and sit on bleachers and watch traffic? fun! lol! always love the surprise link, this one was a doozy!
@kari: Was the guy on the billboard Richard Pryor after his "accident?" He was really hot then! That's funny about the Van Wagner sign! Do you get a royalty from that?
@Britta: I saw about five minutes of that Kardashian show once and it was just awful! What's sad is they're making millions off of it.
@rita r: I know, I don't get it either. Glad you liked the surprise link!
@Marty that's just sad. Poor Richard Pryor. Sadly no one has sent me any royalties, I should check into that. And I really want to watch the surprise link but from the comments I feel like I should wait until I'm not on a work computer
Our streets are covered with gum and spit, too. Then add the sidewalk sitters into the picture....why would you sit on a sidewalk or in a gutter??!! Basic hygiene people....speaking of.....Hi Gene!
@kari: I was just joking, Richard Pryor used to joke about it himself, so I think it's okay. And the link is totally safe to watch at work. Trust me!
@Clacky: I don't know why people spit gum on streets, but nice to know it's not just here.
All the public sidewalk sitters should move to Singapore, where it's illegal to chew gum. The streets are so clean you could ear off them. Of course, after they sit in the streets, they would be immediately arrested and publicly caned. Everybody wins!
clacky...nice slider...when you gonna update?...
now have to say...nice one csp...
gosh!...so much to say...like i remember settin' in the bleachers 'round sometime in the a.m. and there was all kind of things goin' on...might get into that somewhere down the road...
MAD...would say stop promotin'...this gang of (fill in the blank)...but then i realize you are just showin' "what's going on"...cue marvin...
"Mandie Gilbert: Alexa! Where's your mom?
Alexa: At an AA meeting, then she's going out for drinks."
~Picture This
rr
@csp: Ha! Good one!
@rr: Cue Marvin indeed! Love that dialogue! Now I'm going out for a drink. Cheers to all of you!
Can't believe how much stuff you've got going on in today's post - now I'm a little wired. Love this walking around & great to make something out of the crap that is today's Times Square. Baby creepy - yes. Camel Man too, but a great sign. Gum on sidewalks much worse than cigarette butts - Bloomie should have zeroed in on that instead of the poor smokers. Excellent music!
@onemorefoldedsunset: Everytime I put up an old Kinks link I know you'll like it!
The only times I ever cross Times Square is when I venture out of the EV to get a hotdog at Rudy's (and something to help flush it down.) Over forty years ago I lived in a rooming house for a few months on 44th Street, right off 7th Ave. I loved that Times Square era, with all its sleaze, grittiness and other manifestations of a bustling urban cauldron that was NYC in the early 70s. What TS wound up being now is a disneyfied, homogenized version of its former self catering to the people who flock to umpteenth revivals of the same tired old boring Broadway Musicals.
@Uncle Waltie: I would love to hear stories about when you lived there in the '70's! We need to hang out sometime. Sip ahoy!