Anatomy of a Photo

Once again, our Anatomy of a Photo series. This time out, we have a panoramic view looking north from about 39th Street and 3rd Avenue. It feels like the rooftop sun deck of a hotel.   

First we have No. 25 and No. 5, offset by shrubbery and patio furniture.  
 

The Woodstock and No. 45, along with the sign.

In the center of the photo, there's a sign advertising the Beaux-Arts apartments, the Queensborough Bridge, and the Hotel Tudor sign.

More patio furniture. The articles on the table appear to be magazines.

Finally, the Daily News building, just barely clearing the awning.

MISCELLANY

It's a new year and the perfect time to clear off the work desk and start anew. Here are some also-rans from the past year.

A friend recently sent this postcard and wondered if there was any connection to the hotel in Tudor City. In a word, nope. This Florida building is from 1939, and became part of the Art Deco Historic District of Miami Beach when it was formed in the 1970s. Today it's called the Dream Hotel South Beach, yet it still has the original Tudor Hotel sign in place.      

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Looking down 42nd Street, around 1937. This photograph nicely frames The Woodstock, the building with the spire in the center.  

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This picture is a collaboration of the Works Progress Administration and the New York City Tax Department to compile a photographic record of all the buildings of the five boroughs around 1940. We found it interesting that an Esso station used to be so close to home.

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Finally, our annual report as to whether or not a building is undergoing exterior renovation.

Has Scaffolding

The Manor

No. 45

The Woodstock

The 3Hs

Essex House

Hotel Tudor

Scaffold-Free 

The Cloister

The Hermitage

No. 25

No. 5

No. 2

Happy New Year!

Artifact: CLUB BREAKFAST Menu

Herewith, an early menu from the restaurant in No. 45. Across the top it features a picturesque drawing of the Lich Gate followed by the words TUDOR CITY.

 

This is its CLUB BREAKFASTS menu. Let's take a closer look at the various choices.  

Known today as a continental breakfast, for 25 cents. The only question it poses is what exactly comprises a Bacon Roll. 

A full American breakfast for 35 cents.

For 50 cents, a variation on the theme featuring Wheat Cakes with Bacon and Syrup. 

For a dime more, the 60 cent entry offers Scrambled Eggs with Kippered Herring or Filet of Soul. 

Lastly, the 75 cent club breakfast offers all of the above, plus such delicacies as Breakfast Steak or Calf's Liver Saute.  

At the bottom of the menu is a list of all the items at a la carte prices. Only a few items have gone out of vogue, even though the menu is almost 100 years old: Rippled Wheat cereal, Kippered Herring, and Postum (a coffee substitute that is still manufactured). Again we note the presence of the mysterious TOASTED BACON ROLL, the only menu item to be listed in all caps. We are intrigued.

SEASON'S GREETINGS

INSTAGRAM Elation

 A return to an old favorite of this blog, people posing on the Tudor City Bridge, the majesty of New York behind them.  

by themonoclemuse           

by camerongibbz                

by ksander.ph               

by fionahx3        

by shaunapuff                 

EXITING the THEATER

A return to an offshoot of Tudor City promotion, that which is aimed at the theatergoer ‒ particularly the theatergoer forced to leave early to catch the 10:52 to Westchester. These are from 1929.

There's another one leaving for Forest Hills whispers one chorine, surveying the audience. . . Do they talk like that about you, or do you live in Tudor City?  

There is no excuse for being late to the theater ‒ not even commuting ‒ when you can live at Tudor City and walk to any play in time to see the curtain rise. . .  

Suppose the first violin got up in the middle of the last act and with considerable commotion marched out of the theatre. You'd be annoyed. And it wouldn't help if it was explained to you that he was a commuter and had to catch a train. . .

Look 'round! He's sitting next to you. . . Mentally, he's a wreck. . . But he's reading this programme, too. Perhaps he is wise in his generation and this autumn you may meet him again ‒ in Tudor City. From there he will walk to the theatre and there he will enjoy all the conveniences of life. . .

More of the same here.

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Another matter altogether is the listing of Penthouse 4 in No. 5. It is among the most desirable of the penthouses since its terrace has views of the Chrysler building. In 2023, it was on the market and sold for $3,200,000. Now it's back again, for $3,750,000. We took a look at the virtually staged premises, both in 2023 and 2024.

2023

2024

We think 2024's virtual styling is far superior to 2023's, but is it worth $550,000 more? See the current listing via Douglas Elliman, and compare it to our original post. Then decide. Comments are encouraged. 

Anatomy of an AERIAL VIEW

 

Today we examine a photograph that's a souvenir of the Curtiss-Wright Flying Service's photo division, entitled Grand Central district. Although Grand Central itself is hidden from view, the picture is clearly that of Midtown Manhattan.

To begin with, here is the steam plant that ran for three blocks between the river and First Avenue. Its sign (center right) reads New York Edison Company. All eight smokestacks are hard at work.     

Moving to the center of the photo, there are two buildings under construction: the Chrysler building and just below it, the Daily News building. From the progress of the construction, the photo dates to 1929.

A look at No. 5.

The Woodstock, No. 25 and No. 45.

Finally, a look at what lay immediately north of Tudor City in 1929.