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.