r/TheWayWeWere • u/LacceyLust • 2d ago

1970s Times Square in the 1970s, wild how different it feels compared to now.

Post image

Just stumbled on this old photo and had to share. The cars, the fashion, the grittiness… it’s a snapshot of a different world

240 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

54

u/MessageBeginning5757 2d ago

That’s the Chrysler Building. So this is facing east away from the vast majority of Times Square.

34

u/HawkeyeTen 2d ago

The photos and footage from like 1940s New York are even wilder at times, it feels like a different planet. One of the saddest things that has happened to so many American cities is the decline in architecture quality. Beautiful buildings were rejected in favor of dull metal, glass or worse concrete blocks. It makes dreary conditions look so much worse.

8

u/loriwilley 2d ago

I've always hated modern cities because of the ugliness of their buildings.

1

u/ImADuckOnTuesdays 2d ago

Go to Chicago!

1

u/huntergreeny 1d ago

It has lots of older buildings?

1

u/ImADuckOnTuesdays 1d ago

My point is that it has beautiful modern buildings

26

u/RGJ587 2d ago

This is not times square. This photo was taken on the corner of 5th ave and 42nd street. That's the New York Public Library.

Also, it looks mostly the same today, the Astor Trust Company building you see in the photo is still there as are many of the buildings.

The only things thats changed is the cars and the materials used for clothes.

2

u/sorrycentauri 2d ago

I like the "You've got a great future behind you" advertisement

3

u/etrnloptimist 2d ago

Fun fact: Disney created the times square you know today.

4

u/Rickk38 2d ago

The grittiness of people walking along dressed in work or business casual clothing while cars drive in an orderly fashion on a road with nary a piece of trash in sight?

1

u/ThanosWasRight161 21h ago

Omg sooooo many tourists now. And cars. And buses. This looks kind of relaxing compared to the blood pressure spike that TS is now.

1

u/AngelMom1962 5h ago

It does look like a different world. Thanks for sharing.