Friday, December 4, 2009

classic signage in midtown

After searching high and low I finally found this 30s era sign on 8th and 48th street. It's two signs in one, for cigars and rooms. Housekeeping. Gotta love it. This is truly one of the last remaining vestiges of old New York in midtown, as buildings fall (including the one next to this soon) and developers continue to run amok. So eye this closely, soon it will be gone.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

I have just discovered your blog from a link in Julie's "Sydney Eye". Your photos are wonderful. I will be back.

Virginia said...

KM, when in Montmartre I found a door that said (something like) GAZ et EAU. I asked Peter about it and he said in days passed, they would advertise that gas and water was available or maybe provided. I've yet to post that photo of the door. What a wonderful sign you've found. Because of you, I am on the lookout in Birmingham. Merci mon ami!
V

Anonymous said...

We've got sssssssssteam heat.

Fashion Schlub said...

steam heat, housekeeping, and hot and cold water - what more could anyone ask for?? :-) love your photo - great find, I love the old signs...

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

Ken Mac: I am finally catching up on your blog and OH how I love these recent photos. That December 3rd photo down West 9th looks like it could be a sleepy little southern town. I've never really wanted to stroll down 9th in NYC but this photo makes the idea tempting.

Can I be so bold as to ask you to look at this photo on my blog? Since you are from the South, I think you will appreciate this little bit of humor today:

http://www.greensborodailyphoto.com/2009/12/why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road.html#comments

Jan
Mrs. GDP

dianasfaria.com said...

Housekeeping?... how cool is that?

Julie said...

They crumble in reality but live on virtually.

Old signs are wonderful even when piled each on top of the other.

Paz said...

We don't see many buildings with ads anymore. Last one I saw was in the Bronx.

Paz

marley said...

Its such a shame that old New York is being lost forever.

Birdman said...

Yup! Life moves on, whether we like it or not. Stop and enjoy! Nice image here.

D said...

Hot AND cold water? what luxury!
This is great sign. I'm glad you caught it before it's gone.
Wish those developers had a sense of history and could preserve a few vestiges.

Beth said...

You might enjoy forgotten-ny.com. Have you seen it?

-K- said...

"I want to go to there."

That entire wall should be laminated or shellaced or something.

Bowery Boogie said...

great find! Nice to see that the image is now preserved for posterity. wish we could say the same for the ad itself.

dianasfaria.com said...

Ken, I posted something vintage on my blog I want you to see.

jugioli said...

Linda imagem.

Tara said...

great building sign and photo! Gotta wonder about the grout that's holding those old bricks together, though. we lost many of our old brick buildings back in the quake 20 years ago.

As an infrequent visitor to NYC, but a true lover of it: Love the photos!

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

Nice photo -- layers of history. Some of the colors on the cigar box still show through!

Three Rivers Daily Photo

Daryl said...

As a lover of ghost signs I applaud your find ... it pays to keep looking up!

Rob said...

I hate that, razing a classic charming building for a box of steel and glass. Love these old brick walls painted with advertisements.

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