New Year’s Eve 1920
One hundred years ago today… It was New Year's Eve, and there was a new ball to be dropped in Times Square, formerly Longacre Square. (Only in 1904 had the bowtie-shaped plaza created by the collision of Broadway and Seventh Avenue at 46th Street and their crossing at 43rd been re-christened, named after the Times headquarters, 1475 Broadway at 42nd Street, which had accordingly became One Times Square.)
Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. "Manhattan: Broadway–46th Street (West)" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1920.
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Times Square North : Night Illumination." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1921.
The ball drop, the defining custom of the location, had started in 1908. The first ball used was destined to signify the turn of a calendar page eleven more times. The new ball was lighter, merely 400 pounds of wrought iron. (See Olito.)
Note: read Jonathan Goldman's Gothamist article about New Year's Eve 1919 here.
Prohibition, soon to celebrate its one-year anniversary, should have weighed heavily over the Times Square celebrants. Did it? Accounts diverge. According to the Tribune, "Broadway laughed at Prohibition."
New York Tribune, 1 January 1921, p.1 Chronicling America.
On the other hand, according to the Herald, Prohibition made it an "agreeably dull" evening.
New York Herald, 1 January 1921, p.3 Chronicling America.
Still, the listings and advertisements suggest there was plenty to do: dancing, music, food, and parties. For example, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music:
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 28 December 1920, p.24. Chronicling America.
At the Star Theater, Jay and Fulton Streets, Brooklyn, two NYE shows of the “All Jazz Revue.”
The Chat, 25 December 1920, p.58. Chronicling America.
Over in Bushwick’s Broadway Roller Skating Rick, a “noisy party,” with skating till 1 a.m.
The Chat, 25 December 1920, p.58, Chronicling America.
Below, advertisements in the Times for Manhattan dinners, clubs, shows, movies, and hotels:
New York Times, 30 December 1920, p.14. Chronicling America.
New York Times, 30 December 1920, p.14. Chronicling America.
What music might have accompanied these celebrations? We can get a sense from the Victor Records items at Davega Shops on sale December 1.
Daily News, 31 December 1920, p.5. Chronicling America.
– Jonathan Goldman, December 31, 2020
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