HISTORICAL

Times Square, formerly called Longacre Square, once had very high crime rates and was home to prostitutes, drug dealers, thieves, and hustlers. Oscar Hammerstein helped pave the way for this area in 1895 when he built the Olympia, an entertainment complex housing three theaters and a roof garden. Then, in 1904, Adolph Ochs moved the New York Times building to 43rd street, and the square was renamed after the building. Things started to go uphill from there and Times Square rapidly became an even more popular place. “During the First World War, Times Square became the premiere theatre district in the nation.” (Macbeth)



However, things then started to decline with the vast amount of people that flooded the area and the square quickly became known as a “sinkhole.” In the ‘60s and ‘70s entertainment such as live nude shows and porn shops began popping up in the area. Once again, crime, drugs, and prostitutes were occupying Times Square and giving it a bad reputation. In the ‘80s some businesses and public officials got fed up with the negative view the public had on the area, so they got together to try and change it. They succeeded and in the ‘90s Times Square was “a symbol again for the vibrancy of Manhattan.” (Macbeth)

Here's a picture I took of the New York Times building when I was in Times Square: