West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG

Search the site

No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

THROWBACK THURSDAY: TWO KIDS ON BROADWAY IN THE 50’S

January 29, 2015 | 6:37 PM
in HISTORY
16

We’re trying a new feature out today, called Throwback Thursday. It’s named after a feature on Facebook in which people post old photos of themselves. But on West Side Rag we’re hoping that Upper West Siders will send in their old pictures of the neighborhood — these can be family photos or scenic shots from the neighborhood. We’ll explain more below on how you can get involved.

And by “the past” we mean virtually any time before about 2008.

First, let’s look at our first Throwback Thursday photo. It’s from Jean Kweskin, who grew up in the neighborhood 60 years ago. Here’s the photo:

throwback jean kweskin

From Jean: “This is me and my brother Joel,  probably 1957/8. On the southwest side of 88th & Broadway. There was a pharmacy on the corner with a sit-down counter. Where we are standing was a larger pharmacy called Palmer Theresa Rexall.”

Do any of you remember those days, or that pharmacy? Let us know in the comments.

To participate in Throwback Thursday, please send us a photo, preferably by email to westsiderag@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should be “Throwback Thursday.” In the email include the photo and a brief description of who is in it and where it’s taken and when.

The best way to send an older photo, if you don’t have your images scanned, is to scan them into your computer or take a photo of the photo with a phone or digital camera. We’re not looking for perfect clarity, just a good sense of the image and some information. If this isn’t an option email us and we’ll figure out how to get a digital version of the image.

The photo can be a traditional family snapshot, but it should include something from the neighborhood — that could mean it’s in front of a building, on the street, in the parks, outside a museum, whatever.

In short, we think this could be a really cool way to show changes and memories of the neighborhood, and engage people who have lived here in various eras. We’ll try this out, and if we do get some photos, we’ll make it a recurring feature.

Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

16 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Paul G.
Paul G.
10 years ago

Yes, make this a regular feature….I’ll dig around to see if I have any old pics.

0
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
10 years ago

What a fun idea! I love it!

0
Reply
Jean
Jean
10 years ago

love it. Glad I suggested the title! It’s a keeper!

0
Reply
Clem
Clem
10 years ago

Love this idea!! Keep’ em coming 🙂

0
Reply
Judy
Judy
10 years ago

Great, great, great idea! I can’t wait to see more. If people have memories and photos about PS 166, MS 54, and favorite stores now gone on Broadway, would love to see.

0
Reply
manhattan mark
manhattan mark
10 years ago
Reply to  Judy

Judy, I have memories of PS 165 and JHS 54 as well as PS 54,unfortunately I only have graduation class pictures.

0
Reply
Frank
Frank
10 years ago

Palmer was long after he discontinued the rexall chain. Prices out in the late eighties during the initial gentrification of the UWS.

0
Reply
Elbo
Elbo
10 years ago
Reply to  Frank

Palmer lasted well into the 90’s actually. I used to enjoy bringing my dog in there. The proprietors kept a nice stock of dog biscuits on hand and it was a favorite stop on a walk.

0
Reply
Joe Peritz
Joe Peritz
10 years ago

I was also a kid in the neighborhood in that year – probably about the same age as the boy in the photo. I walked down Broadway from 93rd on that same side of the street when I was sent to Murray’s on Sunday mornings to get the traditional Sunday breakfast of smoked fish for the family. I clutched two $5 bills in my hand the whole way (that’s all it cost back then.) Thanks for bringing that memory back.

0
Reply
Ken J.
Ken J.
10 years ago
Reply to  Joe Peritz

Joe,

where did you live on 93 Street?

Ken

0
Reply
webot
webot
10 years ago

Can someone post a photo of Ellman’s Tea Room – 92nd and broadway, next to the New Yorker Theater.

Thank you if you have it.

0
Reply
Jean
Jean
10 years ago
Reply to  webot

The New Yorker Theatre was between 88th & 89th street on the west side of Broadway.

0
Reply
MM
MM
10 years ago

I really like these old photos.
Does anyone remember the cheap but delicious fish/lobster restaurant in the old Benjamin Franklin hotel renamed NYLO hotel West 77th & Broadway?

0
Reply
Steven
Steven
10 years ago

I miss Chun Cha Foo where Carmine’s now is. My mom taught at 166 and brought her class there a few times. Would love some old pics.

0
Reply
Jean
Jean
10 years ago
Reply to  Steven

Whati is your mom’s name and when did she teach there?

0
Reply
Chris
Chris
9 years ago

I used to work at Palmers Pharmacy in the mid 90’s…anybody know what happened to the workers there…There was a full time pharmacist named Frank. Any info would be much appreciated.

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

Throwback Thursday: Portraits on the UWS in the 1970s and 80s
ART

Throwback Thursday: Portraits on the UWS in the 1970s and 80s

July 17, 2025 | 8:54 AM
COLUMNS

Upper West Side Historical Photo Challenge No. 5

July 15, 2025 | 8:50 AM
Previous Post

BREAK-INS AND A VIOLENT BURGLARY AT UWS BUSINESSES

Next Post

CITIBIKE COULD ROLL OUT DOZENS OF UWS STATIONS AS SOON AS THIS SUMMER

this week's events image
Next Post
CITIBIKE COULD ROLL OUT DOZENS OF UWS STATIONS AS SOON AS THIS SUMMER

CITIBIKE COULD ROLL OUT DOZENS OF UWS STATIONS AS SOON AS THIS SUMMER

UWS OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: RICKY’S, DANSKIN, TANI, POULETTE

UWS OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: RICKY'S, DANSKIN, TANI, POULETTE

WORKING THE SYSTEM: HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE (SPONSORED)

WORKING THE SYSTEM: HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE (SPONSORED)

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.