Text and photographs by Stephen Harmon
For nearly six months, West Side Rag has been publishing my photographs of people and places on the Upper West Side from the vanished days of the 1970s and 80s. Throwback Thursday has been organized by themes, such as bench sitters, smokers, street vendors, storefronts and businesses, and many more.
I must confess, when I was walking the streets back then, smitten by everyone and everything I was seeing, I was not thinking of themes. I photographed without any logic or order other than love. The themes came to me only recently as I perused my old negative and slide files to find photos for this column.
A few Thursdays ago, a reader commented that the photos that week had “so many hats!” “A theme!” I thought. So I looked through my files and here’s a sampling of what I found.
Stephen Harmon is a longtime Upper West Sider, a retired lawyer, and a world-class photographer whose work is displayed in many of the city’s museums, including The Museum of the City of New York, The Brooklyn Museum, The New York Historical, and The New York Public Library.
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Wonderful portfolio of photos! Thank you!
FABULOUS!!! Thank you for the hat photos! Wonderful!
Artistic and thoughtful!
JUST FREAKIN’ FANTASTIC! I SO LOOK FORWARD TO THESE PHOTOS.
Wow. These are so much fun. I was just a little kid when these were taken but I have fond memories of that era, despite it being a total fashion nightmare!
Love the Manny Hanny in one picture – looks like 72nd and Broadway?
A great Harmon photo of the west side of the building may be found here: https://www.westsiderag.com/2017/08/24/throwback-thursday-memories-of-great-lox
Remember when Ralph Kiner in a Mets broadcast referred to a homer being hit at Shea over the “Manufacturers Hangover” sign?
This photo could have been taken no later than 1989/90, as The Alexandria apartments at 201 W. 72nd St. went up (in under a year!) at that point, replacing the “taxpayer” formerly at that address. And since Apple Bank became known as such in May 1983, the photo could not date to very long afterward, as the signage would have changed. So, c. 1983–89 — that’s the best I can do! Perhaps an automotive expert could narrow it down further.
Yes! The Manny Hanny was there and a movie theater was next door.
Yes, apparently it IS 72nd and Broadway! I have no recollection of the Manny Hanny on that corner, but thought I recognized the distinctive and distinguished Apple Bank Building across the street – but, hmmm, it says “Central Savings” – could that have been the name on it way back when? Just Googled and…yes, say the Interwebs!
It was Central Savings Bank and it still has it carved in the stone.
It certainly is.
The great photo of the literate gentleman reading a book and carrying three newspapers resembles Isaac Bashevis Singer, who lived at the Belnord and wore hats.
It’s one paper with two sections and a few pages sticking out of one of the sections.
Ohhh… I just commented on that one:)
My message to the literate gentleman: WATCH OUT! There’s a car coming at you!
Can’t tell where this shot was taken. But if it had been around B’way & 72 St. where some of the other photos were shot the I.B. Singer resemblance (though it’s definitely not Singer) would have seemed even clearer, since Singer was a regular at the Famous Dairy Restaurant on 72 west of B;way. It was there that a waiter asked Singer if he might leave a larger tip after just winning his Nobel. Singer replied that he’d like to, but his heart wouldn’t let him.
I was struck by that photo, too! Regardless of who that gentleman is, my initial thought was, “Where but on the Upper West Side would you see someone so literate they would be carrying three newspapers under one arm and reading a book held up with the other – while crossing the street, with clearly visible traffic?” Now, *that’s* dedication to the printed word, to knowledge, to art!
A tip of MY hat to the gentleman…
Perhaps this is a theme for another collection – images of people actually reading newspapers/books/magazines, assuming it hasn’t already been done. I’m delighted these days to see the rare folks in cafes, on park benches, on the subway with their noses stuck in those nearly-extinct hard copies, instead of hovering down over their phones. (Not that I don’t truly love and respect my phone, but it does have its place, which is NOT in my hand as I’m dashing out and about in the city 🙂
Hats off to you, Stephen! Love these photographs.
What a great feature of WSR. Each week we see the the true diversity of the UWS through your lens. Maybe different than what we see through our eyes. Next theme…Kids?
I love the look of the elderly “Nathan Detroit” in his blue pinstripe suit, holding his tout sheet, in front of the OTB. Wonder if his horse won.
I should have added this. As one who enjoys researching, this gem of a video about our favorite UWS photographer is a treat to watch.
https://viewing.nyc/meet-steve-harmon-a-photographer-capturing-the-upper-west-side-for-4-decades/
The sign on the OTB says they’re celebrating 10 years of OTB. I looked it up, off track betting became legal in NY in 1970, so the picture is likely 1980.
IB singer could be walking around there, or John Lennon, or Garbo…
I wonder what fabulous secrets were kept under those fabulous hats! This is a gorgeous photo essay, something to help us smile when we need these smiles most. Thank you, Stephen!
These pictures are just insanely good and so evocative. Thank you so much for sharing them. If Mr Harmon published a book of his photos, I would buy it.
The best, love these!
Quick Q for Mr Harmon: do you / did you ever know the names of any of your subjects? One of these ladies looks a lot like someone I rented a room from way way long ago.
Is the first picture actually two actors rather than locals?
This is a reflection of the tail end of the hat wearing generations mostly before WWII.
JFK pretty much reflected veterans not wanting stuff on their heads.
And then adults started wearing kid’s baseball caps.
Exactly… I remember JFK’S inauguration. He doffed the top hat and that marked the generational divide and the beginning of the end of hats as required fashion item. (Sigh)
It’s seldom that a specific date can be pinned on a social trend. But the must-wear-a-hat era ended with JFK when he flouted tradition by refusing to be hatted at his inauguration. (Photos show Ike wearing a top hat at the same event.)
He quickly only carried and then ditched the hat.
Does anyone remember hat shops?
Jeannie’s Dream is on W75th. Yes, I remember hat shops having worked for a milliner but in the early 90s. All the large department stores had hat shops within them.
Laura and Julia, if you walk past the Apple Bank on Broadway, you will see Central Savings Bank carved into the building’s stone. Because the building is landmarked, it’s likely that cannot be removed. So you are both correct.
Love these! Please keep ‘em comin’. Thanks you.
It’s not a photo montage without OTB and Manufacturers Hanover Trust.
Just great stuff!
thank you! these photos are invariably so interesting to look at – the colors, the moment-in-time, the sense of what was then and what is now, such a delightful distraction from the daily grind, appreciate that you are sharing them and all the work that goes into curating different themes!
Wonderful collection! My favorite is the short polka dot tie with the well worn belt. The range of expression, the individuals shining through.
I love these.
The 80s was a grand time for hats. There was a funky little handmade hat store on Columbus Ave. between 72nd and 73rd for a while, I think Charivari and Putumayo had hats as well – many clothing stores did. And people actually wore them (not just elderly people, either). I miss them.
My father wore a Harris tweed cap. I can still picture him walking down the street wearing it.
Wonderful!! Such a treat to see these photos — thank you so much, Stephen!
Love love love this column. Wish I could hear the conversations that were taking place as well. Thank you look back at the neighborhood.
That man gripping newspapers and reading a book while crossing the street… At least he knew no one would grab the paperback BOOK out of his hands while he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings. Still, dangerous then, dangerous now. And jaywalking, too!
More hats back then, but also canes! My dad uses a cane because of a hip injury, but I don’t notice as many people in the neighborhood using them. Maybe it’s because the demographics of the UWS have changed, but I think it’s due to older people being more physically active, going to PT and not accepting I’m going to limp for the rest of my life.
Canes indeed! Maybe that’s your next theme? Great evocative photos. Inspires me to go back and check out my photos and slides taken around the same time after I moved to the UWS in 1977. Thanks for the memories!
Hip replacement (one or both) is far more common nowadays than in past. This has greatly improved mobility and quality of life for seniors.
Medicare covers both hip replacement procedure and related costs.
Does anyone still wear, a hat?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=virv-1o2KjE
Prior to WWII and through 1950’s no well dressed man or woman went out of house without a hat.
By 1960’s changes in hair styles for ladies, especially bouffant or “big hair” with or with out aid of hair pieces made wearing a hat impractical and many women did and never went back. This even when hairstyles of 1970’s moved towards a more natural look or certainly less elevated.
In 1970’s hats for both men and women weren’t totally done yet however. Aided by films such as “the Stepford Wives” big floppy hats became fashionable for women. Taking a page from television and film such as “Kojak” and “Shaft” men also sported hats.
Another chapter in place, should a future book be in consideration.
You can feel the love. Brings back great memories. Thank you ❤️
A treat as always. Thank you.