Text and Photographs by Stephen Harmon
As I wandered around the Upper West Side in the 1970s and 80s I was attracted by everything and everyone I saw. I loved the people on the streets, the architecture, and the storefronts. I tried to capture it all, from Riverside Drive to Central Park West.
Here is another group of images from those vanished days. I hope you find something to enjoy.
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.
Check out our audio interview with Stephen Harmon on Rag Radio — HERE.
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Ohhhh, that last one is an Album Cover!! Let’s see who has the best Title! Me: New York: Dark Secrets.
Rear Windows.
Title: People Live in Those Things!
Best of the West
One of the many reasons I love the UWS is that so much of it remains untouched. These photographs remind me of all the streets and structures which are like old friends who wear their age well. I always find them, reassuring in a world which is changing so dramatically.
Last one title: Upper West Side, Shabbat Candles Reaching to the Sky!
I’m sitting in the candlestick! What a lovely image
Beautiful buildings!
♥️
Beautiful photos. I love the look back in time.
What an eye you have, Stephen Harmon! Your photos remind me to use my own less-than-observant eyes to see the beauty, contradictions and even absurdity that’s all around us on the UWS. Thanks for lending us your vision.
The first and third look like Riverside Drive. Can you (or readers) tell us where they and the other pictures were taken?
First pic The Dakota 72nd/CPW
Second is mansion at 107th/RSD
I recognized that 107th St mansion in one instant. I lived on 107th but Bway and Amsterdam.
I recognized that mansion because of WHITE COLLAR… it’s the Schinasi Mansion, which was used as the home that Dihann Carroll’s “June” owned, and Neal supposedly lived on the top floor. It was a little weird because the mansion was very clearly (to me) on the Upper West Side, but Neal’s top floor apartment had a terrace with very distinctive architecture (gargoyles, lanterns, stone work) which we do not see at the top of the mansion here (it was actually based on a terrace at Tudor City on 1st Ave and 41st Street)… and Neal’s terrace looked out onto the skyline of midtown east, centered on the Empire State Building. But the Schinasi Mansion was a great exterior location, and this photo is iconic. Thank you.
The last one is the El Dorado at 300 CPW, featured in the last West Side Rag because two morons climbed to the top of those towers.
Or is it San Remo?
Are these all shot on Kodachrome? When you scan them are you tweaking the colors or trying to match the prints?
Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful little time capsules. I live further Uptown but I hung around the UWS a lot during my HS and College years (early to late 90s). Definitely my favorite nabe in all NYC. The walks along Riverside Drive were especially something I miss now.
Just had the opportunity to watch “Madigan” from 1968 starring Richard Widmark. Some pretty good shots of 104th St. and Broadway including the Edison Theater where a crucial arrest was made. I’m now at the point where I only watch these movies to check out storefronts.
That’s why I watch old Law & Orders!
The last one: “Ready for Launch.”
Anyone know where the Game House was? A gem.
Now if we could see pictures of how things looked in the 1870s or 80s that would be something. Most of these wouldn’t look much different if they were taken today!
Great shots! Love the woman in the rain in red at the 72nd station. I was a photographer there in those same years. Your work is inspiring me to dig in to my archives and see what i come up with. Thanks for sharing each week!🙏
Somehow I suspect the “Game House” did not limit itself to friendly games of checkers for bragging rights…
The first white building on the corner is Duke Ellington ‘s residence.
Gremlin, Rabbit (Golf), and Civic. The Holy Trinity of hatchbacks.
It’s a shame that the buildings are not identified by street number, or at least by cross streets. Also, stating when the photos were taken — at least more specifically than the “seventies and eighties” would be nice.
Next to last picture. Can anyone identify the intersection AND the light blue building? Is that building still in existence?
Yes, the building is on the SW corner of Columbus Ave and W. 73rd St. Actually looks more lavender to me.
The address is 270-276 Columbus Avenue, AKA 100 West 73rd St.
https://www.landmarkwest.org/building/270-276-columbus-avenue-aka-100-west-73rd-street/
It was also seen in a WSR article earlier this month:
https://www.westsiderag.com/2025/03/03/monday-bulletin-uws-teacher-caught-with-child-pornography-abc7-broadcasts-for-final-time-at-longtime-uws-home-uws-grammar-guru-gets-documentary
You have an impressive talented eye. A beautiful image of the Dakota emerging pentimento-like behind the skein of tree limbs.
Love these! Thank you, Mr. Harmon!
A terrific time on UWS! Hanratty’s one of the all time great combo platters of all things UWS!
Yes photo was beautiful, I enjoyed & remember those looks
Memories Thank You for sharing