Text and photographs by Stephen Harmon
The cars are the giveaway in many of these photos — makes and models from the 1970s and 80s — while the backgrounds showcase the Upper West Side. Much of it is gone now, but happily some remains — and some, like the Apple Bank sign and clock, have been restored or replaced. Meanwhile, the Metro Theater is anticipating its latest rise from the ashes of disappointing dreams as a functioning theater and community arts and learning center.
Sometimes there is good news and hope, too.
Stephen Harmon is a longtime Upper West Sider, a retired lawyer, and a world-class photographer whose work is on display in many of the city’s museums, including The Museum of the City of New York, The Brooklyn Museum, 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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Thank you for these wonderful photos
Beautiful shots.
Hi, Arleen! Funny to see your comment here.
I think all of the buildings in these pictures are still there?
At least three are no longer with us:
• The Colonial Club building at the SW corner of 72nd & Broadway, 1892–2007 (https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-lost-colonial-club-broadway-and.html). This appears in two photos here; at the corner was Skouras Finest.
• 201 West 72nd Street, formerly at the NW corner, 1938–1989 (https://www.landmarkwest.org/72crosstown/201-west-72nd-street/). Once home to the Embassy 72nd theatres.
• The 1897 apartment building at 2628 Broadway (immediately north of the Metro), replaced in 2007 by Extell’s hulking Ariel East.
And if one could peer clearly far enough down Broadway from 72nd, there might be a few other now-absent buildings to see.
Definitely not.
Not every business is still there, but the buildings are. Do you see any that have been replaced?
Several: The building on the SW corner of West 72nd Street and Broadway, also many on east side of Broadway in the distance, so to the south of West 71st Street in the same picture, are gone.
Then note that many of this week’s photos are within the UWS historic district, so it’s much harder to tear down and replace in that zone.
I assume that explains why the low building on Columbus with the four huge and distinctive arched windows (in the first photo) hasn’t been replaced by a hulking anonymous monstrosity.
Right, that’s within the historic district.
I was just about to comment on the building on the SW corner 72nd and Broadway. Wish I could have seen the neighborhood before the high rise went up (along with TJs and DR).
I wish someone would redevelop the building on the SE corner of 72nd (with Gray’s Papaya / Sleepys), it’s a huge eyesore and a poor use of vertical space right next to a busy express subway station
Wow. The one corner that still has some character and you want it torn down. Says alot.
Develop! Develop! Develop!
Can’t we keep *anything* that we like??
That corner is directly next to a subway station that is one stop from Times Square. Can’t we have *anywhere* that is an actual city? I don’t understand the people who decide to live in the middle of the biggest city in the world, and then not only hate tall buildings, but imagine that everyone else does too.
Hi UWS Dad,
Personally I don’t consider it an eyesore.
And given all the new luxury development, am especially appreciative of something that is old, authentic and a bit “quirky.”
But of course it will be the real estate industry that determines what happens here, regardless of anyone’s opinion.
When I first moved to the UWS I was horrified that Citibank automatically switched my ‘home branch,’ to the one at that corner. I asked about the empty buildings and was told that new businesses were moving in. Obviously that never happened. : (
UWS historic district. Not impossible to replace, but it’s going to take funds.
Also the air rights may have been sold, so developers would shy away.
Terrific photos as always. But what’s with the Madison Avenue shot? I thought you never strayed East of Central Park?
I think that’s Columbus Ave!
9th photo down is definitely Madison Ave. looking north from about 71st-72nd street. You can check on Google. Great photos though!
I agree. The clue is what appears to be St James Episcopal Church on the right side of the photo, north of the large white building..
You may be right!! I thought it was West End and it may have wound up in the wrong file.
I was wondering if you were pulling a fast one on us hah! Looks like Madison to me…
Excellent! Another great Throwback Thursday.
Oh I love these so so much. Mr Harmon captured my Columbus Ave block bet 69 and 70 block as it looked for at least the first 10 years I lived there 1994 +. So miss that perfect line-up of useful neighborhood stores/bar.
And the two elderly gentleman in their trench coats, hats and suit and tie, oh my. Thank you Mr Harmon yet again.
Same! The Emerald Inn was right around the corner from me. Loved it there. I visit the new location on occasion, but more of a hike at my age
Charivari – I remember when that was THE place! As always, wonderful photos – thank you!
I still have a jumpsuit I bought there although it doesn’t fit -me anymore!
I miss Charivari!
Beautiful photos, as always. I miss Charivari, a wonderful clothing boutique of that era. The 70s were the last great period of fashion style. The lady with the hat is a fine example.
Awww. Emerald Inn at the old Columbus Avenue location… where you could find day drinkers and Opera singers enjoying a pint.
And the bar where Jack Lemmon’s character had a drink while his place was “in use” in Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment”. Yes, the scene was shot on location.
Loved that place! I don’t drink but I loved the atmosphere..
The Banana Republic in the first shot used to be a supermarket called Food City
The buildings are always interesting. (Is the Apple Bank clock really being restored?)
However, the human shots–of the two elderly men in conversation, the fashionable young woman in black-and-white holding her hat in the wind—and the rear view of the black-coated M-F pair walking hand-in-hand, are the shots that truly moved me.
I look forward to Throwback Thursday and these wonderful photos.
Thank you for sharing them and thanks to Mr Harmon for his beautiful work.
Ditto!
Super cool! I look forward to these photos every Thursday! Thanks Rag!
Back when people put on actual clothes to leave the house. I still need to dress well for work each day and feel like the outsider when I leave my building in the morning compared to what I see around me!
I am looking for a photo of my fathers clothing store from the 70s-80s on 76street and Broadway
So nice to see The Silver Palate. That was where I’d reward myself (which their chocolate mousse) and I also loved, and still love, their cookbooks.
And they bade the BEST shortbread, bar none. Even better if kept in the freezer.
I will long for it forever.
Love it! Great photos as always! The clothes, the signs, the mailboxes and pay phones. All bring a smile to my face and makes me a little sad for some reason. The world must progress I suppose. At least we have these memories to look back on.
Ha! I saw “Amadeus” at the beautiful Metro Theatre. Fingers crossed that the Metro will get an appropriate renovation. And that snazzy lady in black and white- Judy Garland look-alike! Great stuff, as always, thanks a million!
Love these photos – such a great regular feature. Keep it up! Thanks
That building that was torn down on the southwest corner of 72nd street should have been saved. It looked so much better. We really have no oversight like other grand cities around the world that prevent destruction and ugly replacements.
Oh, how I miss the modest building on the southwest corner of 72nd and Broadway (sixth photo in this set), which now houses a Duane Reade, Trader Joe’s, and of course a bank.
I wish there were a way to crawl inside these fantastic photos with a simple nose twitch like Samantha Stephens.
Charivari! The Silver Palate!! Thank you!!!
I’m pretty sure that on the Broadway corridor between 72nd and 86th Street, only about half a dozen “original” merchants still exist. This would include Zabars, Town Shop and Westsider Books. But beyond that, less than a handful that existed in the 70s or 80s are still going.
True, you can’t stop progress. Nor should we necessarily try. But when at least one of the REASONS for most of the merchant losses (rapacious landlords, who would rather have empty storefronts than take less rent than they would like) was and is unnecessary and lamentable, there is justifiable cause for sadness and even anger. (The other major factor affecting many bricks and mortar businesses is the Internet and “e-tail.”)
So a trip down nostalgia lane is always a nice thing to see.
I still miss Morris Brothers.
Silver Palate was the best! And just love all the pics – thank you!
Waiting for a pic of the wonderful Menash.
I like the pictures of the people and some of the stores that no longer exist. Please no more pictures of the 72nd street subway station.
Great pix. Captions?