STORY:
The Century in Times Square

New exhibit chronicles the history of square and past New Year's Eve celebrations A new exhibition at Newseum/NY shows the evolution of New York's most famous gathering place, presented through extraordinary photographs from the archives of The New York Times.

"The Century in Times Square" chronicles the history of the square through the life cycles of America-the Depression, Prohibition, war, parades, elections and, of course, that moment on New Year's Eve when all eyes watch the ball drop to celebrate the changing year. It is with good reason that New Yorkers call Times Square the "Crossroads of the World."

The exhibition, which runs Sept. 15, 1999, through Jan. 29, 2000, coincides with the publication of a book, A Century in Times Square. The 128-page book published by The New York Times features photographs and text documenting the eclectic history of the most recognized block in the world, named after the newspaper.

According to a Newseum press release, the images in the exhibition have been selected from millions of prints and negatives that make up The New York Times' photo archives, one of the largest newspaper archives in the world. Photographs in the exhibit include:

* The massive New Year's Eve celebration of 1955 at which thousands gathered to witness the 50th anniversary of the "ball" drop at midnight.

* A large crowd gathers to watch the Pinocchio balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1937.

* Thousands of dark-suited men in fedoras mesmerized by the Times Tower play-by-play bulletins of the 1919 World Series.

* Firefighters bravely extinguish a billboard fire in 1963.

The Newseum is a photojournalism gallery located at 57th Street and Madison Avenue that features exhibits, lectures, films and other activities to broaden the public's understanding of journalism and First Amendment issues.

Source: Newseum Press Release

DATE: 9/14/99

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