Times Square Turns 100
N E W Y O R K, April 7, 2004 -- Times Square has seen a lot over its 100 years.
In the last decade alone the "Crossroads of the World" has gone from a triple-X marketplace to a virtual amusement park, filled with megastores and happy tourists.
As Times Square celebrates its 100th birthday on April 8, New Yorkers, and Americans around the country, are taking a look back at how the famous spot has transformed itself several times over.
New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg will launch the official celebration a day early today by cutting an enormous birthday cake in the center of the square.
New Neighbors, New Name
The famous spot was known as Longacre Square before Mayor George McClellan renamed it on April 8, 1904.
At the time, Longacre Square had been a neighborhood of rooming houses, small factories and sketchy entertainment spots. McClellan renamed the square in honor of the New York Times building when it entered the neighborhood.
Former New York Times owner and publisher Adolph Ochs was the man who came up with the idea to drop an electric ball in Times Square on New Year's Eve three years later.
After the subway system opened its first line — which crossed through Times Square — that same year, the location began a vital transformation.
In just a few short years, 42nd Street housed theaters, grand restaurants and became a hot spot for high society. Later nation-changing events, such as The Great Depression and World War II, also had an impact on Times Square. As time took its toll on the neighborhood, it became less of a draw for families and high society. By the 1960s the spot became a favorite of drug dealers, scam artists and ladies of the night.
When the 1990s rolled around, city officials felt it was time for yet another transformation. New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani wanted to bring families and tourists back to Times Square by offering them a cleaner and safer environment.Once Disney [parent company to ABCNEWS.com] took over the once-majestic New Amsterdam Theatre and Madame Tussaud's leased space on 42nd Street, others followed suit.
Now, Times Square is chock full of family spots like ESPN Zone, Toys 'R Us and The Red Lobster. But if history is any indication of what the future will bring, New Yorkers can expect many more changes ahead.
Times Square Factoids
More than 26 million tourists pass through Times Square each year.
Times Square spans three major avenues east to west and 13 blocks north to south
Many of America's best-known companies, such as MTV, Morgan Stanley and The New York Times have offices in Times Square.
The Times Square area contains one-fifth of all New York City hotel rooms, 22 Broadway theaters and more than 250 restaurants.
Times Square is the only zone in New York City where tenants are required to display bright signs.
The number of "adult establishments" in Times Square was as high as 140 in the 1970s.
The area has been reflected in many Hollywood movies including John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy and Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver.
The first New Year's Eve Ball lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held in 1907. Hundreds of thousands of people come each New Year's Eve to experience the event.