Commercialism in Pictures
Better Nate Than Ever
Better Nate Than Ever is a middle-grade novel that details the journey of a young boy, who travels to New York for the first time to attempt to join a Broadway show. The titular character and protagonist, Nate, travels through Times Square and Broadway and experiences many aspects of life in New York City that inspires him to continue his acting career, despite being turned down for the role he intended to play.
The city that Nate saw in this novel is a vibrant world that could have been drawn straight out of his imagination. On the first impressions, city-dwellers are a bunch of wildly-dressed and stubborn individuals, who strive to go about their day without much focus on the one tourist trapped amongst them all. However, once he begins to meet individual New Yorkers, Nate learns that they are more accepting, more understanding, and more willing to understand the underlying differences between people than those who lived in Nate’s little town. He learns that, in New York, no one minds the idea that an individual might be gay, might dress strangely, or might not be the trophy-wielding jock that his brother is. He learns that he can be himself in the City, and especially in Times Square.
Nate’s vision of New York City is very similar to the New York City that any tourist can experience on first glance. It might seem very crowded, uncaring, and busy, yet it can also be a place where anyone might find their calling. The city- and especially Times Square- is a melting pot of diverse people and ideals. Anyone can find their place, here. Whether it be a confused and lonely young boy like Nate, or a lost and unhappy woman like Nate’s mother, New York can represent a new beginning for anyone. As Nate learns in the story, Times Square is for everyone. While it might be overwhelming to come people, Times Square can also be a place for like-minded people to meet and enjoy a Broadway production, to bond over the NFL experience, or to simply see a movie. Better Nate Than Ever‘s portrayal of Times Square perfectly represents everything that this city is meant to be, and is.
History of Times Square
Times Square is one of the most famous location in Midtown, Manhattan, if not the entirety of Manhattan. It is located at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. It is most well-known for the yearly ball-drop ceremony, wherein a ball is lowered from the top of a building on New Year’s Eve, in order to mark the change of the year.
The name “Times Square” was developed by Albert Ochs in 1904. Ochs, the renowned publisher of The New York Times, elected to move his paper to the then-Long Acre Square. After the move, the square was changed to reflect the new ownership.
Before The New York Times moved, Long Acre Square was merely a set of brownstone buildings, developed by a man who saw potential in the location. New Yorkers raced to the new square, desperate to make a home for themselves in this new place. Before long, a new district began to grow around them. Crime became commonplace, and prostitution and theft began to thrive.
Things began to change in the 1880s. With the spread of electricity, Long Acre Square suddenly seemed much safer for residents. Street lights and advertisements began to dominate the area. In 1895, a new resident, Oscar Hammerstein I, made the decision to create an entertainment industry in the square. He called his new locations Olympia, a structure that featured three theaters. Before long, more theaters began to sprout from seemingly everywhere. By the time The New York Times arrived, the area was an established entertainment haven.
In the same year the New York Times moved to Long Acre’s Square, the Interborough Rapid Transit Company developed the first transit system that would eventually serve as the precursor to the current MTA system. This new railway allowed New Yorkers to travel easily across the city, so that they could reach areas like Long Acre’s Square, without any issue.
The Times held the first Times Square New Years Eve show to celebrate their move. At the time, the New York Times building was one of the largest in Manhattan, and that along drove people to come watch. Though The New York Times eventually outgrew the location and moved, the tradition continued without them, and the square’s new name remained. Ever since, people have come to celebrate the passing of the year in Times Square, and Times Square, itself, has become the most iconic location in New York City.
Bibliography:
“History of Times Square.” Times Square NYC, New York City, 2017, www.timessquarenyc.org/history-of-times-square.
“Times Square History.” New York City, NYC Tourist, www.nyctourist.com/times-square-history.php.
Wallenfeldt, Jeff. “Times Square.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 Oct. 2017, www.britannica.com/topic/Times-Square.
Interviews with Midtown Visitors and Workers
An Interview with T. Spence by Lauren Shayo
LS: How often do you wind up in Times Square?
TS: Often. I work at a Starbucks pretty near it, so I’m there at least five times a week.
LS: Is the travel difficult?
TS: I live in Brooklyn, so yeah, it can get a little hard. I try to schedule my classes around it, so I’m not always going back and forth. As is, I have a two hour commute.
LS: Where do you go to school?
TS: Hunter. I give myself some time between shifts to get to class.
LS: So, going back to your work, do you enjoy your job?
TS: Like I said, it can be hard. It gets crowded. Really crowded. Like, “sometimes you can’t see the door through the crowds” crowded.
LS: Sounds like it can get hectic.
TS: It can, trust me. There’s phone orders and in-person orders, and you’ve got to handle them both, plus the guy in the back who needs to get his drink before the train gets there! It’s worst in the mornings. I’m about to give you some advice: don’t ever work at a Starbucks before 9:00.
LS: Yeah, I can imagine. It’s got to be nuts.
TS: Nuts isn’t the word for it. Worse than nuts. Insane.
LS: But, outside of work, how do you feel about the city?
TS: It’s alright, I guess. It can be crazy, but at least it’s fun. There’s always something to do- especially around here [Times Square].
LS: So you like it?
TS: I guess so, yes. It can be annoying at times, and the trains run so… slow, but I like it. Honestly, you’ve got to. When you spend this much time out here, it makes you like it. I like being invisible when I step out of work. You get that, right?
LS: Not really.
TS: No one’s looking at you, you know? In the city, everyone’s doing their own thing. You do what you want, and no one cares. I like that about it. People walk around dressed up as naked cowboys, and no one cares. I like that about it. If I didn’t, I’d have gone to school somewhere quieter.
LS: Alright, thank you.
TS: No problem.
An Interview with V. Chopra by Alvin John
AJ: Are you native New Yorker?
VS: No, I’m actually visiting my cousins who just moved here from India. I’m also planning on moving somewhere around here.
AJ: What is it about Times Square or Manhattan in general that appeals to you?
VS: I guess its just the energy, and definitely the visuals. Definitely the visuals.
AJ: So what do you mean by visuals?
VS: I mean like one thing is the sheer amount of advertisements I’m seeing in a matter of seconds. Some people hate it, but weirdly, I enjoy it.
AJ: Do you still find them attention-grabbing?
VS: Definitely, and I think that’s why I believe someone like me can’t get tired of it. There’s always something new popping up.
AJ: Alright, thank you for your time.
VS: Thank you.
An Interview with J. Nastro by Jenna Bawer
JB: I just wanna know how your experience is working in Times Square, both in general and in Theatre Circle [where you work] having to deal with people coming into NYC for the theatre.
JN: Well it’s definitely a bigger task than you think. There’s a lot to deal with working in Times Square because you’re not only a store that sells tee shirts. You’re also a place people go to for directions, recommendations and general information. Tasks that should be quick in this area aren’t. For example, doing a merchandise pick-up or just going to get your food can take longer than expected because of people traffic, lines etc. Even though it’s difficult at times, it’s a great energy to be around.
JB: What about all the tourism and commercialism, does it feel overbearing?
JN: It definitely feels overbearing, but that’s part of what gives the area its charm.
JB: Ah, good to hear.
A Map of Iconic Locations in Times Square
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The Yahoo Building
A major hub for Yahoo workers, the Yahoo building is a key piece of the company's empire. Directions |
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Ripley's Believe It or Not!
A museum of the magnificent, Ripley's is a great place to see extraordinary sights that the mind can barely comprehend. Directions |
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Guy's American Kitchen & Bar
A permanently closed restaurant owned by the famous chef, Guy Fieri. Although closed for months, it still represents the commercialism of Times Square. Directions |
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57th Street Station
A prominent train station that gives New Yorkers access to several different trains that all allow access to Times Square and Carnegie Hall. Directions |
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The NFL Experience
An exhibit that any football fan can enjoy, the NFL Experience offers a 4D look into the life on an NFL player. Directions |
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Palace Theatre
Currently the home to Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical, Palace Theatre has hosted a large amount of successful musicals throughout its 104 years of existance. Directions |
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The Disney Store
If you are a parent, a guardian, or if you simply have kids that you love to spoil, take them by the Time Square Disney Store, and they will have the time of their lives. Directions |
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M&M's World
Inside this iconic M&M's store, a giant wall of chocolate stretches nearly two stories high. The smell of this place can strike half a block away at times. Directions |
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Richard Rodgers Theatre
The current theatre that houses the hit Broadway musical: Hamilton. While it has housed other productions in the past, Hamilton is the most significant play to ever originate from this theatre. Directions |
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The Hershey's Store
The Hershey's Store is home to a large collection of chocolate delicacies that people of any age can enjoy. Directions |
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The Iconic Times Square
The iconic location that has been seen by anyone with any modicum of internet access, or access to any travel booklet. Directions |
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Applebees
This Applebees restaurant features prominently in the hit middle-grade novel, Better Nate Than Ever. Directions |
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Lyric Theatre
This theatre is the current host of the New York City production of the hit Harry Potter play: A Cursed Child. Directions |
The locations on this map were chosen, because they are either iconic locations or great destinations for any native New Yorkers or tourist. We visited each of these locations and decided that they would be interesting and valuable experiences for visitors. One of us also asked New Yorkers which locations they would most like to visit in Times Square, and elected to visit and mark those areas.
