Joseph Bloomingdale

Joseph (1842-1904) and Lyman (1841-1905) Bloomingdale-

The sons of Bavarian German-Jewish immigrants, the brothers were trained in the skill of ladies fashion by their father and would go to found Bloomingdales, one of the quintessential New York Clothing retailers.

Gov. Al Smith

Alfred E. Smith (1873-1944) – Politician

Was born in the Fourth Ward to Irish immigrants. He was elected governor of New York four times but lost his bid for president to both Hoover and FDR. He was a part of the Tammany machine but espoused progressive values.

Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia

Fiorello LaGuardia (1882-1947) – Politician

Is arguably one of the best mayors in New York History. He was the first Italian-American mayor. Despite being a republican, he was a fierce proponent of FDR’s New Deal. He dismantled the Tammany machine, used government funds to build fire stations, hospitals, housing projects, and airports.

Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby(1917-1994)-Comic Writer

Born Jacob Kurtzberg in the Lower East Side to Austrian-Jewish parents who earned wages as garment workers. As a young boy he, like many others who were born in the LES at that time, wanted to get away from the neighborhood because of the stigma associated with it. Kirby would evolve from drawing comics on strips of paper to establish one of the most popular comic book companies of all time, DC comics.

Robert DeNiro

Robert DeNiro (1943) – Actor

Born in Greenwich Village, raised in Little Italy DeNiro would grow up to become a critically acclaimed actor, nominated for four Golden Globes and a two-time Academy Award winner. He is most remembered for his portrayal of the young Vito Corleone in the Godfather.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga (1986) – Singer/Songwriter

Though she was born and raised in the Upper East Side, she attended NYU and got her music start in the nightclubs of the Lower East Side, where she lived for a time. She would become a multi-platinum artist and a pop sensation.