Times Square has long been recognized as the place where trends are set and trails are blazed. In many ways, we look to Times Square for our cultural cues and use its bustling streets and glittering billboard as a pop culture roadmap. This section will allow you to test the waters of hipness with a thoroughly unscientific sampling of the latest Times Square topics and trends.
Times Square at the Movies
Times Square has never failed to fire the cinematic imagination. From the early days of motion pictures to radical art house experiments to classic films and big-budget blockbusters, the Crossroads of the World has left its mark on the silver screen. The following films are just a few must-see Times Square flicks:
Love Happy (1949)
This forgotten Marx brothers romp features a breathtaking chase sequence as a gang of crooks pursues Harpo across the neon signs of Times Square.
Killer's Kiss (1955)
This early film noir by legendary director Stanley Kubrick reveals a lost Times Square of sweaty boxing gyms and cheap dance halls.
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Burt Lancaster stars opposite Tony Curtis in a tale of dirty deals and behind-the scene action in Manhattan press and showbiz.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
John Sclesinger's bleak, raw character study following the struggles of a pair of hustlers played by John Voight and Dustin Hoffman, remains the first and only X-rated film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Shaft (1971)
The adventures of African-American detective John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) make rich use of the prickly atmosphere and multitudinous subcultures of Times Square in the 1970s.
Taxi Driver (1976)
"You talkin' to me?" Robert DeNiro's Travis Bickle is a deranged tour guide to Times Square's seedy underbelly in this Martin Scorsese masterpiece.
Times Square (1980)
This punk curiosity eloquently captures a moment in Times Square history. It's all in the details, from the three-card monte to the window washers.
Radio Days (1987)
Woody Allen's take on Times Square features a 1940s New Year's Eve party atop a swanky hotel.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Times Square employees and residents still have a difficult time deducing how director Cameron Crowe seemingly emptied the Square for a nightmarish sequence featuring actor Tom Cruise.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
One memorable sequence features Jennifer Garner standing in an open-roof limo, arms spread wide, as she speeds through Times Square by night.
Check out Times Square Alliance's upcoming Film Festival for a chance to take in the Crossroads of the World on the big screen.
Times Square Street Performers
Times Square has always attracted its share of characters - fictional or otherwise. From Diamond Jim Brady to Nathan Detroit, the neighborhood is a homing beacon for those who can't resist a little extra attention. The same holds true today. Let's take a look a the usual suspects you might encounter on a stroll through the Crossroads of the World this afternoon.
The Naked Cowboy
We'll start with one of Times Square's most famous figures of recent times, the Naked Cowboy. Born Robert John Burck, the Naked Cowboy is a cottage industry unto himself, often seen holding court on Duffy Square surrounded by his many admirers.
The Amazing Spiderman
Another Times Square regular is ol' webhead himself, the amazing Spiderman. It can't be easy balancing a busy schedule as a mild-mannered college student, ace freelance photographer and crime-fighting superhero, but somehow Spidey still manages to find time to pose for photos.
Tic and Tac
These talented street performers were a well-received attraction at the Times Square Alliance's 2004 Solstice in Times Square. They can be easily recognized by their matching track suits and incredible break-dancing moves.
The Statue of Liberty, Jr.
The Statue of Liberty has appeared in various guises in Times Square over the years - in Thanksgiving Day Parades, at the victory celebrations to mark the end of World War II, is handy take-away scale model size at local souvenir shops. This particular version is ideal for group photos.
Malfunctioning Robot
Okay, so he may not really be a "performer" in the strictest sense of the word, but the sidewalk antics and gyrations of various tiny robots, electronic dogs, and radio controlled trucks have lured more than one window-shopping customer.
Doctor Geek
The Doctor is in. This quick-tongued rapper is a fixture at the northwest corner of 47th Street and Broadway. The Doc has a prescription for perspicacity, so he's never at a loss for words.
