42nd Street Buildings

Sherry Felix

For Thursday Doors.

Before 2000 I used to work nearby at TAMS doing GIS. In the 60’s my stepfather worked in the Chanin Building as a market research manager for Richardson Merrill. We used to sometimes eat at one of the last Horn & Hardart automats nearby.

  • Cipriani, 42nd Street 2/2/2021
  • Cipriani, 42nd Street 2/2/2021
  • Cipriani, 42nd Street 2/2/2021
  • Chanin building, 42nd Street 2/2/2021
  • Chanin building, 42nd Street 2/2/2021
  • Chrysler Building, 42nd Street 2/2/2021
  • Chrysler Building, 42nd Street 2/2/2021
  • Rock pigeon feather, 42nd Street 2/2/2021

27 thoughts on “42nd Street Buildings”

  2. jazzytower 2021-02-12 / 12:24 pm

    Wow! Horn & Hardart.. I remember those. Love the details of the photos. So much to see and appreciate when you just slow down and take it in. I pass that building all the time but never paid attention to the details.
    Nice shots.

    Pat

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-12 / 1:50 pm

      Thanks. I enjoy letting my eyes catch things of interest. Nice to know another who remembers those old automats.

      Reply
  3. Patricia Furstenberg 2021-02-12 / 3:32 am

    Gorgeous! Thank you for all the details. I’ve never seen these doors ad building so up-close (only seen them in the movies! haha).

    Sweet, frozen pigeon feather 🙂

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-27 / 11:55 am

      Thanks Patricia, and thanks for visiting my blog.

      Reply
  4. Anne 2021-02-11 / 10:57 pm

    As impressive as these doors and buildings are, I love the feather at the end!

    Reply
  5. Birder's Journey 2021-02-11 / 10:20 pm

    Striking captures of the architectural details of these buildings, Sherry. I have very fond memories of going to the Automat with my parents when I was a kid.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-12 / 6:05 am

      Thanks. Nice to know you remember the automat too.

      Reply
  6. Teresa 2021-02-11 / 4:50 pm

    Such a grand old building. I love the design of those corner columns.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-12 / 6:09 am

      The older skyscrapers are full if details. 🙂

      Reply
  7. sustainabilitea 2021-02-11 / 3:24 pm

    What wonderful details on these old buildings! I enjoy the same sort of details when I’m in Philly for a visit. I haven’t seen or heard of an automat for years until I came across something like one in rural France for the sale of eggs.

    janet

    Reply
  8. Jet Eliot 2021-02-11 / 11:37 am

    I really liked this post, Sherry. The building facades and doors are stunning on all three buildings, and I loved hearing about your automat memories with your step-father. Enjoyed the link too. that photo looking up the Chrysler building is a winner.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-11 / 3:08 pm

      Thanks Jet. A cliché shot but why not 🙂

      Reply
  9. shoreacres 2021-02-11 / 9:07 am

    I remember the automats. They were such fun. I don’t know which I visited, but I remember the little ‘doors’ being more ornate than I would have expected. They echoed the buildings.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-11 / 9:44 am

      Say those make good doors are doors too

      Reply
  10. Dan Antion 2021-02-11 / 9:03 am

    I love the perspectives in these photos. I’ve been here many times. I never made it to the automat. It’s great to have a personal connection to certain places.

    The Chrysler Building is an all time favorite of mine.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-11 / 10:11 am

      Thanks Dan. Pitiy don’t have pics of the automat doors. You can check out the link for what it looked like.

      Reply
      • Dan Antion 2021-02-11 / 12:46 pm

        I help administer a group on Facebook, New York City Then and Now, and the founder has posted several pictures of the automat.

        Reply
  11. Mike Ross 2021-02-11 / 7:43 am

    Very cool. I was born in the Bronx and my Grandfather used to take me to the Automat. I do remember 42nd street looking very different in the seventies though. ⏲

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-11 / 7:51 am

      It was different then. Nice that some things remain and we have memories.

      Reply
  12. Lookoom 2021-02-11 / 5:29 am

    I find it too common to be trapped in the monotony of repetitive tall buildings when the detail of their decoration should attract more attention.

    Reply
    • Sherry Felix 2021-02-11 / 5:43 am

      Plenty of details in the older skyscrapers 🙂 The new glass fronted ones have no details.

      Reply

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