WTTW Channel 11 (Chicago) is airing the documentary at 9PM (CT)
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I forgot to post all about my tour of Grand Central Station not that long ago--my friend and I went down to NYC to take it, and it was most excellent. This was the free Wednesday tour that meets by the clock at 12:30; I believe there is also a tour on Fridays that meets outside and includes some adjoining buildings etc etc and may cost money. One day I'd like to take that one too!
I should mention that though the tour is free, it's sponsored by the preservation organization for Grand Central and does ask for donations at the end, so we did give something. But it's not mandatory.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Yes, it was quite an interesting history. Our local PBS station followed the Grand Central program with another American Experience episode on the building of the New York Subway System. That, also, was an interesting tale of politics at its worst during the Boss Tweed days.
Posts: 87 | From: Ohio | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Another interesting PBS show about NYC, which one can get on VHS from many libraries, is called A Walk Up Broadway. I cannot recall how much it deals with the subway, but I think it does some.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I watched... too bad my PBS station went dead the first 15 minutes of the show! Good thing they repeat during the week.
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Here are selected links to material appearing in The New York Times. Anyone can get to the "previews", but if not a Times home delivery customer, just go to your library, ring up this posting and there are the links for you to browse The Times archives (ANY library subscribes to such):
posted
I saw the program on the Grand Central Terminal a couple of times. Very well done. Also, among others, we owe a debt of gratitute to the late Jacquline Kennedy Onasis for her efforts in its restoration.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Thanks for the heads up on this program. We certainly enjoyed it. Of course I would like to have seen a bit more about the great trains that used it and maybe a tour of the more interesting rooms/spaces.
Guess I need to get back to NY and take a tour or hope for a sequel.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
Would someone who is not a New York Times subscriber try those links I posted and report the results of their efforts to the Forum?
They of course work for me, but then their webside knows I subscribe.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Mr. Norman: All three links worked perfectly for me......and were really interesting. (I am not a NYT subscriber.) Thanks for the referral.
Posts: 87 | From: Snowmass, CO USA | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
all threee worked for me as well. I had posted that but apparently the forum didn't like my comment because it disappeared. I did find the articles quite interesting.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
I recorded the PBS documentary and have just gotten around to watching it. I'm usually impressed by their 'American Experience' offerings. But as someone who works in "the business" and served on the creative teams for various TV documentaries, I found this one a bit thin.
Given that the creators had less than 60 minutes, they devoted far too much airtime to the need for the Terminal (smoke/overcrowding/accidents), and far too little time to the actual design, construction, and subsequent history of the building itself from 1913 to the present.
The architects and historians who weighed in on the subject helped to some degree. But I felt the random "ordinary people" who spoke on camera had nothing especially interesting or eloquent to say -- apart from (for reasons that seemed to have little or nothing to do with traveling by train), they had once passed through the Terminal.
For sure, there were plenty of recent beauty-shots of the building. But even in 60 minutes, the creators could have done a more complete job of telling the story of what I consider the most fascinating -- and beautiful -- public building in New York, and certainly the most amazing train station in the world.
I found the show lacking in "modern" history of the building. I was really looking forward to the possible discussion of the landmark Constitutional Law case all about Grand Central in, Penn Central v. New York. However, nothing in the program even hinted to it.
Were it not for that case, it is possible Grand Central could have looked like this:
Pretty amazing if you've never seen that proposed architectural photo before, yet the program never mentioned a thing about it.
-------------------- Matt Visit gallery for photos of our train layouts Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Southwest Chief: I found the show lacking in "modern" history of the building. I was really looking forward to the possible discussion of the landmark Constitutional Law case all about Grand Central in, Penn Central v. New York. However, nothing in the program even hinted to it.
There are of course numerous examples of such "building around, building over' a historic structure in New York.
One coming to mind is the Villard House which is the corporate symbol of Random House publishers.
During my railroad career, I had occasion to travel to New York for an audit at the site of the property manager for the four buildings atop CUS property. My MILW had a 25% interest in the air rights revenue for such. I can recall a manager at the New York concern stating how they, did not wish to be involved with any properties that could possibly be identified as "historic' as such "landmarking" simply restrains the owner from making "best use" of his real estate.
Obviously in New York, when Old Penn was chopped down, real estate interests had the "upper hand", but then there was a beloved lady named Jackie who saw things differently and Grand Central was spared such a fate.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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