The Tenderloin's "Tin Pan Alley," West 28th Street, circa 1902
As part of Jane’s Walk this coming weekend, I will be hosting a free walking tour through the visible remnants of New York’s forgotten late-19th century vice district, the Tenderloin, along with its most enduring cultural manifestation, the original “Tin Pan Alley,” birthplace of the American popular music industry. I wrote extensively about the Tenderloin and Tin Pan Alley in AUTOMATS, so this is a chance to share with you some of my research, and the wild stories that made this area one of Manhattan’s most colorful neighborhoods. We meet Sunday at 12 noon in front of Gilsey House at 29th and Broadway. Details are attached – come join us!
http://mas.org/walk/in-search-of-the-tenderloin-and-tin-pan-alley/
Tags: 8 Comments
Went on this tour today and it was incredible! One of the many experiences I’ve had that makes me so incredibly happy to live in this city. Thank you so much!
Hi Logan – it was great to meet you. Thanks for coming along with us and for your smart questions and comments during the tour. This was an incredible group and you made it so!
What is the current status of the Tin Pan Alley houses?
Dear Meryl,
Sorry for my delay in responding. As far as I am aware, most of the Tin Pan Alley houses are safe for the moment, although I hear that one is being put up for sale. Historic Districts Council is renewing its efforts to lobby for the block’s preservation, in response. I’m not sure if you came on last year’s tour, but I am thinking about doing another one this year, the first Sunday in May.
Best,
David
Hello,
We are going to be in NYC from approximately May 27 until may 30 or 31 2013. Are there any more walking tours of tin pan alley scheduled at this time?
Thank you
Hi Tom – thanks for the note. No, I am just scheduled to do one Tin Pan Alley/Tenderloin tour, for this year’s Jane’s Walk on Sunday May 5 at 12 noon. Best, David
I have put on the front door of # 45 w 28th St.a photo of the original sheet music from the Library of Congress website of the 1904 first publication of Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of OZ” published in our building when Shapiro Remick & Company
resided here.
A history of # 45 can be found on the Warner Brother’s website
and a history of Whitney Warner who also were a part of the
Tin Pan Alley history.
The buildings # 45 through # 55 sadly are all for sale with
different realtor’s but all of the tenants have some protection
against eviction. The florists however that lend so much
color here for the last 65 years are not protected and will
most likely have to relocate.
Buildings # 47 through # 55 West 28th Street are up for sale as of April 2013 aka “The Green Buildings”.
Building # 45 West 28th Street is also listed with a different
real estate broker then what is known as “The Green buildings”mentioned above.
The Historical Districts Council of New York is attempting
to save those buildings #’s 45-55 ,there is a link on their website to a petition to sign “Tin Pan Alley”,