The curious case of the Carolyn Capers
In the normal course of my day as Theater Archivist for the Museum of the City of New York, I can count on encountering objects that impress, interest, inform, or … Continue reading
Dollar Princesses, or how the American heiress saved Downton Abbey and other estates like it
Perhaps it goes without saying that among the Collections crew here at the Museum there are a number of huge fans of the Masterpiece Classic series Downton Abbey. In the … Continue reading
Forbidden Broadway circa 1900: a look back at lampooning.
Forbidden Broadway is back again this Fall with a new “Alive and Kicking” addition gleefully lampooning the current offerings of the Great White Way. A revue show first conceived in … Continue reading
New York Streetside
New York has seen its share of interesting, humorous, or just plain odd signs. In addition to being entertaining, the signs tell us a lot about how the city has … Continue reading
Christmas in New York City
New York has been the setting for many Christmas stories, fables, and traditions. In 1897, eight-year-old Virginia Hanson of 115 West 95th Street wrote to the editor of The Sun, … Continue reading
Fitness Crazes of Yesteryear
Fitness crazes are nothing new to Americans, and the 19th century had its own fair share of extreme exercise routines. As lifestyles became more sedentary and health issues more numerous, … Continue reading
Belasco’s Ghost
New York is haunted by nature of its constant transformation. Neighborhoods change, leaving only small or hidden remnants of what they were; once thriving communities are slowly eclipsed by others. … Continue reading
MCNY Blog: New York Stories 