New York, Empire City: 1920-1945
David Stravitz, Christopher GrayOverview
New York between the wars: the city of Babe Ruth, Checker cabs, and Zelda Fitzgerald's infamous dip in the fountain at the Plaza Hotel. That is the city that comes gloriously to life in this fascinating collection of 100 historical photographs of New York's notable streetscapes and landmarks. Discovered serendipitously by author David Stravitz when he was on a hunt for used camera equipment, these rare photographs of the city are accompanied here by informative captions and an insightful essay by architectural historian Christopher Gray.Not only are these photographs being published for the first time, but the clarity and detail of the images, taken with a large-format camera, are astonishing. One can read the signage on the sides of buildings, examine the items in store windows, and see how people on the streets and sidewalks are dressed. From Trinity Church to Harlem, from Coney Island to Yankee Stadium, these images transport the reader into the heart of a vanished era, when men wore fedoras and the Empire City sparkled with promise.
Author Bio: David Stravitz is a professional photographer, an industrial design consultant and product creator for many Fortune 500 companies, and the author of The Chrysler Building: Creating a New York Icon Day by Day. Christopher Gray, the author of Abrams' New York Streetscapes and other books on New York City architecture, has written the "Streetscapes" column in The New York Times since 1987. Both authors live in New York City.
Synopsis
Stravitz, a professional photographer in New York, has published a selection from a large archive he discovered of high quality photos of architecture, street scenes, and some vistas taken in New York City between 1920-1945. The pristine views, which were taken with an 8x10 view camera, capture the buildings of New York with exquisite clarity and detail. The photos are presented in full-page, double-page, and fold-out-page plates, impressive in this oversized (9.75x12") format. Notes about the buildings are provided by Christopher Gray. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR