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The New York "bit players" we tend to ignore......
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 11:22 pm    Post subject: The New York "bit players" we tend to ignore...... Reply with quote

Fellows:

Think of how many vintage New York bus photos we see that show a taxi or two (or three or four!) in the background.

Countless New York movies of the 30's, 40's, 50's, and beyond, feature taxis.

Besides the iconic, ever-present "Checker Marathon" that so many of us knew, the "SKY VIEW" cabs were featured in many old movies (also theatrical cartoons)

Think of how many old bus (and streetcar) photos feature taxicabs as "background" vehicles.

The classic "cabbie" of old (especially in New York) usually wore a leather jacket, a cap with a badge, and whose trademark line was a gravel-voiced "WHERE TO, MAC?"

The link I posted here has much trivia on New York City taxi history (Mayor La Guardia, who was a sworn enemy of streetcars and elevateds, was no fan of a certain cab company's horns....he thought them too loud!)

One of the classic 1940's "SKY VIEW" cabs was briefly seen at the beginning of a 1955 "I LOVE LUCY" episode ("HOMECOMING"); the Frank Sinatra/Gene Kelly musical "ON THE TOWN", not only had many great taxi scenes, but also, several cool shots showing SURFACE Macks and FACCo. Queen Marys!

A 1936 Spencer Tracy film, "BIG CITY", also prominently featured taxis (this flick was filmed in Manhattan, and featured a chase scene involving a taxi); likewise, Red Skelton's "YELLOW CAB MAN" was another film (circa 1949) that prominently featured taxis.

Enjoy this link....a wonderful collection of rare photos and other trivia......

"NYO" Wink

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/w/waters/waters.htm

(courtesy: coachbuilt)


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Mon Oct 15, 2018 12:40 am; edited 6 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

West Farms Square, circa 1949 (something for everyone here!) Wink

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116553

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 11:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From the 1949 musical "ON THE TOWN".........a classic "Noo Yawk" cab, a sleek SURFACE Mack, and an ancient IRT kiosk.......again, something for everyone...... Very Happy

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_282235-Mack-C-45-DT-1948.html

(courtesy: imcdb.org)
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traildriver




Joined: 26 Mar 2011
Posts: 2439
Location: South Florida

PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

NYO--
Fascinating article...thanks for posting it!

I did notice one error in this paragraph:
"The City of New York began strictly regulating taxis in 1929 and starting that year, one of the requirements was that any vehicle used for livery or taxi service in the borough of Manhattan had to be able to carry 5 passengers in the rear compartment (aka the five-in-the-rear law). Prior to World War II, most manufacturers produced long-wheelbase 9-passenger limousines that met the requirements. After the war, the number was greatly reduced and only Checker, DeSoto, and Packard manufactured vehicles that included the required space and requisite jump seats."

Cadillac produced its Fleetwood 75 factory limo into the 1980's, although they would have been way too costly to be used as taxicabs...
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver:

You are welcome! Wink

I told you there was much New York taxi trivia on that page; I knew nothing of this myself, until several months ago, when I first came across the Coachbuilt page.

Like the MACKS, Old Looks, and New Looks, we thought classic classic cabs like the "Marathon" would be around forever; and they seemed to be, until, one day, they were all gone. Sad

The old "SKY VIEW" cabs, as was noted on the Coachbuilt page, were seen in hundreds of old movies (not to mention many cartoon appearances!) Wink

Not surprisingly, I have a number of old toy taxis in my collection; I also have a fare meter from a De Soto "SKY VIEW"....that's REALLY a prize! Very Happy

Remember, too, well into the 60's (at least), when many New York cabs were painted in a rainbow of colors?

The colors really made the cabs "POP"! Shocked

Too, who today recalls "Lou Carter, the Singing Cab Driver", who came out with several LP's, back in the day? Shocked

I have a couple of his albums, where, on the sleeve, he is dressed as a "classic hack driver" ("LOUIE WRITES AGAIN", and "LOUIE'S LOVE SONGS")

On both albums, he posed with his cab.

Lou Carter (from Newark!) was quite popular as "The Singing Hackie", back in the 50's; he also made a number of TV appearances, including "The Perry Como Show".

Who woulda thought? Rolling Eyes

And, many eons ago, Desi Arnaz (a.k.a. "Ricky Ricardo") did a number, "Cuban Cabbie".

And of course, the popular TV show, "TAXI", starring Danny De Vito.

Yep, when, today, we wax nostalgic over the "Noo Yawk" buses of old, we gotta remember the humble taxi..... Wink

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:26 pm; edited 3 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

".....on the avenue I'm takin' you to.....Forty Second Street......" Wink

This classic street scene dates to the 40's; check out those HUGE fenders on the cab, and also, "Chock Full O' Nuts"........aaahh, "Noo Yawk"......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/tars/htm/tarsfp069.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix.com)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 12:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Let's fast-forward a few decades, here........ Wink

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?947

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?951

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The immoral "Checker Marathon".....once as commonplace in "Noo Yawk" as cracks in the sidewalk..........they seemed to be on the streets forever and a day, and then.....they just seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checker_Marathon

see also:

http://www.icta.club

(Internet Checker Cab Archive)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Utica Avenue, circa 1950........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt210.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix.com)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another nostalgic Brooklyn street scene; note the cab trailing the streetcar (in back of the Olds); it appears to be either a '55 Plymouth or Dodge........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt355.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Court St., about 1936........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt799.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix.com)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great reading, interesting historical (and current) trivia, as well as photos......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_New_York
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Timeless in New York.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1972

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"THE OUT-OF-TOWNER" (1981).........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2775

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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N4 Jamaica




Joined: 16 Apr 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Obviously, Steve Zabel had the protection of a red traffic signal when he took this photo from the crosswalk on the west side of Broadway. The view looks east, and that should have been noted on the nycsubway.org label.
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I hope our young photographers include more than the bus in the photo, as the buildings on either side could likewise be researched. To the right (on the south side) I am surprised to see premises used for girlie shows. Someplace over there was a branch of Hotlings, a newstand that carried papers from other states and countries. You can see the phone company building down the block, and the trees of Bryant Park.
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Do I see three stores for men's shoes on the north side?
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