1939

Manhattan: 6th Avenue - 24th Street (West)

Sixth Avenue, south from W. 24th Street, showing the "El" structure and its 23rd Street station undergoing demolition. The 19 story office structure at the left (No. 71 W. 23rd Street) is owned and partially occupied by the Masons. On the opposite corner (S.E.) is a 6 story loft building standing on the former site of Booths Theatre. The low units on the west side of this thoroughfare, between 23rd and 24th streets are nondescript, though the corner building at 24th Street identifies itself as being formerly Koster & Bials. This sign is out into the cornice roofing and does not appear here. An additional sign does, bearing "The Corner". The Koster & Bials Concert Hall of the 1890's was located around the corner at 15 W. 23rd Street and this may have been an annex. Two doors to the south is a structure containing a penny arcade, "Playland". This, the writer believes is one of the last, if not the last, of many similar and popular venture. February 19, 1939 F.L. Sperr

Photo from the New York Public Library - Milstein Collection