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I was in New York City last year to see Phantom before it closed. Made the decision to go for a weekday matinee. Took Amtrak to Moynihan train hall and ended up walking to the theater and took a cab back. I hadn’t been to New York in probably 10 years, so I figured, might as well go to Times Square since it’s not that far from Broadway.

It was not as I remembered. Sure, in the past, you had street performers. They were still there, but practically demanded you buy one of their CDs by your face and signing it.

My Dad worked on the NY Central Railroad, so we got to ride the train for free. Back in the mid 50's to very early 60's, my mother, father, brother and I rode the train there a few times. We lived in Rochester, N.Y. at the time. We'd leave at midnight on Friday night, and get to the city Saturday morning. We'd stop at the automat and get breakfast, then walk around until it was time to check into the hotel. We always stayed at the Hotel Piccadilly. I just did a search, and it got torn down in 1982.

Back then in Times Square, you still had the Camel cigarette billboard with the featured character blowing smoke rings. There weren't any street performers back then, or people accosting you hawking their stuff. I remember seeing cadets from West Point in their uniforms walking around in groups during our trips there.