The Hotel Edison Of 1953 Is The Edison Of Now, With Air-Conditioning Even
We devote more than enough ink to Manhattan Hotels, but what about the days when hotels first started tuning their cool? Thanks to an old tourist brochure from 1953, we're exploring back in the day versus today, for NYC hotels.
Back in the day:
As one of the city's newest hotels (if you count being built in 1931 when it's now 1953 new), the Hotel Edison boasts luxurious modern comforts like radios, private baths, and dining rooms air-conditioned with circulating ice water. It's also home to the famous Green Room, where the city's glitterati spin in their best evening gowns to the live orchestra. Don't forget that Times Square is around the corner, with all the lights of Broadway.
The Hotel Edison today...
Today:
We hope you are sitting down, because we didn't expect this: the Hotel Edison still exists, and it's even called the Hotel Edison. Every floor and each of the 600+ rooms have been remodeled of course, but the lobby was transformed to be as 1920s art deco as possible and they have a fabulous "Polish Tea Room," so at least there is some leftover charm.
They've even managed to hold onto the experience of a live band in the ballroom, with a Big Band playing every Saturday night for "an evening of dancing, dining and cocktails." Room rates are affordable for New York, averaging $150-$200, but you might overlook the whole place when you notice the W Times Square is right next door.
[Scan from March 1953 edition of "The New York Visitor"]
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