The Deuce is a close look at 42nd St. and Times Square back in the so-called bad old days, and, along with places like the Grand Canyon or Brooklyn Bridge are amongst the world’s most photographed. Yet no one ever did the whole hog full-on book over many years, that would have “saved” the old Deuce for all time, to view, until, The Deuce, which captures it all in its last ten years of the infamous Deuce, 42nd Street and Times Square. The last cast of street characters was completely covered in the last 10 years of the old deuce that would include street performers, drug dealers, dealers, horses, prostitutes, dressing whores, pick pockets, red cad, dealers, thieves, whack, jobs, psychotics, picture men, as well as, the Harris, New Amsterdam, Selwyn Theatres, the porn shops – Peepland, Show World, places like the Grand Luncheonette, Playland, The Funny Store, and Nathan’s are captured before their disappearance or rehabiliatation.
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VIEW the slideshow.
42nd Street Between Eighth & Seventh AvenueShot high up in the Port Authority bus terminal where they park the buses.Wayne leans on the wall of the 42nd St. subway entrance on the Deuce in the snow.St. Paul's on West 46th Street, near Times Square.On West 46th Street a neon crucifix at St. Paul.s warns about the dangers of Times Square and 42nd Street.Tim at the Selwyn TheatreTim, a Deuce regular, could often be seen with Chill Town Girl.PeeplandInside Peepland one of the great features was a circular stage surrounded by booths with steel shutters that would open and shut by the quarters fed to it.Louscious and Al at the Grand LuncheonetteLouscious and Al at the Grand Luncheonette. Al worked the counter nights and Louscious was the Selwyn's security guard.Roxy Theatre, 42nd StreetRoxy Theatrre, 42nd StreetAdult Video World & The Roxy TheatreAdult Video World & The Roxy TheatreSouthwest side of 42nd Street. The DeuceSmall plain one stop shops made up the south west end of the Deuce.Peepland & The Liberty TheatrePeepland & The Liberty TheatreAl at the the Grand LuncheonetteAl Looking at the Street From the Grand Luncheonette. We hit it off pretty good, one of the ways was he came over from Hungary during the revolution in 1956 and I already had many friends from the circumstances.TwoShoes at the Street Counter of the Grand Luncheonette.TwoShoes at the Street Counter of the Grand Luncheonette.The Owner of the Grand Luncheonette, Peter Hakim Working & Luscious LeaningThe Owner of the Grand Luncheonette, Peter Hakim works at the counter window while Louscious the Selwyn's security guard cops a lean outsise.Menu, Cash Register & Beverages, Grand LuncheonetteShow World - Barker WantedThe 42nd Street porn emporium communicated directly to the street, by a human with loud skills.Carlos Belting Songs in Times SquareOne of the great traditions, was folks who came into the area to express themselves, whether it be singing, dancing, speaking, shouting, praising, insulting, pontificating, preaching, politicizing or taking pictures.Ernestine, in from Brooklyn, YellingGod bless her, she came in from Brooklyn drunk as hell just wanting to belt out songs in public, that were more like screams.Sweet Pea Inside the 42nd Street Subway EntranceSweet Pea was always ready with a sarcastic pose.Carmella Begging in Times Square Singing, You Must Have Been a Beautiful BabyCarmella was, of course, a character, and she would beg with physical and verbal social commentary, here, sticking out her tounge while singing: You must have been a beautiful baby. You must have been a wonderful child When you were only starting to go to kindergarten I bet you drove the little boys wild And when it came to winning blue ribbons You must have shown the other kids how I can see the judges' eyes as they handed you the prize I bet you made the cutest bow Oh you must've been a beautiful baby 'Cause baby look at you now.Wild man of the Deuce and Times SquareEveryone told me not to go near him. They all said he was too crazy. Sometimes I would see him, for instance, with 25 or 30 straws stuck in his hair and things like that.
But I thought I might like his picture in the collection so I just went up to him ion 42nd and asked if I could take care of that.
It was true. I would rate him as the second most wild person in Times Square, just behind a one eyed banshee crackhead that would do literally anything for a hit.Wild man of the Deuce and Times Square 2It turned out that he was very articulate, soft-spoken and respectful. He said immediately, sure take my picture.
It was the only time I had seen anyone talk to him and he was a pretty regular, but wild guy.FreakFound him roaming around the Deuce, in the typical unedited expressions of mumbling, tics and nervousness of the deranged.Preacher Demonstration of Life's PossibilitiesA Christian show and tell demonstration, from a preacher who realized the folks he was communicating to, needed special education.John Watching His Television Plugged into 42nd Street Light PoleFrom what John told me he was experiencing hard times. Once in the theatre union, IATSE, with a family, he knew better times. My recollection is that his wife had died of AIDS, and that he had it. This being the eighties, there still was no cure.
While taking the shot, two cops walked up and were thinking of arresting John. I asked what for. And they said, Stealing electricity.Billy, Living and Drinking Under Scaffolding on 42nd StreetThe corner near Eight Avenuw on the north side of 42nd is one of the most congested, and certainly, at this time, the most colorful of all corners in the city.Billy Downing WineDrunk on the DeuceSmashed on Sunday afternoon.Bobby Begging on Eighth Avenue & 43rd StreetSaid that he had a family out in New Jersey, was formerly an office manger in Manhattan, and had brain surgery, then ended up out here, with his sense of humor still in tact.Man Arguing With Black JewsMan Realizing His SituationAre You Happy? Preacher on the DeuceEarly Bar-Code Conspiracy ExperetBarcode DemonstrationPreacher From Michigan at SunsetSpontaneous Exposure on 42nd StreetHe saw my camera and, at that time had his clothes on, a minute later he was naked. This was 45 seconds in.Tracy on West 46th StreetShe was not a prostitute, but looked like one. Her game was more serious, illusory and dangerous.Theresa off Eighth Ave.She would travel up from the south, where she had many children and a family, to make money and it wasn't as a prostitiute.Kim in Times SquareKim on 43rd Street & Eighth Ave.Kim in Times SquareKim was from the Island by way of Viet Nam.L. A. Hustler on West 43rd StreetIn from Los Angeles, she had a different kind of edge and style that was appealing, and aided her profession required deft hands and appeal.Tim at the Selwyn Ticket BoothPeepland, in the background has closed, and it's become an art installation.Man Selling Flowers Was Hit by Bus.That was his explanation.Man Freshly Beaten on the DeuceJust before taking this shot, he explained that he had been beaten, and wanted people to see that a man with no feet in a wheel chair is easy prey, and very ill.Jeff, Korean Vet, on the Deuce, Looking for a Left ShoeEvery night one September, someone would drop a load of expensive new shoes on the block. But for Jeff, it never really worked out becase all the shoes that were dumped only fit the right foot. I guess that's why they were dumped in the first place.Heavy at Home in Summer - Hot enough to fry this egg.Every night heavy would park his heavy canvas carts, and accessories over great which set above the electrical connections through Time Square. During heat waves, it was hell.Heavy at Home in Winter Storm, Throws Victory/Peace sign.This was actualy that Perfect Storm that hit New England in March, 1993, and it hit New York really hard. A bit outrageous to camp out in the very center of Times Square, but, there was a very practical reason because just below the steel great was wiring, huge wiring, for the center of New York, in Times Square.
The location was perfect for these types of situations with all the heat generated from the electrical power being vented into the center of Times Square.Decorating His Canvas Cart on the DeuceKeeping your canvas cart and belongings proud, efficient and clean.Dancer Crabbing Outside Theatre For TipsThe street dancers would prep right before intermission, getting ready for the audience that would be primed to contribute to their art.Multi-talented Brooklyn PerformerThis guy was truly multi-talented and could crab with the best.Bum on a PoleHis expression of choice was hanging around infrastructure.Bum on SignalsThe guy liked to climb on infrastructure as a form of expression.Bob & a Friend Team Up on Eighth Avenue for very legal beers.Beat weedFrom the dime bag of weed to, even, kilos of coke, those from out of town would let themselves fall victim to the Game.Visitor From BaltimoreHe and his friends were on a tourist run, obviously, not a typical one.Woodstock Hotel Resident Selling Balloons on a Firday NightLess than a block away was the Baloon Man's home, the Woodstock Hotel, which was like many large hotels, that catered to poor and retired folks in the area.
He would simply come out on a good night, like this warm Friday night. and hawk his balloons, then walk back home.Multi-Talented Brooklyn PerformerMulti-Talented Brooklyn PerformerMulti-Talented Brooklyn PerformerMulti-Talented Brooklyn Performerhis guy was truly multi-talented and could crab with the best.Chnage Booth, PlaylandThe Funny Store & Clerk on BreakOn Seventh Avenue across from One Times Square, the clerk at the Funny Store came out for a breather. Becoming a fixture is great for pictures, on both ends of a camera.The Funny Store Window Display, Winking JesusLenticular dispaly that can make Jesus wink at you, even in the 1980s was nostalgic, not here, whrere the past was always so present.42nd Street Window42nd Street WindowTwoShoes, Selwyn Ticket BoothTwoShoes, a significant figure in the history of the Deuce and Times Square, and the single connection to all players, poses in the ticket booth of the Selwyn.TwoShoes on the Deuce, Liberty TheatreThe notorious expressive fact hound, TwoShoes, scopes on the Deuce.Steve & Tony Blue, Serious Uptown PlayersThey played the players, bad-ass crew from Harlem. Out of respect, still won't talk about their deeds.Larry Wright, the original drummer boy of Times Square, Steve and Tony BlueLarry was only fifteen at the time, and had already become known in the city.Dog Plays Dead for MoneyEasy work.Dog Plays Dead for MoneyBoom Box, Breeze TeamThe Breeze Team was a dance crew from the Bronx and this guy was the sound man.Tony Walls Mr. Pots & Pans Performs in Duffy SquareTony Walls, along with Ricky Writght was the mosrt well-known of the drummers in Times Square. Tony integrated pots and pans into his sound repertoire, and was his signature style.Tony Walls Mr. Pots & Pans Performs in Duffy SquareTony utilized Duffy Square and had good relations with the cops who knew he was just straight-up talented and a real crowd-pleaser. Check his array of metal and platic tubs, pots, pans and a drum. Tony was one of a selected group of street performers that were allowed to do whatever they wanted to in Duffy Square by the cops.Tony Walls Banging Pots and Tubs, Duffy SquareTony came in from New Jersey and kept all his gear at a nearby storage facility.Tony Walls Banging Pots and Tubs, Duffy SquareTalk about the hardest working people in showbiz – these guys were all that.Tony performing in Duffy Square to an appreciative audienceAs you can see Tony would always attract an appreciative crowd as he banged out sounds on his array of percussion instruments, including seven pots of various sizes.Tony performing in Duffy Square With Larry WrightTony Walls Mr. Pots & Pans Performs in Duffy SquareTony utilized Duffy Square and had good relations with the cops who knew he was just straight-up talented and a real crowd-pleaser. Check his array of metal and platic tubs, pots, pans and a drum.Tony's son performsTony and His Crew, Done For the NightLarry Wright takes a turn on Tony Walls' percussion set up.Larry Wright was probably the most well known bucket beater in Time Square. At the time he was fifteen, and, in his fifties now, he's still beating the tubs in the subways.Tony Walls, Larry Wight & Friends Count Loot in Tmes SquareAfter the old Deuce shut down, a lot of these performers were hired to go out to Vegas for a one year stent at one of the casinos.
They were the only ones working the streaks that also had the sanction of the police. Tourist, hustlers, and cops all like and respected these guys.Blues Man & PatronA patron shows his appreciation for the blues performance offered on the streets of Times Square.Hippie Musician on the DeuceDude blew in for a few months, made his presence know, flopped, and disappeared.Tom From Staten Island, playing Bluin the Blue, 4:00am, Eighth Avenue.Staten Island is a long haul, but many performers find the Midtown scene to their liking, even for rehearsals. I mean you could play by the water in South Beach, Staten Island, but it ain't nuthin like this, which is gone.Duncan, the Bagpipe PerformerPlayland, Unicyclist With Trash CanThe unucyclist's mode of expression was quite physical, visual and bold. Those trash bins were heavy.Entrance to Playland, Seventh AvenuePlayland, Change BoothThe Manager of PlaylandPlayland, Photo Booth, Three Girls From the Bronx,Three girls from the Bronx on a Friday night in Playland.Playland, Photo Booth, Two Girls From the Bronx,People from all over the city, mostly younger, would flock to the area, particularly weeknds and Fridays. For the price of a subway token, why not?Playland, Change BoothPlayland, Seventh Avenue, 5:00 amClosing time, briefly.The Tape ManHe specialized in R & B and Soul and i still listen to his tapes today.TwoShoes, Picture ManThe notorious TwoShoes, in Times Square on another big Friday night of flickin folks, from the boroughs, up, who flock to the outdoor night scene. The backgrounds, often with the latest hip-hop sayings, belong to partner in crime, Drew, who makes them in his home in the Bronx, and, in this case, has taped them to One Times Square. Shooting polaroids on weekends at five bucks a pop, a Picture Man could make a thoudsand bucks, more back in the mid 1980s.Drew, Picture ManThe notorious Drew came down from Webster Homes in Morrissiania, and , later Chelsea Homes in Manhattan where he and TwoShoes would hang out.Morris, Bronx Picture Man in Times squareMorris lived in the housing projects up in the Bronx and was one of the great regulars in Times Square.Norbert on West 46th StreetNorbert was German, and came up to the Deuce from Columbia, where he had settled. Norbert was always one of the top Picture Men, and most highly educated.Norbert in Times SquareCowboy, Picture Man, #1Cowboy & Partner, #1 & #2 Times SquareCowboy's ShowcaseDanny, Tony & TwoShoes Get Flicked up by Dwight in Times SquareTwoShoes, Night OffDrew Shooting on Seventh AvenueA guy from Uptown in Harlem drives down in his jaguar for some picture action.Drew Shooting a Group of Friends, on the DeuceDrew Flicks up a Crew on the DeceTransit Cops Get Flicked UpEvery once in a while he would flick up cops, especially prior to 1988, when a customer was posing for a picture man with a pistol, and a cop spotted him.The cop ended up getting shot in the leg and from that day on the picture men were, occasionally heavily scrutinized.
I was hauled in one night from off the 42nd Street for illegal vending - taking and selling pictures on the Deuce - even though i was using a 35mm and not a polaroid camera, and could easily cop the journalist pose, which i did in court, to get my camera which was held for ninety days, until i got my case cleared, which happened to be on the 90th day limit in police storage, saving my gear by hours.Couple Gets Flicked Up ny Drew on Seventh AvenueDanny Shooting Friends on West 46th StreetDanny is the most hard-core of the picture men, and probably the biggest moneymaker. He was also a really good photographer.Couple Gets Flicked Up ny Drew on Seventh AvenueShowcase in Times SquareShowcase in Times SquareDrew Flicks Up Two Friends on the DeuceDwight'sShowcaseDwight's CameraFriends Pose in Times SquareSubwaybPole42nd Street Between Eighth and Seventh Avenues in DaylightThree Friends on a Sunday Afternoon on the DeuceKids roaming around the area, especially on weekends, must have been a great and mysterious trip, like when i was a kid, seeing the Deuce and Eighth Avenue for the first time.Three Friends at Sunset on 42nd Street at Eighth AvenueSarah Schnoozing on West 43rd StreetOriginally from Ohio, Sarah was a regular in Midtown Manhattan, and i would often run into her. She's snoozing on 43rd Street.Chrissie & New Friend, 43rd StreetThe guy was inebriated and i don't think he knew what he was getting into, concerning his desire to have purely hetero-sex.Security, Show WorldLousciuos, Security GuardChrissie in Times SquareChrissie in Times SquareMulti-Talented Brooklyn PerformerMulti-Talented Brooklyn PerformerTwoShoes With Snake on the DeuceHippie Guitar CoupleI don't know what to say.Artist, Biltmore Hotel, West 45th StreetSecretary From Kansas in Times SquareShe explained how she had moved to the city from Kansas, and was employed as a secretary, but something happened allong the way...Person in Red Dress on The Deuce listening to tiny portable radioSweet Pea PosesShe had the most sarcastic poses of anyone on the street.Drunken Distress in Times SquareBeat up and buzzed in the great city.The wild man of Times Square, and the deuceThe wild man of Times Square, and the deuceDummy & VentriloquistMan with MonkeyMan With Snake in Mouth at the Lyric TheatreBringing animals in from the boroughs was popular, especially monkeys and snakes.Cool and chill girl pose next to the ticket boothMike and star pose on the deuceHome Girls Line Up at the SelwynHome Girls with Home BoyStarr and Cigar at the SelwynWayne in Times SquareWayne in Times SquareAlex in Times SquareAlex in Times SquareTwoShoes With Snake on the DeuceBest Friend & BeggarReverend Charles Blesses Drunk ImmigrantTiffany, Eighth Ave. & 42nd StreetTiffany, a notorious icon of the Deuce, requested her photograph be taken this Friday night.Money & Muscle, Brooklyn Hustler, 42nd StreetThat's about it, home-made, long before tattoos became a thing.Stitches, 42nd StreetShe had attempted suicide recently. Either that or fended off off an attack by using her arm.Rocky in Times SquareRocky, trying to be menacing, while sipping a Pepsi in Times Square. I guess you could call him a politically incorrect sponsor for the drink.Tim on 42nd StreetMike Poses on the DeuceMike, 42nd Street, Liberty theatrePerson in Lobby of the Carter HotelDeli & Subway, Peep Show Entrance, 42nd StreetTwo guys from the Deli hang out while business is conducted in the old subway entrance, transformed into a porn emporium entrance.Playe, Entrance to PeepshowTwoShoes, Night OffTwoShoes, Ticket Booth, Selwyn TheatreOnly one admission left.Playland, Change BoothTwoShoes, Off-Duty, Grand LuncheonetteAl & TwoShoes at the Grand LuncheonetteAl & TwoShoes at the Grand LuncheonetteSarah Dragging Her BelongingsHeaded toward Times Square, Sarah drags some milk crate with her belongings behind her.Tad's & Harem Theatre Burn in the AfternoonA large fire one afternoon in the deteriorating Deuce, Tad's steakhouse meets its end and the Harem is done as well, as the street continuers its desent to gentrification.Wrecked Car on the DeuceThis one sat for a week before being towed.Memorial Day Tribute on the DeuceA family expresses their Memorial Day feelings on their visit to the Deuce.Nathan's, Times SquareRhetorical Question Marquee, New Amsterdam TheatreDisney would rehab this theatre years later and spark the complete gentrification of the notorious block.Changing Marquee of the Harris TheatreCleaning Glass, Grand LuncheonetteSubway Pole & BumI would continually run into this guy in Manhattan, and I would always hit him off, for his help in this picture.Sign, Selwyn Building, 42nd StreetThe Selwyn office building collapsed in 1996 during renovation of the theatre nd bulding.Hsrris Thetre InteriorWindow, West 44th StreetCowboy With ShowcarStarr on the Steps of theOne odfDrew's customersPicture Men usually made their backgrounds at home with simple materilas such as bed sheets.Jeff, Korean Vet, on the Deuce, Looking for a Left ShoeEvery night one September, someone would drop a load of expensive new shoes on the block. But for Jeff, it never really worked out becase all the shoes that were dumped only fit the right foot. I guess that's why they were dumped in the first place.Drew in Times squareDrew Flicks Up a Girl on a Jaguar in Times SquareA couple from Uptown has cruised down for some photo action, and the girlfriend poses on the roof of their jaguar.Dwight Shoots Three Friends on the DeuceIt's 3:00 AM on 42nd Street and Dwight is still flickin 'um up on the Deuce.Drew Flicks Up a Man on the DeuceCarlos, Picture Man, Lyric TheatreCarlos stands before the now closed Lyric Theatre, trying to attract customers to flick up on a Sunday afternoon.Ticket Booth, Lyric TheatreSelling tickets on a Sunday afternoon on 42nd St.Roxy Theatre & Adult Video WorldTwoShoe In the Grand LuncheonetteTwoShoes takes a break from his non-stop schedule of picture hustling.Luscious In the Grand LuncheonetteRocky in the Grand LuncheonettePete Harim, Owner, Grand LuncheonetteTo the left is Luscious, the security guard for the Selwyn Building on a wet Sunday afternoon.The Selwyn Theatre & The Grand LuncheonetteAl sits at the open window of the Grand Luncheonette at midnight on Friday night on the Deuce. The building facade that housed the luncheonette eventually collapsed during its renovation.42nd Street Between Eighth and Seventh Avenues
