Legendary Citizens of New York City
Many people, young and old travel to the city of New York either in search of their dreams, or following their dreams. This is true for all aspects, searching for business careers or fashion design or music. Those interested in live theater may find it in other cities known for their support of the performing arts, such as Seattle, Chicago or Los Angeles. But no other American city is like Manhattan. No other city in the world for that matter, comes close to the history and the continued draw of theater people far and wide.
Two men who did very different things affected not only the lives of those people coming to the city to find themselves, but they entered into the history of New York theater by their own means which for one of them was not necessarily connected to theater work. One such man is honored with a sculpture in Times Square, this is George Cohan. Of many songs he composed for over the years, he wrote “Give My Regards to Broadway”, in 1904. The statue of him in the Duffy Square section of Times Square is the only one that honors a legend of the stage.
The other man Joe Allen created an institution when he opened his restaurant in the summer of 1965. He built the restaurant in the theater district and so consequently his establishment became a favorite for theater people, from those in the chorus to those on the main bill. He was known to frequently offer specials to anyone who was trying to make there way in the city, and on the stage. The restaurant remains open today, seven days a week, for lunch and for dinner, and serves a special Sunday brunch each week.
Many establishments in the city have offered discounts to those involved in the arts, just as one of the best of New York City’s hotel, the Algonquin offered free food and discounted rates on rooms to the writers of the 1930′s did. This is not so much the case any more, however, there are still a few places hidden here and there in the city, where the owners take care of those in their neighborhoods, and it is well worth it to find them and soak up the vibe of the people whom are following their dreams.
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