Connect with us

Secrets of Times Square

Meet The Former and Present Residents of Manhattan Plaza: Harry Haun

Published

on

Veteran journalist Harry Haun has covered theater and film in New York for over 40 years. His writing has appeared in outlets such as Playbill Magazine (“On the Aisle” and “Theatregoer’s Notebook”), New York Daily News (where he wrote a weekly Q&A column (“Ask Mr. Entertainment”), New York Observer, New York Sun, Broadway World and Film Journal International.

Haun is the author of two books “The Movie Quote Book” and “The Cinematic Century: An Intimate Diary of America’s Affair with the Movies”. 

Over his illustrious career as a journalist, Mr. Haun has interviewed some of the greatest entertainers of our time. 

Currently, Mr.Haun, is writing his own truly delightful column for Theater Pizzazz entitled Screen of Consciousness

T2C: When did you first move into Manhattan Plaza and how did you get into the building?

Harry Haun: In 2005. Yesterday was 15 years, however we didn’t move in until May. We had another apartment and storage, so for a month we paid two rents and storage. It took 8 years to get into the building. I would check in every once and awhile to make sure I was still on the list. When I saw the view, I was hooked. It was like a Ginger Rogers film about old New York. Sparklers went off in my head.

T2C: Who were your friends in the building?

Harry Haun: The whole building is full of show biz. You know everybody. There’s theatre talk in the elevator. I strarted interviewing people before and after I lived in the building. On my floor I am 44B, Angela Lansbury was in 44A. Also Tennessee Williams was on our floor. Samuel L. Jackson was our desk clerk.

T2C: What are your fondest memories of living in the plaza?

Harry Haun: The wonderful ease of it. I love walking to the theatre. 43rd between 9th and 10th is my favorite block. I feel alive here. Everyone says hi and is friendly. The streets are well patrolled and safe. It’s a different story from 9th to 8th.

Lee Roy Reams and Harry Haun Photo by Aubrey Reuben

T2C: You have written two books are there more?

Harry Haun: I am expanding one of the books now. It is like a page out of the Hollywood Reporter. The book will have movie events for everyday. It’s a trivia book with fun facts. Like the day Marilyn Monroe’s skirt flew up. I am having fun writing this. It’s what I am doing this time off.

T2C: What have been the biggest changes to the neighborhood?

Harry Haun: I wasn’t here in the sleaze period. It has since been gentrified. I do miss “Say Cheese”. I liked that guy. I loved “Curtain Up”. I interviewed Chita Rivera and Ted Hook there.

T2C: What does living in the building allowed you to accomplish?

Harry Haun: I had the freedom to write columns all the time. I am energized by the people. George N. Martin of Painting Churches was the first actor I interviewed in Manhattan Plaza. Then Larkin Ford, who was in The Roundabout Theatre Company’s 12 Angry Men. He died in Manhattan Plaza in 2007. This had been his last hurrah. Dylan and Becky Baker, Jane Alexander, who I interviewed at the Westway, Jan Maxwell (several times), Sam Tsoutsouvas, Georgia Osborne, Mary Alice (a Tony winner).

T2C: How does living in the building make you feel?

Harry Haun: Energized

T2C: What would you change from your time living in Manhattan Plaza?

Harry Haun: I find it pretty close to perfect. I find this building gives me everything I want. It is like the Estelle Parson’s quote: “Without the arts New York is like 5 Cleveland’s.

Harry Haun

T2C: What is your fondest memory of New york?

Harry Haun: What I’ve done I have loved. I have gone to Broadway and Off Broadway opening nights for 20 to 30 years. It’s like angel food cake. I still adore it, but it is different. It’s the nearest thing to heaven we have in New York. It as close to heaven as I’m ever going to get.

T2C: What would you like us to know that we haven’t asked you?

Harry Haun: I am a serious person about the arts. I research because I am serious about what I write about. I am a perfectionist. I am not perfect, but I do strive for that.

The documentary Miracle on 42nd Street, is available on Amazon and will soon be available to stream. 

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Events

All You Can Eat Free Lobster At Red Lobster’s Endless Lobster Event In Times Square

Published

on

Red Lobster is offering select customers an all-you-can-eat lobster  at its flagship New York City location on Tuesday, March 28.

The first ever “Endless Lobster” event will treat 150 customers to as many 1¼-pound lobsters as they can handle, as well as broccoli and one side of choice.

Red Lobster will open reservations a week in advance at 10 a.m. EST on March 21.

The event will be staggered into three windows: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with each window seating 50 guests.

Though the lobster will be free, diners will still are responsible for drinks, additional sides and of course a generous tip. By signing up for the event, guests will also “grant Red Lobster the right and license to use their names, images, and/or statements for advertising and publicity purposes,” according to fine print of the event.

Guests must eat their lobster in house and no leftovers or doggie bags.

If you get a reservation you will be given a table for two. Reservations will be non-transferrable, and diners will be required to bring their Eventbrite confirmation email to get access. Click here to get a table on March 21st.

Continue Reading

Food and Drink

The Brooklyn Deli Where Pastrami is Delectable

Published

on

It use to be finding fabulous pastrami ($11.95), corned beef ($10.95), knishes, and cheese cake was as simple as walking down the street, then the Jewish deli’s started to disappear.
Now thanks to the Fireman Hospitality Group they are returning. Nestled inside of the old Paramount Building at 1501 Broadway, on the corner of West 43rd Street is the Brooklyn Deli.

The 130-seat restaurant features one of the tenderest pastrami sandwiches with Swiss cheese, butter pickles and Russian dressing, between slices of rye bread. You can also get this with Corned Beef and sauerkraut.

There’s also deep dish pizza’s ($7.95), a fried chicken sandwich ($9.95) and Burgers ($7.95).

Thanks to Eli Marcus and City Guide, I was invited to a concierge event to introduce this deli to the hotel community.

Eli Marcus

I tried all of the items I have mentioned plus a Potato Knish ($3.95) and Cheese Bread and everything was done to perfection. I was so into the Knish, I ate before taking a picture.

The Fireman Group also owns Brooklyn Deli at 200 West 57th Street, Brooklyn Diner at 155 West 43d Street and 212 West 57th Street, Fiorello, overlooking Lincoln Center, the Red Eye Grill at 890 7th Ave, Trattoria Dell’Arte at 900 7th Ave, Cafe Paradiso at 144 West 65th and Bond 45 at 221 West 46th.

This deli is also open for breakfast, so starting your day right is as easy as going to Times Square. This is also the perfect place for before and after theatre. Their prices are reasonable and their food will have you satisfied and content.

 

Continue Reading

Family

Illegal Migrants Now Are Given The Old McDonald Building On 42nd Street

Published

on

Mayor Eric Adams is set to open another illegal migrant shelter right in the heart of Times Square. The vacant Candler Tower office building, at 209-213 West 42nd Street is about to house more illegal migrants.

This is smack dabb in the pulse of Times Square.

The building, once home to the 24-hour McDonald’s restaurant was long billed as the busiest and most profitable of its kind in the US. Thanks to COVID-19 the building was lockdown in June 2020 and the building’s owner, UK-based investment company EPIC, reportedly signed over the deed in March 2022 to avoid foreclosure.

This property is 227,685 square feet and has 24 floors, with a market value of $110,464,000.

There are now 103 emergency shelters being used to house migrants and guess who is footing the bill?

Why are we not housing our Vets, our homeless or our senior citizens? I guess if you are illegal you get a free pass!

Continue Reading
Advertisement pf_06-2

Trending

Copyright © 2023 Times Square Chronicles

Times Square Chronicles