195 Broadway

Chapter Eleven

Chapters

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Twelve

Kalikow continued making ambitious real estate deals with the purchase of 195 Broadway, a site known for its historical legacy and magnificent Greek-inspired architecture.

The current 29-story building was originally commissioned in 1909 by AT&T president Theodore Newton Vail after the company purchased Western Union. It was designed by architect William W. Bosworth and constructed between 1912 and 1924 in a series of three sections. It officially opened in 1918.

This building, 195 Broadway, was noteworthy for its classic Ionic and Doric columns and its various Greek ornamentation.

The lobby was covered with gray and white Italian marble walls and floors, and featured several decorations designed by sculptors Paul Manship and Gaston Lachaise, including elevator doors, floor panels, bronze chandeliers, and drinking fountains.

The exterior view of 195 Broadway

In addition to its grand architecture, 195 Broadway was historically significant as the site of the first transcontinental telephone call, the first transatlantic telephone call, and the first Picturephone call between cities.

In 1982, the Bell System was broken up into seven smaller companies. Shortly after, AT&T announced its relocation to 550 Madison Avenue and the sale of 195 Broadway.

In May 1983, Peter Kalikow purchased 195 Broadway, along with the adjoining properties at 47 Church Street and 172-174 Fulton Street, for $73 million. The proceeds from the sale were used to start the AT&T Foundation.

Pictures of the restored lobby at 195 Broadway

AT&T replaced the original marble and decorations with replicas as part of their restoration obligation during the sale to maintain the artistic integrity of the building.

The precise ornamentation throughout 195 Broadway

AT&T created the Picturephone in 1963, an experimental videophone system, similar to FaceTime today. It was first introduced to the public at the 1964 New York World’s Fair before going commercial in 1970. Despite the popularity of apps like FaceTime and Skype today, the Picturephone was received poorly by the public at the time, leading AT&T to discontinue the service in the late 1970s. Courtesy: LabguysWorld.com

Many of the features of the building, such as the Doric and Ionic style columns and various Greek ornamentation, were inspired by classical Greek buildings like the Parthenon.

AT&T officially moved out in 1984 and removed several bronze decorations and sculptures from the lobby, including the famous Spirit of Communication statue and the marble from the floors and walls.

In 1984, Kalikow invested $3 million into restoring the building, striving to maintain the historical integrity and original design of the building’s exterior and lobby, while modernizing its spaces and mechanical functions. Architect Eli Attia headed the project. HJ Kalikow rented out the office spaces to tenants such as Morgan Stanley; the building was sold to L&L Holding Company in 2004.

In 2006, the exterior of the building and the first floor were granted landmark status from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The marble floors and bronze chandeliers in the lobby of 195 Broadway

The elevators at 195 Broadway with designs by Paul Manship and Gaston Lachaise

New York City

In the 1980s

Courtesy: U.S. National Archives

Graffiti lined subways and buildings were common sights in New York City during the 1980s.

New York City in the 1980s was a city in transition. It was still reeling from the economic and social upheaval of the 1970s, but it was on the cusp of significant recovery. The 1980s saw the rise of “yuppies,” or young urban professionals, who flocked to the city seeking opportunity. The economy rebounded, and the city skyline was transformed even further by the most active decade of New York City skyscraper construction to date. The arts and culture scene flourished, and the nightlife was vibrant and plentiful. However, the city was not free of problems, as it was consumed by record high crime rates and a raging crack epidemic. The city was also a major center for the AIDS epidemic, which had a devastating impact on the LGBTQ(IA+) community. Despite the challenges, New York City continued to resurge, becoming a global center of finance, fashion, and media. The city also welcomed a significant influx of immigrants during this decade, as people from all over the world came in search of opportunity, adding to New York City’s growth and culture.

August 12, 1981

The IBM personal computer is introduced at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The PC, which had a starting price of $1,565, became an instant success and IBM sold as many as 40,000 PCs per month. The innovative product changed the way people worked and was the first PC to gain widespread approval in the industry.

Courtesy: Image by Saliko

September 24, 1982

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses the term AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) for the first time and releases a clinical definition. The outbreak was previously identified as “gay-related immunodeficiency disease,” before further research made it clear that gay men were not the only people affected by the disease. New York City was one of the most greatly affected U.S. cities of the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s.

April 12, 1983

The Woolworth Building is designated a New York City historical landmark. The building was originally constructed in 1913 by Frank W. Woolworth, the founder of the F.W. Woolworth Company, a chain of five-and-dime variety stores, as a symbol of his success. The steel-framed, 792-foot skyscraper was one of the first of its kind and helped usher in a new era of skyscrapers in the city. It remained the tallest building in the world from the time of its completion until 1930, when the 40 Wall Street building was built.

October 27, 1986

The Mets win their second World Series title, this time against the Boston Red Sox.

Courtesy: John Iacono

October 19, 1987

The stock market crashes, sending the global economy into a major financial crisis. The day, referred to as Black Monday, marked the worst stock market crash in the history of Wall Street. The United States fell into a recession, but the market completely recovered within two years.

November 7, 1989

Democratic candidate David Dinkins is elected the first Black mayor of New York City, defeating incumbent mayor Ed Koch. He served one term (1990–1993) before losing his re-election bid in 1993 to Republican Rudy Giuliani.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Thirteen