Broadway |
It is said that to understand specificity of any known street it is possible, only having plunged into it - that is only on "place". As a last resort, steadfastly examining photos in albums. And here the "dry" scheme here in any way will not help: from height of the bird's flight all prospectuses look equally unless one - already, and others - are wider.
Thought, of course, sensible, but not in case of the Broadway. As the first and most eloquent witness of its exclusiveness the plan of New York on which it is visible, that «Wide road» - not simply trunk main of the main city of America, it also the champion of length serves. Besides that "road" runs obliquely through all Manhattan so it and from it, not in forces to stop, aspires further, by suburbs and suburbs, through borders of counties and states, almost «to the Canadian border». However, even within a city its extent looks more than impressively. The rare tourist will reach for one walk even the middle...
Despite the similar status, outwardly the Broadway it is a little similar to classical capital arteries of the Old World, like the Champs Elysée or Unter-den-Linden. Here few luxurious hotels, large government agencies, smart city museums. However, such we, actually, from it also do not wait for anything, since the childhood having got used ассоциировать New York "card" with other attributes: enchanting shows, fireworks of fires, advertising blinking. In general, the Broadway to be obliged"in our eyes"show street", and anywhere to it from it not to get to.
He also does not try, though to give place and other displays of the many-sided nature, focuses stereotypic "pleasures" to one rather short piece, in area Tajms-square. And on the others - gives vent to imagination. Each of areas crossed by the prospectus represents a special occupation layer of the American city history. In everyone - the style of building and a life rhythm. One "business" - banks and offices of vicinities Уоллстрит, absolutely another - art galleries bohemian Сохо, the third - the legendary world of the New York theatres. And in area Vest-Sajda and Harlem «the fourth Broadway» - an ordinary dusty highway quite provincial by sight cities opens already. So, before us "street-protej", or, perhaps, "street-textbook": according to the known expert on America, publicist Alexander Genis, the best opened «a lesson on history and geography of New York», than walk on the Broadway, simply you will not think up.
In an original form the Broadway has arisen still before the foot of the white man has stepped into Manhattan. According to archeologists, present outlines of the prospectus repeat a primordial American Indian track which connected southern and northern parts of island when it has been covered by dense thickets. For a wood way they explain a strange trajectory features of a hilly landscape: pedestrians had to keep a narrow hollow (by the way, on one of versions, "God-send-hatta" on-guronski means «hilly island»).
In 1626 Dutches here have come, and value «lines the north-south» has increased at once. It has connected two first European settlements on island - New Amsterdam ("below") and Harlem ("from above"). Besides within New Amsterdam road have expanded and have equipped, and "barbarous" native name Виквасгек (till now the scientist it is not clear, whence undertook this топоним) have replaced with more decent for conquerors Heere Straat (Domonical street). And only in 1664 after Dutches have conceded Manhattan to Englishmen, and New Amsterdam became New York, on a card there was a present loud name - Broadway («wide road»). It has turned out very much "on-novosvetski": the spirit of open spaces and freedom has made a basis of ideology for future «the native land courageous» - the USA.
After War for independence and establishments of the new state in the end of XVIII century New York enters a phase of improbable development. "Not having taken place" as administrative capital (to be exact, having stayed that only one 1789), the city finds the calling in economy. In 1792 the well-known Stock exchange opens. In ten years of the statistican shows, that on coast of Hudson and Ist-river constantly live already 60 thousand persons - more than in «old kind» Philadelphia and Boston. It is curious, that the city territory at the same time remains microscopic - about a quarter of Manhattan.
So, of course, could not proceed long. In 1807 questions of town-planning the special commission was engaged, and in 1811 municipality the general plan - rather scale and providing development of the future megacity almost for a century forward has been presented. According to it the natural landscape of island was subject to definitive destruction, and on its place there should be a practical and strict system of building in the spirit of fashionable then Utopias of "an ideal city».
So there was a well-known regular grid of Manhattan: from the north on the south strictly in parallel there are twelve "avenues", and under ideal a right angle to them - two hundred twenty streets. All of them numbered, because of unreasonable length are broken for convenience into pieces: east and western. A watershed "have appointed" a vertical of the Fifth avenue: to the left of it to numbers of "inflows" add letter W (West), on the right - Е (East). And only the whimsical diagonal of the Broadway is beaten out from great "regularity". Not having spared at its creation a hillock, a tree, ruthless designers nevertheless have allowed an old highway a leak freely, as before. Moreover, in «median Manhattan» where geometry laws become absolutely severe, the Broadway just and does the first and most appreciable turn...
Southern "source" of the Broadway yet does not foretell neither its scales, nor feverish round-the-clock turmoil around Tajms-square. The street goes to a distant campaign slowly and easy, almost in an European way. And really, this part of present New York as any another, reminds of its colonial past. The small green square of Bowling-grin, say, is considered the oldest on Manhattan. Once in the centre it George's statue III towered. And respectable gentlemen came here to have a rest behind mobile game (from here the name: « Lawn for size »). Came - from strict buildings nearby, on adjacent State Street (« the State street ») where they managed the important issues: assorted suit of colonists and planned retaliatory operations against natives, whose earths were required to the British crown. Of the last, by the way, reminds the most considerable architectural monument of this part of the Broadway. In a magnificent neoclassical building of the former Customs (1907) the National museum of the American Indians has taken places. And it, in turn, forms interesting пандан to opposite, northern, highway extremities where of indigenous population reminds a legendary stub from a tree under which Dutch negotiator Peter Minuit has ostensibly bought Manhattan from Indians.
The second known symbol of a southern Broadway recommended to survey by guidebooks, on the contrary, immerses the traveller in a thick of the present and marks the beginning of financial quarter. Joking aside. The huge bronze bull who has moved on Bowling-grin from a building of the Stock exchange to specify horns directly in the prospectus, to the fast tourist on judgements will seem an emblem of aggressive American capitalism, a hint on a cult of "a gold little body». Actually this creation - only a symbol of optimism and kind hope of business success. The matter is that at a stock exchange "bulls" name the brokers playing on increase and becoming more active when affairs in the share market go well (unlike "bears" - players on the fall, actions earning on falling). When after an exchange collapse of 1987 sculptor Arturo ди Модика has presented to a native city of this obstinate animal thereby has told that trusts in the light economic future of New York. And now, already today, in case of a good situation in the share market local business news open prompt with the image of a known sculpture.
Entering «financial area», economic heart, we immediately forget about patriarchal silence. Here streets are always blocked basically, of course, by tourists («sharks of capitalism» sit since a dawn to a decline at the computers). Here and the truth is to that to marvel: it is possible to glance for a shabby facade of a majestic building of the Stock exchange and to see through glass as in a huge hall the financial car of the world works. Or to experience its "vibrations", walking on Uoll-Strit. And is not present - welcome to the territory formed after most, for today, drama event of the XXI-st century. There, where nowadays Ground Zero, «a zero zone», still towers-twins of the World shopping centre recently rose.
They are not present and, under the decision of the city authorities, more never will be, but around with "altitude", of course, still everything is all right. And contrary to ordinary representation such situation has developed here rather for a long time: many skyscrapers of a southern Broadway have been constructed in first third of last century. One of the most known - Equitable Building (1915). Despite obvious elegance of a building, in due time its construction has caused an indignation wave: ньюйоркцы were afraid, that enormous "boxes" of skyscrapers "will suffocate" and without that narrow streets of a downtown. Because of it the city also has accepted the special resolution on which all new высотки should have a step design in 1916 and gradually be narrowed up, not to cover completely the sky. This condition is executed in the former building of company Standard Oil located nearby (1922) which central tower, being narrowed, comes to an end with a graceful pyramid with decorative «the oil fixture» above.
And on other party of the Broadway, in a shade same "smashed", the church of the Sacred Trinity has cosy hidden. Once this pseudo-Gothic church of the middle of XIX century was considered as the highest building of a city, and its belltower served as a reference point for courts arriving to New York, but now, against giants, it is absolutely lost. Whereas in many cities of Europe the horizon line is defined still by spikes and belltowers of cathedrals, in New York on their place for a long time there were business centre constructions - «trade temples».
So have nicknamed located hardly above on the Broadway one more well-known skyscraper: Woolworth Building (1913, the architect of Cash desks Gilbert). As the customer «All rich m F.Vulvort, the owner of a network of shops has acted for 5 and 10 cents». Having seen enough during a trip across Europe on the French cathedrals, he has wished to receive their certain similarity in a building of own company. The architect has obeyed and even has given to internal space of the central hall a kind of the temple arch with naves, having decorated with their mosaic allegories of work and prosperity. And among a plentiful Gothic decor of external walls has placed скульптурку the customer who was double up behind calculation of those пятицентовых of coins from which it and has scared together a fortune.
Having been lost in contemplation of buildings which have densely stuck round street, it is possible not to notice, how the Broadway has time to flow from a business part in administrative where banks recede under the impact of town establishments. Once in this territory destinies of America were decided: there, where City-hall square now is broken, in 1776 George Vashington has read to crowd to the Declaration of independence of the USA. However, later New York has preferred to stand aside of state affairs and has concentrated on own development. So today on a Broadway administrative dare unless questions of city self-management: directly on the prospectus there are gentle, almost "palace" outlines of the Mayoralty (1802 1811), reminding of Louis XVI style and very much not similar on monumental, is strict классицистическую architecture Washington «power pillars».
Graceful pilasters and columns decorate one more imposing town establishment: the Municipality building (1914). However, this time it is a question not of "palace", and a skyscraper. Similar, by the way, what exactly it was meant Эннио Флайано, great Fellini's by script writer when wrote to the friend: «the Corinthian columns in New York have climbed up buildings above, than at any Roman architect. Sometimes them you will meet at height of 100 metres. Who wishes to feel itself at the Roman forums of times Горация and Марциала - let will walk on the Broadway». Imperial greatness of similar buildings which was so truly experienced by the Italian, should be, imposed also to companion Stalin. At least, in Moscow высотках it is simple to see echoes of two popular New York "high-rise" styles: « Neogothic »(for example, in a building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and"neoclassical"- in the Moscow State University on mountains Vorobevyh. Some critics see in the last even a straight line of paraphrases of the New York Municipality: the same splendour and ярусность, only instead of a university spike in America - a sculpture of" City glory ». Similar, that the glorified New York skyscrapers really did not give rest to the Soviet leader: most sensational of unfulfilled architectural projects of Stalin times - the well-known Palace of Councils (415 - on a plan should overtake on some tens metres then"leader"- Empire State Building (381). However, многоэтажность манхэттенских originals was not so much generation of"gigantomania"or majestic vanity, how many a consequence of fabulous cost of square metre on narrow space of island Manhattan.
Opposite to the Mayoralty, on the Broadway left-hand side, Sacred Paul's constructed in 1766 the small churchlet has hidden. This one of few buildings which have lived to us of XVIII century, by miracle gone through frequent New York fires. Under the legend, just here in 1789 has come to pray after acceptance of the presidential oath George Vashington. Except a memorable bench where the father-founder of the country has bent a knee, about those times reminds a small church cemetery. Among a noisy business centre it looks a cosy silent islet. Here during a lunch bank employees have a rest and feed белочек. Charming rodents - the present scourge of New York and its parks (in one Central some thousand are!) . For some reason their city authorities consider as a symbol of that "wild" nature of which it is necessary to care in the middle «stone jungle». Try only шугани to fiber, at once will run old women with reproaches, and even policemen. And here small animals are afraid of nothing. Walking on the Central park, I saw, how белочка have taken away from the kid a sweet. The kid - in tears. And the squirrel of village to play with the trophy directly at a carriage.
Lunch quickly - pleasure which is offered by all central streets of New York, and the Broadway not an exception. To get meal it is possible in any "have put" (reduction from "delicacies"). To be under a delusion, the truth, is not necessary. Even if the institution carries завлекательное the name like Gourmet Deli or Royal Deli, all same sandwiches, the truth, in the expanded assortment will appear a unique firm dish in it. At lunch o'clock the "fast" delicatessen becomes, naturally, most popular goods on the Broadway. Tens people in business suits run out from entrances of office skyscrapers to return through pair minutes with a brown paper package. Well and at whom bosses are more indulgent, go, as we have already noticed, slowly to eat in parks.
By the way, it is necessary to tell about Broadway gardens and parks separately: the stereotype does not work here again. All usually imagine Only central park - the enormous green rectangle stretched in the middle of island, and other part of Manhattan in ordinary representation "remains" a continuous stone paling. I have been once again pleasantly surprised: green platforms though are insignificant, but are in regular intervals scattered on all territory, and everyone is in own way good. Speak, recently the special public organisation undertook them: it its diligence sad green пятачки have turned to cosy gardens and public gardens, and traditional small benches - in a small number of little tables and chairs - on pleasure to the got hungry tourists and inhabitants of office Manhattan.
Highway pig-iron
If there is time and money it is better to have dinner slowly and efficiently. For this purpose it is enough to pass on the Broadway hardly upwards till next quarter where the most stylish small restaurants of New York are located. Here the street gives one more architectural surprise. Still recently around were stately administrative «билдинги», and suddenly, having passed a brisk crossroads with Kenel-strit, you as if get to other city. Along sidewalks were built low (in five-six floors) the narrow houses painted not strikingly. Facades are lined strictly, but not without grace, and on everyone the openwork ladder goes down from the top floor. It - «a pig-iron Broadway» (cast-iron Broadway), recognised "highlight" - Сохо.
About СОХО: an origin of the name of this New York area prosy enough: SoHo - reduction from South of Houston Street, «to the south from Hauston-strit» (it is written as the Texas Houston, but is read as Хаустон). Also do not confuse it to "homonym" - London Сохо! Behind that the history more interesting disappears: it is considered, that it goes back to the hunting call «with-ho!» (Reminding of those times when the territory to the West from Westminster was still a countryside where court came on hunting).
The highlight, naturally, "has taken shape" not at once. In the middle of XIX century promptly developing city was in great need in cheap and быстровозводимых constructions. Then there were designs from pig-iron with which help commercial and industrial Сохо it was filled with factories and warehouses with rare impregnations of waste habitation. On request of customers, mainly dealers fabrics and furniture, in area spacious department stores with huge show-windows grew. On a corner with Spring-strit till now there is a building of one of them - the former department store Houghwout (1857) known also for that in it the first-ever lift of firm "Otis" has been established. Houghwout Building it was projected when the practicality and cheapness were considered as unique advantage of pig-iron, however the architect has appeared is not alien aesthetic "shame" and has tried to hide a "plebeian" origin of the house: in furnish and colouring pig-iron is disguised under a "noble" stone.
Then new style has become fashionable, and the invoice of a heavy alloy not only have ceased to hide, but in every possible way underlined: and even stone houses began to imitate in design to the metal analogues. One of the most graceful constructions such in area - openwork building Little Singer in a modernist style, erected in 1904 for the corporation based in XIX century by the well-known inventor and the sewing magnate. Not to confuse to known "protoskyscraper" Singer Building of 1908 which once was considered as one of the best ornaments of the Broadway, but has been destroyed in 1960. Being distressed in this occasion, ньюйоркцы even have accepted the decision about that the special commission was engaged in a question of a pulling down of historical buildings.
In due course the industry has got over from Сохо far away on suburbs, trade has ceased and «pig-iron houses» have come to desolation. "Rebirth" of quarter has occurred already in 70 when the thrown warehouses and shops were chosen by bohemia, quickly having thought, that from spacious and light premises ideal studios and workshops will turn out. And even later, on the ruthless economic law, the industrial spaces mastered by poor artists have turned in claimed лофты: smart apartments in all floor, the most expensive and трендовый type of modern habitation.
About ЛОФТАХ: you get to such apartment directly from the lift and consequently instead of simple buttons with floor number in them are established special, reacting only on a key. I have learnt about it absolutely casually when, having got acquainted in cafe with one of local inhabitants, has unexpectedly got to it on a visit. Young writer Gonsalo Lyre can be considered typical modern «соховцем». Having arrived to America from Chile for study at prestigious Dortmutsky university, he has soon taken a great interest in the literature and has started to write itself. The first published novel has appeared not simply the best seller, but has made the young graduate the millionaire. Now in the enormous apartment Gonsalo composes novels and film scripts, and during free time from work collects modern painting and collects on "megaparties" all neighbouring beau monde, in general, does all that is necessary under that status at whom the life has gone right.
From rendered habitable unattractive area of "workers of arts» here there is now there were only the most successful. That who is poorer, the fashionable habitation is too expensive for a long time. But for the first here all conveniences: not departing far from a workshop, it is possible to sell a picture to any art gallery and if absolutely will carry and to expose in located nearby the New museum of the modern art or branch of museum Гуггенхайма.
Some more quarters - and to "pig-iron" the end. However the city around still малоэтажен, and concentration of cafe, charming shops and not too shouting boutiques does not weaken. Again bohemian area? Well. More precisely, whole three: at the left, to the West - Нохо (NoHo, that is «to the north from Hauston-strit») and Greenwich-villidzh. On right - Иствиллидж. The reputation «неформалов» was fixed to them even earlier, than for Сохо. In 1920th years Greenwich-villidzh has strongly won reputation of "the New York Montmartre» which nowadays supports and confirms liberal New York university. Ist-villidzh has become famous years thirty later when here besides artists and intellectuals for the first time have lodged. It is a question of ancestors of an underground: writers-beatniks Allen Ginzberge (remember «the Big elegy to Che Guevara»?) and Jack Kerouac, джазмене Орнетте Кольмане, the king of pop art Andy Warhol and to it similar.
However, by a contrast rule, than богемнее the area and the бесшабашнее its inhabitants, the more religiously also becomes more formal a rhythm of city building. If till now streets have not been numbered, and were called everyone as the name, as in all «respectable cities» after Hauston-strit their dry readout begins. To 14th street quarters definitively are tightened and turn to an ideal grid of median Manhattan from it irreproachably right angles.
And still hardly above, having passed the Union-square, we see again a Broadway completely corresponding to the "capital" status, - noisy, vigorous, efficient street. Respectable expensive restaurants instead of «alternative bars»... Other rhythm of a life. Day here begins improbably early in comparison, say, with Сохо. On hours there are no even seven mornings, and everywhere is already full of the people hastening to the workplaces. Show-windows are still dark, but it is possible to see brightly shined windows of the fitness centres on a ground floor of any skyscraper: ньюйоркцы hurry up to be kneaded before the beginning of the working day.
Historical changes in rather small degree have mentioned this part of the Broadway - unless earlier it was considered as not so much centre of office life, how many a kingdom of retail trade. A street piece between the Union and Madison-square and have nicknamed not that validly, not that is derisive: Ladies’ mile - «Ladies' mile». Nearby has settled down Garment District - "district Odezhnyj", and the corresponding fragment of the Seventh avenue is called at this "width" Fashion Avenue - «the Fashion prospectus». «Here elegant ladies from all city are flown down to fill up and without that rich clothes. After all together all best houses from Tiffany and Stewart to Lord and Taylor» here have gathered, - with aspiration wrote about such Broadway magazine "Harpers" in 1878. Now many of the institutions listed to it have moved on the Fifth avenue - and already there, at a new show-window of the well-known jeweller, will thoughtfully fall asleep in «the Breakfast at Тиффани» Одри Хёпберн.
But "boxes" of skyscrapers, of course, from a place you will not shift, and the Highway still can be proud of oldest of them in all New York: Ist-villidzh represents Daniel Burnema's more known as "Iron" the building (Flatiron Building, 1902). In the plan the house forms the extended triangle, such form is prompted by the set space: being crossed on a diagonal from the Fifth avenue, the Broadway forms "wedge". From the point of view of the modern passer-by, anything especial in "Iron" is not present, unless its point aside Madison-square fancifully looks. However in 1900 giant has become famous thanks to unprecedented height - the whole 22 floors! Artists and photographers from all world were flown down here to embody new "symbol" of conquest by the person of architectural space. And critics only added oils to fire. They assured, that the triangular building will soon collapse, being is subject because of the form and the sizes to "more powerful impulses of a wind» …
And here the tower of insurance company Metropolitan Life which have quickly eclipsed "high-rise" glory of "Iron" located nearby, on Dovlatov is completely not similar. It, more likely, reminds a known Venetian belltower from the area the Dignity-marko. As well as many early skyscrapers, a 210-metre building of insurance society Metropolitan Life (1909) within five years remains to the longest in the world. And it is necessary to pass a little more on the Broadway as the pride spike of other well-known giant Empire State (1931) becomes visible, that which Stalin dreamt to outdo the Palace of Councils and which appears almost in each film about King Konge. It have constructed by request of the vice-president of company General Motors besides consumed «рекордоманией». Last has wanted to outdo just built up skyscraper of the competitor (Chrysler Building, 1930). Strangely enough, the Great depression which has coincided with building at home, not only has not prevented, but also has helped it. As builders were ready to work almost for nothing, it "was completed" faster and, especially rare case, has managed more cheaply, than has been conceived.
Nearby directly on the Broadway there is a building of one more champion in the sphere - department store Macy's (1901). «The biggest shop in the world» as its huge signboard assures, was based in XIX century by the captain of a whaling vessel "with the same name". The rich department store long since finances scale city celebrations at date of gratitude and Independence Day.
Street of contrasts
In 1840th years the romanticist and aesthete Edgar Alan On wrote in first number «Broadway magazine»: «All know, that the Broadway - the smartest street of New Light. It is an aorta on which the best blood of our system flows. Everything, that is on our continent found, has passed through this street. Here the best exhibitions are arranged, here there arrive caravans from all light». At that time New York was already large industrial and leading shopping centre. Not without reason in 1853 it became a place of carrying out of World fair, the predecessor of World's fairs.
Thus «the first city» Americas far not always caught up with the European colleagues on level of everyday comfort and household conveniences. We will tell, the first waterpipe has been built here only in 1837 and intended first of all for struggle against fires. Potable water has got to apartment houses only a few years later, and until then ньюйоркцам it was necessary to use water noses. In 1866 for struggle against reigning insanitary conditions the municipality has founded the special public health commission. It has entered strict rules, like an interdiction for the rooms which do not have windows, and has tried to supervise their performance by means of group санинспекторов. However suburbs still represented careless quarters of doubtful safety. In general, that was created on Manhattan in the middle of XIX century, Martin Scorsese has colourfully represented in «Gangs of New York»...
And then the southern extremity of island - "downtown" was considered as the purest and respectable part of the Broadway. It is no wonder, what exactly there, around the Mayoralty, settled down then smart city theatres. In them showed the respectable performances played by fashionable London troupes. And small institutions with frivolous repertoire needed «to recede on boondocks». That repertoire in 1850 were «the Hut of the uncle of Volume» (on the threshold of Civil war it "has sounded" especially провокационно) and a drama with the instructive name «Camilla, or Destiny of the coquette», based on is touching-sentimental «to the Lady with camellias» A.Djumasyna. In the end of XIX century the scenic life of the Broadway, at last, has been ordered: much above on the Broadway, in area the Tajms-square, has been formed the well-known theatrical district …
As approaching it the quantity of idle tourists increases again. In slanting prospect of the Broadway already завиднелись advertising billboards. Show-windows become around brighter, the signboard завлекательнее … In New York is not present official «the main area», but in case of need these functions with pleasure are incurred by Tajms-square. Here starts всеамериканское celebrating of New year, here, on an information board, in 1945 there was a first message on the Second World War termination.
Night Tajms-square are huge monitors on which without a stop videoclips and rollers, huge boards with obscure to the humanist business quotations and shining posters turn. Trade on the area is tightened till the night (that for New York generally a rarity). How not to take advantage almost round-the-clock of "Brown movement» tourist crowds on the area? The youth settles in many-storeyed musical shop Virgin or studies extravagant design hours per show-windows Swatch. Tourists master souvenir benches more solidly. Many gapers are drawn by studio of channel MTV which huge windows leave directly on the area. In them it is possible to see a pop star posing before television cameras and if will carry - and most to get to a shot: chambers periodically "look out" on the area. But the main thing, I repeat, theatres. Here the Broadway and its vicinities turn to a musical kingdom.
Birth of a musical from spirit of New York
In the end of XIX century Broadway theatre life has sharply quickened. Money of industrialists and financiers have begun to flow in the scenic industry, the private enterprise has blossomed magnificent colour. Theatres were under construction and reconstructed, aspiring to outdo each other riches of furnish and spacious foyers, the huge mirrors, expensive fixtures, exotic plants in tubs and magnificent auditoriums with gilding and draperies. On their scenes the theatrical stars of level written out from Europe Sary Bernard shone.
The special help to theatres in 1900 the decision of the city authorities to take down out-of-date building around present has rendered Tajms-square. On the released open spaces in tens theatres lodged. Then because of a neon abundance this piece of the Broadway has received a nickname of the Great White Way - the Great White Way. In the XX-th century beginning simply «white by», to be exact, «light road», named the street shined with electric lanterns. Those years besides fashionable plays and neon signboards theatres tried to entice public new musical entertainments. As a matter of fact, then there were first musicals though they resembled modern mega-shows a little. About sources of this genre of opinion disperse. One musical critics consider, that the musical has occurred from a classical operetta, others see in it derivative of the London music halls and the Parisian cabarets. Anyhow, first Broadway "musicals" were limited to bright vaudevillian numbers, not troubling themselves difficult dramatic art. But already in «roaring the twentieth» it became clear, that the new art form has a more potential. It is necessary to be spent enough, and it is possible to transform it into grandiose show which will be interesting to any which will excite, make laugh, surprise, touch. And it is valid, now, in the XXI-st century beginning, neither skyscrapers, nor with an abundance of shone advertising of the inhabitant of the Old World any more you will not amaze, and here musicals still remain recognised "mark" of the Broadway. Argue with them can unless the London West End. And that as regards registration and entertainment effects it hardly can compete with American "show street".
However, arguing on «a theatrical Broadway», it is necessary to make a reservation. That, all New York, «from edge and to edge», is filled by the theatrical institutions officially divided into groups under "relation" to the main prospectus. There are theatres "Broadway", "out of-Broadway" and "out of-out of-Broadway". And the criterion is put in a hierarchy basis at all affinity (thirty nine "Broadway" theatres directly on the Broadway leave only three), and the size. If in a hall at you more than 499 places, you have the right to "title" Broadway theatre and corresponding prestige. If less, it is necessary to be content with category Оff-Broadway theatre and reputation is more modest. At last, included in the list «off-offBroadway» small, calculated only on one hundred person, institutions need to specialise on experimental or at all amateur statements.
Now even those New York theatres which territorially «remained are true» highways, have gradually got over hardly above on "current" from a musical ancestral home - Tajms-square. Directly of theatre life on this imposing area still reminds skyscraper Paramount where the huge club-centre on 3 664 places once settled down. Till 1929 its magnificent weekly program included: in the first branch of tens frank numbers of a variety show, in the second - performance and in the end company Paramount Pictures film. After here Fred Astor, Бинг Crosby and Frenk Sinatra at various times acted. From huge posters surrounding you and light boards star names and headings are strewed: «an opera Phantom» and Andrew Lloyd's "Cats" who continually intercept each other a superiority palm tree in "competition" on the most "long-playing" musical, «КорольЛев» Eltona John, a hit «Mamma Mia!» - Scenic "potpourri" from smash hits «АББА»... Spectators gather more close to eight evenings - time of the beginning of representations - for Tajms-square. At each theatre the notice - the normal phenomenon though the average price for Broadway tickets fluctuates round a solid mark in hundred dollars. (For comparison: almost for the same money it is possible to listen, say, Plasido Domingo in Metropolitan Opera.) However if will carry, it is possible to save. Directly on northern circle the Tajms-square (in that part where it is called Daffi-square) costs ordinary-looking glass cash desk. In it approximately for half-day before performance "throw out" unsold «бронь» at half price. Only here you can not find tickets for the most "untwisted" musicals among them.
About the UNTWISTED MUSICALS: among visitors of the most known musicals radical ньюйоркцев it is a little, the same as in Moscow at the Kremlin concert of any variety star you will not often meet the Muscovite. At least, hardly having chosen from variety of offered shows of such "veteran" of a genre as "Cats", I have appeared sitting between the businessman from Miami and the tourist from Texas. The first, that has amazed me even prior to the beginning of performance, is an internal furniture of a building: a rich stucco moulding on balconies and velvet crimson armchairs did not match in any way in my imagination expected mega-show. The second - spectators entered into this to ridiculous a magnificent hall, not removing a coat, as in any cinema. I have already started to be afraid, whether somebody has laid up pop корн … However it was necessary to rise to a curtain and to sound to the first powerful chords as the action enchanting spectacle has entirely absorbed me.
So has developed, that at us, to Russia, a musical now has imperceptibly got to the category of entertainments almost children's where it is accepted to go all family. Here, on the Broadway, I am unexpected for myself have met absolutely "adult" performance calculated, despite all attributes of entertainment show, on serious perception and besides executed on the highest professional level.
There, where the Broadway passes Lincoln-square "threshold", gleams a facade of the main opera theatre of America -
