Ferdinand Roth slides of New York City
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Abstract
Color slides capturing balloons and floats in the 1951 and 1952 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades, and the lighted neon signs of Times Square around 1958.
Biographical note
Ferdinand Roth (1906-1971) began his civil service career in 1941 as a real estate analyst with the New York City Bureau of Real Estate of the Board of Estimate. He served as Commissioner of Real Estate in 1960-1962, and later as president of Wm. C. Walker Sons, a real estate management concern, from 1966 until his death.
Arrangement
The collection is housed in three folders in one box.
Scope and Contents
Roth's slides of Macy's 1951 Thanksgiving Day Parade show the balloons "Toy Soldier," "Rainbow Trout," "Mighty Mouse" (debuted 1951), "Dachshund," and "Hobo Clown." His slides of the 1952 parade show the balloons "Crocodile," "Mighty Mouse," "The Spaceman" (debuted 1952), "Rainbow Trout," and "Teddy Bear," as well as the floats "American Eagle," "Mississippi River Showboat," "Chiquita Banana's Tropical Garden" (sole appearance), "Noah's Ark," "Sonny the Bunny," "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T" (sole appearance; advertisement for an upcoming musical film), "The Spaceship" (debuted 1952), "Calliope Circus," and "Santa's Sleigh." Roth's night views of the neon lights of Times Square were likely taken in 1958, based on the presence of advertisements for "A Night to Remember" and "The Big Country," two films which premiered that year. Other signs advertise "Pepsi Cola," "TWA," and "Time-Life," and two views show store windows displaying Halloween candy and popular record albums.
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Access Restrictions
This collection may be stored offsite. To arrange an appointment to view it, please see www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: www.nyhistory.org/rights-and-reproductions.
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as the "Ferdinand Roth Slides of New York City, PR-457, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society."
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Margaret Ann Roth (daughter of the photographer), 2021.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Archivist Joseph Ditta processed this collection in April 2023.
Repository
View Inventory
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1951 [5 slides], 1951 November 22
Scope and Contents
Includes the giant balloons "Toy Soldier," "Rainbow Trout," "Mighty Mouse" (debuted 1951), "Dachshund," and "Hobo Clown."
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1952 [25 slides], 1952 November 27
Scope and Contents
Includes the giant balloons "Crocodile," "Mighty Mouse," "The Spaceman" (debuted 1952), "Rainbow Trout," and "Teddy Bear," and the floats "American Eagle," "Mississippi River Showboat," "Chiquita Banana's Tropical Garden" (sole appearance), "Noah's Ark," "Sonny the Bunny," "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T" (sole appearance; advertisement for an upcoming musical film), "The Spaceship" (debuted 1952), "Calliope Circus," and "Santa's Sleigh."
Times Square neon lights [14 slides], [1958], inclusive
Scope and Contents
Night views of the neon lights of Times Square, likely taken in 1958, to judge by the advertisements for "A Night to Remember" and "The Big Country," films which premiered that year. Other signs advertise "Pepsi Cola," "TWA," and "Time-Life," and two views show store windows displaying Halloween candy and popular record albums.