A Midsize American City in 1955

**phxmania2001** · March 26th, 2009, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by NYatKNIGHT

I wish we all still wore hats.

Join in and set the example. I picked up two hats last year (for summer and winter use) and they've been great - I get shade and protection from the elements all while looking stylish (well... moderately stylish).

Beautiful photos.

**ablarc** · March 26th, 2009, 10:25 AM

Show us your hats.

**avngingandbright** · March 26th, 2009, 11:27 AM

When did we, as Americans, lose our ability to build cities? Is it possible even today?

**Ebryan** · March 26th, 2009, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by avngingandbright

When did we, as Americans, lose our ability to build cities? Is it possible even today?

Yes, most definitely -- Seaside? Miami Beach?

**ablarc** · March 26th, 2009, 07:44 PM

^ You could say those are the exceptions that prove the rule.

Seaside, 1980's; Miami Beach, 1930's.

**ablarc** · April 4th, 2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by scumonkey

There were a lot of ugly things in the old Boston that have been vastly improved upon.

But oddly enough, the cumulative effect of all those little improvements is a general loss of character. Especially ugly before and bland now that they're removed: all those elevated transportation structures --the El, and especially the Big Dig. The latter has thrust a wiggly stiletto of suburban anonymity into the city's heart.

**Luca** · April 4th, 2009, 12:43 PM

Poignant.

**scumonkey** · April 4th, 2009, 02:36 PM

...and especially the Big Dig. The latter has thrust a wiggly stiletto of suburban anonymity into the city's heart.

Agreed- they could have done a better job with all the new free space they acquired-more than disappointing.

**ablarc** · April 4th, 2009, 05:16 PM

^ Buildings would have been preferable to this largely pointless greenway. They would have knit the city back together. This way, the scar remains.

**ablarc** · April 6th, 2009, 10:44 AM

KENMORE SQUARE IN 1955

Born and bred at the city’s edge.

Beyond lie suburbs…

In the other direction, the city:

Crossroads and gateway: the outer edge.

Such places generally have places for travelers to rest their weary bones…

…and other forms of welcome and good cheer:

Crossroads and gateway: the outer edge.

Though it’s a weak example, Kenmore can be classified with a group that includes Piccadilly Circus, Place Pigalle, and New York’s Times Square and Union Square. All were born as rowdy gateways at the city’s edge, and all once derived their character from neon, drinking, and sometimes smut. Piccadilly and Pigalle retain both neon and smut, Times Square only its neon; it has been cleaned up. Some say it too has lost much of its character in the process.

**Bob** · April 11th, 2009, 03:41 AM

Those fabulous nighttime shots show how much fabulous neon has been lost. American cities used to be wonderful visual landscapes at night. Today, for the most part, the scene is dark or horribly illuminated with sodium vapor lights. No neon. No pizzazz. The homogenized city is boring. Alas.