The Devil's Playground: A Century of Pleasure and Profit in Times Square

The Devil's Playground traces the 100-year evolution of New York's Times Square from the late 1800s through the end of the 20th century. Traub examines this iconic intersection's cycles of glamour, decay, and reinvention through extensive research and interviews with key figures who shaped its history. The narrative follows Times Square's transformation from a theater district and entertainment hub into an area known for vice and crime, then to its eventual corporate reformation. Through accounts of theater impresarios, politicians, sex workers, police, and business leaders, Traub reconstructs the social and economic forces that drove these changes. The book documents how Times Square became a symbol for both New York City's problems and its attempts at urban renewal. Real estate dealings, policy decisions, and cultural shifts take center stage as Traub charts the area's path from the glittering Great White Way to its gritty 1970s decline and controversial 1990s cleanup. This history serves as a lens for examining broader themes of American urban life, morality, capitalism, and the tension between preservation and progress. Through Times Square's story, Traub explores how cities balance competing visions of public space and community values.

Readers found the book offers a thorough chronological history of Times Square's evolution from the late 1800s to modern day. Many noted Traub's detailed research and engaging storytelling about the area's entertainment industry, crime, and real estate development. Liked: - Coverage of political battles over Times Square's redevelopment - Personal interviews with key figures from different eras - Balance between academic research and accessible writing - Historical photographs and archival material Disliked: - Some sections move slowly with excessive detail - Limited coverage of certain time periods, particularly the 1940s-50s - Focus on real estate deals over cultural impact in later chapters - Lack of maps to orient readers unfamiliar with the area Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (217 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (32 ratings) One reader called it "the definitive history of America's most infamous intersection," while another noted it "gets bogged down in municipal politics toward the end."

The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto A narrative history of Manhattan's Dutch colonial period reveals how New York's earliest days as New Amsterdam shaped the city's culture of capitalism, tolerance, and ambition.

Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 by Mike Wallace, Edwin G. Burrows This comprehensive chronicle of New York City traces the transformation of a remote Dutch outpost into America's commercial and cultural capital.

Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York by Lucy Sante This examination of Manhattan's underworld from 1840-1919 documents the gangs, gambling dens, brothels, and vice districts that flourished in the city's shadows.

Times Square Red, Times Square Blue by Samuel R. Delany A first-hand account of Times Square's transformation combines social history with personal observations of the district's evolution from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill A street-level exploration of Manhattan's history weaves together the stories of immigrants, artists, criminals, and entrepreneurs who shaped New York's most iconic neighborhoods.

🗽 During Times Square's darkest period in the 1970s, an estimated 2,300 sex-related businesses operated in the area, with 90% of 42nd Street storefronts housing adult entertainment venues. 🎭 Author James Traub's father, Marvin Traub, was the chairman of Bloomingdale's and played a significant role in New York City's retail history, giving the author a unique perspective on the area's commercial evolution. 🎬 The first electrically lit billboard in Times Square appeared in 1904, advertising Trimble Whiskey, beginning the area's transformation into the "Great White Way." 🏗️ The massive redevelopment of Times Square in the 1990s, which the book covers in detail, involved displacing over 400 businesses and cost approximately $2.5 billion. 🎟️ The book reveals that Times Square was originally named Longacre Square, after London's carriage-making district, and was renamed in 1904 when The New York Times moved its headquarters there.