From the Archives: The James Gordon Bennetts' New York Herald, Part 1

As you run from store to store on 34th Street, did you ever ask yourself "Why Herald Square?" Today is the first of a 3-part series on the New York Herald, for which Herald Square was named, from our archivist Anne. This post also appears on NYC Circa, a blog about New York City and its history.

One of the fathers of modern journalism, James Gordon Bennett Sr., founded the New York Herald in 1835 in a small office on Wall Street. Bennett vowed that his new penny paper would have none of the political alliances and proselytizing found in other papers.

Cross-eyed, Bennett once wrote that his affliction came from watching the "winding ways of [President] Martin Van Buren." Photo: Library of Congress

Bennett had excellent intuition for what was missing in journalism of his time, and how to appeal to the general population. With an almost prophetic sense of the financial crisis to come in 1837, the Herald was the first general interest paper to pen a financial column. "Money Markets" debuted within a week of the paper's first issue in 1836 and was immensely popular. In it, Bennett exposed stock market fraud and speculated that the rise and fall of the stock market was not accidental.

Bennett also tapped into what have since become public obsessions -- crime, scandal, and celebrities. Lurid descriptions and relentless coverage of these are common today, but in the 1830s, murders and the like were scarcely reported, if at all. The murder of prostitute Ellen Jewett in 1836, and the Herald's subsequent front page coverage of the event and trial changed all of that.

One of many postmortem caricatures of Ms. Jewett. Photo: Library of Congress

The Herald was the first paper to take reporting to that special macabre place by printing detailed descriptions of the courtroom proceedings and crime scene. Bennett was also one of the first editors to publish interviews with key witnesses and others involved in the case, the first being a lengthy interview with Jewett's Madame Rosina Townsend. 

For those who couldn't afford theater or concert tickets, the newspaper turned the news into its own little episodic show -- kind of like one really long Law and Order episode. Each day readers could open the paper to a new spectacle of horrors. Because intimate knowledge of the case was dispelled daily via the paper, devoted readers could consider themselves an active part of the drama.

Bennett spared no expense on technology advances to increase the paper's reporting and production efficiency. During the Mexican-American War, he established a courier service that was faster than the post office in order to get reports from the front lines to the Herald offices in New York City. (It was soon shut down by the postal service.) Bennett secured a steady readership while covering the Civil War by publishing eyewitness accounts of soldiers on the front lines. To evade Secretary of War Edward M. Stanton's censorship ban on the press, Bennett printed war casualty lists. People bought editions of the paper every day in hopes of finding the names of lost loved ones. Like the Jewett trial case, this produced a regularly paying audience addicted to tragedy, though this time it was more personal.

Bennett's coverage of politics was meant to be impartial, and compared with other papers, it mostly was. The April 15, 1865 edition of the Herald shows a strange marriage of the grisly and the political with its Lincoln assassination coverage. Click here to see a large version of the image below. If you enlarge it, the copy theatrically describes Lincoln's murder scene and the ensuing investigation.

Image: Library of Congress

In 1866 Bennett Sr. passed his duties on to his son James Gordon Bennett Jr. who had long been the subject of tabloid-ish reporting in rival papers. More on him in part 2 next week.

Sorry for the lack of links, but most of this was culled from print sources, including these:
-Carlson, Oliver. The Man Who Made News: James Gordon Bennett
-Kluger, Richard. The Paper: The Life and Death of the New York Herald Tribune
-Pray, Isaac Clarke. Memoirs of James Gordon Bennett and His Times (google books)
-Sandburg, Carl. Storm Over the Land: A Profile of the Civil War.
-Seitz, Don C. The James Gordon Bennetts: Father and Son, Proprietors of The New York Herald.

Happy 200th Birthday, Horace!

Horace Greeley statue in a postcard from the early 1900's. See how the ladies are holding up their skirts to keep them off the street? They must have had great triceps back then.

"Fashion Greeley" just didn't sound quite right back in 2007 when we were naming this 34th Street shopping blog (we manage both Herald and Greeley Squares). But that doesn't mean we don't love Mr. Horace Greeley. To show just how much we admire his contributions to New York City's publishing world (and other accomplishments), we're rededicating his Greeley Square statue in Midtown Manhattan this Thursday at 11am to commemorate his 200th birthday. Visit our sister blog for a little background on Horace and more event details, but here's a teaser: "Horace" himself will be in attendance wearing all white, topcoat, hat and all, because that's how he dressed every day back in the late, dusty and dirty 1800's. Now that's dedication to a signature look.

Measuring Horace's head for a big white hat handmade by Martin Izquierdo Studios. Did Horace Greeley really say "Go west young man?" Let's ask Wikipedia.

Our fabulous 'wichcraft kiosk will be there for your hot chocolate and cookie needs. And Horace Greeley High School's Theater Repertory Group and Madrigal Choir will be performing also, so come on down, say Happy Birthday to Horace, and help us celebrate a truly unusual and admirable historical personality.


Event:  Happy 200th Birthday Horace Greeley
Date:   February 3, 2011
Time:  11:00 a.m.
Place:  Greeley Square Park (Between 32nd and 33rd Streets; Broadway and 6th Avenue)

Banana Republic Blues

Next up in our weekly Wednesday staff guest posts: Catherine, who perused Banana Republic on 34th Street.

Exciting news item #1: Banana Republic is having a sale on sale items. 40% off sale prices!

Exciting news item #2: They're going crazy with denim. If you're looking for a new pair of spring jeans, stop by. I'd never tried their jeans, and I was pleasantly surprised. Boot-cut, trouser fit, straight leg, boyfriend, skinny, super-duper "are those jeans or did you paint your legs blue" skinny, slouchy...the list goes on, and in all sorts of washes.

As we've already established, my height makes it difficult to see how the different leg openings will look in real life (post-hem), so use your imagination. Sidenote to shorties: In addition to Petites, BR sells "short" (and "tall") sizes online. These are the low-rise boot cut jeans in a dark wash. I wasn't crazy about them from the front, but helloooo backside! I like this view.

Dark wash boot-cut jean, $79.50

For this next lovely item, I'm enlisting the help of a website model. Oh, Banana Republic, I love your button-down tops, but how about a little accommodation for your well-endowed female clientele? They fit everywhere except for the bust, where I have a lovely 1-inch gap. Anyway, I like the pearly buttons, and it'd be great with a navy cardigan.

Military plaid shirt, $59.50

And for a work look, I tried a (get ready for the dreaded "c" word, Tricia) comfortable cotton sweater top in navy. It has white piping on the seams, drawstrings on the arms, and a nice neckline.

Drawstring-sleeve sweater, $69.50

I always check Banana Republic when I'm searching for work wear because I love their pants. Classic cuts and colors with good, simple details. These are 323 Martin flared pants in a very neutral navy. These feature a wide waist band that (imagine Stacy London's voice) "lock & load" the tummy.

323 Martin flared pants, $79.00

Now, being the cheapskate that I am, I'll sit around and wait for everything I tried on to go on sale...

Banana Republic, 17 W. 34th Street

Baby, It's (Getting) Cold Outside

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Catherine with Martin's shopping assistance.

Thanksgiving was almost tropical in New York this year (especially compared to 2008), but the beginning of this week finally felt like winter. If you find yourself in midtown Manhattan on a chilly day, take a spin on The Pond at Bryant Park. Everyone's doing it - even the Old Navy Modelquins.

When your legs are tired and you just can't twirl any longer, nothing sounds nicer than changing into cozy loungewear and plopping in front of the TV for a classic like Miracle on 34th Street or one of my favorites, A Christmas Story. Martin perused Old Navy for some comfortable winter necessities and found this "soft, warm, and comfortable" robe on sale for $12, regularly $24.50.

For a nice gift set, pair that with some fleece or flannel lounge pants ($10-$16.50) and slippers ($10-$12.50). It's such a good deal that you might want to treat yourself, too.

Old Navy, 150 W. 34th Street
The Pond at Bryant Park, 42nd Street and 5th Avenue

Winter Kicks

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Martin who is graciously filling in as guest blogger.

In anticipation of winter, I like the look of these Nike ACGs (All Condition Gear)…waterproof, breathable, great traction on NYC’s slushy winter streets and super stylish. I’m partial to the neon orange; a splash of color even at the sidewalk level livens up any outfit. These are pricey though and will set you back $180 a pair. Well worth it though as ACG performance is legendary.

My other pick for stylish kicks are these Nike Dunks (currently on sale for $70); an old school classic with a modern feel. I especially like the use of black snakeskin texturing on these shoes.

And finally, cold weather is no excuse not to stay active and indoor basketball may be the perfect thing, especially wearing these Nike Hyperdunks. Light and supportive, they are perfect for lighting up the court. Forget about the Knicks playing terribly and get out there and work on your own jumpshot.

Foot Locker, 120 W. 34th Street at Broadway

Trailblazing Fashion

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is out on maternity leave. Following is a post from her co-worker Barbara who is kindly filling in as guest blogger.

Daffy’s is where this blogger buys almost everything she wears. Daffy's offered Fashion Herald several tickets for a viewing of Amelia at the majestic Ziegfeld, but movies aren’t exactly on Fashion Herald’s mind right now. I jumped at the opportunity to fill in! It is so rare to view a film in the grandeur of an old-fashioned movie palace with over 1,131 seats.

In lieu of previews, there was an interactive advertisement performance showing "The Fitting Dance."



As a Kansan, I didn’t care about the movie’s lackluster reviews; I wanted to see the story of Amelia Earhart! I vividly remember visiting her childhood home in Atchison, Kansas, which is spectacularly located on a bluff overlooking the wide Missouri. How could you not want to know more about a woman whose spirit of adventure compelled her to be the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean? Adventurous women have inspired styles for decades. (Remember that great aviator jacket Lindsey found in JCPenney?)

Another trailblazing Kansan woman who captured my imagination as a child (especially because she grew up in my home town of Chanute, Kansas) was the adventurer, aviator, and naturalist Osa Johnson. She and her husband Martin Johnson explored the then-unknown lands of East and Central Africa and South Pacific islands during the 1920s and 1930s, and through their popular travel books and safari documentary films, introduced Depression-era Americans to the beauty of East Africa. They were the inspiration for store chain Martin + Osa, and American Eagle Outfitters, which you can find right here on 34th Street.


Daffy's Herald Square, 34th St & Broadway
American Eagle, 40 W. 34th Street btwn 5th & 6th

Maternity 1969

Will it ever stop, these 1969's? No, because today it's maternity 1969! Why? I am unable to walk down to 34th Street to scope out new fashion. On Saturday I wore heels because I'm vain, vain, and vain. Long story short, we had a baby shower in our old hometown and I knew my girl, a modeling cohort from back in the day, would be dropping by. Do you think I'm going to let my old runway partner out-heel me? Hell, no. You should have seen my feet Saturday night, shamefully swollen. But worth every painful minute because my girl did me proud with her 6-inch heels.

Luckily, today I remembered that I tried on the maternity 1969's while Martin tried on the boys at Gap Herald Square.

Above: side shot of the "Long & Lean" maternity flared legs, $69.50. "Long & Lean," hahaha! These have the full maternity panel and great stretch. Lace-trimmed tank worn throughout is GapMaternity.

Left: Curvy, limited edition button-welt wide-legs with the semi-demi panel, $69.50. Right: "Always Skinny," $79.50, no panel.



















My favorites? "Long & Lean." These are really long (I had the regular inseam, I need the long inseam for the other two styles) and the flared leg was perfect. For maternity staples, I'd buy these for a wide-leg, and get the JCPenney for straight-legs. Not that I didn't like "Always Skinny," but the JCP's were less $$.

Comfort-speaking, the 1969's scored high with me. Full-panel, semi-panel, or no panel, there was no chafing and sitting down was perfectly fine with no painful digging into the belly. I stuck with the 29/8's, my pre-maternity size, and the fit in all styles was right on. Definitely try on a couple styles of the 1969's to find your favorite and help you through all your big months.




Gap Herald Square, 60 W. 34th @ 6th Avenue

1969's: The Men's

I took Martin to Gap Herald Square to try on the new 1969 men's denim. Naturally I was pleased when Martin choose the style my favorite male model in the campaign is wearing, Mr. Skinny Jean: Sell those skinnies! Here's Martin in his, also doing an admirable job of selling us some jeans:


Front view, side view.









And a few shirts. Left is a shirt/jacket hybrid we both found interesting, and to the right is a grey chambray, denim-look shirt ($44.50) which also comes in blue. We preferred the grey with the jeans. I wasn't thrilled with many of the men's shirts, but these two are definitely worth a look.

(Below left, my favorite shot! Thanks, Martin!)



















Martin bought the skinny, raw denim jeans and is wearing them today at work. They look great on him and he's happy with the fit. He also got the $20 off Gap is now offering for the new 1969's, which was a good incentive, as he felt the jeans were more than worth the final price of $68 (after the $20 off). And Martin is no casual denim buyer. Nope, this is definitely a guy of discerning denim taste.

Gap Herald Square, 60 W. 34th at 6th Avenue

Deal of the Day

Sorry the blog isn't more nuanced these days, but I was slack in scheduling my guest models this week. I do have Martin on tap to try on the new Gap 1969 jeans. In the meantime, Gap Herald Square has a fabulous dress in maternity on sale for $19.99 (there are plenty of M's and L's):

It's black and long, ridiculous inexpensive, and timeless. You know what all this means: basic maternity must-have. Occasionally I balk at wearing long black dresses during the day as they can look too evening. But could this be good for day-into-night? A perfect transition piece? Toss on cute cardigan for day then strip it off and don statement jewelry for evening? Um, does it rock?

Just go buy the dress if you're pregnant because it's going to come in handy. Inevitably, An Event will occur where you need to feel a little sleek and chic.

Ok, sleek from the front. Kind of.


Gap Herald Square, 34th & 6th Ave.

Staff Support

Here I sat at my desk, all wondering "What to blog?" when I looked over and saw this:

Martin, aka officemate, in his Nike Airmax boots. Colorful and waterproof, really good for Martin as he works outside. Bought last year at Shoe Mania on 34th Street but you can still find similarly colorful ones there now, and everything is 50% off (restrictions apply, etc.). I also saw a black pair at Foot Locker on 34th Street if color is not your thing.

What I really love about these is they are men's outdoor boots that don't look like hiking boots and aren't super dull. They don't even really look like boots.

Yeah, my officemate and his boots are #1.

Shoe Mania, 11 W. 34th between 5th & 6th
Foot Locker, 120 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th

Comme des Scarf Snatchers

I had no Comme des Garcons mojo today. I'd like to blame Jeffrey, who starting messing with my mojo by leaving town for a work thing. There went my CdG date. Luckily, Martin took pity on me yesterday (tired of my whining) and agreed to meet me at Herald Square 8am this morning.

Standing in line about halfway back, Martin and I were having a nice chat about the big Jets game tonight and my Laveranues Coles crush when, at 9am, they began to let the crowd in. We strolled forward, extolling the virtues of Laveranues' game, when suddenly a couple of demon girls came running from behind and cut the line! This is when I knew I was in trouble. I wasted more precious time being civil, saying "good luck" to Martin, then headed for the scarves and wallets table. All I really wanted from this collection (as I knew there would be no jackets at Herald Square) was the scarf.

If only #87 had been there to run scarf patterns for me...

No luck. As I reached down for the last scarf, a girl ran up and snatched it away. I totally got scarf snatched. Amateur! Well, I don't normally do these sales as I can't abide being elbowed and shoved around by multitudes of frantic women. No surprise that almost everything was taken immediately, and virtually no CdG left on the floor at 10am.

The following is sitting in a big H&M bag in my office. I think I'll keep the cute polka dot sweater, and not because several boys begged me to swap for it as soon as I got out of the dressing room. I would have gladly handed it over if one of them had a scarf, but like I said before, no mojo.

The polka dots. Black or red?



















The back and front of trench, the see-through puffy shirt.











And the men? Martin said the trenches were gone immediately. He couldn't even get his hands on one. Same for all the smaller sizes. Martin tried a few things on (pics below) and got a black wool sweater.

Nothing too exciting here, the suit was too big for Martin, but I like the grandpa sweater. Martin didn't like the metallic looking buttons. He also said the shirts were too thin.

















If you're near a CdG-carrying H&M and you missed this morning, follow the advice of my salesclerk: "Come back later, we'll have lots of returns. These girls will get back up to their offices and realize they spent too much money." I know I'll be returning a lot across the street at 42nd & 5th.

And if you find a scarf, I've got a few polka dot things I'd be willing to trade.

H&M Herald Square, 34th & 6th Avenue
H&M, 34th & 7th Avenue

Raiding H&M Men

I always do a quick look-see in the men's departments on 34th Street. Often I am well-rewarded and I'm talking for myself, not the man. From H&M Herald Square, 2nd floor men's Divided:

Cuff ($5.90). I'd normally call this a bracelet, but it's in the guys section so I'll be respectful. Jeffrey was appalled when I pulled it out back at the office: "Studs are so done!" but I love the mix of black and silver studs. And really, I think studs have some life in them this winter, next spring, and for the next punk rock stud revival in what, two, three seasons?

Angora fingerless gloves ($6.90). Men's department? Ha, ha, no, I found them balled up in women's accessories. So cute, even hard for some guys to resist.

Tie ($9.90). This is a perfect skinny tie. I was inspired by that cute tie on the edie rose white shirt last week, and was keeping an eye out for something similar. This is a heavier material, but I think the shape is perfect. Now I need to learn how to tie it proper.

Suspenders ($7.90). These come in white with black piping also, but I was a little worried about the dirt factor as I'll be messing with them all day.

On me, on my male model (yay, Martin's back!), and the gratuitous rear suspenders shot).

Altogether! It's my "Build-a-Drag-King" post just in time for Halloween. And looking at this shot, I'm for sure wearing suspenders not with these skinny black jeans, but baggy boyfriend pants.

H&M Herald Square on 34th @ 6th Ave.