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Arts & Entertainment

Video: Spend 9 Minutes In The 1940s Subway System


By

Jen Carlson

Published Sep 1, 2015

Modified Sep 1, 2015


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By

Jen Carlson

Published Sep 1, 2015

Modified Sep 1, 2015


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We've seen the subway system in the 1940s through the lens of Stanley Kubrick, but below you can immerse yourself in it during a 9-minute short film capturing everything from the tokens and old school turnstiles, to the conductors and signal tower workers, to commuters causing delays by holding the doors, to the vending machines that used to be on platforms. (Later, it was horoscope machines.)

Think all of this equipment looks archaic? Most of it is still being used today!

Take a longer look around 1940s NYC right here. [From the New York Transit Museum Archives via Reddit]

Tagged

1940s

1949

flashback

history

subway


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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