Remnants of Gritty Old Times Square Tour

Explore / New York / Walking & Food Tours

Let us take you back to the halcyon days when 42nd Street was the Deuce, Eighth Avenue was the Minnesota Strip, the Great White Way was a red light district, and the Crossroads of the World was XXX-rated. We will see former peepshows, grindhouses, adult book stores, dive bars, hotsheet hotels, sex clubs, porno theaters, and massage parlors–not to mention all three locations of the New York Times. We will discover the personalities who made Times Square what it was: the King of the Peeps; the reclusive genius behind the McDonalds of Sex; the woman who built a gay and S&M porn empire; the slumlord with two suitcases filled with gold and five wives; and the Catholic priest who flew too close to the neon sun and crashed and burned.

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Let us take you back to the halcyon days when 42nd Street was the Deuce, Eighth Avenue was the Minnesota Strip, the Great White Way was a red light district, and the Crossroads of the World was XXX-rated. We will see former peepshows, grindhouses, adult book stores, dive bars, hotsheet hotels, sex clubs, porno theaters, and massage parlors–not to mention all three locations of the New York Times. We will discover the personalities who made Times Square what it was: the King of the Peeps; the reclusive genius behind the McDonalds of Sex; the woman who built a gay and S&M porn empire; the slumlord with two suitcases filled with gold and five wives; and the Catholic priest who flew too close to the neon sun and crashed and burned.

  • Learn about about the largest sex emporium in New York City (and maybe the world), the freak show where Diane Arbus found her inspiration, as well as the last remaining hot sheet hotel and live peep show in Times Square

  • Discover the dirtiest hotel in America, the oldest building on 42nd Street (it’s not what you think), and the most dangerous block in New York City

  • Visit sites for classic films like Midnight Cowboy (1969) and Taxi Driver (1976)

Normally

$41.34

Important information

  • The tour will show some graphic vintage photographs which may not be appropriate for all ages.
  • The tour ends at 50th St. and 8th Ave.
  • This tour is mostly outdoors.
  • The tour does cover a lot of uneven ground, and there are a lot of crowds to navigate.

Address

  • Meeting Point: The tour starts in front of the statue of Father Duffy, located on 7th Ave between 46th and 47th St. The statue is at the bottom of the red stairs.

    How To Get There: By subway: 1 & 2 to 50 St Station
    B, D, F to 42 St – Bryant Park Station
    A,C,E to 42 St – Port Authority Bus Terminal
    N, Q, R, W to Time Square -42nd Street

Opening Hours

Duration: 2 Hours

Instructions

  • Present your digital ticket upon arrival on your reserved date and time.

Cancellation Policy

Unused tickets may be refunded up to 72 hours prior to scheduled tour date.

Normally

$41.34

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