The Eternal Space will visually recreate the marvel of the former Pennsylvania Station using the actual photographs that documented the station’s demise. [...] Using the latest in projection technology these arresting photographs will speak to the tragic demolition of an American architectural masterpiece [...] On the 50th anniversary of that great loss, The Eternal Space will pay tribute to the station and the gifted photographers who worked to immortalize it. — theeternalspaceplay.com
Architects, historians, and all urban enthusiasts are invited to a free evening event that will acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the demolition of NYC's Pennsylvania Station on Nov. 6 at the AIA | NY Center for Architecture. Hosted by AIA | NY, the program will begin with a live reading of selected scenes from The Eternal Space, a two-man stage play set during the Penn Station's demolition, which began on Oct. 28, 1963.
The play presents a dialogue on the value of old vs. new, past vs. present, and all the timeless arguments that come with them that last to this day. The Eternal Space also points out the ongoing yet overlooked debate on the preservation of historic structures in New York and throughout the U.S. Never-published photography of the demolition from some of the subject's most notable photographers will provide the scenic backdrop for the staged reading.
The reading will be followed by a panel discussion — moderated by Curbed NY Senior Editor Hana Alberts — featuring noteworthy photographers, historians, preservations, and urbanists. Confirmed panelists include Norman McGrath (architectural photographer); James Stamp (architectural historian); Justin Rivers (playwright of The Eternal Space); and Lorraine Diehl (author of The Late, Great Pennsylvania Station). More panelists will be announced upon confirmation.
This one-night event is free to all, but registration is required. Click here to register.
To learn more, click here.
Photos ⓒ Norman McGrath, courtesy of AIA | NY.
2 Comments
This and the destruction of New York City papers in the 60s heralded for me the end of dignity in our modern era... These have been getting worse and worse...
My father was very active in preservation efforts.
The imminent destruction of Pennsylvania Station sparked action in the architectural community. In 1962, a group of young, prominent architects banded together in an attempt to save the iconic building. They called themselves AGBANY, the Action Group for Better Architecture in New York. When the group failed to save it from demolition, they turned Penn Station into a martyr to incite a desire for preservation of the rich heritage and beauty of New York City’s past.
AGBANY started off small with only six members. The founders included Norman Jaffe, Peter Samton, Jordan Gruzen, Diana Kirsch, Elliot Willensky, and Norval White, all young up-and-coming architects. Initially, they believed that there would be much public support for the preservation of Penn Station, a building that had become a national icon. However, the average New Yorker did not seem to care about the destruction of the railroad station. Elliot Willensky, a founding member of AGBANY, had described most people’s attitudes toward the demolition, saying “There was no consciousness among most New Yorkers of the value of old architecture. It wasn’t so much a desire to wipe out the old. It was simply a lack of recognition of the old having any kind of wealth.”1 People placed more value on modernity and efficiency. The group attempted to gain public support through picketing. “One of the things we thought we would do was we would be well dressed, and we would do these wonderful signs that were hand-lettered by architects,” said founding member Peter Samton. Even with these attempts, AGBANY could not convince the public of the importance of Penn Station's preservation.
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