Damn, that was fast. We have an answer to this quiz already.
In seemingly record-breaking turnaround time, Bob Egan weighed in and placed our Lou at the corner of West 45th Street and 6th Ave. Here, Bob explains:
HI Alex,
I’m 99% sure it’s this corner.
The City Lights sign threw me. The sign really says PiZZA. I thought it was a restaurant.
I searched for the album and found Dave Gahr took the photo in 1985..
Then searching Lou Reed and DAVE Gahr in Google Images shows a number of color pictures by him of Lou
Searching Little Italy Pizza turned up 10 places in Manhattn.
I was familiar with the Little Italy Pizza on 55 West 45th. The photo also looked like midtown.
And I knew there was another one across the street and down the block near 6th Ave once, because I always thought it was strange there were two of the same so close.
The corner pizza shop is gone now , but the red city first alarm thing lou is leaning against is still there. Though it seems shorter. But it has the exact same base and tilt.
Also the base of the pilasters on the building behind Lou match with the photo..
In another GAHR picture, Lou seems to be hailling a cab uptown at this same corner.
I’ll send thos other Gahr pics tomorrow. They are on Getty Images.
....26 DOLLARS IN MY HAND.....
Bob
There you have it!!! Bob remains the master. Although, there are still some....
Unsolved quizzes:
What SoHo corner is Spalding Gray standing on?
Where was this Basquiat/Hambleton collaboration painted?
Where was the Harry Crews crew hanging?
What corner is this (originally from this post)?
...and from this quiz, where is Lydia Lunch standing?
...and the arguably unsolvable one, what corner is the Clash's Mick Jones pictured on?
Nicely done.
Posted by: Rick Schindler | March 03, 2013 at 04:02 PM
I assume the Basquiat thing is NOT at 34 East 12th Street.
I believe this theory has been disproven but I still think Mick Jones is at St. Marks and Third Ave/Cooper Square (but I've done zero research to back that up).
Posted by: James C. Taylor | March 04, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Well, on the Basqiuat/Hambleton thing, I actually used to live across the street from 34 East 12th, and there's no bit of facade or edifice that matches up with that texture.
Posted by: Alex in NYC | March 04, 2013 at 01:57 PM
I think Spaulding Gray may have been standing on the southeast corner of Greene and Grand. Some things match like the rings on the columns, the number of divots(?) on the cornerstone and the low hanging fire escape in the background. But other things don't: such as the height of the decorative elements from the pavement and the steps on the building. So just a guess.
Posted by: Deirdre | March 04, 2013 at 02:13 PM