Regular readers here may remember a spate of photo quizzes I put up last summer, wherein I tried to pinpoint the exact locations of several images shot in or around New York City of some of my favorite bands. While I was fairly successful in doing so, there were a couple of shots that still managed to elude me. One such photo was the shot by Ebet Roberts of The Cure above, an image that prompted no less than five consecutive posts. Over the course of same, Bob Egan of PopSpots NYC got involved (who I recently wrote about here). While I was somewhat content to chalk the photo up as "unsolvable," the intrepid Mr. Egan -- who, by his own admission, isn't even really a fan of the Cure -- got straight to work. And when Bob Egan gets to pop-spottin', you best look out.
So, over the last couple of weeks, Bob managed to solve the riddle. Here's a bit of his own explanation:
Hi Alex, I’m 99.9% sure I have it, The Cure, so to speak. (Just need to find a picture of a building that was knocked down). I have photos with about 5 very substantial clues circled which I can send to you. (But I thought you might want to guess first) Here’s a hint: I think they walked from Hurrah’s to the Museum of Natural History, bought some gifts at the gift shop (they all have white bags, one has a blow-up plane), then walked back, and had their photo taken on the way. (UPDATe: I think they went to a Toy Store on Columbus)) Another hint: The building that contained #406 is no longer with us. Best, Bob
P.s. 406 Columbus is gone. For Google maps use: 410 Columbus (bet 79-80) Pps. I am also trying to find a picture of the 1/2 block of stores behind them that has now been replaced by a tall apartment building. There’s a bar with an awning that says “Publick House” Not sure if it’s the name of the bar though, or a description. PPS: By the way they are standing outside of what is today a toy store called Homboms. That wasn’t open then according to the people in the store, but a famous toy store existed in the neighborhood called Pennywhistle owned by Tom Brokow’s wife, Meredith, for many years. Maybe that’s what’s in the bags and the blow up airplane.
And like a good mathematician, Bob is admirably able to show his work in typically exhaustively thorough detail. See below, and click on each to enlarge:
So, anyway, hats off again to Bob Egan. He promises a post of his own devoted to same on PopShots sometime in January, so keep your eyes open for that. In the interim, here are the Cure from the same era as the photograph above:
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