No Escape from Forbidden Planet

There are a few since-vanished locales in Manhattan that, for one reason or another, have very special resonance for me. I'm continually haunted by what West 8th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues used to be (and what it's turning into). I'm strangely drawn to photographs of the old mural at the intersection of Bleecker and Lafayette. I'm forever searching for pictures of a clutch of long-shuttered record, disc and comic shops all around the island. I'm not sure exactly why, but I suppose these and other places are indicative of the New York City of my youth.

Another place that I'd also include in this august list is Forbidden Planet. I've already devoted more than a few posts to it (see below). Now, Forbidden Planet never really left us. It moved across the avenue and, more recently, down the block a bit. But its original address on the corner of East 12th Street and Broadway (when it had that massive, Brian Bolland-illustrated signage) is the one that I carry the torch for. I was a child the first time I walked in, gasping in awe, doubtlessly, and its seemingly sprawling interior.

That location closed some time in the early 90's, I believe, and it moved to far less magical places across the street. The former site became a shoe emporium called "No Difference" for quite some time before turning into (yet another) Pret a Manger.

I recently spotted the great shots below of the original Forbidden Planet on this blog, and my heart skipped a beat. Enjoy.

More about Forbidden Planet over the years:
Farewell to Forbidden Planet?
You Have Been Judged
Forbidden Broadway
Back to the Planet ... Again
Back to the Planet
Here's Where it Happened

 

 

Comments

[Ivan]

Ah, my youth. There was a basement, correct? Also, wasn't there a record store across the street (south on Broadway) in the early '90s?

[Paul]

I'm also slightly obsessed with the original Forbidden Planet location. My dad took me there a couple of times in the 80's to buy Doctor Who stuff. Then when I went to college in the East Village I used to go there all the time (I may have actually partially decided to go to school in NYC just to be able to frequent this place). I used to go to the location on 59th St as well. The new location seems like just an avg run of the mill comic shop now. Really kind of sad. I always wondered what made them leave the original location - my guess is the rent once that area started becoming gentrified.

[Kyle]

Oh man, the first time I went there.... And yes, Ivan, there was a basement. I would make so many trips there during the mid-80's to the early 90's, practically WEEKLY visits. Bought comics/t-shirts/VHS on the ground floor, GI Joe and Transformers downstairs.And that ceiling display with the figures and vehicles hung w/fishing line in a giant diorama.So many memories.