Sunday, October 6, 2024

Jack’s Diner

[56 3rd Avenue, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, c. 1939–1941. From the NYC Municipal Archives Collections. Click for a much larger view.]

I like seeing a diner wherever there’s space for one. Yeah, it oughta fit. See also the Loring Grill, the Tiny Diner, and the Unique Diner.

At this address today: a large building. (What did you expect?)

[From the 1940 telephone directory. Click for a larger view.]

The WPA fellow at the placard looks as if he might have time-traveled in from the Nouvelle Vague. But I could be wrong.

Related reading
More photographs from the NYC Municipal Archives (Pinboard) ]

comments: 6

Anonymous said...

Found this on the hotel in the background.
https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:xg94ht148

Michael Leddy said...

Thanks, Anon. Their proximity to Jack’s Diner no doubt attracted discerning travelers.

Fresca said...

Almost looks like Truffaut! I love seeing the person holding the sign---is this unusual? (I hadn't noticed a person before.(

Michael Leddy said...

He does look like Truffaut! Thank you for agreeing. It’s not that unusual to see one of the workers. I wonder if weather might have played a part -- holding the stand against the wind. If someone is in the photograph, it’s often with head down.

Sad: there’s (literally) nothing known about the guys (all guys) who did this work. The NYC Municipal Archives had a post about them and hoped that someone would recognize a relative.

J D Lowe said...

I wonder if that is an old Mack truck peeking out of the photo's right edge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_AC

Michael Leddy said...

It sure looks like it — which I can say only because I followed the link.