... May 1981. The Clash is set to play the Bond International Casino in NYC's Times Square for what they thought would only be a week-long residency. The grand plan by Bernie Rhodes had been for the band to play selective cities around the world for few days instead of incessant touring visiting many cities. As Joe would say "It's the mountain coming to Mohammad." After Bond, it was to be Theatre Mogodore in Paris in September and to close out at the Lyceum in London in late October.

An old souvenir post card (circa 1940) view looking towards east side. Notice the drapings on the giant male and female figures. They have been "sanitized."

Two souvenir post cards (circa 1940) view from 44th Street towards northeast side. Notice the north bound cars on right side. Today all traffic moves south bound. On this postcard the figures are au natural!

New Year's Eve in Times Square - Bond "Two Trouser Suits". What a deal!!!

A photo from 43rd Street looking north. Probably taken from the One Times Sqaure rooftop. One Times Square is the location of the annual New Year's Eve giant ball drop with the New Year count down...

Circa 1950. The gigantic nude figures are gone and replaced by Pepsi bottles and bottle cap. Underneath the signs was a Woolworth store and Regal shoe store.

Times Square/Bond in the 50's looking north.

The Paramount Theatre on lower left is showing Hitchcock's "To Catch A Thief". There is now a Hard Rock Cafe on that location and a few steps up north is the MTV studios.

A page from book on history of Times Square. The caption reads -

START OF THE BIG 1978 SNOW
Temperature on the Coke sign reads 16 degrees (fahrenheit), which doesn't include the wind chill factor.

A page from the "AIA (American Institute of Architects) Guide To New York City". Bond was built between 1935-1936. The clock broke many years before the Clash played and notice that the second hand wedged underneath the minute hand. Ring, ring 2:30PM...

Another page from the same book.

DOWN TO THE GROUND AND BACK UP
Demolition of the Loew Building in 1987 proceeded from April (left), to May (top right), to July (bottom right and left on facing page). Plans for One Broadway Place, which replaced it were by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. There is now a Planet Hollywood, headquarter of Bertlesmann media company and few steps north, the Virgin Megastore where the Lowe Builiding once stood.