When you think of Broadway in New York City, you usually think of the sea of lights in Times Square and the many theaters and musicals.
But the world-famous street is more than that:
At more than 25 kilometers, the longest and oldest north-south crossing of Manhattan meanders through the metropolis.
But what did Broadway actually look like in the past?
From the work of film pioneers the Lumiere brothers, this film shows the hustle and bustle of Broadway in 1896.
Clearly visible in the background: New York’s Trinity Church.
Comparative images make it clear how much this section of road has changed in 127 years.
This short clip from 1920 shows the hustle and bustle of Times Square.
42 years later, in 1962, the tourist magnet looks like this.
Today, the characteristic billboards are hard to imagine.
The videos make it clear how much the metropolis has changed over the years – but also that distinctive elements of the cityscape have survived.