The all new Times Square ball (Photo by Julien Aleksandres) You might think we're referring to the Philadelphia Phillies, but today we talk about a more festive subject: New Year's Eve in Times Square. Hardly an American alive today has not witnessed the ritual -- an evening of television entertainment (be it hosted by Guy Lombardo or Dick Clark), interrupted by frequent updates from a guy in the heart of New York's theatre district counting down the moments until the New Year. But how did it all start? Back in 1907, the city fathers of New York outlawed firecrackers, but still wanted to go all-out to ring in 1908. Their solution? Drop a "high-tech" wood-and-iron sphere (adorned with 100 25-watt bulbs!) from a flagpole in Times Square. Over the years, the ball has gotten more sophisticated (the current version boasts LED lights and Waterford Crystal), but the process remains the same. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people (in varying states of sobriety) huddle together in the cold, ignore the lack of bathroom facilities, and see in the New Year. And the most important piece of continuity is the smallest -- the ball is still hand-lowered by a guy pulling on a rope. 21st Century technology, indeed! Suggested Sites... Times Square - the Crossroads of the World. New Year's Eve in Times Square - everything from how to get there to where to stand. Earthcam: Times Square Cam - if you can't be there or be near a TV, watch it live. Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve 2008 - a tradition almost as old as dropping the ball. Wikipedia: Guy Lombardo - the guy who once said, "When I die, I'm taking New Year's Eve with me."

Directory categories: Times Square, New Year, Manhattan, New Year Events, New York City Entertainment

Archived under: Anniversaries, Broadway, Events, Holidays, New Year, New York, Parties, Times Square

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