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The Flatiron Building (split from Citi Field)

Farmer Ted Apr 11 2008 07:20 AM

Another wind phenomenom occurs in midtown Manhatten. Maybe this is somewhat similar and knocks the balls down. Does anyone know somebody at Accuweather for crissakes? Perhaps the most widely known possible source of the expression 23 skidoo derives from the area around the triangular-shaped Flatiron Building at Madison Square in New York City. The building is located on 23rd Street at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, and due to the complex geography of the intersection and unusual architectural style of the building, the winds swirl around the building. In the Roaring Twenties groups of men would gather to watch women walking by have their skirts blown up, revealing ankles which were seldom seen in public at that time. Local constables, breaking up these groups of men, were said to be "giving them the 23 Skidoo".

soupcan Apr 11 2008 07:25 AM

I spent a good portion of my adolescence and young adult years in and around that neighborhood and have never heard that story. The Flatiron building has always been my favorite building in the City. If its true, I love it, but I have my doubts. Where'd you get that?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 11 2008 07:33 AM

We ankle fetishists still hang around there.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 11 2008 08:01 AM

I've heard that 23 Skidoo story as well. And I too love the Flatiron Building. I have a very large framed black and white photo of the Flatiron hanging in my family room. (It was so big I had to ask my brother-in-law to pick it up for me in my truck.) It was $250 at Deck the Walls.

soupcan Apr 11 2008 08:07 AM

My dad told me that when the Flatiron building was built it was the tallest building in the world.

AG/DC Apr 11 2008 08:14 AM

Not quite, but it was up there. My dad told me German was a romance language.

soupcan Apr 11 2008 08:18 AM

Myth busted! Dad a liar!

Farmer Ted Apr 11 2008 11:31 AM

I first learned of it on a PBS special circa 1999, "A Walk Up Broadway". A WALK UP BROADWAY WITH DAVID HARTMAN Journalist David Hartman joins historian Barry Lewis on an "urban safari" up Broadway -- from Manhattan's tip to its top -- to shed light on more than four centuries of New York City history.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 11 2008 11:39 AM

Some interesting stuff about the Flatiron Building in the Wikipedia article. It offers a different source for the 23 Skidoo story, and indirectly confirms that it was never the tallest building in the world (I too had thought that it once held that title) by mentioning that a building on Park Row is older and taller. More photos here: http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GRP/GRP024.htm (I think this thread is getting into spinoff territory...)

soupcan Apr 11 2008 11:50 AM

Grimm - you must have loved that they used it for 'The Daily Bugle' in the Spidey movies.

sharpie Apr 11 2008 12:07 PM

Lot of friends of mine have worked or are working there. They mostly like it but say that the elevators don't work well and that the odd shape of the building make for weird office space. I really like the little sandwich shop across 5th from it (Eisenberg's). Though I don't work near there I make a point to have lunch their at least once a year.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 11 2008 12:17 PM

soupcan wrote: Grimm - you must have loved that they used it for 'The Daily Bugle' in the Spidey movies. I did get a kick out of that.