Times Square

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The source does not mention Ghostbusters, Gozer, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, or any supernatural events. It describes Times Square as a commercial and entertainment hub, the site of the annual New Year's Eve ball drop (which began on December 31, 1907), and the eastern terminus of the Lincoln Highway. It notes that the area was renamed in 1904 after The New York Times moved its headquarters to the Times Building, now One Times Square. The source covers the area's history from Dutch settlement through the 1990s, including its decline from the 1960s to early 1990s when it became known for go-go bars, sex shops, and adult theaters, described by a 1981 Rolling Stone article as the "sleaziest block in America."

In Their Own Story

Rain slicked the pavement beneath towering billboards that flickered with static. A tourist dropped his camera, staring upward as the sky darkened not with clouds, but with sugar. The crunch of crumbling masonry echoed louder than the sirens. Three beams of blue light cut through the haze, aiming at a giant foot descending toward the marquee.

Reader's Guide

Located at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, this area is usually defined by tourist traffic and theater marquees. In the supernatural timeline, it was selected as the destination for Gozer's physical form following a ritualistic summoning elsewhere. The key event occurring here involves the arrival of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, who caused significant structural damage to surrounding skyscrapers before being neutralized. The significance lies in how this public space became the proving ground for the Ghostbusters' legitimacy. While other locations housed hauntings within private buildings, Times Square represented a threat to the entire city's infrastructure and population. Following the incident, cleanup crews worked extensively to remove debris and restore the commercial district to its normal state. Visitors today may not notice residual ectoplasmic residue, but the memory of that night remains etched in the building foundations. It stands as a reminder that even amidst modern commerce, ancient forces can manifest without warning.

Did You Know?

• Times Square draws an estimated 50 million visitors annually.
• Approximately 330,000 people pass through Times Square daily, with over 460,000 on its busiest days.
• The area was renamed Times Square on April 8, 1904, after The New York Times moved its headquarters there.
• The annual New Year's Eve ball drop began on December 31, 1907.
• Times Square is the eastern terminus of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across the United States for motorized vehicles.