Published by Matt Weber
Photographing NYC for 25 years, six of them while driving a New York City taxi. Trying very hard to capture the city as life unfolds, meaning I never stage any of my photos! Also I am a close confidant of the immortal Dave Beckerman, (quintessential NYC photographer) and owner of the first photography blog in the known universe. View all posts by Matt Weber
Black and White Street Photographs of New York City by Matt Weber 
Very reminiscent of the opening scenes from West Side Story. 🙂
Greg, I have always love West Side Story, so thanks very much!
Every time I walk by the Lincoln Center I think of West Side Story. From what I’ve read, the opening scenes were all filmed in that location shortly before the buildings were demolished. Supposedly one of the playgrounds that was used in the opening sequence still exists on 110th Street and 2nd Avenue…but I’ve made several trips and I just don’t see it.
I travel to NYC once a year and I swear I hear at least one West Side Story reference with each visit while I’m walking the streets of Manhattan….sometimes by teenagers. It really is a timeless production. Unfortunately, the revised version directed by THE Arthur Laurents didn’t live up to my expectations last year. He had a golden opportunity to update the look and dialogue, but he didn’t. Instead he converted crucial dialogue into Spanish which left most of the audience dazed. It may have seemed more “realistic” to him…but it created a sense of disconnect with many of the people paying the high ticket prices.
I went to school right in the heart of the original neighborhood and there are still maybe two or three tenements left that were part of the original area before Lincoln Center. I also wonder about the decision to have the Sharks speak Spanish. I think it makes sense because as a New Yorker I’ve heard Spanish my whole life as I walk anywhere on the West side. As a ticket buyer who just spent $200 for a nice seat, I might feel differently. If I knew a Spanish speaking lady who wanted to see the play, maybe I’d spend the money…