RESTAURANTS: La Bibliotheque

Now it is finally time to investigate a somewhat forgotten Tudor City restaurant, La Bibliotheque, located at 341 E. 43rd Street. For reasons unknown, the building that housed it was never considered a part of Tudor City. Perhaps it was the fact that its main entrance was on First Avenue. 

The restaurant opened in late 1969, and very quickly announced itself as an upscale establishment. They had hired a high-powered press agent to spread the word, and early visitors included Ginger Rogers, Rosalind Russell, Mel Brooks, and Anne Bancroft.

There were three Times reviews over the years ‒ three two-star reviews ‒ noting successful dishes (the "excellent" broiled red snapper) and some not so successful (the "overcooked" roast duck). There was nothing wrong with its wall of books, UN views, and makeshift outdoor space, however.

   

The menu was printed on a facsimile of the French newspaper, Le Monde.

On the inside pages, the menu was laid out. The autograph is unknown, perhaps that of the chef.

This was its story for the next decade. Then, in 1983, came the startling news that the owners had skimmed $790,000 in profits, and soon thereafter they were convicted, and the restaurant closed. The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations took over the space in 1985.

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A special thanks to Fabrice Frere who supplied the matchbook that inspired this post.

Artifact: HOTEL TUDOR HOTELETTER

A bit of fun today via a printed artifact, circa 2007, picturing Hotel Tudor. It had been just been bought by the Procaccianti Group, a real estate investment and management concern, and this 'HOTELetter' celebrated the occasion. 

       

Above, the unfolded item. The reverse is blank, awaiting your inscription.  

The folded envelope.

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And now, we come upon the website of Freedom Plaza, here. Talk about a story that won't die. . .

Instagrammable You

Hello, once again from the wondrous world of Instagram, offering inspiration to our intrepid Instagrammers. 

    

by mrcpix                 

by ericsamuels2      

by therescuedphoto                                

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by fabulousfrederick       

More THEATER PROBLEMS

Once again, a return to an offshoot of Tudor City promotion, that which was aimed at the theatergoer. 

"They come late and leave early ‒ leaving annoyance and irritation in their wake. It's absolutely inexcusable ‒ with Tudor City within easy walking distance of all the theaters."     

   

"Did you stand for thirty minutes hanging to a strap to get here this evening? . . . How much more you would enjoy the play if you had arrived untired and knew that it would take you only ten minutes to get home. And you could do just that if you lived at Tudor City."

"When you deposit your nickel, you don't know whether yours will be standing room for your own feet or whether your feet will be furnishing standing room for someone else's. . . Tudor City offers a definite solution to subway crowding."

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The attached caught our eye recently. "Tudor City Takeover" was part of the sizzle reel of The Millennial Broker on YouTube. Made in 2023, it said there were over 60 micro-apartments in Tudor City for sale, all priced at under $350,000 ‒ and micro because they all measured less than 400 square feet. The video concludes with speedy montage of designers and floor plans with groovy add-ons. See for yourself.

More MISCELLANY

Bowling is back, with this matchbook cover promoting Downtown Bowling ‒ while inside the matchbook, it named Capitol Bowling, Radio City Bowling and Billiards, Grand Central Bowling, and Tudor City Bowling as equally good places. A local chain, it had only one phone number for reservations.  

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Advertisement in Tudor City Service, 1934. 

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A postcard view of the Tudor Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge "in the Royal Tradition" in Hotel Tudor, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and a "lavish cocktail buffet." The enterprise was managed by the team behind Rosoff's Restaurant in Times Square, around since 1899. Postcard, circa 1960.    

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Nicaraguan protestors in 1977 decrying the conditions at home at the UN, with The Woodstock and No. 45 in the background. No action was taken.

 

ABATTOIR CENTER Revisited

 

Finally, pictorial evidence showing how close meatpacking was to Tudor City ‒ a photograph that features both No. 45 (top left) and loose cattle (bottom), pre-slaughterhouse. It was made on 43rd Street, looking west. The truck belonged to ARTHUR BRETH, Quality Meats and Meat Specialties; the fact that it offered Refrigerated Service made it even more ominous. 

The picture was made by Alexander Alland for the special Manhattan issue of Fortune magazine in July, 1939.

Taking a closer look at the Abattoir Center, this photograph of New York Veal & Mutton shows it was located on both sides of 43rd Street along First Avenue. 

Further up at 44th Street, the United Dressed Beef Company plied its trade. 

Judging from the building in the background, this picture seems to have been made on 44th Street near the river. Mutton seems to be on the menu.

Further up the block, United Dressed Beef is followed by Wilson & Co., framed by a Mast-Arm light fixture.

The Abattoir Center, in the evening. For further reading on the subject, see our earlier post.

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And on another matter, a friend asks us to post a link to a petition against the casino. Here it is.

Anatomy of EAST 41ST STREET

Today we examine a photo made in 1930, above, depicting the Hotel Tudor and Essex House. Let's take a closer look.

 

The Hotel Tudor will be opening in two months, and there is still construction going on, with trucks backed up to the 41st Street entrance. Across the street, a row of trees in front of the 3Hs exudes calm amidst the chaos.

Judging from the way cars are parked, 41st Street was a two-way thoroughfare. At bottom right is a Regent 1000, part of the Yellow Taxi Corp of New York. 

Looking upward, the Daily News building, Hotel Tudor and Essex House, a view unchanged nearly a century later.  

At the bottom of the photo, the credits: Fred F. French Company New York / 305-311 E. 41st St / 7-17-1930.