Thursday, January 30, 2014

From Chic Silber


The coincidence of this story after your mention of Calder caught my eye
The I Miller Building is diagonally across Times Square from my office
The air rights were sold & a skyscraper is going up over it so the
landmarked building has been protected during construction

The Broads Are Back
Four statues by Alexander Stirling Calder, unveiled in 1929, depict America’s “best loved actresses,” as chosen in 1927. The statues have been restored and returned to the I. Miller Building
Who are America’s four best-loved actresses?
If you answered Ethel Barrymore, Marilyn Miller, Mary Pickford and Rosa Ponselle — admittedly, a long shot — you’re going to be delighted to know that four diminutive marble statues of these larger-than-life theatrical figures have returned to their golden niches in the landmark I. Miller Building at Broadway and West 46th Street.
The statues, by Alexander Stirling Calder, were unveiled in 1929 and taken away in 2012 to Forestville, Md., for reconstructive surgery. After I. Miller closed in the 1970s, they were neglected while the once elegant store — “The Show Folks Shoe Shop Dedicated to Beauty in Footwear,” as it says under the cornice — tumbled down market, ending up as a T.G.I. Friday’s chain restaurant.

3 comments:

Buckles said...

The Barrymore pose is familiar around this household.

Chic Silber said...


I would wager that the good Lady

Kathleen could do an impressive

Sarah Bernhardt as well

Ole Whitey said...

When this building was going up, I Miller himself asked the public to vote for the leading female stars in four categories: drama, musical comedy, opera and film and these four were the winners. Barrymore for Drama, Marilyn for Musical Comedy, Ponselle for opera and Pickford for film. I am sending Buckles something on Marilyn Miller.