Amidst all the calamity, a grace note: see between the JUST INSIDE sign and the Beefeater? That's the Miller shoe shop, with the words "The Show Folks' Shoe Shop - Dedicated to Beauty in Footwear" above four niches with statues of famous actresses.

Well, famous in the 20s, anyway. Marilyn Miller, shown on the left (author's photo c. 2003) was one of the most popular Broadway stars of her time. She died in 1936 from complications following . . . nasal surgery. But she's immortal now; the building has landmark status and the statues were removed in 2012 for cleaning and repair.

They're the work of Alexander Calder - the father of the modern sculptor whose fame eclipsed the work of old dad. Just as new Times Square drove out the memory of a place where the competition for the eyeball was somewhat less intense, and the great signs had room to crow.