New York Night

I've just completed New York Night by Mark Caldwell. A history of night in New York might conceivably cover many topics; a history of artificial illumination, of New York nightlife - itself a many-headed theme, of the covert activity (sexual and otherwise) that night so often enables, etc. Of course a book of four hundred plus pages is unlikely to be encyclopedic (or even thorough) on all of these topics. And, in fact, Caldwell gives us a little bit about each of the above.

His style is engaging but much of the material is sordid and, at times, morbid and so there were moments when my interest began to flag. On the other hand, Caldwell's account of New York night riots and recent developments in night life was illuminating. Of particular interest was his detailed description of the Stonewall riot of June 1969. Although the event had its frightening and momentous side, it did not lack for comedic flair. When riot police arrived to quell the disturbance, according to Caldwell, they were met by "an opposing formation: a line of men, arms linked, and advancing on them in a chorus-girl kick line and singing,

We are the Stonewall girls,
We wear our hair in curls.
We wear no underwear;
We show our pubic hair!"

Only in the city of Sophie Tucker, Ethel Merman and Tex Guinan!!!