CHRONOLOGY OF NEW YORK CITY'S FACTUAL "FIRST" 1524-1999
Researched and Compiled by Miriam Medina

S    E   C    T    I    O    N

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*Please note this is a work in progress. New researched information will be added periodically.

1964

1) The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York, first opens.

2) 1964 The Institute and Department of Environmental Medicine are established. *(NYU)

3) Hello Dolly!"" opened on Broadway, January 16, 1964. *(afp.com)

4) The Beatles first United States visit began in New York City, February7, 1964. *(afp.com)

5) Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway, September 22, 1964 *(afp.com)

6) In 1964, the Fire department received the first Mack aerial scope, Tower Ladder 1, and began using rotary power saws to cut
through metal, concrete, and wood to slice ventilation holes in roofs. *FDNY

7) John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the city universities in New York was founded in 1964. * (t.a.)

8) Audrey Cohen College in New York City was founded in 1964.

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1) Herman Badillo was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to the borough presidency (1965) and later to the U.S. Congress;

2) First massive power failure on November 9, causes a blackout in seven states on the Eastern Seaboard. Parts of New York City, including Manhattan, do not have power until the next morning. All electric transit systems, suburban trains, streetlights, and elevators are shut down.

3) Man of La Mancha" opened on Broadway, November 22, 1965. *(afp.com)

4) Center for the Study of the Presidency at 926 Fifth Avenue in New York City was founded in 1965. Its purpose to provide a political background and an interpretation of critical issues relating to the American Presidency. * (Museums)

5) 1965, the Landmarks Preservation Commission is established.


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1) This day, The Fantasticks, became the longest-running musical in New York theater history, surpassing the previous record of 2717 performances set by My Fair Lady, 1966 *(afp.com)

2) Cabaret, a musical by Joe Masteroff, John Kander, and Fred Edd, based on the play I Am a Camera, by John van Druten,, opened at the Broadhurst Theater in New York City, 1966. *(afp.com)

3) In 1966, the department began using High-Expansion Foam (Hi-Ex) *FDNY

4) 1966 Brooklyn Heights is designated as New York's first Historic District. * (BTL)

5) The National Organization for Woman is founded; Betty Friedan is the 1st National President. * (nyct)

6) Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, N.Y. was founded in 1966.

7) Marine Midland Bank on 140 Broadway was built in 1966. * (t.a.)

8) Home Insurance Co. at 59 Maiden Lane was completed in 1966. * (t.a.)

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1) "Hair", the first rock musical and the first mainstream musical to contain nudity,
moves to Broadway.

2) To prevent stroke or sudden heart attack, Dr. Sol Sobel, a New York heart surgeon, refines the technique of endarterectomy by
injecting carbon dioxide gas into clogged arteries to loosen and remove fatty deposits.*nyca

3) In New York City, the 911 emergency phone number is first inaugurated.

4) The first black woman in Congress, Shirley Chisholm, represents Brooklyn; she is later the first woman to run for President. * ( NYCT)

5) Jacob K. Javits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza was completed in 1967. * (t.a.)

6) Muriel "Mickey" Siebert becomes the first woman to own a seat on the Stock Exchange and the first woman to head one of its member firms.

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1) 1968 - St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City started the USA's first mobile coronary care unit.

2) Ed Bullins, American playwright, novelist and poet. Bullins moved into prominence in the New York theatre in 1968 with his first production of one-act plays, including Clara's Old Man, The Electronic Nigger. He received
the New York Drama Critic's Circle best play award. * (Benet's)

3) Al Pacino, American actor, b. New York City, he achieved his first successes on the New York stage, winning an Obie for his work in the off-Broadway "Indian Wants the Bronx "(1968) and a Tony for his Broadway debut in "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? (1969). * (Bartleby)

4) General Motors at 767 Fifth avenue was built in 1968. * (t.a.)

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1) On October 16, 1969, the "Miracle Mets" captured their first World Series at Shea Stadium. (newsday.com - C. Blair)

2) Chemical Bank installs the first cash dispensing machine in the New York area in a branch in Rockville Center, Long Island. *nyca

3) The gay rights movement begins in New York with the Stonewall Inn Riot, in protest of a police raid of a dance club and bar in Greenwich Village.

4) Midgar Evans College in Brooklyn, N.Y. was founded in 1969. * (t.a.)

5) One Astor Plaza at 1515 Broadway was built in 1969. * (t.a.)

6) Associated Councils of the Arts, 570 Seventh Ave., N.Y., N.Y., was established in 1969. * (w.a.)

1970

1) World Trade Center (Minoru Yamasaki and Emery Roth and Sons): 110 stories,1,350 feet. (world's tallest until Sears Tower, 1974). * (sky-tl)

2) The first New York City Marathon - 126 runners do laps in Central Park . * (NYCT)

3) Bronx resident Herman Badillo becomes the first Puerto Rican Congressman. * (NYCT)

4) The first "Earth Day" is celebrated in Central Park. * (NYCT)

5) Ada Louise Huxtable, American architecture critic, b. New York City. Huxtable was awarded (1970) the first Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

6) 50,000 march in New York City in honor of the first Women's Strike for Equality. (1970) * (WTL)

7) New York Telephone at 1095 Avenue of the Americas was completed in 1970. * (t.a.)

1971

1) The Prisoner of Second Avenue, a play by Neil Simon starring Pete Falkand Lee Grant opened at the Eugene
O'Neill Theater in New York City, 1971*(afp.com)

2) Jesus Christ Superstar, a rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theater, October 12, 1971.*(afp.com)

3) The first legalized off track betting system (OTB) in the United States opened in New York City in 1971. * (bartleby)

1972

1) South Street Seaport restoration established.

2) National Association for Female Executives at 30 Irving Place in New York City was established in 1972. * (t.a.)

3) McGraw Hill Building at 1221 Avenue of America was completed in 1972. *(t.a.)

4) World Trade Center One was completed in 1972.

5) One Penn Plaza at 250 W. 34th street was completed in 1972. * (t.a.)

6) 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at 885 2nd Avenue was completed in 1972. * (t.a.)

1973

1) World Trade Center Two dedicated.

2) Irwin Kruger, owner/operator of the Broadway & 42nd Street McDonald's restaurant, opened the first McDonald's restaurant in New York City in 1973.

3) 1973 - The Robert Joffrey Dance Company opened with a unique presentation in New York City *(a.com)

4) The first meeting, creating the Richmond Hill Block Association, was held at the Democratic Club, 114-07 Jamaica Ave. on October 14, 1973.

5) Samuel Ramey, American operatic bass, debuted with the New York City Opera in Bizet's Carmen in 1973. * (Bartleby)

6) 1 Liberty Plaza at 165 Broadway was completed in 1973.

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1) International Center of Photography at 1130 Fifth ave (at 94th St.) NYC is the first and only museum in the city devoted exclusively to photography. It was established by Cornell Capa, who made it the most influential institution in both photo journalism and photographic art in New York. It opened on October, 1974.

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1) Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American canonized by the Roman Catholic church, was a native of Lower Manhattan. Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975, making her the first American-born saint.

2) One of the first designated national cancer centers is established at NYU, later named the Rita and Stanley H. Kaplan Center.*(NYU)

3) A Chorus Line opened on Broadway, May 21,1975.*(afp.com)

4) David Mamet, American playwright made his Broadway debut in 1977 with American Buffalo) * (benet's

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1) Museum of Broadcasting at 1 East 53rd Street in New York City, opened in 1976. The museum is dedicated to the study and preservation of the more than 50 year history of American radio and television broadcasting. * (Museums)

B) On July 4, 1976 the United States celebrated its 200th anniversary of independence with festivals, parades and N.Y.C.'s Operation Sail, a gathering of tall ships from around the world. * (t.a.)

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1) On November 22, 1977, regular supersonic passenger service began when two Concorde flights landed at JFK after three-and-a-half hour flights: (Newsday.com - C. Blair)

2) 1977 - Elton John became the first musician to be honored in New York.

3) David Mamet, American playwright made his Broadway debut in 1977 with American Buffalo) * (benet's

C4) City's Madison Square Hall Of Fame. *(a.com)

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