Babe's House: Before The Renovation

Dig this very cool shot of Yankee Stadium, taken a year or two before it was closed at the end of the '73 season for massive renovations. (Photo courtesy of THIS amazing site.)

Not only does this shot give you an idea of how supremely funky the area around "The House That Ruth Built" truly was in the early 70s, but it also showcases two things you're not likely to see near major league ballparks (or anywhere else) these days: namely, billboards for Benson & Hedges cigarettes and Afro Sheen.

There probably aren't too many ballparks with little movie theaters tucked away behind the left field bleachers, either. How righteous would it have been to see Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson and Sparky Lyle in action during an afternoon game, then grab a drink at the corner bar and go catch a screening of, say, Across 110th Street? I tried to blow up the image to see what (or who) was playing there at the time this pic was taken, but no dice. However, my friend Michael Fallon says it's Romance of a Horse Thief, a 1971 western starring Yul Brynner and Eli Wallach. Well played, Michael!

Comments

[Michael Fallon]

Romance of a Horsethief, with Yul Brenner and Eli Wallach (you can see both names above the title). (I just posted this on Facebook...)
-M

[Michael Fallon]

Great post, BTW. And great tip on the photo site.
-M