HISTORY OF TIMES SQUARE
NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS

The first rooftop celebration atop One Times Square, complete with
a fireworks display, took place in 1904. The New York Times
produced this event to inaugurate its new headquarters in Times
Square and celebrate the renaming of Longacre Square to Times
Square.

The first Ball Lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held
on December 31, 1907 and is now a worldwide symbol of the turn of
the New Year, seen via satellite by more than one billion people
each year.

In 1942 and 1943 the Ball Lowering was suspended due to the
wartime dimout. The crowds who still gathered in Times Square
celebrated with a minute of silence followed by chimes ringing out
from an amplifier truck parked at One Times Square.

The original New Year's Eve Ball weighed 700 pounds and was 5 feet
in diameter. It was made of iron and wood and was decorated with
100 25-watt light bulbs.

The New Year's Eve Ball is the property of the building owners of
One Times Square.

Ball Design by Waterford Crystal

• The Ball is a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, and weighs
approximately 1,070 pounds.

• The Ball is covered with a total of 504 Waterford crystal
triangles that vary in size, and range in length from 4¾ inches to
5¾ inches per side.

• For Times Square 2004, 72 of the crystal triangles will feature
the new Hope for Unity design which consists of three flowing cut
motifs converging to form one singular pattern from which scores
of brilliant individual cuts radiate outward. The remaining 432
triangles feature Waterford designs from previous years (i.e. 72
Hope for Courage, 72 Hope for Healing, 72 Hope for Abundance, and
216 Star of Hope triangles).

• The 504 Waterford crystal triangles are bolted to 168
translucent triangular lexan panels which are attached to the
aluminum frame of the Ball.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ball Light Bulbs Developed by Philips Lighting Company

• The exterior of the Ball is illuminated by 168 Philips Halogená
Brilliant Crystal light bulbs, exclusively engineered for the New
Year’s Eve Ball to enhance the Waterford crystal.

• The interior of the Ball is illuminated by 432 Philips Light
Bulbs (208 clear, 56 red, 56 blue, 56 green, and 56 yellow), and
96 high-intensity strobe lights, which together create bright
bubbling bursts of color.

• The exterior of the Ball features 90 rotating pyramid mirrors
that reflect light back into the audience at Times Square.

• The 696 lights and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors are computer
controlled, enabling the Ball to produce a state-of-the-art light
show of eye-dazzling colorful patterns and a spectacular
kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square.


(Top-Greetings.com)