The Times Square Tradition

If you watch the countdown to the new year from Times Square via television tonight, you'll be observing a traditional ritual that began more than a century ago.

The first New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square was held on Dec. 31, 1904. It wasn't known as Times Square in those days. In 1904, it was known as Longacre Square.

I don't know if the celebration has been held every year since then. But, if it has, there may have been some conflict in New York on New Year's Eve five years later. On Dec. 31, 1909, Manhattan Bridge opened.

Of course, I suppose the opening of the bridge was held during daylight hours — presumably leaving plenty of time to get to Longacre Square or wherever one planned to be at midnight 99 years ago.

Some important people began their lives on New Year's Eve.

• Henri Matisse (1869)


• George C. Marshall (1880)


• Simon Wiesenthal (1908)


• Odetta (1930)


• Anthony Hopkins (1937)


• Ben Kingsley (1943)

And legendary country singer Hank Williams Sr. died on New Year's Eve 1952. He was 29.