1906. This view shows The New York Times building — the tallest structure — facing downtown. On the left are signs for the Broadway Theatre and on the right, an incandescent blade sign for Hoster’s Brewing Co.

1908. A postcard provides the opposite view of the building and its “TIMES” sign which gives the area its name.

1924. Major companies such as Chevrolet and Maxwell House became mainstays, as did tobacco advertising, which was not only legal but encouraged.

1930. This sepia-toned action shot captures Times Square at the start of the Great Depression. All Quiet on the Western Front, the year’s Oscar-winning film for Best Picture based on the German World War I novel, ran in theaters at the time.

1930s. Another postcard offers a painterly nightscape featuring the Hotel Astor and a new company joining Chevrolet at the crossroads, Coca-Cola.

1933. Different postcard, similar point of view, though closer to street level. Look closely on the right and you’ll see Bob Hope’s name above “VAUDEVILLE.”

1937. Corner of West 46th St. Planters Peanuts had supplanted Chevrolet with their animated pouring bag and tagline “a bag a day for more pep.”

1938. Plenty to see, including more vaudeville by Dave Apollon & New Revue (left) and Ronald Colman in The Prisoner of Zenda (right).

1942. Where is everyone? With the US having recently joined World War II, two people apparently dressed as 19th-century baseball players — complete with bats — haunt the landscape. Times were tough with the top advertising spot vacant but Pepsi had replaced Coke closer to the ground.

1947. People are back and enjoying the passing cart of jazz musicians. Beginning a streak, two signs advertising alcohol dominate.

1948. A bit left of the previous photo, one sees the line of theaters — Astor, Victoria, Strand — and others. Not to be outdone, signs promoting Howard Hughes’ The Outlaw “introducing” Jane Russell can be seen at far left and farther down the street to the right.

1949. Night shot showing Chevrolet reclaiming top spot, Kinsey and Ruppert still in their places, and an impressive Pepsi-Cola wall of light.

1954. Plenty of pigeons could cover the sidewalks as blockbuster films On the Waterfront and A Star Is Born gave even more reasons to take shelter from the rain.

1955. Expect the unexpected in Times Square. One wonders how effective this massive litter basket was. Don’t miss the projecting Pepsi bottle cap (left) or Burt Lancaster in The Rose Tattoo (right).

1956. One last glance from the opposite direction. Fifty years witnessed many changes to the Great White Way. No more trolleys but more signs than ever, many of them landmarks for decades to come.