On another hot, blue sky day, a trip up to E 126 St was eagerly anticipated. A Great Day in Harlem: Art Kane's photograph (1958), Jean Bach's documentary film about the occasion (1994), the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's Harlem '58 album (2021), the subject matter of the iconic Esquire magazine photo continues to fascinate six decades on.
Brownstone buildings were at the forefront of a sepia-tinted mind's eye, would the romance of it all live up to expectations? The subway Uptown was hot, hot, hot. Mid-morning, emerging onto the streets of Harlem, folk were going about their business. Brownstones? Yes, but not as many as one might imagine. Decades of development/redevelopment have had an effect, that much was clear to see.
Some streets were leafy, others less so, down at heel, much like any other city anywhere on the planet. Turning onto E 126 St, there they were, signs reading: E 126 St and Art Kane Harlem 1958 Place. Wow! Let's find no. 17. Little more than 100 metres down the street, there stood the famous building and its steps. Surprisingly, no plaque. We stood, trying not to stare at what is, after all, someone's home. A photograph or two, it wasn't easy trying to be discreet! It had been a short visit but it will live in the memory for ever more. Russell
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