In case you were ever wondering...

[wowie]

(Gmail gives me these tidbits to click on... and here's one of today's!)

Friday March 10, 2006

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Dear Yahoo!: Who invented "I heart NY"? Taylor Stafford, Texas Dear Taylor: The "I Love New York" campaign was commissioned by the state of New York and designed by the very famous graphic designer Milton Glaser in 1977. You know, we love it when we can answer a question so quickly -- in a New York minute, even. But, wait. New York is a place of stories. And the one behind the logo may be more interesting than the design itself -- which is nothing more than three letters and a heart symbol. Glaser created "I Love New York" at a time when nobody loved the city. President Ford had just told New York to drop dead. Serial killer Son of Sam prowled the boroughs. One of the world's greatest cities was deteriorating under budget deficits, blackouts, riots, and -- according to Glaser himself -- lots and lots of doggie poo. Today, just about everyone's willing to show the city some love, but back in the late 1970s, confessing your amore for the Big Apple left a rotten taste in many a mouth. The city and the state eventually saw economic upturns, and New Yorkers rallied to address many of its plaguing issues. But we believe Glaser's deceptively simple design and sentiment surely played a part in the slow but strong rebirth of the great metropolis.

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Comments

[caranglamiel.livejournal.com]

I vaguely recall seeing something about that on tv way back when. Finally got one of those tshirts a few years ago, all the way from Times Square. :)

[wwowie.livejournal.com]

Got Beth a pink one a couple of weeks ago, and Paul got an FDNY shirt. Now she says next time I buy her something, make it a keychain. Teens ;).

[fomocobaby.livejournal.com]

Detroit tried a similar image adjustment in the mid-80's. Their chosen slogan was "Say Nice Things About Detroit" *eye roll*

Of course it was only a matter of weeks before some prankster made t-shirts with a picture of a guy holding a [toy] gun to a puppy's head with that same slogan. Even now, the prank version is better known than the original!

[wwowie.livejournal.com]

picture of a guy holding a [toy] gun to a puppy's head with that same slogan

That's too funny!

[pusspower.livejournal.com]

That's very interesting. Of course the logo had another resurgence of popularity after 9/11/01. Thanks for that tidbit!

[gondorbunny.livejournal.com]

Very interesting bits of trivia there, Wowie. Thanks for sharing!

[vigwig.livejournal.com]

I moved into my upper west side Manhattan apt in the mid 70s, believe me there was little to love, except the cheap rent. I heard gunfire and conga drums all night, was mugged at knifepoint in my own elevator, harassed by the drug dealing super, burglarized 3x and had two small fires in my building's basement. Everything changed in the mid 80s went the co op binge began. Now it's all yuppyfied and ridiculously expensive.

[wwowie.livejournal.com]

You're still in the same place? Amazing the changes!

[vigwig.livejournal.com]

Yup, I'm still there w/ a cheap rent, but now the apts cost millions! I mean that literally. It's insane.