From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Times Square Ball
Times Square Ball
History
See also: Time ball
The first New Year’s Eve celebration in what is now
known as Times Square was held on New Year’s Eve 1904.
The New York Times had opened their new headquarters
at One Times Square (at the time, the city’s second tallest
building) in Longacre Square and persuaded the city to
rename the triangular "square" surrounding it for their
newspaper (which the city later did on April 8, 1904).
The newspaper’s owner, Adolph Ochs, decided to cele-
brate the opening of the company’s new headquarters
with a midnight fireworks show on the roof of the build-
ing on December 31, 1903. Close to 200,000 people attend-
ed the event, displacing traditional celebrations that had
normally been held at Trinity Church.[3] However, Ochs
wanted a bigger spectacle at the building to draw more
attention to the newly-named Times Square. After four
years of New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations, the news-
The Centennial Ball designed for New Year’s Eve 2008, on per-
paper’s chief electrician Walter F. Palmer constructed an
manent display at Macy’s in Herald Square.
electrically lit time ball that would be lowered from the
flagpole on the roof of One Times Square. It was con-
The Times Square Ball is a time ball that has been
structed with iron and wood, lit with one hundred
lowered or "dropped" from the flagpole of One Times
25-watt bulbs, weighed 700 pounds (320 kg), and mea-
Square nearly every New Year’s Eve since December 31,
sured 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter. It was first lowered on
1907 in Times Square, Manhattan, New York City. The
New Year’s Eve 1908 (December 31, 1907). It originally
ball (now in its sixth incarnation) is currently made by
dropped one second after midnight. Though The New York
Waterford Crystal.[1] Since 2009, the ball remains on the
Times would later move its headquarters to a larger build-
flagpole over One Times Square year-round, and is only
ing at 229 West 43rd Street, the New Year’s Eve celebra-
lowered on New Year’s Eve or removed for general main-
tion at One Times Square remains to this day.
tenance. Every December 31 at 11:59 p.m. EST, the ball
The original Ball was replaced in 1920. The second
descends 77 feet (23 m) over the course of a minute, com-
ball remained 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter and was con-
ing to rest at the bottom of the flagpole at midnight,
structed of iron, weighing 400 pounds (180 kg). During
where a sign lights up with the digits of the new year, as
World War II, the descent of the second ball was discon-
the ball’s lights turn off at the same time. Fireworks are
tinued for New Year’s Eve 1942 and 1943 due to wartime
then lighted from the building to signal the arrival of the
lighting restrictions in case of an enemy attack. Cele-
New Year. A fireworks display in Central Park is usual-
brants instead observed a moment of silence at midnight,
ly visible from Times Square. While the ball drops, sev-
followed by the sound of chimes that were played on
eral billboards in Times Square count down into the New
speakers throughout Times Square. It was replaced by
Year, most notably, the Toshiba (former Discover Card)
a third ball in 1955 made of aluminum, weighing 150
screens directly below the ball.
pounds (68 kg), and remained 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter.
Every year up to one million people gather in Times
From 1981 to 1989, the third ball was decorated in honor
Square to watch the ball drop, and it is watched on video
of the I Love New York campaign, with red bulbs and a
by 70 million people in the United States.[2] The event
green stem to give it the appearance of an apple. The
has inspired many other droppings across America, such
original white bulbs returned in 1989, but were replaced
as the Underground Atlanta Peach Drop and The Possum
in 1991 with red, white, and blue bulbs to salute the
Drop in Brasstown, North Carolina.
troops of Operation Desert Shield.
The third ball was revamped again in 1995 for New
Year’s Eve 1996, adding rhinestones and a computerized
lighting system featuring strobe lights. New Year’s Eve
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Times Square Ball
ing) instead of halogen bulbs. The ball featured
9,567 energy-efficient bulbs that consume the same
amount of electricity as only 10 toasters.[2] The fifth ball
was only used once and has been on permanent display at
Macy’s in Herald Square since. For New Year’s Eve 2009,
the simplistic design of the Centennial Ball was main-
tained, but doubled in size with a new sixth ball. The
sixth ball is a icosahedral geodesic sphere, 12 feet (3.7 m)
in diameter with a weight of 11,875 pounds (5,386 kg).
To accommodate the new ball (which is first one to be
displayed outdoors year-round), the flagpole atop One
Times Square was rebuilt and enlarged, now rising 475
feet (145 m) above Times Square.[4]
For the arrival of 2012, the sixth ball added 288 more
Waterford Crystal triangles for the "Let There Be Friend-
ship" theme.
Sound effects during the countdown debuted for New
Year’s Eve 1998/99. Between then and 2002 "whooshing"
sound effects were used; the drop into 2003 combined
The duplicate Millennium Ball designed for New Year’s Eve the whooshing with chimes and bells a la the ball drop
2000, on permanent display at the Waterford Crystal Factory in
wartime hiatus. The 2003/04 drop introduced the current
Ireland.
clock-ticking and whooshing (limited to 30 seconds)
sound effects which have been used since, regardless of
1996 was also the first time a Times Square Ball was low- countdown clock design (even though the 2004 clock was
ered down the flagpole by computer. The 1997/98 event inspired by an actual analog clock).
introduced fireworks to the ball drop. The next year, the For the millennium event, Ascent of Time, an orches-
third ball was dropped for the last time. For the new mil- tral piece by Charles Byungkyu Kim was played prior to
lennium, an entirely new ball was constructed. Weighing the ball drop, and was reused for 2001. For 2002-2003
1,070 pounds (490 kg) and measuring 6 feet (1.8 m) in di- and 2003-2004, God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood was
ameter, the fourth ball was covered with 504 crystal tri- played. For 2004/05, Love Train by the O’Jays was cued.
angles (provided by Waterford Crystal), illuminated ex- Beginning with the 2005/06 festivities, at 11:56 p.m. John
ternally with 168 halogen light bulbs, and internally with Lennon’s recording of Imagine has been cued. This con-
432 light bulbs of clear, red, blue, green and yellow colors tinued until the 2010/11 celebration, when the recording
along with strobe lights and spinning mirrors. Many of was replaced by a live performance of the song (per-
the triangles were inscribed with messages of a certain formed by Taio Cruz). For 2012, Cee Lo Green from Gnarls
theme, such as “Hope for Fellowship,” “Hope for Wis- Barkley sang Imagine.
dom,” “Hope for Unity,” “Hope for Courage,” “Hope for
Healing,” and “Hope for Abundance.” In 2001, the ball’s
crystals were engraved with the names of organizations Countdown clocks
who assisted during the September 11 attacks and the Since 1996, an animated video countdown timer has ap-
nations who were affected by the event. Fireworks were peared on the screen above the pole where the ball drops
placed on hiatus for the ball drop into 2002, but for 2003, on New Year’s Eve as well as the three screens at the bot-
they were brought back with the entire One Times tom of the building. The clock has changed design since
Square being lit up. On December 31, 2006 for New Year’s then, with occasional reuses. Here are the clock designs
Eve 2007, the fourth ball, which was newly rigged with since 1996:
light-emitting diodes was dropped for the last time. A du- 1997-98:
• and 1997-98 Numbers showing how many seconds
plicate of the fourth ball, also made in 1999, has remained remain until the arrival of the New Year zoom out
on permanent display at the Waterford Crystal Factory in from the center of the screen and then fade away.
Ireland. Different colored streaks of light follow. This
In honor of the Ball Drop’s 100th anniversary, a fifth continues until the final second is reached. Then the
ball debuted for New Year’s Eve 2008. Once again manu- words "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" are displayed. This clock
factured by Waterford Crystal with a diameter of 6 feet was only used during ITT Corporation’s occupation
(1.8 m), but weighing 1,212 pounds (550 kg)), it used LED of the sign.
lighting provided by Philips (which can produce over • : Similar to above, but a new typeset is used to reflect
16.7 million colors, and programmed for more advanced Discover Card’s occupation of the sign and the
patterns and effects, designed by local firm Focus Light- numbers explode instead of fading. A ring of fire also
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Times Square Ball
"Happy New Year 2004!" begin to appear on the
screen.
• : The seconds jump out from the center of the screen
and then fall back, in front of a red background. At
every ten seconds, stars also fly out. At midnight, the
words "Happy New Year 2005!" jump out.
• : No countdown was shown on either the upper or
lower screens, as the official countdown was being
shown on the Coca-Cola sign on Two Times Square.
Rather, different messages appeared on the upper
screens were displayed followed by the words
"Happy New Year!" at midnight.
• : The second numbers in white spin around in front
of a red background to reveal the next second. As the
numbers spin around, Target’s famous bulls eye logo
floats around to reflect the retailer’s sponsorship of
the event. Discover Card’s own graphics cut in on the
upper screen at midnight.
The animated timer plays a major role during the countdown. • : To advertise Toshiba’s television sets, a test card
based on BBC’s Test Card F is shown on the screen,
with a pinhole shutter in the middle instead of the
encircles the numbers. Confetti is added at the end
reference photograph. This shutter opens and closes
of the countdown.
every second to reveal the seconds in silver
• 2001-02, 2002-03, 2007-08:
, 2001-02 2002-03 and 2007-08 Numbers zoom
numbers, which then zoom outwards. At midnight,
outwards from the center without exploding on
the card explodes and the words "HAPPY NEW
screen. The seconds are revealed by the separation
YEAR!" fades in as confetti showers down. This
of a ball into two segments. Gears are placed at the
countdown was based on the 2000 version, and was
edges of the screen. At midnight, the ball explodes
the first time Toshiba was involved in the
and the words "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" are displayed in
countdown as they took over the screen from
front of confetti. This countdown was used four
Discover Card prior to the ball drop. From this point
times, the first time being on the upper screen and
onwards, the countdown would involve the numbers
the subsequent three times on the three lower
zooming out in any matter.
screens, when the upper countdown was being based
• : The seconds fade in on a black circle with lightning
on this one.
in it and a yellow ring in front of a red background.
• : The seconds, in gold numbers flashes out in front of
The numbers then zoom out fast. At midnight, the
a blue and black background. At midnight, the words
entire screen goes red as the words "Happy New
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" fade in in front of fireworks.
Year!" flash in and the yellow ring begins to radiate
• : The seconds which zoom out from the center of the
and send out duplicate rings.
screen are revealed by flaps opening and closing
• : The seconds in yellow numbers zoom out of the
every second and spinning around. They all explode
screen’s center, where a second hand of a clock
at midnight and confetti is showered on the words
sticks out. Electricity zaps the number as it zooms
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" This countdown was based on
out. The hand moves counter-clockwise instead of
the 2000 version.
clockwise. The timer is placed behind several clock
• : A bell in the center of the screen reveals the
gears. Meanwhile, the upper segment of the Toshiba
seconds which then zoom out as it rings along two
billboard shows more gears and the 2010 sign slowly
other bells at the side. This countdown was also
being lifted up towards the ball. At midnight, the
based on the 2000 version. The countdown was not
words "Happy New Year!" flip in on the lower
seen on the screen at the 40 second mark due to an
segment. This is the first countdown employing
error with the screen thus forcing it to shut off. This
Toshiba’s new two segmented screen.
caused some people to count down off time.
• 2011-12:
and 2011-12 As the seconds also in yellow numbers
• : A clock with two hands- one hand moving every
but in a new font zoom out, they reveal the next
second and the other spinning around- shows the
second as they disappear from the screen. A
countdown on it’s face.The clock changes it’s
pendulum coated with lightning can also be seen,
position at certain points. At midnight, the clock
swinging as the numbers zoom out from a red
explodes as random animations and the words
background. A silver border adorns the screens. The
upper segment shows an analog clock displaying the
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Times Square Ball
current time. At midnight, the words "Happy New control over the crowd so as to prevent crushes and
Year!" flip in once again. stampedes. The technique used by NYPD is to divide
Times Square up into sections, commonly referred to as
Special guests "pens." As people arrive, usually in the afternoon, they
are directed into the pens. NYPD starts with the pens
By tradition, the ball drop is ceremoniously started by closest to 43rd Street, and as those pens get full, closes
the pressing of a ball-shaped button on the concert stage. them to further people and works their way back toward
(Note the ball is actually cued automatically by a com- Central Park. Once inside the pen, people may leave, but
puter running on a WWVB-set atomic clock.) Usually, the will not be able to reenter the pen.
mayor is joined with a special guest, selected due to his Also, access to Times Square is extremely limited dur-
or her significance, to press that button. Sometimes, an ing the course of the celebration. Those staying in hotels
entire group is invited. The following is a list of some past in the area need to prove to NYPD that they are in fact
honorees since 1996. guests at those hotels. Also, no alcoholic beverages are
• : Oseola McCarty[5] permitted[21] (as per NYC’s open container laws), and
• : Randi Fisch, Karl Vetter, Ariel Rodriguez, there are no portable public restrooms available. [21]
Dominique Miller, Diana Shen[6]
• : Sang Lan[7]
• : Dr. Mary Ann Hopkins[8]
Television
• : Muhammad Ali[9] Several networks have aired coverage of the Times
• : Rudy Guiliani Note: This was his final act as Mayor of Square Ball Drop; as the event is held in the public square
New York. He handed the reign to Michael Bloomberg at there is no rights or exclusive coverage. The most no-
midnight. table is ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan
• : Chris and Dana Reeve[10] Seacrest,[22] hosted for 40 years by Dick Clark and recently
• : Cyndi Lauper and Shoshana Johnson[11] joined by American Idol host Ryan Seacrest after Clark suf-
• : Colin Powell[12] fered a stroke in 2004, as well as a West Coast segment
• : Wynton Marsalis[13] hosted by singer Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas. Be-
• : Liliana G. Perez and Oswaldo San Andres[14] cause of its prominence, ABC has been able to get exclu-
• : Karolina Wierzchowska[15] sive rights to hold concerts in Times Square itself.
• : Bill and Hillary Clinton[16] NBC also has coverage of the events under the name
• : Twelve high school students from New York City New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly;[23] previously a special
high schools on America’s Best High Schools’ Top 100 edition of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (and before that,
"Gold Medal" List[17] The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson) would air in this
• : Salvatore Giunta.[18] Note: The button was pushed at slot, but Leno has since ceded hosting duties to Daly,
around 50 seconds to midnight, ten seconds after the who hosts more conventional coverage. Since NBC can-
automatic activation of the ball. not hold concerts in Times Square itself, it instead opts
• : Lady Gaga[19] Note: She performed Marry The Night for concerts outside its studios at 30 Rockefeller Center
and Born This Way first, about 15-20 minutes before and in Los Angeles.
pressing the button. Fox also has its own coverage of the New Year’s Eve
event, New Year’s Eve Live, which started in 2003–04. Ryan
Weather at midnight Seacrest hosted the first two years; in 2005–06, Regis
Philbin (who had filled in for Clark on ABC the year prior)
The average temperature at midnight in New York City took over as Seacrest went to ABC. Fox’s host changes
since the ball dropping tradition began in 1907 is 33.7 °F each year; previous hosts included Spike Feresten and
(1 °C). Nancy O’Dell. Fox complements the Times Square cover-
The coldest event was in 1917 when the temperature age with All American New Year, which airs live in all
was 1 °F (−17 °C), the second coldest was 11 °F (−12 °C) in time zones on sister network Fox News Channel and is
1962. The warmest ball drop was 58 °F (14 °C) in both 1965 hosted by Fox News anchors Bill Hemmer and Megyn
and 1972. It has snowed during the ball drop just seven Kelly. Beginning with the 2012 celebration, Fox’s musical
times out of 104 events (one being light snow), 1926, 1934, guests will be oriented more toward country music, with
1948, 1952, 1961, 1967, and 2009 and it has rained multi- the event being renamed American Country New Year’s Eve
ple times.[20] Live and Rodney Carrington brought in as host.[24]
For many years CBS was known for its coverage of the
Crowd control ball drop featuring Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadi-
ans band (he had done so on CBS Radio Network since
Up to one million people go to watch the ball drop each 1928 and on TV since 1956), live from The Waldorf-As-
year. New York Police Department (NYPD) exert strict toria Hotel and featuring the now famous rendition of
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Times Square Ball
"Auld Lang Syne". Lombardo died in November 1977; the Viacom’s building rather than in the square itself. On De-
Royal Canadians did the show for two more years (with cember 31, 2010, they also offered a ball drop at Seaside
Victor Lombardo substituting for his late older brother Heights, New Jersey where Jersey Shore star Snooki was
for 1977-78) but would disband after that. The broadcasts locked into a "hamster ball" and was dropped for the 60
continued under the name Happy New Year, America be- second countdown to welcome 2011. Originally, it was
ginning in 1979-80, still live from the Waldorf-Astoria planned for that drop to occur in Times Square. However,
(with taped segments added from Billy Bob’s in Texas MTV was asked by city officials to conduct the drop else-
and Walt Disney World), with various guest hosts (among where.
them Andy Williams, Brent Musburger, Gladys Knight,
Christie Brinkley, Natalie Cole, Kermit the Frog and Lily
Tomlin in character as "Ernestine the Telephone Lady").
References
The last broadcast was in 1995–96 and featured Montel [1] "Times Square Alliance : About the New Year’s Eve
Williams as host; in 1996, Disney pulled out of producing Ball". Timessquarenyc.org. 2008-11-11.
the program (and several other CBS holiday specials) http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/new-
when it bought ABC, and CBS decided to discontinue its years-eve/about-the-new-years-eve-ball/
New Year’s coverage. CBS no longer covers the ball drop index.aspx. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
and instead opts for reruns of The Late Show with David Let- [2] ^ "NYC ball drop goes ’green’ on 100th
terman. Some CBS affiliates show local ball drops or other anniversary". CNN. December 31, 2007.
local celebrations instead, but CBS O&O WBZ-TV in Bos- http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/31/
ton takes its First Night Boston coverage as far as putting new.year.us/?iref=mpstoryview. Retrieved
a small screen of the Times Square ball alongside the First 2007-12-31.
Night celebrations on the broadcast. (Note that WBZ is [3] "History of New Year’s Eve in Times Square". Times
the only TV station allowed to broadcast the First Night Square Alliance. http://www.timessquarenyc.org/
Boston events and that the Times Square picture in pic- nye/nye_history.html. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
ture was only shown on TV.) [4] "The "New" New Year’s Eve Ball". Times Square
CNN also carries coverage of the festivities, as part Alliance. http://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/
of a more nationwide perspective on New Year celebra- nye_ball.html. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
tions. CNN’s coverage, also named New Year’s Eve Live, [5] MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES NEW TRADITION
has most recently been hosted by Anderson Cooper and FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE: COMMUNITY HERO TO LEAD
Kathy Griffin. TIMES SQUARE CELEBRATION
The Spanish-language networks also joined in on the [6] CITY KEEPS THE BALL ROLLING IT’S ANOTHER
celebration. Univisión’s coverage of the event is called ROUND IN TIMES SQ. FOR SEASONED PARTYERS
¡Feliz (Year Number)! hosted by Don Francisco from Sábado [7] On the ball: Sang Lan was in the spotlight on New
Gigante and Don Francisco Presenta. It became the biggest Year’s...
New Year’s Eve program on the network in primetime [8] DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS TO JOIN TIMES
since its original run. In every edition, the show has mu- SQUARE BALL DROP DURING NEW YEARS EVE
sical guests, special celebrity appearances, and as always, FESTIVITIES
the sixty second countdown to the next year and as the [9] Ali To Drop Ball On New Year’s
show progresses, more cities joined in on the festivities. [10] Huge Times Square Crowd Watches Ball Drop
Starting with ¡Feliz 2006!, Puerto Rico’s San Juan joined in [11] Bloomberg Announces Special Guest For New
to welcome 2006. This is the first time that the show has Year’s 2004 Celebration In New York
an Atlantic Time Zone countdown and the first time that [12] Regis, Colin Powell ring in New Year’s with’energy,
the show aired on a Saturday. For ¡Feliz 2009!, the show enthusiasm’
only focuses on the Eastern Time Zone countdown and [13] Neither rain nor snow slows Times Sq. party
so, only Times Square and Miami’s Univisión Studios was [14] Military Service Members Honored at Time Square
used. ¡Feliz 2010! marks the return of the Central Time Celebration
Zone countdown with a new city in Mexico: Acapulco. [15] Happy 2008 New Year’s, New York!
¡Feliz 2011! marks the debut of the Pacific Time Zone [16] Bill And Hillary Clinton Lower Times Square 2009
countdown and to welcome 2011, the show adds a new New Years Eve Ball
city in the West Coast, Anaheim. This format was the [17] America’s Best High Schools Heads to Times Square
same for ¡Feliz 2012! in which all four time zones was used [18] Sgt. Salvatore Giunta in NYC for New Year’s Eve
to welcome 2012 and this was the second time that it [19] Justin Bieber to perform on New Year’s Eve in
aired on a Saturday. Times Square
MTV also offers ball drop coverage, as their head- [20] "NEW YEAR’S EVE DAY - 1ST Ball Drop 1907".
quarters are in Times Square. This means they can hold Erh.noaa.gov. http://www.erh.noaa.gov/okx/
concerts there, but they are held at the MTV Studios in climate/holidays/
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Times Square Ball
newyearsevedayandballdropwx.htm. Retrieved [24] Bigler, Taylor. Countdown to 2012: what to watch
2010-12-31. on New Year’s Eve. The Daily Caller. Retrieved
[21] ^ "New Year’s Eve in Times Square - See the Ball December 30, 2011.
Drop in New York City’s Times Square".
Manhattan.about.com.
http://manhattan.about.com/od/
External links
eventsandattractions/a/timessquare2006.htm. • Times Square Alliance - New Year’s Eve
Retrieved 2010-12-31. • Pictures of One Times Square Building and Flag Pole
[22] Show information page from ABC.com • Focus Lighting, Inc. - 100th Anniversary of the Times
[23] Show information page from NBC.com Square Ball
• Times Square Ball - Hi-res Ball closeups
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Times_Square_Ball&oldid=473709520"
Categories:
• New Year celebrations
• Culture of New York City
• Times Square
• Winter traditions
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