This post continues the Top Ten Things Not to Do with a historical background. Since today is the one hundred fourteenth anniversary of the first New Years Eve celebration in Times Square, I thought the following list would be handy if you somehow get to go there.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the First New Year’s Eve Celebration Held in Times Square (then Longacre Square), in New York City – 1904 by John W. Howell © 2018
10 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not ask about the dropping ball. If you do, at best you’ll get some strange looks since the first ball drop wasn’t until 1907. At worst, those you ask will assume you need help and will turn you over to the police. (How does it feel to spend New Year’s Eve in the mental ward, Godwine? Stop talking about a ball and you may get out in a few years.)
9 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not kiss the woman standing next to Tiny the WWF champ at midnight. If you do, at best she is alone. At worst, she is on a first date with Tiny who has just left his first group session on overcoming jealousy. (Had it been the tenth session you might have had a chance, Gofried. As it is that beet red expression on Tiny’s face will soon manifest into a pin wheel body slam and it won’t be the woman who hits the concrete.)
8 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not try to set a personal record for consumption of alcohol. If you do, at best your evening will close early. At worst, New Year ’s Day will represent your personal purgatory just begging for relief. (Finding yourself in a strange time also adds to the confusion, Goodwyn. You should quit asking people to call 9-1-1 for you.)
7 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not think your good will to mankind feeling left over from the holidays should be demonstrated by public displays of affection for everyone. If you do, at best most will try to ignore your advances. At worst, you will have violated one or more of the Victorian standards of the day. ( Don’t worry, Gorsedd, the term “sex fiend” won’t follow you into the twenty-first century. That is assuming you can get out of that straight jacket long enough to get home.)
7 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not think your stomach deserves to be challenged with copious amounts of strange food. If you do, at best your later hours will be spent in a degree of discomfort. At worst, your stomach will get even when you least expect it. (You should have known, Gottfried, that food made with lard and animal innards would not set well. You should have taken your own low-fat, low cholesterol, zero growth hormone, and gluten-free food with you. Maybe next time.)
6 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not think your off-key singing throughout the year will suddenly get better with the addition of boucoup amounts of Champaign. If you do, at best you will still draw the same looks you get all year-long. At worst, you will begin to gather around you stray cats and dogs who think your Auld Lang Sine is a last call for free eats. (You called them and now you need to find a way to take care of them, Gradon.)
5 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not wear your Chicago Cubs t-shirt. If you do, at best no one will notice. At worst, since the New York Yankees won the National League pennant in 1904 a few may think you are a sore loser. ( Since the Cubs came in second, I think you should cover that shirt, Grantham. Oh too late. A couple of guys from the docks want to talk to you.)
4 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not try to find “Rockin’ New Year’s Eve on your smart phone. If you do, at best everyone around you are too drunk to notice. At worst, someone will ask you about that device and you will draw a crowd. (How are you going to explain a cell phone, Gregar? Bad enough your clothes look funny, now you are holding something that looks like it is from outer space. One other thing. The cell signal doesn’t time travel.)
3 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not think everyone will welcome the noise from your stadium horn at midnight. If you do at best, you will find yourself alone after the first blow. At worst, the biggest guy who you’ve annoyed will help you to cease blowing the horn. (The doctor in the emergency room is quite puzzle how that horn got there, Gregorior. Don’t worry, he will figure out how to separate it sooner or later.)
2 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not think it a good idea to put that Tiffany lampshade from the antique store on your head. If you do, at best no one will find it funny. At worst, the shade was the only one made and is now laying on the street in one thousand individual pieces. (If you start now, Griffen you might get it back together before the shop owner notices. Oh yeah, you also have a lottery chance at about the same odds. That is if the lottery exists in 1904.)
1 If you are at the first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, do not think you have to stay up past a reasonable hour to see the New Year in. If you do, at best the next day’s activities will be less enjoyable. At worst, you might be so sleep deprived that you will forget how to get back to 2019. (Although 1904 is a peaceful time, Gru, I don’t think you want to be stuck there. Yes it is a slower pace but think of the advancements that have been made since then. Fine have it your way.)
Happy New Year Everyone.
Fiction Favorites 
LikeLike
In college, I knew a few people who tried number eight. Happy New Year to you and your family, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I’ve known a couple of those as well. Thanks, Jill.
LikeLike
Hmmm, I’d be wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates jersey. I think they would let that slide, since we beat up on the Cubs that year and we were no threat to NY.
Great list. How much were the Sabrett’s hot dogs in 1904?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Three cents each. Two for five cents. Thanks for the question.
LikeLiked by 1 person
#7 might not be a disaster. Depends on the alcohol content of the crowd.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that will make the difference if everyone’s lit.
LikeLike
Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Happy New Year, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Annette. Happy New Year to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m one of the boring folks who will be sleeping through all the fun. 😄 Happy New Year, John.
LikeLike
Make that two of us. Happy New Year, Gwen.
LikeLike
John,
If were are there for the first NYE celebration, you won’t have to worry about accessing the New Year’s Rocking Eve on your phone. Dick Clark will be there!
Happy New Year Boss
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha . Excellent, Marc. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Peace, love and happy New Year John
LikeLiked by 1 person
All the same to you, Marc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s no need for me to worry about what to do or not do, since I wouldn’t be there anyway — but I will wish you a happy New Year, John. That’s one nice custom that hasn’t changed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Happy New Year, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always a hoot and celebration!
Happy New Year, John. May your home be filled with lots of love, laughter, good health, good food, good drink, good company…. oh, and prosperity, too, why not?
Lotsa love,
Dale
xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Let’s not forget prosperity. We fixed income types coud use a lot of prosperity. Happy New Year, Dale. X0
LikeLike
Absolutely. One must be realistic…love and laughter is great and all but don’t pay the bills 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good thing I have my aluminum can pick up route. This writing gig is from hunger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The small cans are 5 cents a pop, here. The bug 500 ml ones, a whopping 20 cents. Want me to start a collection for ya?
You keep on writing – my kids got me a Kindle for Christmas and I have to John W Howell books in there already…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. Thanks. I’ll stick to the word production
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe that is best. You are awfully good at it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw you are too kind my lady.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I speak truth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
But you also have a big heart and should be thanked.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I shall be gracious and accept. From one big heart to another.
LikeLiked by 1 person
AW.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
If you need to leave town in a hurry, I heard there were some good construction jobs in someplace called Panama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this line — “food made with lard and animal innards would not set well.” I imagine it wouldn’t! Funny how eating traditions have changed over time. And it’s probably never a good idea to assume the pretty girl standing beside Tiny isn’t with him! Happy 2019 to you and yours, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Debbie. Happy New year to you and Dallas (and Domer too.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that’s a year and time I’d like to time travel to! If I attracted all those animals with my singing I’m sure I’d take them home…lol. Happy New Year, John! May it be filled with health, love and lots of success for yours and Gwen’s upcoming release and new projects.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Denise. Happy New Year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I must have done too much of #8 because now it looks like there are two #7s! Help!!! Thanks for another good one and for being a fun read all year long, John! Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are two sevens. No wonder it took me so long to do the top ten list. Sheesh. Happy New Year, Luanne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK, I am laughing SO hard!!!!!!!!!! Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! And given that I have no urge to be in Times Square in 2018 (it is a wet one, and no umbrellas, let alone no respite — as in, in every sense of the world — and a certainty of being penned in …), I’m gonna be violating as many as those ‘rules’ as I want, from the comfort of my living room to watch the rained-on-by-more-than-confetti crowds as they slosh their way (with no alcohol for them) through the first minutes of the next year … (that said, it seems I could end up having a temporarily displaced friend and her toddler who’d be docking here for the night, given unexpected construction at their building. In which case the evening may look a lot more like pancakes, blankets, and nursery rhymes in countdown to slumber than a countdown to a new year …) 😉 Happy 2019!
Na’ama
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like an old fashoned New Year’s Eve to me. Spent many just like that. Happy New Year, Na’ama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Yep. Lots better than Times Square in the rain in the pen .. 😉 Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊Thanks for a good laugh, John! What a great way to begin my New Year! It’s already 8.30 a.m 1/1/2019 here in Oz! So far the year is progressing well. lol …😀 I hope your 2019 is simply awesome, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Soooz. Happy New Year to you.
LikeLike
This was one of your best, John. By the time I got to “lard and animal innards” I was rolling with laughter! And the 9-1-1, and the stadium horn- priceless. Of course, Tiny is in a class by himself 🙂. Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you liked it, Jennie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, John! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excellent post for new year, John. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Robbie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Made it past midnight – Happy New Year, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you. I hit the hay at 10:00
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably the best thing about New Year’s in Times Square in 1904 is that you wouldn’t have to wear a diaper.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. Thanks, Noelle
LikeLike
What a hoot!! The cell phone may just be the best of the list. 🙂 Can you imagine the looks you’d get in 1904 with such a strange glowing gadget? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right?
LikeLiked by 1 person