Bearded Nymphs, Naked Lobsters
by Nora Lynch
What more could you want than naked nymphs and lobster? Not much right? Well, sorry to get your hopes up, because Murray’s Roman Gardens shut down about 85 years ago. The nymph-bedizened “gardens” were located at 228 W. 42nd St., what might just be the sexiest/sleaziest address in all of New York (which as you know, is saying a lot). So first there was “Murray” wandering through his garden of naked ladies, platters of shellfish on his arm, and then there was Hubert’s Museum, a freakshow featuring one of the original flea circuses, along with all the usual suspects: bearded ladies, flipper people, and of course various cases of giganticism (Diane Arbus was a big fan of the museum). Granted, Murray’s lobsters and Hubert’s fleas don’t exactly scream “sex,” but annexed to the whole affair was the Marine Bar and Grill, one of the most popular gay bars of the 1930s and 40s, frequented by sailors (and those who appreciated the maritime aesthetic) in search of entanglements and gratification. Hubert’s Museum eventually gave way to the economic bottom lines of the changing neighborhood and became PeepLand, which really needs no explanation. Alas, now PeepLand is no more, having been annexed by a wax museum (which is patently unsexy). From nymphs to giants to sailors to sticky booths, we salute you 228 W. 42nd St., hallowed ground of dirty, old New York.
