GARDEN OF DREAMS: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 125 YEARS is a visual celebration of the illustrious 125-year history of this center of entertainment, sports and community in New York City. More than 150 photographs by Madison Square Garden photographer George Kalinsky as well as additional historical photos from the Garden archives bring to life the arena’s most glorious moments. From the Ali-Frazier “Fight of the Century” in 1971, to the Rangers first Stanley Cup win in fifty four years in 1994; from Marilyn Monroe’s legendary rendition of “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy, to John Lennon’s last appearance in concert, from the Concert for Bangladesh to the Concert for New York City, this volume captures the complete history of Madison Square Garden.
Thirty essays by such luminaries as Billy Crystal, Christopher Reeve, Spike Lee, Joan Jett, Bill Bradley, Mary Tyler Moore, George Foreman, and Tim Robbins bring to life the emotional connection between the Garden and its visitors. In his introduction, writer Pete Hamill details the colorful history of the Garden and shows why it holds such a powerful place in the hearts and minds of those who have set foot inside.
George Kalinsky has been official photographer for Madison Square Garden since 1966. His photos have graced Time, Newsweek, People, and Sports Illustrated, and in 2001 he was honored by the photography industry as International Photographer of the Year. The author of eight books, he lives in New York City.
GARDEN OF DREAMS: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 125 YEARS
Photographs by George Kalinsky, Introduction by Pete Hamill
200 pages, 150 color illustrations, 50 black-and-white illustrations
$35.00
“As official photographer for Madison Square Garden for the past 38 years, I’ve had the best seat in the house from which to observe and record history in the making. The photo I took of Pope John Paul II holding up a six-year-old girl was seen all over the world. I photographed Willis Reed dramatically limping onto the court to lead the Knicks to their first NBA title….I’ve been honored to be part of the legendary history of Madison Square Garden. In my time, I’ve been fortunate enough to record moments and events that have had a huge cultural impact on people all over the world. I photographed George Harrison at the Concert for Bangladesh and, thirty years later, Billy Crystal, among many others, at the Concert for New York City. I photographed Wayne Gretzky in his last game, Michael Jordan competing in classic play-off games against Patrick Ewing and the Knicks, and three political conventions: my fourth will be this year.” ---George Kalinsky, Madison Square Garden photographer
“It was March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden, and two undefeated heavyweights were fighting for the championship of the world. This match wasn’t just a fight; it was a battle between two classic heavyweights who were larger than life. It was the only place in the world to be that night…Every person in the Garden that night felt important because it was that kind of night. Every fan, every person was a celebrity, and a part of history.” ---George Foreman
“Of the many legendary Garden title bouts, the war between the two undefeated heavyweights Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali truly deserves its ‘Fight of the Century’ designation. I was ten years old at the time and, along with my older brother Steve, sat transfixed as we watched it on TV…I would have given anything to be at the Garden that night, not just to witness the fight itself, but also the spectacle—all the famous actors and athletes sitting ringside, decked out in their furs, jewels, and feather boas, and that was just the men. It was mesmerizing. I figured that watching the heavyweight championship of the world at Madison Square Garden must be like touching the face of God—well beyond my reach.” ---Michael J. Fox
“My good friend, Frank, who had flown in with me from Vancouver, left at one point, and nearly put a hex on any chance of victory. He returned with a mini Stanley Cup souvenir. I viewed this as an unlucky talisman and made him throw it away. We were dealing with a fifty-four year-old curse, and I felt only the collective focus and energy of everyone in the arena could lift it…When the final seconds ticked off and the players started jumping up and down in celebration, a roar of ecstasy rose up from the fans…The collective joy in the Garden that night was unlike anything I had ever experienced or will likely experience again. So many years of broken hearts were mended in that moment. The captain held the grail above his head. The Cup was ours.” ---Tim Robbins
“I was 8 years old when I started attending basketball games at the old Garden with my dad, and we sat upstairs in the nose bleed seats. That’s all we could afford and that was fine with us…I was in the Garden on May 8, 1970, as I watched Willis Reed limp onto the court in the seventh game of the 1970 NBA championship series. I will always remember that magic moment and the electricity in the Garden.” ---Spike Lee
“The idea of being at Madison Square Garden, surrounded with so many people in this great arc in front of you, all trying to deal with one of the most important decisions a democracy must make, was awesome. When I thought that millions of people, far beyond the Garden, would also be listening and their decisions as to who should be President of the United States might be influenced by my words, if only a little bit, I was troubled that I might not be able to do the occasion justice.” ---Governor Mario Cuomo
“People have often asked me what was the biggest thrill—winning the two championships or the three terms in the U.S. Senate. I consider being elected to the U.S. Senate three times by the people of New Jersey as the biggest honor in my life…But as for my biggest thrill in life, along with the birth of our daughter, it was unquestionably winning two championships for the Knicks in 1970 and 1973. On the court, standing, with fists raised in the air, chills coursing up my spine, and a smile that was so wide it ached, I realized that we were the best in the world.” ---Senator Bill Bradley
“Being a season ticket holder is something I do for myself. I’m an emotional fan. I’m loud. I cheer. I try to psych out the other team, whether it’s bringing in a voodoo doll or screaming ‘defense’ to encourage my side and unnerve the other.” ---Joan Jett
“Here was Muhammad Ali, the greatest athlete of our time, the one who spoke to our generation. Now tragically afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, the crowd wondered if he was going to be able to say anything. I didn’t know what he was going to do, and I was fully ready to hand him the award, stand back and wipe the tears from my eyes, and just watch people love him. That would have been plenty for me. But as the crowd stood and applauded, he handed me back the award, went to the podium, and made a short but eloquent speech.” ---Billy Crystal
“All those clichés about winners having their knees turn into Jell-O and barely being able to walk onto the stage are true. When I finally reached center stage and saw that the entire industry was on its feet, I felt honored. My husband tells me that the standing ovation lasted nine minutes. In the history of the universe, nine minutes may not seem like a long time, but for me, it was endless. Everyone in the audience who knew me was crying…People still come up to me, four years later, and tell me they jumped up and down as they watched the ceremony at home when my name was announced. For the rest of my life, when I think of Madison Square Garden, I’ll always associate it with winning an Emmy award.” ---Susan Lucci
“April 18, 1999. A date scarcely noticed or long forgotten by many. For others, including me, not only was it a date to remember but a moment in time that endures because we remember exactly where we were. It didn’t matter that the Rangers had just lost to Pittsburgh. A sold-out crowd of more than 18,000 people were on their feet in the semi-darkness of the arena, cheering at the top of their lungs as one man took another easy lap around the rink in the glare of a dozen spotlights. It was the day that #99, Wayne Gretzky, retired. I was lucky enough to be there.” ---Christopher Reeve
“At Madison Square Garden, the unexpected becomes the norm. During one of my matches against Guillermo Vilas, a man came up behind me during a change-over and tapped me on the shoulder. I was surprised, because nobody ever comes up to a player during a change-over. I tried to ignore him, and was about to explode, when I looked up and saw it was Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones! “Hey John, I just wanted to say hello,” he said. Seeing him provided me with such a jolt of adrenaline that I didn’t miss a ball for an hour.” ---John McEnroe
“Photographers’ bulbs were flashing, and limousines were double-parked on Seventh Avenue. Opening night at the new Madison Square Garden, February 11, 1968, was a salute to the United Service Organization (USO). The show starred Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, and I had the pleasure of joining them on the bill, that snowy night in New York. I remember the hoopla, the glamour, and the anticipation of breaking in a new arena.” ---Barbara Eden
“In the championship Finals, Willis went down with a painful hip injury in Game Five and so did the hopes of the fans who longed for that first championship. He didn’t play in the sixth game and wasn’t on the court for warm-ups of the deciding seventh game. Without the captain, the Wilt Chamberlain-led Lakers had to be big favorites. Then a jot of electricity shot through the Garden. Willis walked onto the floor dressed to play. There was hope! Willis didn’t play much that night, but the team picked him up. When the game was over, the players poured on to the floor, swept up in the emotion of actually wining a championship and basking in the waves of emotion from more than 19,000 fans. It had been a magical season and I had the privilege of watching it from the best seat I would ever have in the Garden.” ---Ed Bradley
“The Garden also symbolized my coming of age. This was the arena where I made a name for myself, celebrated my eighteenth birthday, and met my future wife, Nadia Comaneci, whom I married twenty years later. For me, the Garden offered more than a scrapbook of memories; it’s where I experienced my life’s most defining moments.” ---Bart Conner
“Imagine what it was like for a high-school student to have her first Garden experience, attending the groundbreaking Concert for Bangladesh. This concert wasn’t only about music: it raised awareness about giving to people who were needy and less fortunate, and paved the way for many other musical benefits. Listening to great musicians such as George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, surrounded by 18,500 fans that wanted to change the world through their own generosity was an experience I’ll never forget.” ---Lorraine Bracco
“All of us came together for this great cause and, at the end of the show, it was surreal to be singing with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, and the Who. I remember standing next to Jim Carrey; we were both crying. ‘Are we really here? Are we really a part of this? Are we really singing “Let it Be” with Paul McCartney?” ---Billy Crystal
