Garden of Dreams: Madison Square Garden 125 Years

Garden of Dreams: Madison Square Garden 125 Years by Hamill, Pete. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781584793434.

"If I can make it there, Ill make it anywhere!" When Sinatra sang those immortal words from "New York, New York," he must have had Madison Square Garden in mind. After all, Ol Blue Eyes played the Garden, as did Judy Garland, John Lennon, and, in the past four decades, every major rock band or rap artist from the Beastie Boys to U2. That lineup doesnt even begin to take into account the all-star roster of athletes-Muhammad Ali, Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing, Carl Lewis, Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, and John McEnroe, to name a few-who have set records there. Since it first opened in 1879, the Garden has been a magnet for fans intent on expressing their passion in person for their favorite performers. Currently home to the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty, it is also the venue for everything from the Westminster Dog Show to the 2004 Republican National Convention-which is why its called "The Worlds Most Famous Arena." In Garden of Dreams more than 100 knockout images by longtime Garden photographer George Kalinsky capture all the glorious highlights in the arenas history. From Ali to Sinatra, Garland to Gretzky, Kalinsky has shot the greatest. Adding insight and context to the photos are essays by 25 luminaries who have witnessed or participated in some of these legendary Garden events. The list of contributors includes Billy Crystal, Bill Bradley, Woody Allen, Peggy Fleming, Spike Lee, John McEnroe, Mary Tyler Moore, and Christopher Reeve. Pete Hamills introduction recounts the Gardens storied past, and reminds readers why MSG evokes such powerful emotions for New York residents and visitors alike. AUTHOR BIO: GEORGE KALINSKYs work has been exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the International Center of Photography, all in New York, and Tokyos Olympus Plaza Gallery; his work has also appeared in such national publications as Time, Newsweek, People, and Sports Illustrated. Kalinsky is the recipient of numerous awards, and he was honored by the photography industry (PMDA) as the International Photographer of the Year in 2001. He is the author of nine books, which together have sold more than two million copies.