The Times Square Ball Drop has become an iconic celebration of ringing in the New Year. But how did this tradition begin?
1904: Adolph Ochs, the owner of The New York Times, organized a New Years’ Eve celebration in Times Square to celebrate the opening of the new headquarters building for The New York Times, but without a ball-dropping ceremony. Instead, fireworks were used to celebrate the coming of 1905.
1907 – 1919: The city of New York banned the fireworks celebration for safety reasons, but Ochs was nonetheless determined to create an engaging spectacle. Ochs decided to have a lit time-ball since the fireworks were no longer allowed. 1907 – 1908 was the first year of this annual tradition. Created by Artkraft Strauss and designed by metalworker Jacob Starr, the first ball had 100 25-watt light bulbs, was five feet in diameter, and was made of 700 pounds of iron and wood.
1920 – 1954: An updated 400-pound ball of wrought iron replaced the original.
1942-1943: Due to energy conservations as part of World War II, the ball did not drop during these years, but crowds celebrated in Times Square nonetheless.
1955 – 1980: A much lighter 150-pound aluminum ball was dropped.
1981 – 1988: The aluminum ball was revamped to resemble an apple for the “I Love New York” city campaign.
1989 – 1999: The aluminum ball returned to its pre-Apple state and was used for these six celebrations.
2000 – 2007: The new millennium was rung in with a new, 6-foot diameter, 1070 pound fourth ball that was complete with over 600 halogen light bulbs, 504 triangular-shaped Waterford crystal panels, 96 strobe lights, and spinning mirrors.
NYE 2008: Honoring the 100th anniversary of the Times Square Ball Drop, the Centennial Ball was the fifth redesign of the ball. It was also 6 feet in diameter but weighed 1212 pounds and contained 9576 energy-efficient Philips LED lamps.
2009 – present: A sixth incarnation is by far the largest one yet. Weighing in at 11,875 pounds with a 12-foot diameter, the 20-faced ball contains 2688 Waterford crystal panels, 32,256 Philips LED lights, and is designed to be weatherproof.
Here's to many more Times Square Ball Drops and a happy and healthy 2016!
