There is no place in the world like Times Square. Located in midtown Manhattan, it teems with people—hardened New Yorkers and wide-eyed tourists, commuters and shoppers, theater-goers and merchants, prostitutes and policemen. Shining down are shimmering lights, flashing signs, towering billboards, and epileptic neon. And amid the throngs, illuminated by the fluorescence of consumerism’s most triumphant block, walk the countless religious zealots who consider Times Square their concrete pulpit.

In 1992, photographer Richard Sandler began a video documentary to capture these street prophets in their unnatural habitat. He was guided by the question of why people would come to Times Square to inquire into the nature of god, to argue, to pray, and to convert. In 1994, after shooting more than 100 hours of videotape, he realized that there was not enough money to complete the film. Sandler shifted his focus from Times Square’s sights to its sounds, collaborating with producer David Isay to create this radio documentary from his video footage. In 1999 Sandler finished his video, The Gods of Times Square, which has since won numerous film festivals.

Producers: Richard Sandler and Dave Isay / Editor: Gary Covino / Supervising engineer: Caryl Wheeler / Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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This piece is available in the following audio formats [20:01 min]:
		Real Audio

		intro
		transcript

		Richard Sandler's Web site
		The Gods of Times Square video documentary

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